Mike Sharavjamts Leads The Runnin’ Utes To 96-65 Win Over Queens
Nov 12, 2024, 9:28 PM | Updated: Nov 14, 2024, 12:08 pm
SALT LAKE CITY—Craig Smith’s Runnin’ Utes program improved to 3-o on the season as Mike Sharavjamts led Utah to a 96-65 win over the Queens Royals.
Gabe Madsen led the team in scoring with 24 points but Sharavjamts was the engine tonight. He did a bit of everything and continues to show indications of why he was a big priority this offseason.
Tonight's Final from the Huntsman‼️ pic.twitter.com/exxHhEYoKX
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) November 13, 2024
Utah’s Sluggish 1st Half
The Utes started strong, jumping to a 16-5 advantage within the game’s first five minutes. However, the Royals proved more competitive than the last two opponents.
Analytically, Utah averaged just 1.171 points per possession on 38 possessions and scored on every other possession a 51.4% rate.
Good defensive moments and a few lapses allowed Queens to cut the lead at halftime to ten. Utah had to grind their way to a 41-31 halftime advantage.
The Utes shot 17-of-36 overall and 5-of-12 from deep but had 6 first-half turnovers, contributing to a sluggish opening frame.
Better Ball In 2nd Half
After the half, Utah got going a little bit more efficiently in the second half. Queens continued to compete and make it tough, but eventually, Utah’s shooting took over.
The Utes performed better in the second frame; they averaged 1.447 points per possession and scored on 60.5% of their possessions.
There was never a big offensive run, but the Utes got stops and strung together multiple scoring possessions.
Utah quietly built their lead throughout the half and ultimately finished with a 31-point victory.
Mike Sharavjamts is becoming more assertive
He’s a very entertaining player, but he’s become increasingly comfortable leading the squad after three games. Utah coaches must be encouraged by that, and they certainly hope it continues.
Sharavjamts has always been viewed as a talent, but his assertiveness has been hit or miss throughout his career. During the opening 20 minutes, Sharavjamts led Utah with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
He started the second period with a three from the top off the bounce. He dished a no-look assist to Miro Little for a layup. He intercepted a pass for a transition layup. All of that within the first five minutes of the half.
Sharavjamts was a big recruiting priority, and Utah beat out good programs to land him. The initial returns are promising, and the greater assertiveness is the biggest positive.
He finished tonight with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. He converted 8-of-11 shots overall and 3-of-4 from deep.
Utah lacked the energy and communication
This game was very different from the previous two contests. Too often, the Jon M. Huntsman Center was far too quiet.
Utah didn’t have the same energy or communication on the floor. There were too many long stretches of lackadaisical play and little talking.
This squad really needs to emphasize both elements early on in the season so that it becomes habitual as the season progresses.
And to be fair, Queens is a more competitive squad than Alcorn St. and Central Arkansas, which certainly played a role.
Early indications of Jake Wahlin’s second-year jump
Utah needed players to emerge with so many unknown quantities coming into the season. After sporadic playing time as a freshman, Wahlin was a bit of a mystery.
Through the first three games, he’s been all-around productive. Tonight, he finished with 8 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
He’s displayed quite a bit of potential as a multi-positional defender. He can defend guards on the perimeter and bigs inside. He’s looked more comfortable handling the ball and has started to look for more of his own offense.
Getting that sort of production from anyone is big, but it is encouraging to see that from a second-year player who had a good offseason.
Gabe didn’t have his best, but he and Utah still shot it well
Shooters are going to shoot and Gabe Madsen has started the season as well as anyone. Tonight was rough for him; he was just 1-of-8 at one point before he hit four consecutive shots to finish 5-of-12 from deep.
After a slow start collectively, Utah got going in the second half, connecting on 9-of-18 from deep.
Utah finished the game at 50% shooting on 14-of-28 shots from deep when Gabe exited the game for the final time. That meant everyone else combined to go 9-of-16 from the 3-point range, which is fairly solid.
