Utah coach Rick Majerus just laughs when he hears people suddenly raving about his basketball team's defense, as if they've just discovered the secret to the Utes' phenomenal success this season.
"We've always won because of our defense," says Majerus. "The formula is exactly the same. We're not any better, but I would say we're playing defense as well as last year. It just gets more attention because we lost some firepower and don't have the offensive presence we've had in the past."The Utes have run off 15 consecutive victories over the past two months to improve to 20-4 and climb to No. 12 in the latest A.P. rankings. They've done it with defense, holding opponents to just 50.2 points per game during that span. For the season, Utah is holding opponents to a mere 53.6 points per game, third best in the nation.
While Utah has always been strong defensively during Majerus' 10 seasons at Utah, this year the Utes are holding opponents to the lowest scoring average ever during his tenure. Last week, the Utes held San Diego State to just 38 points. The week before New Mexico only managed 39 points at home against the Utes. In December, Utah held Wake Forest of the ACC to only 45 points.
Start talking defense with Majerus and you might as well be discussing the menu at The New Yorker or how many Haagen Daz bars he's going to have for dessert tonight. It's a subject he never tires of. In fact, Majerus uses an analogy to eating to answer the question of why other teams can't replicate the defensive success he's used to build a winner at Utah.
"People are just not disciplined, whether it's in their spending habits or the way they eat," he said. "How many people want to do it? I know I have no discipline when it comes to eating. Everyone knows you should eat a salad, but why does McDonald's sell more french fries than salads?"
The same thing applies to playing defense, he says. Most coaches and players just don't want to work as hard on defense as making baskets.
"It tastes better to shoot jump shots," Majerus says.
Majerus preaches defense constantly and he knows it takes his players a season or two to learn how to play defense under his system. For four years, he complained about Keith Van Horn's defense, even if it was pretty decent by his senior year.
Play good defense and you'll earn a special place in Majerus' heart -- just ask Drew Hansen, the Rydalch boys, M'Kay McGrath or Alex Jensen, perhaps the only Ute player who knew how to play defense from the day he stepped on campus.
For those looking for a special secret in Utah's defense, there isn't any. Dick Hunsaker, who coached under Majerus at Ball State and came to Utah this year as director of basketball operations said there's no special recipe Majerus uses to create an outstanding defense.
"It's a philosophy," he said. "Rick's masterful in understanding the game and giving different looks defensively game-to-game. Ultimately your players have to believe and then playing defense becomes contagious."
Talking to Ute players that certainly seems to be true.
Adam Sharp, a freshman, who learned a lot as a freshman last year, is one of those players Majerus "loves" because of his defensive effort. Like most players Sharp came out of high school not thinking much about defense, but has changed since coming to Utah.
"Defense wasn't my pride in high school, but that's all I do when I'm in there -- that's what I'm supposed to do," says Sharp. "Like coach always says, it's not just one guy, it's all five guys doing the job."
Jeremy Killion came to Utah for his 3-point shooting ability, but he has developed into a solid defender, who's not afraid to mix it up.
"It's been a learning experience for me, because I've never been taught or coached defense," he said. "But now it part of my game and it's very fun."
Majerus prefers a man-to-man defense, but occasionally mixes in variations such as his "66" defense, the triangle and two that became famous in Utah's NCAA win over Arizona last March. Utah's defense is much more complex than each man covering another and if the players aren't constantly helping each other out, it won't work right.
Majerus employs a variety of defensive "schemes," but it's up to the commitment of the players for them to work.
"The schemes will never work unless you play very hard with an impassioned, steadfast commitment," said Majerus. "Our players have that."
Majerus has a saying he tells players before most games -- "Those to whom defense is not important, the best seat will be given."
One player who has found that to be true this year is freshman Phil Cullen, who has been quickly yanked during a couple of games for a defensive mistake.
"I kind of thought I had an idea of how to play defense . . . but I still don't really have an idea," said Cullen with a laugh. "It's so hard to get it down as a freshman. Every day coach (Majerus) throws something at you to make you better. The main thing is to show some effort and play with heart."
Majerus says he simplifies the defense and makes it "vanilla" for new players like Cullen and Killion. He said JC transfer Tony Harvey is catching on, but still makes too many mistakes for his liking at the defensive end, although he has potential to be a "great" defensive player.
Andre Miller, Hanno Mottola and Jensen have all improved their defense this year and along with Sharp, Nate Althoff and Harvey are playing exceptional team defense.
"Those six guys are really smart and able to handle our defensive schemes as well as any six I've ever had," said Majerus.
While Cullen has seen significant minutes this season, he's also had a front-row seat for 24 games, watching how the Utes play defense.
"When five guys are playing team defense and helping each other out and totally taking a team out of the game and shutting them down . . . that's fun to watch," Cullen said.
Utah fans, who are getting ready for another NCAA run by their beloved Utes, couldn't agree more.