Utes Happy With First Round Result, Understand More Work Is Necessary In Quarterfinal
Mar 14, 2024, 11:20 AM | Updated: 4:22 pm
LAS VEGAS – The Runnin’ Utes got a huge win Wednesday night over ASU in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament which they are happy about, but understand the work is just getting started as they look to the quarterfinal.
Utah now has to take on a Colorado team they’ve had mixed results with. The Utes handled their business over CU at home in the Huntsman but got absolutely blasted by the Buffs when they visited Boulder.
The encouraging part is that the Utes played one of their most complete games against a team that had their number in the regular season and won. Yes, the Sun Devils were down Jose Perez, but Utah had to navigate a limited Branden Carlson and did so affectively.
FINAL#GoUtes #LightTheU pic.twitter.com/OVrMn0PzE0
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) March 14, 2024
Utah Has More Work To Do Against Colorado In Quarterfinal Round
Beating a team that gave you troubles all season 90-57 is great and there is no doubt the Runnin’ Utes feel good about that, but the job isn’t done. Head coach Craig Smith acknowledged there is still a lot of work to be done and that starts Thursday night against Colorado.
“We still have work to do, obviously,” Smith said. “Four teams in the Pac-12 went home today. There are eight teams still alive as we head into tomorrow. Colorado is really good. We were able to beat them at our place. They really, really handled us, really from start to finish at their place.”
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Smith continued by noting the Buffs have an unshakable persona that they are completely comfortable with which makes them a hard team to play. However, he also noted the magic of March where crazy things can and do happen regularly in college basketball.
“Those guys really know who they are and what they are,” Smith said. “They play to their identity and play tough-nosed defense as well. They are a complete team. They’ve won- six, seven, or eight in a row- it’s been a lot in a row and like I said, from start to finish they handled us. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but it is March, and anything can happen.”
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How To Watch Utah Vs. Colorado In The Pac-12 Tournament Quarterfinal
- Time: 9:30 pm MT/ 8:30 pm PT
- Place: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Channel: FS1
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🆚 @CUBuffsMBB
📍 @TMobileArena
🕰️ 9:30pm (MDT) / 8:30pm (PDT)
📻 @ESPN700
📺 @FS1
🎙️ @jasonbenetti / @cjacobsen23 / @AllisonW_Sports
💻 https://t.co/mvtfOEdUgF
📊 https://t.co/wB4LYz4TiB#GoUtes | #Pac12MBB pic.twitter.com/4r63Bapt8X— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 14, 2024
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on X, Instagram, and Threads: @BodkinKSLsports
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