Did Craig Smith SAVE his job by Upsetting Kansas Basketball in a Big 12 SHOCKER? Utah Utes Podcast

Did Craig Smith SAVE his job by Upsetting Kansas Basketball in a Big 12 SHOCKER? Utah Utes Podcast

did Craig Smith just save his job by beating Kansas we’re talking about it on today locked on you you are locked on youth your daily podcast on the Utah youut part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello everyone and thank you for making locked on you to your first View and listen of the day we are part of the locked on podcast network of aable wherever get your podcast as well as on YouTube today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel right now new FanDuel customers can get $150 in bonus bets if your first $ five bet wins my name is JT WIIL former intern inside the of Utah athletic department excited to be joined on Today’s Show by KSL Sports is Alex Napolis and Alex talking about Craig Smith has been a conversation that normally gets dominated by oh this is his last year Utah basketball’s not in a good place and I I think that was the biggest thought that we that most people had going into the season but anytime you beat a top 20 team and especially anytime you beat a team like Kansas I think it Sparks a conversation and it this conversation is hey anytime you beat a program like that is that enough to say save your job when you’re on the hot scene I will say I think it could be not an isolated thing well see how the rest of the season ends but I do think this win has the potential to be one of the reason Craig Smith could keep his job after this year how do you view the situation I I would probably agree with you right because this is even though it’s kind of a Down year for Kansas it’s still a top 25 win it’s still a win where you bring in one of the True Blue Bloods one of the uh most recognizable brands in college basketball into your home and you’re able to knock them off in a big upset win I think that’s a that’s a big win that’s a that’s a huge win that Utah can potentially ride that momentum on and finish the season strong and I think it comes down to I think it’s going to come down to that whether we have that conversation of oh is Craig Smith gone is Craig Smith going to stay will they retain him uh you know the future of Craig Smith I think depends a lot on how the youths are able to finish this season this 17 this this 74 to 67 win over the number 17 in the country it’s big it’s huge and it has the potential to really help Craig Smith but it also comes down to finishing strong right if Utah goes on and loses the remainder of their schedule which I I’m not saying they will or I’m not I don’t think that they will but if it does happen right they lose out the rest of their schedule and they don’t have a strong showing in the Big 12 tournament then we’re probably we’re having a different conversation JT but the fact that this is a Utah team who you know was in the preseason was predicted to be at the bottom to be the worst team in the Big 12 uh in the Big 12 standings right but you’re actually sitting at six and eight that’s something to build on and I think I I think like I said with a strong finish we’re probably having a different conversation about whether Craig Smith stays or goes you if you talk to win five of their last six games and make some noise in the Big 12 tournaments in a year that was supposed to be like where we thought I would thought they’d finish closer to 16 as that was what everyone predicted like you said the preseason poll if Utah can finish inside the top 10 or just around there if they finish in the top 12 win a couple games in the tournament yeah they’ll probably miss the NCA tournament but I do think there’s a lot of reason to momentum to think then okay may maybe we should keep Craig Smith I look at it like this I think Craig Smith is a good basketball coach I think he has made some recruiting mistakes for sure not all of his picks have panned out guys he’s brought in but he often puts his team in position to win I don’t really feel like Utah gets out coached a lot also said this before Alex I don’t think Utah basketball is the easiest place to win right now you could look at Larry coviak not working out you could now look at Craig Smith that hasn’t gone the plan perfectly and that’s two coaches so is that two coaches not doing enough part of the reason is that but also they get to basketball problem Utah’s lost out on recruits before they’ve gotten out bid in nil it’s not as always the most supported sport too just in the atmosphere and with things of that nature too so we we know the football team gets all the love and there’s nothing wrong with that but basketball doesn’t even really get a fraction of of what football gets too so I do think there are a lot of reasons that make this job a difficult one so I look at this situation and go hey if this is a Utah team that goes on a run to end the year and Craig Smith is looking like he can build something why would you move on from that just to restart 100% agree and I think ultimately and this goes across any sport not just the sport of basketball but winning solves a lot of problems winning solves a lot of issues and I think that if you if you know like I said unless Utah loses out the rest of their schedule then it’s a different conversation but if Utah can finish strong collect some good wins collect some some maybe a couple wins in the tournament and make some noise in the Big 12 Tournament winning solves your problem and I think in order for Utah basketball to not have this conversation of oh they’re going to be put on the back burner or oh people don’t care as much about Utah basketball is