As the Utah Runnin' Utes wrap up Alex Jensen's inaugural season as head coach, they're facing a challenging stretch, heading into the Big 12 tournament on a five-game skid. It's been a tough road, especially with recent lackluster performances against Colorado and Baylor.
Utah's defense struggled mightily, surrendering over 50 points in the first half of both games. The matchup with Baylor was particularly rough, with Utah giving up over 100 points for the first time this season.
Game Details:
- Big 12 Tournament, First Round
- Matchup: No.
16 Utah (10-21) vs. No.
9 Cincinnati (17-14)
- Time: Tuesday, 1 p.m.
MDT
- Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City
- Stream: ESPN+
- Radio: 700 AM
Expectations are tempered for the Utes as they head to Kansas City to face Cincinnati. Jensen has been candid about his team's recent performances, using words like "embarrassing" and "disappointing" to describe their efforts.
"It's an opportunity," Jensen said. "There's no excuse for starting games the way we have. We've shown we can start strong and sustain it, and that's when we've played our best."
In their 101-76 loss to Baylor, the Bears were on fire, hitting 21 of their first 25 shots and leading by 26 points in the first half. Utah's turnovers were costly, leading to 31 points for Baylor by the end of the game. The Bears shot an impressive 61.5%, dominating across the board.
This loss sealed Utah's fate as having the worst Big 12 finish in five years, with only two conference wins. ESPN Analytics gives them just a 19.1% chance against Cincinnati.
Their last meeting with Cincinnati was a close one, with Utah overcoming a nine-point deficit to lead 65-60 with under two minutes left. However, Cincinnati rallied with nine straight points to take the win.
Jensen reflected on that game, emphasizing teamwork and selflessness. "We're good enough to win these games," he said. "It's about forgetting yourself and fitting into the team."
Cincinnati has had its own rollercoaster season, boasting wins over Iowa State, Kansas, and BYU, but still finds itself on the NCAA bubble. They need a strong tournament showing to boost their chances.
The winner of Tuesday’s game will face No. 8 seed UCF, with a potential quarterfinal clash against top-seeded Arizona on the horizon.
Jensen is eager for a win to build momentum for his team. "Momentum is key, not just for now but going into the offseason," he noted. "I want it for our guys, but they need to want it too."
Reviewing game footage, Jensen sees room for improvement in basics like boxing out and communication on defense-areas that could have turned losses into wins.
Tuesday offers another shot for the Utes to prove they can handle what they can control. "Every game is a learning experience," Jensen said. "Winning a tournament game would be huge, and then we see what happens next."