Don’t let the football team have all the glory, Utah Utes Men’s Basketball Team.

The Runnin’ Utes are now 5-0 after winning their pod in the Sunshine Slam, an eight-team tournament hosted in, appropriately enough, sunny Daytona, Florida. The Sunshine Slam isn’t the biggest tournament in the world, but Utah has been able to build momentum and chemistry, while at the same time improving their record.

Utah Beats Boston College 68-61

This was Utah’s closest game of their undefeated stretch, and it was a nailbiter. The Utes and Eagles passed the lead around like they were playing hot potato, neither team really taking control of the game until Utah finally pulled away after senior forward Riley Battin hit four free throws in the final seconds of the game.

Battin finished with seven points and five assists, and C Branden Carlson and PG David Jenkins Jr. each produced 13 points. This game was the first time this season that the Utes had been out-rebounded, as the Eagles grabbed 32 rebounds to the Utes’ 28. Rebounding has become a major point of emphasis for new Coach Craig Smith, and the team has responded with an energetic effort.

Utah Takes Down Tulsa 72-58

In what was technically Utah’s pod championship game, Utah blew out the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, assisted in a big way by C Branden Carlson’s double-double.

Carlson scored 15 points and snagged 13 rebounds, five of which were off the offensive glass. The seven-footer from South Jordan, Utah, has become the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points a game. He also was awarded the honor of Sunshine Slam MVP as the best player in the tournament.

The Runnin’ Utes dominated in a way that Coach Smith would love – grabbing rebounds and playing strong defense. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane went a miserable 24-60 from the field and an even more miserable 4-for-16 from three. Utah outrebounded the Golden Hurricane as if their life depended on it, winning the battle on the glass 45-29.

The Big One Coming Up

Now, the next big game for the Runnin’ Utes is one every fan needs to see, especially this year. On November 27th, Utah will host the BYU Cougars in a meeting of undefeated teams.

Technically, BYU still has to play another game, a game that they could potentially lose, but the game is against 0-5 Texas Southern. If BYU loses that game, then I will be very pleasantly surprised, but in reality, there’s no chance they lose.

The reason I say this year the game is more important is because of the recent loss of Utah’s football team’s winning streak over the Cougars. Perhaps the men’s basketball team could begin a streak of their own against what has become a high-class BYU program.

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