And coach Jim Boylen loves him for it.

"Shaun is becoming a complete player," Boylen said. "He was a stand-and-shoot, catch-and-shoot guy his whole life. Now, he's playing the game."

With plenty of other scoring options, the 2-1 Utes believe they're better with Green playing more of a supporting role than he did last season, when the junior ranked third on the team in scoring and reached double figures in 20 of 30 games. Tonight, they will try to continue proving it, when they meet 2-1 Santa Clara at the Huntsman Center.

"We're trying to get some revenge, I guess," Green said.

The Broncos beat the Utes 83-72 in the second game last season, with Green scoring 11 points for the second straight game.

But the former Olympus High School star still hasn't reached double figures in scoring this season, with a grand total of seven points after enduring the first scoreless game of his career in a loss at Washington last week. Some players might have a hard time accepting that, but Green insists he does not.

"It hasn't been really difficult for me," he said, "just because the most important thing is the team's success, and up until the last game, we've had great success."

Anymore, Green almost never even looks to shoot.

Instead, he's busy contributing in other ways, reflected in the other columns of the box score. He has 12 rebounds, 10 assists, five blocks and four steals - and not only leaves the scoring to his teammates, but facilitates it by still attracting defensive attention.

After all, Green shot 51 percent from three-point range last season. Opponents cannot afford to ignore him.

"There's a way to help your team win without scoring, and he's making the most of that," Boylen said. "He's playing defense, he's rebounding, he's helping guys, he's talking to guys. He's leading, and he's playing the game the right way. I'm very happy with him. He has been my most consistent guy at both ends of the floor."

mcl@sltrib.com