Utah head coach Craig Smith brings his 11-6 (3-3) Utes to the Fertitta Center for a snowy late Wednesday afternoon match-up against the 14-3 (6-0) #7 ranked Houston Cougars. The main thing that impressed me about Utah was their team length. Their shortest probable starter is 6’6″. Their best win this season was against BYU in the Holy War game in Salt Lake City last Saturday, winning 73-72 in overtime.

Although this is the Coogs’ first match-up with Utah as Big 12mates, they are familiar with the Utes. Houston beat Utah last season 76-66 in the Charleston Classic. Only three of their returners played in that game (Gabe Madsen, Lawson Lovering, Hunter Erickson). Madsen will be my “Head of the Snake” for this game. He had 29 points and six rebounds in the game last season and went 8/15 from beyond the three-point line. But Houston has done a pretty good job of shutting down good guards this season. Javon Small is similar to Madsen, as they are both good shooters that can heat up quickly.

Houston is too talented for Utah this season. The Utes are a solid but not great defensive team that is dangerous from the outside when they get hot. UH will look to run them off the three-point line and force them into difficult two-point jumpers. Hopefully, the streets will clear up, and UH fans can cheer the Cougars on to another conference win.

Utah National Rankings

• Net – #70; Houston Ranked #3
• Kenpom – #73; Houston Ranked #3
• AP Poll – #NR; Houston Ranked #7
• Coaches Poll – #NR; Houston Ranked #5

Utah Offensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#2 – Assists Per Game: 19.9

#11 – Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.70

#38 – Bench Points Per Game: 28.76

Utes Defensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#11 – Rebounds (Defensive) Per Game: 28.76

#18 – Rebounds Per Game: 40.59

#33 – Field Goal Percentage (Defense): 39.75%

Utah Offense Notes

• The Utes have a play they like where Lovering will come up to set a ghost screen and pass it to him at the top of the key. He then does a dribble-hand-off (DHO) and rolls. As he rolls, they pass it right back to him. This greatly confuses the defense and causes the other forward defender to step up to guard him. When the defender helps, the other Utah forward ducks in the paint for an easy lay-up opportunity.
• When the Utah point guard “flexes,” they want to clear out one side of the court and feed the post one-on-one. UH’s monster trap may have other ideas for them.
• The Utes LOVE to shoot the three. They have almost 100 more attempts than Houston on the season. The Coogs will try to force them to make tough shots off the dribble.
• Utah is great at sharing the ball, ranked #2 in the nation in assists. They are excellent at driving to absorb the defense and passing out to open shooters.

Utes Defense Notes

• Utah only played very basic half-court, man-to-man defense against BYU on Saturday. Their post players typically stay in drop coverage (sag off their man when they are outside of the paint).
• When the Utes are in drop coverage, look for J’Wan, Jojo, or Ja’Vier in the middle of the paint for a hook or push-shot when Lovering goes to help.
• They rarely double-team in the post. It could be a good game for J’Wan to use his quickness and athleticism against a much bigger yet slower Lovering. He did it a year ago.

Utah Personnel Report (* Indicates Probable Starters)

Note: They change their starting lineup pretty often…

*#55 – Gabe Madsen – 6’6″ – 5th – Guard – (Cincinnati) – 16ppg, 3rpg, 3apg.

• Head of the Snake that lit up the Coogs last season in Charleston (29 points, six rebounds, 8/15 from three);
• Bigger body combo guard;
• High volume three-point shooter – 49/150 (33%), 2nd most three-point makes in Utah history;
• Can catch and shoot or put it on the floor to shoot;
• Capable of driving to the basket;
• Top 50 National Rankings – #12 – Three-Point Attempts: 150

*#2 – Ezra Ausar – 6’8″ – JR – Forward – (East Carolina) – 11ppg, 5rpg.

• Athletic forward;
• Coveted transfer portal guy;
• He carried them against BYU on Saturday;
• Not an outside threat;
• Capable mid-range shooter;
• At his best when in the paint and attacking the basket;

*#34 – Lawson Lovering – 7’1″ – SR – Center – (Colorado) – 11ppg, 5rpg.

