Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Team Defense Key For Utah Women's Basketball
8/29/2017 10:14 AM | Women's Basketball
It can completely change a game. It revitalizes a crowd, the bench, the team. It can cause a coast-to-coast sweep, a transition three-pointer. Bobby Knight once said that "good basketball always starts with good defense," something Utah women's basketball is looking to capitalize on this coming season.
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"With the right lineups, we will be able to turn teams over," assistant coach and defensive coordinator Gavin Petersen said. "It is just a matter of finding those lineups so that they can play on both sides of the ball. I think it is going to be a fun year with our added depth. With our shot blocking ability, we will be able to turn up the pressure on the perimeter."
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Utah women's basketball fans are familiar with the success the Utes have had with shot blocking in the past, thanks in large part to senior Emily Potter's abilities in the post. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has broken the Utah single-season record for blocks the past two seasons, including 89 in 2016-17 that ranked No. 14 in the country.
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Entering this season, Potter ranks No. 2 in career blocked shots at Utah and No. 7 in the Pac-12. While she will still be a force in the lane, the senior will have some help this season with the freshman class averaging around 6-1 in height. Add 6-3 redshirt junior Megan Huff into the mix and the Utes length will be something opposing teams will have to watch for.
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"I think with the added height we have this year, each of them will bring something different to the table," Petersen said. "Potter has the size, the stature and the shot blocking ability while Huff will be able to do it in a different way because she can get off the ground more and will use her athleticism to come around and get more steals."
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In the past two seasons, Utah has ranked in the top-half of the Pac-12 in blocked shots and blocked shots per game, also ranking No. 28 and No. 23 in the NCAA this past season. While shot blocking has been a success for the Utes since head coach Lynne Roberts and her staff took over, it isn't necessarily a focus.
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"Just like three-pointers, I think blocking shots is a catalyst to those types of energy giving plays to the crowd," Petersen said. "But there is a fine line where we want our kids to be aggressive, but never give up their discipline on being smart and selective. If you contest a shot and make someone adjust where they take a bad shot, it is just as good as a shot block."
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In Robert's first season, the Utes finished ranked No. 11 in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, improving to finishing in the top-half last season. While they have been dominant in the lane, ranking in the top-25 in defensive rebounding the past two seasons, perimeter defense has also been a positive. The Utes have ranked in the top-half of the league in three-point field goal defense the past two seasons.
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"Tilar Clark, Kiana Moore and Daneesha Provo are all capable of making big plays defensively on the perimeter," Petersen said. "Tanaeya Boclair is someone who just does everything right and is solid. She might not be able to create as many turnovers, but she probably has the most knowledge with being a leader out on the floor and is always in the right positions."
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With the combination of size and athleticism, Petersen says it will be a team effort on defense this season. Throw in the depth to this year's team, the Utes will be able to mix it up defensively and look to wear out opponents.
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"Our overall team defense philosophy is to be aggressive, so we definitely want to contest every shot," he said. "Whether it is on the perimeter or in the low post, we definitely want to make open shots a rarity."
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That philosophy will be anchored by Potter, who earned All-Pac-12 defensive team honors the past two years. With Potter's size in the post, Petersen hopes it will give the team more conviction on perimeter defending.
Â
"I think she provides that reassurance, especially on the perimeter, that if you get beat, someone is there that has your back," Petersen said. "Potter has been able to give a little bit more freedom to our more athletic players out on the arc to gamble for steals and add more pressure just knowing that someone behind them could deter a shot. It is a huge component."
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Whether it is Potter blocking a shot to create a fast-break point or Moore snagging a steal for a coast-to-coast layup, Utah fans are in for tough, aggressive defense. After two seasons under the current coaching staff, a foundation has been laid.
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"We are kind of taking shape in how we want to play each and every game, each and every season," Petersen said. "We are laying our hat on that toughness, in your face, make things happen type of defense. It is going to be a fun year."Â
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"With the right lineups, we will be able to turn teams over," assistant coach and defensive coordinator Gavin Petersen said. "It is just a matter of finding those lineups so that they can play on both sides of the ball. I think it is going to be a fun year with our added depth. With our shot blocking ability, we will be able to turn up the pressure on the perimeter."
Â
Utah women's basketball fans are familiar with the success the Utes have had with shot blocking in the past, thanks in large part to senior Emily Potter's abilities in the post. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has broken the Utah single-season record for blocks the past two seasons, including 89 in 2016-17 that ranked No. 14 in the country.
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Entering this season, Potter ranks No. 2 in career blocked shots at Utah and No. 7 in the Pac-12. While she will still be a force in the lane, the senior will have some help this season with the freshman class averaging around 6-1 in height. Add 6-3 redshirt junior Megan Huff into the mix and the Utes length will be something opposing teams will have to watch for.
Â
"I think with the added height we have this year, each of them will bring something different to the table," Petersen said. "Potter has the size, the stature and the shot blocking ability while Huff will be able to do it in a different way because she can get off the ground more and will use her athleticism to come around and get more steals."
Â
In the past two seasons, Utah has ranked in the top-half of the Pac-12 in blocked shots and blocked shots per game, also ranking No. 28 and No. 23 in the NCAA this past season. While shot blocking has been a success for the Utes since head coach Lynne Roberts and her staff took over, it isn't necessarily a focus.
Â
"Just like three-pointers, I think blocking shots is a catalyst to those types of energy giving plays to the crowd," Petersen said. "But there is a fine line where we want our kids to be aggressive, but never give up their discipline on being smart and selective. If you contest a shot and make someone adjust where they take a bad shot, it is just as good as a shot block."
Â
In Robert's first season, the Utes finished ranked No. 11 in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, improving to finishing in the top-half last season. While they have been dominant in the lane, ranking in the top-25 in defensive rebounding the past two seasons, perimeter defense has also been a positive. The Utes have ranked in the top-half of the league in three-point field goal defense the past two seasons.
Â
"Tilar Clark, Kiana Moore and Daneesha Provo are all capable of making big plays defensively on the perimeter," Petersen said. "Tanaeya Boclair is someone who just does everything right and is solid. She might not be able to create as many turnovers, but she probably has the most knowledge with being a leader out on the floor and is always in the right positions."
Â
With the combination of size and athleticism, Petersen says it will be a team effort on defense this season. Throw in the depth to this year's team, the Utes will be able to mix it up defensively and look to wear out opponents.
Â
"Our overall team defense philosophy is to be aggressive, so we definitely want to contest every shot," he said. "Whether it is on the perimeter or in the low post, we definitely want to make open shots a rarity."
Â
That philosophy will be anchored by Potter, who earned All-Pac-12 defensive team honors the past two years. With Potter's size in the post, Petersen hopes it will give the team more conviction on perimeter defending.
Â
"I think she provides that reassurance, especially on the perimeter, that if you get beat, someone is there that has your back," Petersen said. "Potter has been able to give a little bit more freedom to our more athletic players out on the arc to gamble for steals and add more pressure just knowing that someone behind them could deter a shot. It is a huge component."
Â
Whether it is Potter blocking a shot to create a fast-break point or Moore snagging a steal for a coast-to-coast layup, Utah fans are in for tough, aggressive defense. After two seasons under the current coaching staff, a foundation has been laid.
Â
"We are kind of taking shape in how we want to play each and every game, each and every season," Petersen said. "We are laying our hat on that toughness, in your face, make things happen type of defense. It is going to be a fun year."Â
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Players Mentioned
W
/ Women's Basketball
W
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
W
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