Mike Sharavjamts may not have his starting job back, but the Runnin’ Utes forward might have found his groove again.
The junior forward scored 15 points off the bench this week against Florida A&M, earning praise from his head coach over his changing role.
Sharavjamts hit a pair of early triples and finished 6 for 7 from the floor in 17 minutes of court time against the Rattlers. He also recorded four assists and two rebounds.
“He had a great look to him,” Utah head coach Craig Smith said. “... Our bench was so excited. Everybody loves playing with Mike.”
Sharavjamts, the 6-foot-10 big man from Mongolia, began the season in the Utes’ starting lineup. But as Utah’s frontcourt has become healthier with Lawson Lovering and Zach Keller’s returns from injury and deeper with the midseason addition of forward Caleb Lohner, Sharavjamts has seen his role reduced. He played seven minutes in the Utes’ loss to Saint Mary’s and logged just four in a win over Radford.
Behind the scenes, though, Smith said Sharavjamts had kept himself ready.
“He’s been practicing pretty well. It’s not like he’s been bad in practice,” the coach said.
Against Florida A&M, Sharavjamts seized an opportunity to showcase his talents in his new role.
“He can be such a dynamic player and obviously we were able to see that [against Florida A&M]. Because it wasn’t that long ago he was playing pretty good. There are a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. … He handled it in a real professional way and he went out there and performed. That says a lot about that guy.”
Running point
After a breakout game against Radford (18 points, three assists, three rebounds), senior guard Hunter Erickson got the start against Florida A&M this week.
“He’s earned it,” Smith said. “I thought he responded in a great way. Sometimes it just gives you a different look when you see the game through a different lens.”
Erickson’s night did not translate to success in the box score, however. He went scoreless (0-for-4 shooting) and without an assist in 16 minutes in his first start of the year.
Free throw woes
The Runnin’ Utes are shooting just 64.2% from the stripe to start the year. But senior guard Mason Madsen isn’t sounding the alarm yet.
“I think free throw shooting is something that can become contagious,” Madsen said. “It kind of becomes a thing when you make it a thing.”
A season ago at Boston College, Madsen went 30 for 31 from the line. This season, he’s made six of the nine freebies he has attempted.
“It’s just a rhythm thing,” he said. “We shoot the ball well otherwise. I’m not worried about the shooters on the court. It’ll fall.”
Forward Ezra Ausar offered a different take on his own 60.3% mark from the stripe.
“I think that rim is janky,” he joked this week.
The forward is taking the issue seriously, though.
“I’ve been up at 7 o’clock every morning and shooting,” he said. “So I’ve been working on it.”
