Tucson, Ariz. • The dots were not difficult to connect last month, when Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak changed his starting lineup and said his personnel decisions would be driven by what happened in practice and in “other areas of guys' lives.”
Even though senior guard Sedrick Barefield also began coming off the bench that week, sophomore forward Donnie Tillman clearly was the mysterious target of Krystkowiak's message. Tillman has responded well.
Making six 3-pointers and scoring a career-high 22 points Thursday, Tillman helped power the Utes to a 96-86 win at Arizona State as they opened the Pac-12 basketball schedule.