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When it comes to home court games, the Runnin' Utes will gladly take their chances at the Huntsman Center, where they are 24-1 over the past two seasons. With students trickling back to school for Utah's home opener in Pac-12 play, the 12-4 Utes seem to be a formidable threat.
But home-court magic won't necessarily win games, Larry Krystkowiak said. Not with the kind of year the Pac-12 is having.
The results have been startling, to say the least, with Washington (11-4, 3-0) sitting atop the conference and Arizona (13-3, 1-2) hovering in the bottom half of the league along with the Utes. Utah's two opponents this week, Oregon (13-3, 2-1) and Oregon State (11-3, 2-1), have gotten off to good starts to league play and set up one of Utah's toughest home weekends this season.
While Krystkowiak said it was nice to be with his family — and joked he can put his travel shaving kit away this weekend — he's not taking it easy now back in friendly confines.
"There's no magic playing at home in our league," he said. "You've got to bring your 'A game' every time."
To date, the Utes have played their best ball at the Huntsman Center: Eight of Utah's best nine performances in offensive efficiency (points per possession) have come at home, and the Utes have never scored fewer than 1 point per possession at Huntsman Center this year.
Offense will be in focus for Utah this week: The Ducks are a high-tempo team with which Utah will have to score to keep up, while Oregon State's defense held the Utes to 47 points last year (although Utah won).
Stylistically, the teams are dramatically different. Oregon's athletes run the floor well (No. 80 in average offensive possession length) and can matchup with many teams in man defense while the Beavers have played solid zone defense under coach Wayne Tinkle and play a gritty possession-based style.
While Krystkowiak said there aren't many travel partners in the Pac-12 who play similar styles, Oregon and Oregon State are a particularly unique pair. It's one of the match-ups where the two-day gap between games helps a lot.
"When those two teams, their make-ups, their style, as I think about, are probably further apart than anybody else," he said. "We have Thursday-Sunday, so we've got an additional day in between that allows us to build toward Oregon State."
Poeltl dealing with more pressure
While neither sophomore center Jakob Poeltl nor Colorado senior center Josh Scott looked much like themselves on Friday night, Poeltl's six-point evening was the most he's struggled all year.
The 7-footer was 2 for 8 from the field, for his lowest shooting percentage of the season. While he previously scored six points against Delaware State, he only played 19 minutes against the Hornets, as opposed to playing 34 against the Buffs.
While Krystkowiak acknowledged it was unusual to see Poeltl not score until the second half, he gave credit to Scott, who hardly gave Poeltl room to breathe all evening. And Krystkowiak also added that he was pleased with how Poeltl finished the game: Besides making one of Utah's late go-ahead baskets, he was key in helping Utah hold Colorado to two points in the last 5:25 of the game.
"When we addressed it in a timeout, he came out and really changed the game defensively," he said. "Even though he's not lighting it up from an offensive-production, scoring-points point of view, he was a big player in that game."
Averaging 17 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, Poeltl has earned more respect (and more attention) from opposing defenses. The nation's leader in field goal percentage entering conference play, Poeltl has shot under 50 percent against both Cal and Colorado. He's also been tested physically in practice by freshman Jayce Johnson, who can match his size.
"When he can experience somebody that is as big as he is, that can push him, maybe we can get his attention a little bit more when we tell him he needs to post harder in practice and be stronger," Krystkowiak said. "Now we've got some documentation that it's not always that easy."
Ogbe still on the mend
Junior guard Kenneth Ogbe has played in five games this year and missed 11, including the last eight. He also missed 13 last year, dealing with a hip/groin injury.
It's been more common to see Ogbe in sweats these days than in uniform. And Krystkowiak was reluctant to set a timeline for his return on Monday. Ogbe did start two games when he was healthy and conceivably could offer depth and defense at the wing positions.
"I'm just going to be informed when he's ready, and right now he's not ready," Krystkowiak said. "I talked to him on Saturday and right now he's not feeling like he needs to feel. Unfortunately I can't give you any more than the day-to-day."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
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