Utah Basketball - Utes receive rude awakening on the road

The 21-3 free-throw disparity is the least of it all.

When Utah's jumpers went clang, the Utes had no other recourse on wednesday night against SMU.

Most of that lies with the inside game, and namely the centers.

Dallin Bachynski and Jason Washburn didn't make enough of an impact. Bachynski rebounded the ball well and played well defensively, blocking three shots.

But he also scored just three points on 1-7 shooting. The one make was a 3-pointer. Washburn drained a lay-up in the first half and that was about it.

Of course, losing is a team game. But with Bachynski and Washburn not being factors, the game was pretty much over when Utah stopped making shots from the perimeter.

"The center spot has to be more productive,," Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "We will all learn from this and move on."

Going forward. road wins are tough to come by. The Utes now know this and had to learn it the hard way against a tough and gritty and athletic SMU team. That's why inside points in the paint are going to be crucial in the future.

Tony Jones