Tigers have challenge in Utes’ 7-foot-2 Nevill

• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jan 6, 2009 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:15 p.m.

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In Salt Lake City, Utah, one can find Trent Johnson’s college basketball coaching roots.

His first college job was at the University of Utah as an assistant back in the late 1980s under Lynn Archibald.

“It is a very educated fan base and it’s an institution that really understands basketball,” Johnson said.

He’ll get to jog down memory lane today as head coach of the Tigers as LSU visits Utah in the Tigers’ first road game of the season.

While Johnson will be enjoying flashbacks to the roots of his coaching career, LSU guard Garrett Temple will also return to his early days of his college career, as a player.

The last time LSU and Utah played was in the 2004-2005 season when Temple was inactive, going through his redshirt season. Utah won 69-55.

“I remember they had Andrew Bogut,” Temple recalled of the Australian-born Utes center, who later became the first pick in the NBA draft.

Temple, too, may feel a case of déjà vu today.

That’s because Utah (9-5) will present LSU with another big challenge from down under in Luke Nevill, a 7-foot-2 senior center from Australia who leads the Utes in scoring (17.6 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg) and blocked shots (2.4 a game).

He leads a typically big Utah team that relies on foreign imports — three of the starting five and four of the top seven players are from foreign countries.

“They are big, strong and physical and coming off a big win over Wyoming,” Johnson said. “They beat Gonzaga about a week ago.

“It’s going to be a different type of game, but it is the point of time in the year where we need to be ready to play every game.”

It’s been an up-and-down year for the Utes, who started the year by getting shocked at home by Southwest Baptist, a Division II team. They also suffered a three-game losing streak that included a loss to Idaho State.

Conversely, there was the 66-65 win over Gonzaga plus wins over Oregon and Ole Miss. Most recently came a 91-67 win over Wyoming to start Mountain West Conference play Saturday.

Against the Cowboys, the 265-pound Nevill dominated inside, scoring 29 points to go with 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

“We all know that Luke can score the ball,” said Utah coach Jim Boylen of his center, who has averaged double-digit scoring in all four of his seasons with the Utes. “He’s got great hands and he’s a great passer, but he’s had to improve defense and rebounding and he did that (against Wyoming) with five blocks and 13 rebounds.”

An assertive Nevill could be a problem for LSU. Tigers center Chris Johnson will give up three inches in height and 55 pounds to the Utah big man. And, Johnson has struggled lately, averaging 4.3 points and 5.9 rebounds over the past six games. LSU has also been outrebounded in three of its last five games which could be a problem against a Utah team that seems to be on an upswing, winning four of its last five games.

“I am thankful that we have won four of five and I’m proud of our defensive performances since the Oklahoma game (a 70-52 loss),” Boylen said. “I have seen growth defensively with a focus, mindset and pride on defense.”

In that stretch, Utah is allowing a mere 62.4 points per game and has not allowed an opponent to reach 70 points.

Defense has also been the forte for LSU (12-1), which has won four straight since its only loss, against Texas A&M in Houston.

But the Utah game will present the Tigers with their first road game and only their third against a team in the Sagarin Ratings’ top 100.

“It’s a tough place to play because of the atmosphere and because it’s hard to breathe up there in the mountains,” Temple said. “They beat a top-10 Gonzaga team. They are very educated. It’s going to be a good game.”

Schedule strength hasn’t been the issue for Utah, which also has losses to California and highly-touted mid-major Utah State. Boylen puts LSU up with the “big-time” teams his team will have played.

“They have a big-time program and talent,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for their coach and we’re hoping for a big crowd and a great game.”

LSU at Utah

WHEN: 8 p.m. today

WHERE: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

RADIO: WYPY-FM 100.7

TV: Mtn., the Mountain West Conference’s network, will carry the game. It is available to DirecTV customers.

RECORDS: LSU 12-1, Utah 9-5.

LAST TIME OUT: LSU 90, Southeastern Louisiana 61, Saturday; Utah 91, Wyoming 67, Saturday.

LAST MEETING/SERIES: Utah 69-55, Jan. 3, 2005 at Salt Lake City/tied 1-1.

Probable lineups

LSU

Starters

F Tasmin Mitchell       6-7       Jr.

F Chris Johnson          6-11     Sr.

G Marcus Thornton     6-4       Sr.

G Garrett Temple        6-6       Sr.

G Bo Spencer 6-1       So.

Reserves

G Alex Farrer  6-5       Jr.

F Storm Warren          6-6       Fr.

F Quintin Thornton     6-8       Sr.

Utah

Starters

F Kim Tillis     6-10     Jr.

C Luke Nevill 7-2       Sr.

G Luka Drca   6-5       Jr.

G Lawrence Borha      6-3       Sr.

G Carlon Brown         6-5       So.

Reserves

G Tyler Kepkay          6-0       Sr.

F Shaun Green            6-8       Sr.

G Jordan Cyphers       6-4       Fr.

Leaders

LSU — Thornton 18.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 48.9 percent FG (90-184), 39.7 percent 3-pt. FG (27-68); Spencer 12.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 34 assists, 47.8% FG (54-113), 43.9 percent 3-pt. FG (25-57), 89.7 percent FT (35-39); Mitchell 14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 55.9 percent FG (76-136), 74.5 percent FT (35-47); Temple 7.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 52 assists, 31 steals.

Utah — Nevill 17.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 62percent FG (93-150), 75.3 percent FT (61-81), 34 blocked shots; Borha 10.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 35.8 percent 3-pt FG (24-67), 83.8 percent FT (31-37); Green 10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 39.2 percent 3-pt. FG (31-79), 18 blocked shots, 19 steals; Brown 10 ppg, 48 assists, 56.6 percent FG (56-99).

Gary Laney