The Storey keeps getting better.
A borderline Division I recruit a year ago, Kareem Storey joined Larry Krystkowiak’s Utes to fill a need: players. Hard-nosed but undersized and ungifted as a shooter, the freshman became the starting point guard out of necessity when Krystkowiak kicked Josh "Jiggy" Watkins off the team last month.
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As a slight buzz began to develop about Storey’s productivity, Krystkowiak cautioned that the Baltimore native had a great deal of improving to do.
But Thursday, after Storey scored 10 points, tallied 11 assists and never came out of the game in Utah’s 79-68 loss to Oregon, even Krystkowiak couldn’t temper his praise.
"I thought he was instrumental," Krystkowiak said. "I thought he battled hard, played every minute of the game."
With Eastern Washington transfer Glen Dean gaining eligibility next season and the Utes actively recruiting another point guard for next season, it’s unclear where Storey fits into Utah’s future.
But he has gained the trust of his teammates, and has improved greatly in just the few weeks since he replaced Watkins in the lineup.
Most impressive for Storey on Thursday was that despite playing all 40 minutes and handling the ball, he committed just one turnover.
That’s not to say Storey didn’t struggle. Oregon’s press got to him, including on back-to-back possessions in which he was forced to call a timeout to avoid a turnover and then getting tied up, leading to a jump ball.
Still, Krystkowiak lauded Storey for a "really, really nice game."
Storey’s assist numbers were aided, however, by the Utes’ hot shooting in the first half, especially from Chris Hines, who led the Utes with 20 points, and Cedric Martin, who added 15. With 12 minutes remaining in the half they had made 87.5 percent of their baskets. Utah finished the half at 52.5 percent. Storey already had seven assists.
"Ced and Hines did a very good job of knocking down 3s and knocking down shots, period," Storey said. "[Jason Washburn] did a great job and [Dijon Farr] was good cutting to the basket. So they gave me good options."
Twitter: @oramb
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