How Deivon Smith 'took a big step forward' and is making Pac-12 teams game plan for him
The Utah men’s basketball team’s much-needed win at UCLA showcased yet again the talents of valuable transfer point guard Deivon Smith.
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The Utah men’s basketball team’s much-needed win at UCLA showcased yet again the talents of valuable transfer point guard Deivon Smith.
As Utah continues winter conditioning and gets ready for spring camp, which starts next month, here’s a look at what the defensive and special teams depth charts could look like as the Utes head into spring ball. Per ESPN’s Bill Connelly, the Utes return 70% of their defensive production, which ranks 28th among FBS teams. Defensive end Jonah Elliss, cornerbacks Miles Battle and JaTravis Broughton and starting safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki are gone, but the Utes return four of five starters along the defensive line and all three starting linebackers.
The Runnin’ Utes couldn’t capitalize on two solid opportunities in the game’s final minute and were too prone to inconsistency, particularly on offense, in losing their third straight.
Utah basketball will face USC and UCLA on the road after falling at home twice for the first time this season.
That came after Smith nearly recorded his second triple-double in an eight-day span in the Runnin' Utes' 80-77 victory over Oregon on Sunday. The 6-foot athletic point guard scored 24 points — his high in a Utah uniform — and added 11 rebounds and eight assists in helping the Utes snap an 11-game losing streak against the Ducks. He did this while replacing an injured Rollie Worster in the starting lineup for the third straight game and after posting a triple-double against Stanford the previous Sunday.