you got to start winning you have to start you have to start winning meaning meaningful basketball games right not just beating up on on Colorado or Oklahoma State who to be frank aren’t good teams in the Big 12 but this this win against number 17 it’s a great start it’s it’s a phenomenal start to start winning quote unquote more meaningful basketball games and to start building some more consistency you start winning games you start attracting better recruits then we’re have then it’s a whole different story for Craig Smith but I i’ still think that this is a program that program that has a long way to go I I agree I agree and I think that Craig Smith still could be maybe the guy that gets it back I’m not trying to overreact to one win I’m just saying I think Craig Smith’s a good basketball coach and I think those are harder to F than people think he was very successful at Utah State he’s had some struggles at Utah like I I said I think some of that is on some of the players he’s chosen to bring in there’s been some hits and some misses but also don’t it’s not like this year and last year’s successes last year’s success and failures it’s on Apples to Apples comparison last year for this team to not make the tournament with Brandon Carlson Devonte Smith some of the things that happened like that was it was a massive disappointment but it was also because he couldn’t do it in the Pack 12 to be doing what Utah is doing this year in a conference as tough and as daunting as the Big 12 they deserve some love and some credit for that like let’s also if he start to look through Craig Smith’s resume right he’s done well against BYU he’s gotten a couple wins against the Cougars in the past going to have an opportunity to get one in Provo that that’s that’s a huge game it’s probably the biggest game he has left on his regular season schedule I think the first round of the Big 12 tournament is a must-win game for Craig Smith if you lose that game because you’re not gonna play one of the top teams based on how the top teams usually get to buy so or they do get to buy so if you play some of those teams and you middle of the pack team and you don’t look like you belong with them that that’s where it could get problematic but this is a guy who helped Utah upset a top five Arizona a couple years ago mentioned doing well against BYU beat that BYU team recently too and now just knocked off a Kansas team too the wins are there when you I still feel like when you watch Craig Smith out there’re like hey he’s good coach they make good adjustments in game gets the most out of of most of his guys even if he’s made some recruiting mistakes I still think he’s got a really good shot to be this I still think he’s got a shot I won’t say really good I still think he has a shot to be this team’s head coach I think a lot of people wrote him off but it went against the top 20 team has that much momentum to kickart what could be enough Domino’s falling that lead to Craigs Smith returning next year couldn’t agree more JT couldn’t agree more and we’ve we’ve seen the success of Craig Smith in the past maybe hasn’t 100% translated yet to Utah basketball but like I said with a little bit more consistency that’s a whole that’s a conversation that can quickly change for Craig Smith and regardless of how you feel about Craig Smith can we all just be fired up and happy and I think pretty much everyone I’ve seen is right like Utah just beat Kansas that’s awesome to beat one of the blue bloods in the sport is fantastic um shout out to Gabe Madison becoming the all-time leader in most made threes by a Utah player for his career that was incredible to see I mean the Light It Up 5 13 from downtown 24 points to lead Utah there I was impress to Keanu da I know he didn’t score it well I mean only two points but to get 10 rebounds like he was getting after it too Jake wall and a double double out there as well Ezra assar we knew he was going to show up in this game too this this team continues to fight they continue to make plays they lied they really limited Hunter Dickson I mean only 12 points on 12 shots to this is just a fun game to watch and it was awesome just like I said Alex like just appreciate hey one of our teams beat one of the best programs in college basketball that just brings us not like absolutely anytime anytime a you know any local team is able to to pull off an upset like this it’s always fun to watch and I think it makes it a little bit more fun in the case that this is personally I think this this is one of the best if not the best performance we’ve seen from this Utah basketball team all season long and so again it’s just how do you build off of that how do you carry that momentum into Kansas State this next week on Tuesday or and then how do you continue to build off and pick up those wins no you’re right it is Kansas state they got them coming up it’s actually gonna be on Monday the 17th so you got Kansas State first then take on UCF those are very winnable games that Kansas State’s tough but you get them at home like that’s where we want this team to try that direction win the tough game UCF beat them win at went on the road it’s a long road trip but still got to win that at top 15 Arizona that’s going to be tough just compete don’t have a Houston showing have something much more akin to what you did against Kansas or even against at one point when Utah play I think at one point when they played Baylor early on the season Utah didn’t lose to them in a close game like not the 7661 I guess that one was wasn’t as close there were parts of it I thought Utah was in it but anyway then after that the Arizona State West Virginia BYU like I said