Talk about a forgotten player.
In the last two months, Utah freshman Will Carlton had played a grand total of 13 minutes in seven games, scoring 10 points and grabbing two rebounds. Just your typical mop-up duty.Thursday night, the 6-foot-9 Carlton topped those numbers in a single game - an NCAA tournament game, no less - in helping the Utes to an easy first-round victory over Canisius.
Pressed into action because Ute star Keith Van Horn was too ill to play, Carlton came through with 11 points, making all five of his shots, his only free throw, and grabbing five rebounds in 16 minutes of action.
His fine play earned him a standing ovation from the fans in the Utah contingent at Reunion Arena and praises from his coach and teammates afterward.
"He played real hard and showed why you should always be prepared," said Ute coach Rick Majerus. "You never know when your number is going to be called. It's a credit to the kid and I'm really happy for him."
Carlton entered the game with 6:45 left in the first half and immediately contributed, making back-back baskets to extend Utah's lead to 28-16. Midway through the second half, he again scored consecutive baskets and added a free throw to put the Utes up by more than 20.
"I knew I was going to get a chance, but I didn't know how many minutes I was going to play," said Carlton. "I just went out and tried to play hard. I'm worn out. They may have to bring out the oxygen for me."
Carlton hails from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and he happened to have a few special fans on hand because Kentucky played San Jose State in the first game Thursday at Reunion Arena.
"There were five or six people from my hometown there, so I had some extra incentive," he said.
NCAA NOTES: Utah improved to 21-20 in NCAA tourney games with the victory . . . It marks the fourth straight time, all in the '90s, the Utes have advanced to the NCAA second round, where they've lost four straight times . . . Canisius was coming off a 39-year drought, the second-longest in the country, since its last NCAA appearance . . . Utah's national championship team of 1944, defeated Iowa State - Saturday's opponent - in the semifinals of the NCAAs 40-31.