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Las Vegas
Larry Krystkowiak's words echoed through the Huntsman Center in a video clip played before every Utah home game this season, with the coach insisting that his basketball team's degree of effort never would be a discussion point. That's just the expectation for the Utes.
So why is he having to talk about it now?
Krystkowiak was disappointed with the Utes' toughness and competitiveness last week, as they closed the regular season with an uninspiring win at Washington State and an inexcusable loss at Washington. Maybe it was understandable that Utah would lose interest after missing a shot at a Pac-12 co-championship by losing to Arizona. The team's complacency, as acknowledged by junior guard Brandon Taylor, is a correctable problem.
The Utes have no other choice, at this stage.
They know they're accountable for everything that happens now, beginning Thursday night vs. Stanford or Washington in the Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals and continuing in the NCAA tournament. They've accomplished too much to have this season crumble in March.
Krystkowiak impressively rebuilt the program, and the Utes overwhelmed every visiting Pac-12 opponent except Arizona this season. But here's the thing: Nobody can say Utah has overachieved in 2014-15. Winning a Pac-12 tournament title would fit that description. So would advancing beyond the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.
Yet if the Utes leave Las Vegas without a trophy and then don't make the Sweet 16, they will have failed to maximize a once-in-a decade player (Delon Wright) and another potential NBA first-round pick (Jakob Poeltl).
Krystkowiak's teams have gone from 3-15 in the Pac-12 to 5-13, 9-9 and 13-5. That's pretty much what should have happened, considering his staff's recruiting success. Fans have appreciated the Utes' climb, and the program should have some staying power and consistency. Yet much remains to be done for Utah's 2014-15 season to be considered fully satisfying.
Polls are relatively meaningless in college basketball, but the fact is the Utes have spent much of this season hovering around the top 10. That status has led to expectations of an NCAA run, which makes Utah's performance this week important for the sake of Selection Sunday seeding.
The Utes also need to show that they can defend for 40 minutes and play efficiently at the end of games, as they'll have to do next week.
The subplot of Wright's being overlooked for the Pac-12 Player of the Year award also is intriguing. What's apparent to me is that some faction of coaches wanted to promote Wright and others pushed for Arizona's T.J. McConnell, while intentionally downgrading the other on their ballots. In the process, they ended up making Oregon's Joseph Young the winner.
That's just silly. So how might it affect the tournament? Wright may not acknowledge any extra incentive; but his teammates should be motivated to show support for him in a potential semifinal meeting with Oregon.
First, though, the Utes have to deal with Stanford or Washington. They should respond well in Las Vegas. The Utes still have an opportunity to do something they've never done, just by reaching the Pac-12 tournament championship game, and then they can target the program's first NCAA tournament victory in 10 years.
This team may have something more in store in its bid to make 2014-15 memorable. Postseason play starts Thursday, and it's time for the Utes to live up to the expectations they have created for themselves.
Twitter: @tribkurt