Utah Loss, Duke Bounces To The Elite Eight
On the morning of the big Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament, Utah fans excitedly awaited for the game against Duke University to begin. The University of Utah posted to their Facebook page an image of University of Utah President Pershing and administration holding up the ‘U’ with the caption that read “Houston, Duke has a problem. Go Utes! –Coach K, good luck to you and the team. From all of us.”
Utah gave Duke that problem by keeping up with the Blue Devils in Houston Friday night during the South Region Championship. Many predicted that Duke (31-4) would run the Utah Utes (26-8) back home early in the game. The Runnin’ Utes shot 32 percent with junior guard, Brandon Taylor leading Utah in scoring with 15 points and freshman forward, Jakob Poeltl leading in rebounds with nine. Utah freshman forward, Brekkott Chapman fouled out of the game with 1:50 left in the game and six points.
Freshman forward, Justise Winslow led the Blue Devils in scoring with 21 points and ten rebounds. While Tyus Jones had 15 points and three assists, who is also a freshman guard.
The Utes headed to the locker room at the half with a score of 22-27 while making a late run and cutting Duke’s lead to five. Delon Wright came out of the half with his second bucket of the game after needing to head to the bench for the remaining 4:57 of the first half due to his third foul of the game.
Blue Devils Coach Mike Krzyzewski told CBS that he thought that his team started the game by being a little nervous. Runnin’ Utes Coach Larry Krystkowiak made a comment after the half that he was happy with the Ute’s defense however the nine turnovers in the first really hurt them.
With a final score of 63-57, Duke will go on to the Elite Eight to take on Gonzaga (35-2) who beat UCLA with a final score of 72-62 Friday evening. The region final will take place on Sunday, March 29th.
Utah had the opportunity to play in the Elite Eight; the last time they made an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight was in 1998. Utah has a lot to be proud of as they made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament this year since the 2009 event. The last time they made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 was ten years ago in 2005. Utah is one of seven teams that are recognized by the NCAA to have reached the Sweet 16 every decade since the 1950’s. The Runnin’ Utes won the title of the national championship in 1944.
“Utah makes you that way because they’re a good team,” said Duke Coach Krzyzewski when talking to CBS about the team being nervous during the first half.
It was a good season with Coach Krystkowiak and the Runnin’ Utes, we’ll see you next year Utes.
