Following the Utah gymnastics team's narrow win over No. 1 Georgia last week, Gym Dog head coach Suzanne Yoculan questioned whether the Red Rocks have the depth to be one of the best teams in the nation.
"I thought that their depth was a little weaker than ours," Yoculan said. "Obviously Ashley (Postell) and some of the strongest girls looked really strong. The thing is, there's a lot of teams in the country that have a one-two punch. It's going to come down to that fourth or fifth score at the end of the season."
That depth will be tested tonight against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The second part of Utah's one-two punch will likely not be participating tonight when the Red Rocks host Nebraska, as Kristina Baskett started experiencing back pains Tuesday. Those problems were later discovered to be displaced ribs. Although a rigorous realignment procedure and some help from U trainer Tom Iriye put some of those ribs back into place, Baskett is still in relative pain.
"It's just really rough," Baskett said. "But I went from yesterday, not being able put my clothes on, to having a lot of motion today."
With Baskett likely out, Utah will have to replace the all-around gymnast on all four events.
Although all lineup decisions come down to how head coach Greg Marsden feels warmups go, he has slated Beth Rizzo to replace Baskett on vault. Nina Kim will get a chance to do a bars routine in the 2006 bars national champion's stead and freshman Kyndal Robarts will get another shot to establish herself on beam. Jessica Duke will likely be doing fill-in duties on floor.
"We're not anticipating using (Baskett) tomorrow," Marsden said before practice on Thursday. "(My team has been told) all pre-season that we're going to need all 13 people to get through the season and put a competitive team out on the floor week-in and week-out. Things happen."
While Baskett's injuries prevent her from working on her routine upgrades, she feels that making sure she stays healthy this early in the season is best. Baskett sitting out also means her teammates get the chance to shine.
"We're getting some more people more experience this year," Baskett said. "Kyndal did an awesome job last week, she knocked it out of the park."
As far as depth goes, Baskett feels that come the end of the season, Utah will have what it takes.
"I think our lineups are really deep this year," Baskett said. "I think if (our depth) hasn't improved (from last year), it will."
If Marsden had to point at one place that has depth issues, vault would be his choice. But when Gael Mackie and Jacq Johnson find their way into the lineup, Marsden feels his team will only get better.
"If Gael's in the lineup it will help because she will have taken the place, and demonstrated she's got the potential to score better scores," Marsden said. "When Jacq gets in the lineup, that will be the case. Both are making fairly significant improvements every week."
The Utes will try to improve upon the 196.300 they scored last week against Georgia.
t.pizza@chronicle.utah.edu
