Runnin' Utes doomed by lack of free throws

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Our game report from the Utes' 79-62 loss at Utah State is here, but the biggest difference in the game is rather obvious. Utah State shot 30-of-39 at the line compared to just 8-of-13 for the Utes. (Perhaps that home court loving is why Utah isn't too eager to continue the series with the Aggies). The Utes still lead the overall series 130-93 but are just 50-60 in Logan. They return to the Huntsman Center Saturday to play Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Hold onto your football tickets since they'll gain you free admittance to the basketball game. Speaking of football, the Utes were inside again Wednesday. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said it shouldn't be an issue that they haven't gotten outside to practice. The Utes had all the doors open, just to make sure the team didn't get too comfy. "I think it is supposed to be about 32 degrees Saturday so we try to get this within one degree of that, I think we accomplished that," said Whittingham, who admitted even he who keeps his office like a refrigerator was cold. This is a great facility, that is what it is built for when we need to get in here and get the work done so it should have no ill effects at all." Whittingham said earlier in the week he thought the Cougars had improved as a team. He reiterated those thoughts Wednesday and said he didn't think BYU's wins have come about just because they hit an easier part of the schedule. "I don't think there is one area in particular," he said of the improvement. "They started playing more like themselves the last four or five weeks. The quarterback has gotten more comfortable and the run game has gotten stronger. They are like every other college program who wants to get better as the season goes along." Asked Whittingham what he was most thankful for. "I get to visit with the media every single day after practice," he said, with a straight face. I'm thinking he is more thankful for the sauna he was planning to visit after practice in which to warm up.