NCAA postseason watch: CU not overlooking Utah

Here's the weekly update on where the area's top three men's Division I basketball teams stand in their quest to qualify for postseason play:

COLORADO
(17-8, 9-4 Pac-12)

NCAA RPI computer power ranking: 74 (down from 73 last week)

This week: Saturday at Utah

The skinny: CU coach Tad Boyle shook his head before the reporter could even complete the question: No, he replied, the Buffs' 73-33 demolition of Utah on Dec. 31 in Boulder will have no bearing on Saturday's matchup in Salt Lake City.

"Zero, zero," Boyle said. "(Utah) is a much better team than the one we played on New Year's Eve. That was a long time ago. That was a home game for us, and we kind of jumped on them."

Utah, decimated by injuries and attrition under first-year coach Larry Krystkowiak, is 5-19 overall and 2-10 in the Pac-12, ahead of only Southern California (6-19, 1-11)cqcq in the league standings. But Boyle pointed out that the Utes lost by just 70-61 at Arizona last weekend. By comparison, Colorado fell 71-57 to Arizona two days earlier in Tucson.

"Some people might look at that score and think Arizona kind of sleep-walked through that thing," Boyle said. "That wasn't the case. Utah came out with aggressiveness and hit 3's and outplayed them for 39 minutes and could have won very easily.

"Utah is going to to look back at the (earlier meeting) and from a motivational standpoint, they have every edge on us, when it comes to the game on Saturday. We have to create our own motivation and make sure we're ready to go."

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COLORADO STATE
(15-8, 4-4 Mountain West)

NCAA RPI: 30 (down from 24)

This week: Today at Boise State, Saturday vs. Wyoming

The skinny: While cautioning that the focus and concentration of the players and coaches is solely on Boise State, CSU coach Tim Miles wasn't shy about talking on the MWC teleconference about one of the special rivalries in the Rocky Mountain region, the Rams vs. Cowboys "Border War."

Miles said he and Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt had a conversation during the league meetings about supplying some juice to the rivalry.

"One thing Larry and I talked about this summer was getting this to be a more spirited rivalry," Miles said. "It hadn't been that, for whatever reason.

"Both teams had been down a little bit. There was a great crowd, great enthusiasm in Laramie (70-51 Wyoming win on Jan. 21), and they gave it to us plenty good. We deserved it. Hopefully, we can return the favor in Fort Collins."

Saturday's game against Wyoming has been designated CSU's annual "Orange-out" game to honor its Colorado A&M heritage and also is "Legends Night."

"It's an important night for our program, not only to win the ballgame," Miles said.

Miles was asked if he will remind his players of that 19-point loss at Wyoming last month.

"We're going to rub our players' nose in it," Miles said. "They're going to remember clearly and precisely what happened in Laramie."

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DENVER
(18-8, 8-5 Sun Belt)

NCAA RPI: 94 (down from 88)

Games this week: Thursday vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday vs. Louisiana-Monroe

The skinny: DU completes its regular season with two conference home games this week and another next week: the Feb. 26 date with North Texas.

The Pioneers believe they can win the Sun Belt Tournament (March 3-6 in Hot Springs, Ark.), which is what it will take to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. But one goal already has been accomplished. Denver compiled a winning road record (7-6) for the first time at the NCAA Division I level since the 1970-71 season (6-5).

"I've used the word 'transfer,' and that is what this year has been, transforming the program, making some changes, changing guys' roles," DU coach Joe Scott said this week. "We're fortunate we had enough pieces to the puzzle to do that.

"Part of that was being better on the road ? playing in the manner where we're the kind of team where we don't care who we're playing, we don't care where we're playing. We just go out and play basketball. And we're going to play in a manner that sort of lets us play freely."

And to think that three road losses came within the final 1.1 seconds of a game ? a tip-in by North Texas and free throws by Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida Atlantic.

"We had three excruciating losses," Scott said. "But each time, our guys came back the next game and responded."

Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_19970226?source=rss

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