As Tony Block continues to pile up points, rebounds and playing time in this the final homestretch of the season and his college career, there remains just one big question:
Where has this guy been hiding?For 1 1/2 seasons Block has been nearly invisible, coming off the bench to set screens or perform some other dirty work, but lately he's been looking like the second coming of Josh Grant.
Through the first 16 games of the season, he scored in double figures three times. In the last eight games, he has averaged 17 points, as well as 7.6 rebounds. The Utes will be counting on Block and Keith Van Horn to score when they meet BYU late Saturday night in Provo.
Block's resurgence began a month ago when Van Horn missed three games to return home following the death of his father. Block replaced Van Horn in the starting lineup, and in the next three games he totaled 49 points and 30 rebounds. With the return of Van Horn, Block returned to the bench, but not to his former role. He has continued to collect points and rebounds in bunches.
"When Keith left, everybody wondered where we'd get points," says Block. "I figured I was going to step up my game. Ever since Keith came back, the coaches have said, `Keep shooting'."
That hasn't always been the case. Until Van Horn's absence, Block was strictly a role player. "Before I even got in the game I was told I'd be a change guy. I'd change the ball to the other side, be a safe catch when someone got in trouble, set screens. I didn't go to the rack. I got others good shots. If something broke down, then I looked to score. I didn't hunt my shot."
Block, who transferred to Utah last year from West Valley Community College, spent last year's junior season as the team's blue-collar man, which didn't always make him popular with opponents. "I was called for a lot of fouls, and I was grabbing people," says Block. "I had to prove myself, and I couldn't do it by scoring. I had to do it some other way. Coach wanted me to be physical. When I did, I got called for fouls or ended up squaring up with people."
After serving a season as a backup to current NBA player Josh Grant, Block thought his role would change this season, but then Van Horn arrived. "I thought this would be my year," says Block. "But then coach (Rick Majerus) made a statement on the radio. He said Keith was a better scorer and had better ability. It hurt. I thought, I could do that, if given the chance."
Both Block and Van Horn are 6-foot-9 and can post up, shoot from three-point range or put the ball on the floor and drive. When they are both on the court, they present problems for opposing defenses, although apparently not enough to prevent the Utes from slipping to 6-9 in conference play. If a bigger, slower defender sags, they sink the three; if he comes outside, they drive on him.
Despite his late start, Block ranks among the Western Athletic Conference's top players in scoring (19th, 12.5 ppg.), rebounding (eighth, 7.1 rpg) and shooting percentage (12th, 47 percent) in league games.
"I just feel more comfortable now," says Block, a California native who will graduate in June with a degree in sociology.
Block only hopes that his improved play can help the defending WAC champion Utes regain their form, beginning Saturday night in Provo. They hit rock bottom last Saturday by losing to Air Force, which had lost 20 straight league games.
"We are embarrassed by the Air Force loss," says Block. "We played horrible defense. We let them score 91 points. I don't think they've scored that many in two or three years."
It's too late for the Utes to win the WAC title, but they do hope to sneak into the NCAA tournament by winning the conference tournament. "I firmly believe we're right there," says Block. "The only team to really beat us was Hawaii. Teams still fear us."