Utah Basketball: 3 keys for the Utes against BYU

TUCSON, AZ - JANUARY 27: Head coach Larry Krystkowiak of the Utah Utes gestures at official Dick Cartmell during the first half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on January 27, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 20: Sedrick Barefield #0 of the Utah Utes is fouled by Markel Crawford #5 of the Mississippi Rebels during day one of the Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

2. Utah must try to control the free throw attempts at both ends

A second key for Utah will take place at the free throw line. Both teams shoot well from the line, but in order to defeat BYU, the Utes will have to get to the line while staying out of foul trouble themselves and limiting BYU’s attempts from the charity stripe.

Good news for Utah is this is something they can take advantage of during the game. Utah who shoots 71.9% from the free throw line and are middle of the pack in terms of free throw attempts (153) and makes (110). Tillman, Gach, Barefield, and Topalovic are the top team’s top four free-throw shooters, shooting 81%, while the rest of the team shoots just 58%. BYU has committed 189 personal fouls, 44th most in the country.

On the other end of the floor, BYU is 24th in attempts (233) and 12th in makes (172) so Utah will have to play good defense without committing fouls. The Utes have committed 127 fouls this season, but 50 of those were committed in back-to-back games against Grand Canyon and Hawaii. Outside of those games, the Utes are committing just 15 fouls per game, those are the kind of numbers they will need to see against BYU.

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