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Bill’s Blah Blah Blog

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 @ 3:16PM

Blogging In the New Year

Sorry it’s been a while...How about some quick thoughts on a couple of topics:

1. Utah Basketball-I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen on the effort front from the Utes through their first 13 games. Competition and a good test of where they are in conference play comes tomorrow night at San Diego State. The Utes aren’t very athletic and San Diego State is. Last season at Cox Arena Utah stuck with SDSU until the athleticism took over. Utah’s back court is better, both Bryant and Kepkay have learned to play together well. Kim Tillie will not play tomorrow, but might be back for BYU on Saturday. Stepehen Weigh has had a nightmarish season so far and won’t likely see the court until mid to late February due to injury. The X factor for the Utes is Luke Nevill. Great one night, then non-existent the next won’t get it done for Utah or Jim Boylen. There is no reason that Nevill shouldn’t average a double double in MWC play, with the exception of Trent Plaistead, there isn’t a player/big man that Luke can’t dominate, the question is will he. Right now Utah has the look of a 4th or 5th place team to me, if Nevill becomes a consistent factor there isn’t any reason they couldn’t finish anywhere in the Top 3.

2. The MWC-Before the season began I would have told you that the MWC was a 2-3 bid league for the NCAA tourney. Well we have now come through the non-conference season and if the tourament began today the league would likely get just a single bid, going to the conference tournament champion. Joe Lunardi (ESPN’s Bracket Guru) has the MWC with just one team in today, San Diego State. Here is a look at his latest bracketology…

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

3. MLS Superdraft-Real Salt Lake will attempt to upgrade its’ talent base this Friday at the Super Draft in Baltimore, Maryland. This will be the first draft for the Jason Kreis/Garth Lagerwey tandem and it’s a big one. RSL has 3 big picks including the #3 overall selection. Lagerwey has been on my show and on record stating that RSL needs to upgrade talent everywhere, this is true! Well now it’s time to show what you are made of...RSL must find someone who can make the roster and contribute with the #3 pick. From all I’ve read the Midfield position appears to be the deepest. We’ll see what RSL decides to do, but whatever direction it is, it must be one that leads RSL in the Playoff direction. I will have Lagerwey, Kreis and the top pick of RSL on my radio show on Friday afternoon.