Win five out of those six games win some games in the tournament I think you’re build momentum heading in a positive direction let us know below how you guys think Utah is going to end the regular season if you think frak Smith and this team are going to be able to turn it around and one thing Utah is hoping to do is they’re hoping to build themselves into a basketball program that can consistently generate talent that goes on to play at the next level that’s what the Utah football team’s been able to do three Utah football players got that combined invite last week want to talk about those individuals and what they’ll have a chance to do in Indie in one moments but first this episode of lockon Utes is brought to you by FanDuel FanDuel has you 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the official sports betting partner of the NBA head over to FanDuel today Alex nap back with me here and Alex shifting over from the hardwood to talking about what Utah football has been able to do and that’s consistently be a program that helps players reach the NFL and this year you see three guys get invited to the NFL combine so Brant keithy Karen Reed and Junior tuna all going to be in attendance I’m really excited I felt really good about Reed getting his invite once tuna had a good senior V week I thought he would be there and Keith is a guy like I feel like he deserved to be there but I didn’t know because of the injury so I’m really excited to see him get in there I think there are other guys that could have gotten this invitees a Conor oua van fillinger a zamaya bon are all guys I feel like could have and I would love to see McKai Bernard but it is an ex exclusive field I feel like the three they chose make a lot of sense Alex I would I would absolutely agree with you these three these three make the most sense considering the considering the performances that we saw from karini Reid and Junior tuna at the Senior Bowl I thought those two absolutely balled out and it was nice to see National media National you know National covers of the sport kind of focus in on on both Karan Reed and tuna as being like hey these guys actually have these guys are actually pretty good and really good and seeing them uh perform well at the at the at the Senior Bowl I think for Brent keithy man this is as important as a combine as it gets this is is you know the the injuries are always going to be a question right but if he can go in and have a a really really solid showing at the combine I think he’s got a pretty good shot at at potentially getting drafted in the late rounds right Brent keithy obviously didn’t finish the season the way probably a lot of people wanted him to finish it consider considering he got injured and so I I think for for a guy like brt keithy it is a thousand times more more important not and not to say it’s not important for Karan Reid and Junior tuna but I do think that it is going to be so so so so important for Brant keithy to go out and and have a good showing at the combine in order for him to be able to improve that draft stock because he didn’t have the chance to go to a Senior Bowl and improve that draft stock Like A Kar Reid or a junior tuna did no he didn’t I totally agree this is GNA be big you know he gets the pro the senior you get this the pro day but that’s not always you know you put more stock in the combine normally so I I am excited to see what Brant keithy can do because he’s the fascinating one to me I think Brant keithy of the players in this draft and I do think K Reed will go higher I think Junior tuno will go higher there was even a player or two who didn’t get invited to the combine that I could see going higher because of the medical history keithy if he could stay healthy and he has a chance to be a star and someone might say wow he just hasn’t produced that much I feel like that’s kind of a crazy take well back in 2021 he had 600 yards with an offense that was not exactly known for airing it out like crazy what he do back in 2019 to was also really good then too over 600 yards there too and I felt like this season at cam play he would have had a great chance to a thousand he was so good before his injury in 22 as well in those three games I mean already 204 yards so he’s well on his way to surpassing the 600 that he had set to I just I feel like keii is a guy he’s a really strong route Runner he’s a really good athlete he’s got good hands he’s a veteran he’s experienced there is no the medical will drop if I’m an NFL team Alex why would I not use a sixth or seventh round pick on Brandt Keith’s upside and town when so many of sixth and seventh rounders don’t pan out anyways to me Kei he absolutely should get draft in his combined performance I agree would go a very long way and helping him to do so another guy who Utah is hoping will have a good combine performance of him get drafted is Karan Reed right now I feel like would be my favorite to be the first player of this Bunch drafted Reed has just been so consistent and steady for Utah back when he was helping out with Devin Lloyd and uh uh Nephi Su was the other linebacker with him too the first Pack 12 championship team was starter the next year him and Lander Barton and then injuries kind of derailed these last couple of years right but you look overall this is a guy who’s really Stout in coverage he’s always been really consistent you look back in 23 right he ranked second on the team with 67 tackles he had 72 tackles when he’s fully healthy in that 22 season you can do a little bit everything he sees the field really well shoots through Gap strong tackler good leader and they talk about those hands to pick off passes too