This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the Utah men's basketball team's quest for a victory there is the wait … and then the weight.
With each loss comes pressure for one victory against an NCAA opponent. The 1-5 Utes have lost close games and blowouts, home games, a road game and at a holiday tournament. Their next chance to reverse the tide comes Saturday at Fresno State, a program first-year coach Larry Krystkowiak says is similar to his own.
Another loss, and the 2011 Utes will hold the distinction of the worst start in program history. They have opened five seasons 1-5, but in the first four they won their seventh game.
"We've got to get a win," freshman point guard Kareem Storey said.
The Bulldogs are 3-4 after beating the Academy of Art on Wednesday. Like the Utes, the Bulldogs are led by a first-year coach, former Texas assistant Rodney Terry, and they rely on a guard for the bulk of their scoring. The Utes have Josh Watkins. Fresno State has Kevin Olekaibe.
The Utes have not played in a week — their last game was an 87-65 loss to North Carolina-Asheville at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
The Utes have improved noticeably throughout the season. The offense is crisper, the defense a touch more dogged.
"We're learning from these losses," Storey said, "it's not just losing and doing the same things over."
Krystkowiak said he doesn't feel any more pressure because of the losing streak and that he doesn't think about the possibility of beginning his tenure at Utah with a dubious record. Instead, he talks about what it will take to stop the skid.
"We need some guys to step up and put an end to it," he said, "instead of just succumbing to it."
Utah at Fresno State
P At Save Mart Center (Fresno, Calif.)
Tipoff • Saturday, 2 p.m.
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 1-5, Fresno State 3-4
All-time series • Utah leads 9-3
Last meeting • Utah, 76-63 (Nov. 30, 2010)
About the Utes • Chris Hines is averaging 10 points in two games since moving into starting lineup. … Point guard Josh "Jiggy" Watkins leads the Utes with 18.8 points per game and has been the high scorer in each of their first six games. … Center Jason Washburn is averaging 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, career highs in both. … The Utes have lost their four away or neutral-site games by an average of 21.25 points.
About the Bulldogs • Fresno State plays three games in the next week against Pac-12 opponents. … Sophomore guard Kevin Olekaibe averages 21.9 points per game, and Jonathan Willis averages 11.3. … The Bulldogs' wins have come against Illinois State, Southern Methodist and Academy of Art.