Utah Utes guard Jaxon Brenchley (5) eyes a 3-pointer in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
For a number of temporary moments on a sleepy Sunday afternoon on the Huntsman Heart, the chance that the lowly Cal Bears — maybe the worst crew in Energy Six school basketball — may upset the Runnin’ Utes entered the minds of the three,500 or so followers in attendance.
Then Jaxon Brenchley took over.
Jaxon who?
The seldom-used senior from the Cache Valley, who had scored a grand whole of 4 factors all season and who had watched from the bench in all however 11 of Utah’s video games this yr, sparked the Utes with a private 8-0 run and Utah rolled from there to a 61-46 victory to snap its two-game dropping skid.
“It feels good to get again on observe. What a recreation of magnificence tonight, relying in your perspective. However on the finish of the day, we took care of enterprise.” — Utah basketball coach Craig Smith
“I've been working laborious all season. It's nice to have a chance to (play) and I'm simply actually grateful it labored out tonight and I had some photographs fall,” mentioned Brenchley, who completed with a season-high 10 factors. “The stream of the sport kinda got here straightforward. I'm simply actually excited and grateful for the chance to get the win, firstly.”
It was a win the Utes (16-9, 9-5) needed to have, they usually obtained it in convincing trend after a depressing begin. Cal (3-20, 2-10), the Pac-12’s last-place crew, jumped out to an 18-11 lead whereas Utah began prefer it was nonetheless wallowing within the despair of Thursday’s 78-72 loss to Stanford that was simply probably the most disappointing setback of the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
Brenchley grabbed an offensive rebound, scored and was fouled, then accomplished the 3-point play to get the Utes going. Subsequent journey down the ground, he drained a 3-pointer. One other and-one — he missed the free throw — made it 19-18 Utes and the rout was on.
Lazar Stefanovic, who led all scorers with 15 factors, hit a 3-pointer to finish the run and the introduced crowd of 6,731 may begin respiratory simpler once more.
“We did begin gradual. It was sort of the identical Thursday, somewhat gradual begin,” Brenchley mentioned. “However I kinda knew coming into the sport we would want extra set off the bench, extra guys that wanted to play, particularly with Gabe (Madsen) being out. I knew I wanted to, if my quantity was referred to as, go compete.”
Talking of Madsen, who will likely be out 4-6 weeks with a proper foot damage, coach Craig Smith mentioned there’s nothing new to report relating to a timeline for the sophomore’s return.
“Good athletes get better rapidly, and Gabe’s an excellent athlete,” Smith mentioned.
Lars Thiemann led Cal with 12 factors, whereas Kuany Kuany added 11, however solely two after his 3-pointer with 9:22 remaining within the first half gave the guests the seven-point lead.
Smith mentioned Utes guard Rollie Worster was converted to guarding Kuany, with optimistic outcomes. Worster added eight factors and 7 rebounds in 37 minutes.
“It feels good to get again on observe,” Smith mentioned. “What a recreation of magnificence tonight, relying in your perspective. However on the finish of the day, we took care of enterprise.”
It wasn’t considered one of Utah’s higher offensive performances — the Utes shot simply 37% from the sector and 32% (10 of 31) from 3-point vary. Main scorer Branden Carlson was 4 of 14 for 12 factors, however grabbed 13 rebounds.
Nonetheless, Utah’s protection confirmed up in a giant method after Cal’s early lead, and the Utes took a 29-24 lead at halftime. Cal shot simply 28.6% within the second half.
Having buried the Bears 58-43 in Berkeley on Dec. 29, Utah accomplished the season sweep with an analogous defensive effort Sunday.
“I really like how we guarded. I felt like we actually, actually guarded tonight and actually obtained again to who we're and what we're. I assumed we made life very, very troublesome for them on that finish of the ground,” Smith mentioned. “… We did an excellent job taking part in laborious with out fouling.”
Ben Carlson was 3 for 4 from 3-point vary in considered one of his higher offensive video games of the yr.
“Ben Carlson sticks three 3s. He has been working his what off, getting further photographs up within the fitness center. He has actually been working laborious at his recreation and I assumed it confirmed,” Smith mentioned.
Ben Carlson, who additionally had 5 rebounds, mentioned his laborious work paid off.
“I believe simply sticking with my shot, simply being able to shoot (made the distinction),” he mentioned. “I've been engaged on it loads within the fitness center. I simply felt like immediately they have been stepping into and my teammates have been getting me beauty.”
The Utes will now flip their consideration to rival Colorado, which knocked off Stanford 84-62 Sunday in Boulder. Nonetheless, that recreation gained’t be till Saturday on the Huntsman Heart, that means the Utes have a while to regroup and refocus for the following six video games, which may embrace 5 alternatives for Quad 1 wins.
“It was good to get again on the suitable facet of the win-loss column, and hopefully we will carry some momentum right here going into the bye week,” Smith mentioned. “Truthfully, we want a bye. It's sort of a bizarre yr. We're (this late) in season and it's our first bye week. I imply, we want it.
We simply gotta get our legs again underneath us, and get some restoration right here as we go into the house stretch.”
It’s a house stretch that could possibly be fairly significant, significantly if the Utes hold caring for enterprise, like they did Sunday — after that uneasy begin.