I’m never going to forget the UCLA interception that he had so to me Reed’s the favorite to be the first guy drafted I think he’ll have a good combine showing I don’t know if he’ll set the world on fire but I expect him to be drafted in the top five rounds right now I would yes I I I think I would absolutely agree with that and uh again going back to the Senior Bowl and going back to uh going back to I guess the leadership that K Reed shows right this is the NFL I feel like the the linebacker position is always evolving right and it’s difficult to make a name for yourself um and really stick out as a linebacker in the in the NFL but I feel like Kar Reed has the tools to do so and so whoever whoever ends up drafting K Reid is going to be no matter where he goes is going to be very surp I feel like they’re going to be very surprised to see uh to see what he brings to the table because he’s such a he’s he’s a very solid player and a really good guy yeah then this next guy I want to talk about Alex Junior chuna I don’t know what’s more difficult to stop junior jauno or that single strand of hair of yours that continues to fall I know probably tuna probably tuna just narrowly just narly I’ve seen it get I’ve seen come over your face a couple times now so made me laugh but uh for those of you listening on uh video I hope that gives a little insight to what we were talking about but junior tauna is a guy he’s just you talked about the Le we mentioned leadership with Reed I mean it’s the same thing with tuna those were the two captains this Utah team had 6335 pounds I think Utah so often asked him to take on double teams was so and he was often double team too was so happy he got to show his one-on-one abilities that he had that was the guy who got four and a half sacks his rookie year with Utah was Pack 12 freshman of the year like or defensive freshman of the year he he’s a game record I really like this guy he’s a great culture presence he’s physical I think he can be a rotation defensive tackle day one for a team in the NFL he’s another guy once again I was to say like hey I think R will be the first def first player draft for Utah this draft I’d probably go him second I think his talent his int his intangibles the quickness he has off snap too that ability to take on guys he can do a little bit of everything I really like Junior tuna I think he’s got a chance to test okay I don’t think he’s gonna be a great like defensive tackle when it comes to the Athletics and the traits but so often we see guys fall for those things versus you go back look at his tape look at the Senior Bowl and just of him being around those coaches Alex I gotta believe he left an impression on some of them and I do think he has a good chance to be the second you takeen I I would also agree with that sentiment um and I think I feel like for I feel like in the case of tuna the Senior Bowl was so important for him because I don’t know how much how how much Scouts were looking at Utah and being like Oh Utah doesn’t have the best of Records this past season we’re probably going to try to look somewhere else and weren’t aware of what Junior tuna brought to the table and so for him to go out into the Senior Bowl and now potentially going to the the combine and having a good showing I think that’ll massively massively help improve get Junior tuna’s name out there for people to see and be like again just like K re see like hey this guy might actually bring a lot to the table yep I feel that way too so really excited for those three to have the opportunity so whenever not there was obviously Utah’s large class so not everyone got selected that they’re hoping to for the combine as I mentioned I don’t know if there were snubs necessarily van fillinger zamaya Von Conor otou all guys I’d love to see get an opportunity otou would to me would be a pick I’d be like I think he’s gonna surprise some people and I actually do think otou will get drafted maybe the medical will lead to him not getting drafted but the intangibles that he has Zaya vau is the guy I thought I would have torn up at the combine so wanted to see him get an invite came back for his senior year did not close the Year great but still did a lot of good things on the season for Utah too so those are the kind of the first guys that jump out to me when I’m thinking about like okay which Utah guy didn’t get a combined invite that maybe at least as an argument to do so am I missing anyone is there anyone you’re surprised just not to see on this list no I feel like that’s pretty I feel like those ones are pretty straightforward I probably when I saw the invites I think the biggest surprises to me were uh like you mentioned zayah vaugh and Van fillinger I thought both of them you know again despite Utah not having the greatest of year I feel like they were still absolute leaders and absolute um units on the defense for this Utah side uh they they still they still had a pretty good season um and so those two were probably the biggest surprises for me of of guys who who might not be getting the the necessary look that they deserve yeah it’ll beting to see those guys all get a chance at their pro day too so hopefully they’re able to do something with it there you know it was cool to see a money Parks get an opportunity at The Shrine bille so a little something to sign um little something to get going there too you know one guy I’m fascinated by Alex and I have to do an episode on him again the whole Dorian singer thing if he doesn’t get his extra year of Eligibility like when when do we know that is he just I mean is he in this draft is he I I believe he is until he gets the EXT year eligibility but