Playing in the second round of an NIT that breaks games into quarters, the Utes scored 30 points in the first 10 minutes Monday night vs. LSU.
So it became clear: If the Utes were relegated to this event, they were going to maximize the opportunity. That’s the attitude they displayed in a 95-71 victory at the Huntsman Center, a performance highlighted by Utah’s biggest point total of the season.
Playing in the NIT’s experimental quarter system and having a chance to top that 30-point record won’t be among the program’s goals in the coming years. Even so, the current Utes have made the NIT worth their effort.