Utes improving? Stay tuned

How much comfort should Ute fans take in the three-game men’s basketball win streak?

Not a lot.

Since the Utes lost five in a row, they’ve won just one game (New Mexico) that they shouldn’t have — and that came on a last-second bank shot. While I’m at it, why were they taking that shot out there? They’re trailing by one and don’t need to be fumbling the ball around on the perimeter. Take it to the rim, draw a foul or get a layup. Force something to happen.

It worked out, but I’d hate to plan on winning many games with that shot.

The other wins were vs. Wyoming and TCU, the two worst teams in the MWC. It took a blocked shot on the last play to win vs. the Horned Frogs.

If the Utes beat CSU and UNLV, I’ll be convinced they are truly improving. Right now Utah is 13-15 overall, 6-8 in conference. More likely they’ll lose both and finish the regular season with a 13-17 record, 6-10 in the conference. Which would put them in the could-have-been-worse but clearly unacceptable category. (Last year the Utes finished 14-17 and 7-9 in conference.}

What if the Utes won out, finishing 15-15 at the end of the regular season? And then what if they won the Mountain West Conference tournament and got the automatic tourney bid with an 18-15 record.

Then I’d say “Welcome to the Pac-12, Jim Boylen.”

Odds on that happening?

Infinitesimal.