The Runnin’ Utes had barely settled in before the Cincinnati Bearcats made their presence felt last Saturday. Just three seconds into the game, the Bearcats tipped the jump ball toward their basket and executed an effortless alley-oop, leaving Utah coach Alex Jensen momentarily stunned.
Jensen, reflecting on the play, remarked, “We’ve been focusing on the jump ball for the last seven or eight games. It’s like a free throw; you’ve got to engage physically.” Despite their preparations, the Utes found themselves caught off guard, contributing to their narrow 69-65 loss-a tough pill to swallow as it marked their 12th defeat in 13 games.
Utah forward Keanu Dawes, who put up an impressive 16 points and 14 rebounds, echoed this sentiment. “It’s the small details that slipped through our fingers,” he noted.
As Jensen navigates the home stretch of his inaugural season at Utah, he’s honing in on these details. “Whether we’re playing away or at home, morning or night, there are fundamentals we must always uphold,” he emphasized.
The game against Cincinnati highlighted some of these lapses: fouling a 3-point shooter twice, mishandling a jump ball, missing crucial free throws, and finishing with more turnovers (13) than assists (12). “It’s tough to secure a win with that ratio,” Jensen admitted.
Yet, despite the setback, Jensen remains confident in his team’s potential. They have six more regular-season games to turn things around, starting with their matchup against West Virginia.
“The Big 12 is no joke,” Jensen acknowledged. “It’s a new experience for me and for many on the team. We’re focused on growing and maturing, and that’s the direction we need to keep moving toward.”