One of these days, teams are going to go back to double-teaming Utah's Luke Nevill.
Until then, though, the 7-foot-2 senior will be happy to keep destroying whoever they throw at him -- especially when nearly three dozen NBA scouts are in the seats assessing his pro prospects. That's what happened when the Utes took on LSU in their final nonconference game Tuesday night, with Nevill erupting for 23 points against mostly one-on-one defense to lead the Utes to an impressive 91-61 victory in front of 9,170 fans at the Huntsman Center.
"No one came, there was no help, so I just kept going to work," he said.
It was almost as if the Tigers hadn't watched the film.
Nevill was coming off a career-high 29 points against Wyoming's straight-up defense, and had to be salivating when he saw LSU's Chris Johnson -- all 6-11 and 210 pounds of him -- trying to deny him in the post all alone. Again and again, Nevill backed down his rail-thin defender and easily shot over him. Not until Nevill had 17 first-half points did the Tigers start to double-team him, and even then, only occasionally.
"You can't stop him!" the fans chanted.
Come to think of it, the Tigers couldn't stop anybody.
Though they entered the game with a 12-1 record under former Utah assistant coach Trent Johnson (albeit against one of the weakest schedules in the country) and proved early in the game they could stroke some ridiculous jumpers, they ultimately lost because they couldn't stop any of the Utes -- not just Nevill, who made 11 of 13 shots while also grabbing six rebounds and blocking three shots.
Forward Carlon Brown scored 17 points, guard Luka Drca and forward Shaun Green added 13 each and the Utes shot nearly 64 percent.
Nevill did not even need to score in the final 15½ minutes, by which time the Utes had raced to a 13-point lead and started to frustrate the Tigers en route to their fourth straight victory and fifth in six games.
"When we defend, and can get that ball out and run, we're pretty good," coach Jim Boylen said. "And I thought we wore them down a little bit. I thought there was some frustration by them with our defense. When you can't do exactly what you want to do, it's tough."
Sure looked like it.
LSU made only seven baskets in the second half, and only three Tigers -- led by Marcus Thompson and his 17 points -- scored more than three points.
IN SHORT » The Utes dominate LSU 91-61 in their final non-conference game for their fourth straight victory, and fifth in the last six games.
KEY STAT » LSU makes only seven baskets in the second half.
KEY MOMENT » Utah's Lawrence Borha drives for a fast-break lay-up midway through the second half to give the Utes a 17-point lead and bring the crowd to its feet.
