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Larry Krystkowiak said earlier this season that he doesn't believe in the idea that a team can be better than its record.
"I've never really bought into that," he said before the Utes played UCLA, "because that's why you play, is you have the record."
His exception was Oregon State, a bad-luck team that was expected to surge in the Pac-12 this season under fourth-year coach Craig Robinson.
Saturday, the Beavers will bring their perplexing 4-6 Pac-12 record to the Huntsman Center. Oregon State and the Utes (5-17, 2-8) are looking to get back on track — Utah after three losses, and the Beavers after a 22-point loss at Colorado on Thursday.
The Utes are 5-6 at home, and have notched wins against Arizona State and Washington State this season, both teams that beat Oregon State. But the Beavers should not be lumped into that group.
"I've watched them a lot," Krystkowiak said. "They're super athletic, probably the most athletic team in the league."
Junior guard Jared Cunningham leads the Beavers and the Pac-12 with 17.9 points per game, while OSU leads the conference in points per game, assists and steals. In addition to Cunningham, guard Ahmad Starks averages 13.1 points per game.
The Beavers, though, aren't entirely unlike the Utes. Before last weekend, Oregon State was winless on the road in the Pac-12. It halted that trend with a win over rival Oregon, which responded by winning 79-68 Thursday in Salt Lake City
Utah vs. Oregon State
P At Huntsman Center
Tipoff • Saturday, 3 p.m.
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 5-17, 2-8; OSU 14-8, 4-6
Series • Utah leads 12-7
Last meeting • Utah, 87-77 (Dec. 28, 1999)
About the Utes • Freshman point guard Kareem Storey scored 10 points, tallied 11 assists and committed no turnovers in 40 minutes against Oregon on Thursday. … Junior guard Chris Hines scored 20 points against the Ducks. … Despite making 9 of 19 3-pointers against the Ducks, the Utes remain the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the Pac-12.
About the Beavers • Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham is a two-time Pac-12 player of the week and leads the conference with 17.9 points per game. … The Beavers lost on the road this season to both Washington State and Arizona State — the two Pac-12 teams the Utes have beaten. … The only team worse statistically in 3-point defense than the Beavers is Utah.