• Huge post player; Fairly physical in the post;
• Solid back to the basket scorer; Needs to go right every time;
• Good at offensive rebounds and put-back dunks;
• Not a big-time shot blocker – he challenges you to shoot over his length;
• HORRIBLE free-throw shooter; Hack him if need be – he’s 23/54 (42%) from the line;

*#25 – Mike Sharavjamts – 6’9″ – JR – Guard – (Dayton/ San Fransisco) – 8ppg, 4rpg, 3apg.

• Long/thin/guard; Sneaky athletic;
• Fun Fact: Son of the first ever Asian Harlem Globetrotter;
• Like Egor Demin of BYU, he is used some as a 6’9″ point guard;
• Likes to drive to pass to an open teammate;
• Solid three-point shooter; 20/55 (36%);

*#10 – Jake Wahlin – 6’10” – SO – Forward – 6ppg, 5rpg.

• Long forward;
• Solid three-point shooter; 13/35 (37%);
• Pretty solid defender/rebounder;

#8 – Keanu Dawes – 6’9″ – SO – Forward – (Rice) – 8ppg, 5rpg.

• Houston kid (Stratford HS & Rice University);
• He is someone I wanted to transfer to UH. One day? Shows flashes of someone like Fabian White Jr. (same build). Needs someone to push him to that next level;
• Really good around the basket and attacking the rim;
• Solid mid-range jumper;
• Hasn’t shot it great so far this year from outside; 5/18 (28%).

#45 – Mason Madsen – 6’4″ – 5th – Guard – (Cincinnati/ Boston College) – 10ppg, 3rpg.

• Solid shooting guard off the bench;
• Outstanding outside shooter;
• Sneaky athletic when driving to the basket;

#0 – Hunter Erickson – 6’3″ – 5th – Guard – (BYU/ Salt Lake City CC) – 5ppg, 2rpg.

• Back up guard;
• Solid outside shooter from beyond the arc; 18/45 (40%)
• Can shoot it from DEEP;

#11 – Caleb Lohner – 6’7″ – 5th – Forward – (BYU/ Baylor) – 4ppg, 3rpg.

• Super athletic/strong forward off the bench;
• Played for Baylor last season. Also plays football for Utah;
• Best when around the basket. Can jump out of the gym,
• Not a shooting threat outside of the paint;

#1 – Miro Little – 6’3″ – SO – Guard – (Baylor) – 6ppg, 4rpg, 4apg.

• Decent back-up point guard from Baylor;
• He’s best at getting his teammates involved;
• A limited scoring threat;

#32 – Zach Keller – 6’10” – JR – Forward – (Wake Forest) – 3ppg, 1rpg.

• Tall reserve forward;
• Didn’t play vs BYU;
• Best when in the paint;

Keys to Victory

1. Run the Utes off the three-point line. Utah loves to shoot the three. They can be a really dangerous team when they are hot from the outside. The Coogs will look to run them off the three-point line and settle for tough two-point jumpers.
2. Limit Gabe Madsen. He gave the Coogs 29 points last season in Charleston. He is averaging 16ppg this season. Houston should look to keep him under 10 points Wednesday afternoon.
3. Keep Lawson Lovering and Ezra Ausar off the boards. Lawson is massive, and Ausar is super athletic. The Coogs big will have their hands full keeping them off the glass. Boxing out and being physical will be key. If Lovering has a wide-open shot at the rim, he should visit the floor and be forced to make free throws.
4. Run in transition. Houston is far more athletic than the Utes and should look to run in transition and create some early offense. Utah is not bad when they can set up their half-court defense.
5. Adjust on defense. The Coogs struggled to adjust on defense in Charleston last year. Utah moved the ball quickly against the “Blitz” and “MONSTER” double-teams, which led to wide-open three-pointers from Madsen. The Coogs must adjust if they have the same game plan Wednesday night.