Utes senior David Collette didn’t shave off his thick rustic beard this week in an attempt to look younger. He simply had too much time on his hands with no games on the schedule since last Saturday.
After all, that ship has sailed. Utah’s big man couldn’t run from his distinction as the team’s elder statesman even if he tried. Collette’s teammates affectionately refer to him as “gramps.” If he were trying to present himself as younger than he is, it probably wouldn’t help that he’s dealt with — of all possible injuries — a lingering hip ailment this season.
Collette, who has started all 20 of the games he’s played this season, should be well-rested when the Utes (13-8, 5-5) play Colorado (12-10, 4-6) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo.
Collette, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward from Murray, even joked earlier this season after a game that he was coming up on 40 years old. For the record, he turns 25 in May. The Utes’ second-leading scorer (12.6 points per game) has an old-fashioned-yet-efficient style of play to go with his status as the team’s oldest player. Collette’s interior presence on offense has been a staple for the Utes this season.
His low-post arsenal of reverse layups, jump hooks, up-and-under moves and the occasional two-handed dunk isn’t flashy. It won’t produce a lot of the jaw-dropping plays that make the nightly highlight shows. His game would fit perfectly in a black and white video of games from previous decades, but it remains effective today. Collette has shot 58 percent from the field this season (eighth best in Pac-12).
“I like it,” Collette said about playing with is back to the basket. “I think it’s fun. Obviously the game is moving away from it, which is unfortunate to see, but I think it’s a lost art, a lost skill that nobody has anymore. It’s something that I really enjoy and that I love working on, so I stick to it.”
Collette’s collegiate career has spanned into its second presidential administration thanks to a two-year LDS mission and sitting out a season plus after a transfer from Utah State. It only seems like a lifetime ago that Mountain West media members voted him Freshman of the Year following the 2014-15 season.
After being ineligible to play until after the first semester last season, Collette started 22 games, averaged 13.6 points and shot just a hair below 60 percent from the field in his first season with the Utes.
He’s remained one of the team’s most-efficient offensive options this season with Pac-12 Conference opponents having become more familiar with him and without Kyle Kuzma to take attention off Collette. He’s scored 10 points or more in 15 of 20 games. Collette scored 10 of the Utes’ 33 points in the first half in the near-upset of Arizona in Tucson last Saturday.
“I think it’s just because I’ve been there for so long,” Collette said. “I mean, I’m so comfortable down in that position, back to the basket. I think just the experience of, you know, I can’t think of a scenario that I haven’t had. Double team, triple team, whatever it is, I’ve dealt with it all. That helps a lot.”
The Buffaloes have lost three consecutive games, and they recently have struggled to contain opposing big men. Arizona State’s tandem of Romello White and De’Quon Lake combined to score 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, while Arizona’s Deandre Ayton and Dusan Ristic teamed up for 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
Utes coach Larry Krystkowiak has preached an inside-out approach on offense all season. While he always will want more production from his team, he’s been happy with the distribution of scoring between perimeter-oriented and post players this season.
Senior guard Justin Bibbins (14 points per game), junior guard Sedrick Barefield (11.7 ppg), senior forward Tyler Rawson (11.1 ppg) and Collette (12.6 ppg) give the Utes four players averaging more than 10 points per game, while freshman forward Donnie Tillman (9.7 ppg) sits right on the edge of the double-digit threshold.
“When you look at shots per minute, our two five men lead us in shots per minutes, so I think there’s a value to getting the ball inside and trying to take advantage of it,” Krystkowiak said. “You see all different things. You see double teams. You see single coverage. You see traps from certain people. You see traps from the other big. So you’ve got to be ready and try to take advantage of that.
“I’d like to be better and more efficient, but for we’ve almost got five guys in double figures, so when you talk about a balance, I’m pleased with it.”
UTAH AT COLORADO <br>Tipoff • 7 p.m. Friday <br>TV • FS1 <br>Radio • 700 AM <br>Records • Utah 13-8, 5-5; Colorado 12-10, 4-6 <br>Series history • Colorado leads 26-21 <br>About the Utes • Utah had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 74-73 loss to Arizona on Saturday in Tucson. Junior guard Sedrick Barefield scored a season-high 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Barefield has averaged 19 points and has made 17-of-28 field goal attempts (8 of 13 3-pointers) and gone 15 of 16 at the free-throw line in his past three games. … Senior forward Tyler Rawson leads the team in rebounds (6.2 per game) and blocks (1.2 per game). Rawson ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in blocks and 11th in defensive rebounds per game (5.1). …The Utes have won seven straight against Colorado. They’ve won their past three against the Buffaloes in Boulder. <br>About the Buffaloes • The Buffaloes have lost three consecutive games, including an 80-66 loss to Arizona State on Saturday. However, they’ve gone 8-2 at home with wins over Arizona and Arizona State in Boulder. … Fifth-year senior George King ranks third in the Pac-12 in rebounds per game (8.2) and is tied for the team lead in scoring (14.3 ppg). King also is the only current member of the team who was in the program for its most recent win against Utah in 2014. … Sophomore guard Deleon Brown reportedly has been limited by a flu in recent games. He played just 28 minutes in the past three games and did not score in that stretch.