he’s not on Utah’s roster so at the moment I think he’s in there and if he’s in here he’s a guy I do think has a chance to get after too I think he was productive I think he was I think he did a lot of good things just bad quarterback play prevent prevented and held him back to so singer is another guy I’ll be keeping my eye on to see how this whole Saga plays out with him speaking of things I’m keeping my eye on H all women’s basketball team they’re on a roll right now this is a team coach Peters is doing a great job with this squad they have won seven straight games they finally get a nice match up coming up with Oklahoma state which I’m excited about to see what they can do against that against ranked team because they have beaten all these unranked teams but what are you supposed to do when you play unranked teams beat them that’s what Utah was a to able to do they went down take on ASC this weekend and Blasting them 98- 62 love how they close the game 22-13 in the fourth Kennedy McQueen and Gian nkin has been fantastic she needs some representation on the big all Big 12 teams at the end of the year but I I love the way this team is playing right now as I mentioned Alex I just feel like they got good returning experience Tor as centers was kind of the new piece they were able to add with Johnson McQueen mein via as well as some of those other de pieces too a Utah women’s basketball program that is acclimated very nicely this big 12 I’m excited for them to get their chance in the Big 12 tournament Big 12 has some good women’s basketball programs but I do think Utah is ready for the challenge I know they lost a couple of games early on but now this team’s kind of hitting their Rhythm getting healthy finding their stride I’m excited to see what they’ll be able to do I think you hit the nail right on the head man the team is getting healthy and I think the team is learning to play together under the new head coach right I mentioned this last time I was on here with you but I’ve been incredibly impressed with how this Women’s Basketball team has been able to stick together through losing your head coach I can’t imagine any world where that would be easy and to see to see neins step up to see McQueen step up and and play phenomenal phenomenal basketball I’m very excited to see what this team can do in that big 12 tournament because I think right now with the way that they’re rolling with the way that they’re playing this is a team that can absolutely make noise in that big 12 tournament man and if they if they can get anywhere to a semi-final or a final in their first year in the Big 12 I think that would be an absolute huge huge success for Utah their three-point shooting is absolutely amazing anytime that I anytime that that neins pulls up for a three it I I love it because I know it’s gonna go in right she she she is absolutely amazing from Beyond The Arc and then as well as it’s it’s a deep team they got good players coming off the bench to help rotate to give rest to to your starters um and to make sure that that and you know sometimes when in college basketball you see when the bench comes in the play Drops a little bit but I haven’t really seen it that much from the depth here at Utah uh I feel like the bench players who are coming in and doing a good job and so you have good good bench Play Good three-point shooting um good defense I feel like that is a recipe for success and Utah has followed that blueprint to a T and and it’s working really well seven straight is no joke and happy to see them continue their success in the Big 12 been enjoying it too and seven of the last eight games you mentioned GI mekins a little bit she’s LED this team in scoring so been fun to see what she can produce only four games to go and you know Utah’s the only team in the Big 12 in the top five that’s not currently ranked well that’s I think that’s wrong but they’re gonna have a chance to prove they should be they get Oklahoma State and West Virginia in three of their last four games so a huge opportunity for this Utah Women’s Basketball team to get in there Make some noise and get get ranked like they deserve to I believe they’re going to be an NCA tournament team but still lock in your positioning and make it to a point where you get some momentum built up going into the tournament earn a higher seed I’m excited to see what this team can do propelled by Gian neins Alex always appreciate you stopping by taking the time let everyone know where they can find more your stuff Happ absolutely hey soccer season is right around the corner it starts uh this upcoming week so if you’re a Utah fan who also happens to like soccer and all things R Lake hit me up at nepolis Alex at RSL show uh you can also find all the other local sports coverage on my page at napis Alex and of course at KSL Sports you’re the man Alex thanks again for stopping by absolutely JT thanks for the invite pleasure as always that’s gonna do it for today’s lock. we back with you tomorrow talking the latest in Utah football and Utah Athletics

Can the Utah Basketball’s stunning victory over the Kansas Jayhawks secure Craig Smith’s future as head coach? Utah Football will be sending some of their top players to the NFL Combine.

Can the Utah Utes build on their top 20 College Basketball upset and make a run in the NCAA Tournament? The Utah women’s Basketball team is also on a roll as they look to knock off some of the top Big 12 contenders.

On today’s episode of Locked On Utes, JT Wistrcill and Alex Napoles of KSL Sports discuss the latest in Utah Athletics.

Follow the show: @LockedOnUtes
Follow JT: @Jtwistrcill

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