For 40 minutes, it seemed almost impossible to tell which team looked like No. 4 in the country, and which team looked like it was just getting its sea legs.
The Utah Runnin’ Utes came into Thursday’s matchup with the Arizona Wildcats without the glitzy accolade. But Utah certainly did not get CC’d on that email because, save for a couple of short stints, the team that fed on the bottom of the Pac-12 last season showed what it was made of.
Utah beat Arizona 81-66 to hand the Wildcats their first loss of the season. Senior center Branden Carlson led the way again, but in star-like fashion this time.
The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats were favored by 6.5 points going into Thursday’s matchup against Utah. But the Runnin’ Utes took that prognostication and sent it home in disgrace.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
1. Craig Smith had his biggest moment as Utah’s coach
Craig Smith has been known for turning programs around. He did it at Utah State when he took a low-level program and led it to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. He also did it at Mayville State earlier in his career.
But since taking the job at the University of Utah, that Craig Smith magic has been about as effective as when a muggle tries using a wand. The Runnin’ Utes went only 11-20 last season, and just 4-16 in the Pac-12.
Thursday against Arizona, though, was a reminder that Smith has the ability to help teams realize their full potential, and maybe even exceed it at times.
Beating the No. 4 team in the country certainly qualifies for
Earlier in the week in a video session with reporters, he admitted that this is the first team he felt his team has had any continuity since he made the move from Logan to Salt Lake City. Utah dealt with injuries in the early part of the season, but has had everyone available in the last week to 10 days, he said.
2. Best first half of the season
How many times have you heard coaches or players say, “We weren’t ready to play” after losses? Probably enough times to have a couple hundred bucks if someone gave you a penny every time you heard it.
But against Arizona, no Ruunin’ Utes player or coach would deign to even think about saying that. They built a 19-point lead against Arizona, after all, and did it with crisp shooting and pure hustle.
Here was one sequence: Ben Carlson 3-pointer, Pelle Larsson challenged at the rim on a dunk attempt that he missed, Ben Carlson dunk in transition, Keba Keita block shot out of bounds.
If Utah absolutely needed to start a game with reckless abandon, it was Thursday. And they did just that and got rewarded.
3. Branden Carlson’s star night
Branden Carlson came into this game averaging 13.1 points and shooting 37.5% from the 3-point line. But it’s almost like he saw some YouTube videos about how best to wrangle a wildcat before Thursday’s game because he just had answer after answer after answer.
Branden Carlson — no relation to Ben — went off, scoring 22 points and making 5 of 9 from the 3-point line. He added five rebounds and two blocks.
In one sequence, he posted up Ąžuolas Tubelis, drew a double-team, and kicked it out to Madsen for a 3-pointer. On the next possession, he made a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with a hand in his face.
In another sequence, he received the ball in the post and was met by three defenders around him. His footwork freed him for a second, though, just enough time to make a jump hook.
Branden Carslon needed to play huge on the biggest stage, and he did that.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/cAVnjGv
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