The Utes came into Sunday night’s game looking to lock up their second straight 20-win season. While last year’s success was seen by some as the fruits of an easy schedule, this year’s team has shown that Krystkowiak’s coaching abilities translate across all levels of competition. The Utes entered the game with only two Pac-12 losses. A win against Cal would keep them on pace with Arizona in the conference title race. Utah will host the Wildcats in a couple of weeks, and each game is critical if the Utes want to control their own destiny going into the postseason tournaments. Cal has been consistently inconsistent in Pac-12 play this season. They lost 6 of their first 7 conference games, but came into their matchup here in Salt Lake City riding a 5-game win streak.
The Utes came out playing well, taking an early lead. Brandon Taylor was hot once again from three, hitting 3-3. However, Cal quickly closed the gap and put Utah on their heels. The Golden Bears shot 50% from the floor and out rebounded the Utes 20-15. Despite their size, Utah ranks 122nd nationally in rebounding only pulling down 35.5 per game. On the flip side, Utah is 4th nationally in field goal percentage at exactly 50%. Utah was able to increase their defensive intensity towards the end of the half. They forced the Golden Bears into two 5 second inbound violations. After Cal led for a stretch during much of the first half, the Utes took full control and closed out the half on a nice run to enter the locker room with a six-point lead (36-40).
Brandon Taylor led the Utes at halftime with 10 points. Chris Reyes finished the first half with 5 rebounds and Delon Wright finished with 5 assists to lead Utah at halftime. Delon struggled from the floor in the first half, shooting 2-7.
Utah picked up where they left off to start the second half. Reyes was impressive on the glass, increasing his total by 4 rebounds in the first 5 minutes out of the locker room. Delon Wright continued his efforts on both ends of the floor with a nice steal leading to a break away dunk, which he followed up with a block on the other end. Despite his inefficient shooting Delon showed his versatility by continuing to contribute in every facet of the game. Wright’s leadership will be invaluable in the postseason. Having a leader who can figure out how to get his team going even when he’s struggling to hit shots is crucial for sustained success. Delon also found ways to get to the line and increase his confidence (and point total) by hitting free throws. But the good fortune for Delon Wright, and all of the Utah faithful was jeopardized when the star guard had to be carried off the court by his teammates. It looked as if he injured his ankle on a battle for a rebound with 10 minutes to go. This was a scary situation that reminded fans of the situation in Colorado. And, just as it was against the Buffs, he would re-enter the game shortly after leaving, much to the relief of the Huntsman crowd. Utah controlled the pace in the second half, continuing to show their ability to put away teams that they should probably beat at home. The Utes wrapped up the win with a final score of 76 to 61. It will be interesting to see if they can keep it up on the road.
Jakob Poeltl finished with 18 pts, 8 rbs, and 2 blks for the Utes. Chris Reyes finished with 10 rebounds to lead the team. Delon was strong with 16 pts, 3 rbs, and 5 asts despite going 4-11 from the floor.
With this win the road to the regular season Pac-12 title still runs through Salt Lake, for now. The Utes have a tough stretch of games coming up before their big matchup with Arizona. Utah will have to go up to Oregon to play the Beavers and the Ducks next week. The trip up north won’t be easy, and it will be a true test of their character as a team. So far this season the Utes have dominated at home, but they’ve yet to respond to a true test on the road. The win in Provo was nice, but the Cougars aren’t on the same level as some of the teams Utah will face on the road through the remainder of the season. On top of that, teams are now in good form. The Ducks will be especially tough, as they are battling for seeding in the conference tournament, as well as their own NCAA tournament bid. The Oregon road trip is going to be an excellent way for the Utes to show the tournament committee that they have what it takes to win big games away from Salt Lake. With their consistent play thus far, the Utes have put themselves in a great position to prove that they deserve a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. A good showing this week will be key for the team’s confidence as they try to solidify their place amongst the national elites.
Postgame Audio:
Larry Krystkowiak – https://espn700sports.com/?p=59183
Delon Wright & Jakob Poeltl – https://espn700sports.com/?p=59198
