Utah coach Craig Smith said that last week, it “just felt like we were off.”
That’s when the Runnin’ Utes were handed two humbling blowout losses by No. 6 Houston and Baylor, where Utah simply didn’t look dialed in for the majority of either game and didn’t match the physicality and aggressiveness of their opponents.
Yes, the Utes weren’t favored in either game, but the energy level wasn’t there.
On Tuesday night, when Cincinnati came into the Huntsman Center, the Utes faced another scenario where they could have easily folded.
The Bearcats, who trailed by eight early in the second half, turned the game around with a energy sucking 14-0 run where Cincinnati forced Utah into six turnovers and five straight field goal misses over a six and a half-minute stretch.
That run was capped by an energy play, where the Bearcats crashed the boards for an offensive rebound, and it ended with a kick out to Josh Reed, who banked in a 3-pointer to make it 50-44 with 11:16 to play.
It was the kind of moment that can easily deflate a team, and last week against Baylor, a 22-3 Bears run had done just that to the Utes. Even though Baylor’s run happened during the first half, Utah never seemed to recover and couldn’t pull any closer than six points after that.
This time, Utah fought back.
Over the next five and a half minutes, the Utes answered with an 18-4 run of their own to go up 62-54 with five minutes to play.
That run not only helped the Utes move back in front, it proved to be a pivotal momentum change in Utah’s eventual 69-66 victory.
“I didn’t know those runs were that drastic. I mean, I knew there was two big runs, but didn’t know it was that much,” Smith said. “I’m really proud because it, it didn’t look good there for a stretch. Obviously, I think the key was just how well we defended.”
During that span, Utah came away with eight defensive stops. That included four missed shots, a Cincinnati turnover and the Bearcats missing the front end of a 1 and 1 free-throw opportunity on three straight possessions.
“I was really proud of how we responded from that moment on, like not hanging your head and having the woe is me mentality and, then our guys just started playing with vigor and aggression… but the key was stops,” Smith said.
Utah’s offense only had three empty possessions during that run, as the Utes scored on eight possessions and got points from four different players in that 18-4 stretch. Keanu Dawes had seven of those points.
Oddly enough, that run illustrated a characteristic of the Utes’ win that has been a struggle for them this season: free-throw shooting.
Utah was a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line during their 18-4 run, while Cincinnati missed the front end of those aforementioned three straight 1 and 1 opportunities.
In a game where Utah’s turnover struggles (Cincinnati converted 19 Utah turnovers into 21 points) were counterbalanced by dominating the boards (the Utes had a 41-23 rebounding edge), a determining factor was free-throw shooting.
Utah made 12 of 17, including 12 of 15 in the second half, while the Bearcats were 14 of 22, even though that was 13 of 17 in the second half.
“We had our chances in the second half and we couldn’t overcome it, so congrats to Utah,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said. “We’ve got a group that’s frustrated and cares a great deal, and it’s been a tough nine games. We had a chance to get over the hump tonight, so it hurts that we didn’t do it.”
Gabe Madsen, who led the Utes with 18 points on the night, scored Utah’s final nine points. Seven of those points came from the free-throw line, and he made 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute to wrap up the victory.
“Something Coach Smith said before the game was everything we want is on the other side of hard. So when we were sitting there and, you know, going through some of the turnovers and we had that final media timeout, that was something we said, everything we want is on the other side of hard,” Madsen said. “And so, just figuring out another way to win. It’s an ugly game sometimes, and we’ll figure all that stuff out. Obviously, that’s how it went tonight and we found a way and feels good.”
The victory moved Utah to 4-5 in Big 12 play, with a chance to be at .500 at the midway point of the conference schedule when the Utes (12-8 overall) visit Oklahoma State on Saturday (1 p.m. MST, ESPN+).
“You’ve just got to keep going in this league. You’ve just got to have an elite competitive spirit, and you’ve got to have a short memory and just keep going. And we made just enough plays down the stretch,” Smith said.
In a thrilling matchup, the Utah basketball team showcased their resilience and determination as they rallied past Cincinnati to secure a hard-fought victory. Despite facing a tough opponent and falling behind early in the game, the Utes refused to back down and fought their way back into the contest.
Led by their strong defense and clutch shooting, Utah was able to chip away at Cincinnati’s lead and eventually take control of the game. The team’s ability to stay composed under pressure and execute in critical moments was a testament to their mental toughness and determination.
The win was a statement victory for the Utes, showing that they have the ability to compete with some of the top teams in the country. It also served as a reminder of the team’s potential and the bright future ahead for Utah basketball.
As the season progresses, the Utes will look to build on this impressive performance and continue to show their resolve in the face of adversity. With their never-say-die attitude and strong team chemistry, Utah basketball is a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of college basketball.
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