OCR Text |
Show Your Sports PAGE B6 What has happened to the Jazz? "Speaks" com' from page B8 DfTUXEPfls All Tuxedos' $29-$59 Complete! 7 Styles under $40! 377-7828 1774 N. University Pkwy. In Provo (Brighams Landing) T a HHI N G Super Bulbs • Super Price • Super Service \.*r>- -NV- - f - i 7o.' • J J '••£' \i' X l h u '• 'v "? p M . • Sift IJpdi.V ! 28 Soufc Sto'c 5! • Ofem. UT 84097 . (801 j221-TANN DISCOVER YOURSELF Small classes Friendly faculty Individual attention Affordable housing World-class recreation Several degrees available Come visit our breathtaking campus and meet the faculty. 3111 North College Way Heber City, UT 84032 435.654.6482 801.863.6601 www.uvsc.edu/conted If they are lucky, the Jazz might get to 30 wins by the end of the year. But why shoot for 30 wins, what good will those extra 10 wins or so do? The answer is nothing, unless you want to count Jerry Sloan's ego. So why not cash it in right now, with a little over 20 games to go and try to better your chances of getting one of the top three picks in the draft? If the season were to end today, the Jazz would draft somewhere around the eighth spot in the draft. And with this year's draft looking like a weak one; if you are picking eighth, you might as well be picking at 28. Then the only question that remains is; why haven't you started playing the back end of the bench already? Most likely, the answer again is Sloan. While I respect Sloan for the hard work and the effort he demands from his players. As long as he remains with the Jazz, it will take them that long to rebuild. Sloan was a great coach for the caliber of player such as John Stockton or a Karl Malone (players that worked hard on their own and demanded the same from those around them), but the current crop of NBA players do not play with the same desire and heart of these former NBA greats. Something that an "old school" coach such as Sloan just cannot put up with (just ask Maurice Cheeks). In the end, the "real" question for Larry H. Miller might be; do you still want to win? Because if you do, then Sloan needs to go and you need to find a coach that will put up with the laziness of today's players, or else you will end up like your NBA finals foes the Chicago Bulls still trying to rebuild eight years later. MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2005 Stepping up to the mike: Talking about the state of UVSC athletics with radio play-by-play announcer Steve Watts Landon Smith Sports Writer This basketball season we have tried our best as a sports staff to give our students the most information and coverage of this years team as possible. But with an independent schedule and no close conference opponents it has been hard to keep up with this year's team as a weekly newspaper. But Steve Watts, the voice of UVSC basketball, has been with the team all season and knows how special this year's team has been. I caught up with Steve while he was on the road with the team in Indiana to get his thoughts and feelings on this season of Utah Valley State basketball. quick and has such an ability to get to the basket. But it's been a little harder on Ronnie because of the team's lack of a post game. Ben Devoe improved a lot this season, but if we would have had a better center the NBA scouts would have seen a lot different player. do the games. But it has been a slow process. When I first started, I think the only ones listening were my family and a few players' families. Bu$ it's growing and there a lot more listening, especially for the road games. • CT: Where do you see UVS<| athletically in 10 years? ; CT: What would you say to those who didn't come out and watch this year's team play? SW: I have said this all season on the radio, but Ronnie Price is one of the best players to have ever played in our state and it's a shame that more people haven't seen him because he is worth coming to watch. I also believe that Mike College Times: What has it Jacobsen and the athletic been like to cover this year's staff have done a good job Courtesy Photo team? at putting a game on. It's a Steve Watts is the radio voice .~ lot of fun. But the problem for Utah Valley State athletics. is that we need to figure Steve Watts: It has been exciting for me. This has been out a way to get more stuthe first real Division I sea- dents out to the games. son. All but two of our opThe facilities at Utah Val- SW: It all depends on whethponents have been Division I ley State are incredible and er or not we get into a con-, caliber teams from the WAC, the students should support ference. If we don't get into" Big Sky, and the Mid-Con them. I have done everything a conference we will be fightconferences. We have played that I can to get the commu- ing for recognition forever:> at some real interesting plac- nity involved and now we We have such a small bud-, es. It has been really exciting; need to get some help from get. It's hard to compete with especially with all the nation- the students. the bigger schools like BYU al attention that Ronnie Price But I hope that we can get who have a 50 million dollar has received this season. more students out to next budget. But if we get into a year's basketball games or conference, that will generate CT: Speaking of Ronnie even start this spring at the money and recognition. Price, having seen all of his baseball games. I don't know games this season, how good what would be nicer than go- CT: What are some of the" do you think he really is? ing out to that beautiful base- things you have noticed about" ball stadium and watching a this year's team that people^ don't know about? SW: I think that he is the few games in the sun. best that I have seen in the last 10-15 years in Utah at CT: Do you think you have 51V: This team has such goocL the guard position. I think helped UVSC basketball be- character. You never have, that he will play in the NBA. come more recognizable here to worry about them getting", I don't know if he will play in the community by doing into trouble or anything, and' in the NBA next year. He the broadcasts? the only one right now that's_ might need one more year not coming back next year iso in the CBA or over sea's so SW: I would hope that I have. Ronnie, so that means that that he can get stronger. But I have been doing this for the we have a great foundation of his competitiveness and fire last 15 years and I still have good guys to build upon for* are amazing. He is also very friends that don't know that I next season. Continuing to stay positive: Wrestling closes out a long season, filled with injuries and long road trips i If I told you otherwise I'd be lying," he said. "There were Sports Writer times when we were so close and we could have easily got a few more wins, but things Cody Sanderson's second didn't quite work for us. It season as coach of the Utah was very frustrating." Valley State Wrestling team was not an easy one. With But coach Sanderson is the team suffering from invery excited about next seajuries, sickness, and personal son because he feels that he problems throughout the seahas a great foundation to son, Coach Sanderson was build upon with guys returnpleased with the team's overing from this year's team. all performance. "We have a really good core "It was a difficult season. group of guys coming back Courtesy Graphic. We had a lot of circumstancnext year. That core group es that made it hard for us to Coach Sanderson's squad is what we will continue to compete. But the guys stayed wrestled mainly on courage build on. But with the guys positive and continued to and heart during the season. coming back and the recruits work hard," coach Sanderson coming in, I really think that said. "Even when it looked "We had a better team than our program is going to get like we were going to have to last year. But we were wres- really strong, really quickly," forfeit three weight classes, tling much harder competi- Sanderson said. the guys controlled what they tion. Even though we had a One of the wrestlers that could control and they con- losing season, the guys did coach Sanderson is expecting tinued to compete." really well," Sanderson said. great things from next season But as a coach of a Divi- is Talon Vickers. "Talon had The team finished the seasion I program, having a los- such a good attitude this season with an overall record ing record is always frustrat- son. He really came on strong in dual meets of 3-12-1. The Wolverines finished with a ing. Even with the outside at the end of the season," record of 10-5 in their inau- circumstances surrounding Sanderson said. gural season, but coach Sand- this year's team, it was a Another exciting aspect erson believes that this year's hard season for coach Sand- for the wrestling program is team was much better than erson. "There were some re- that there are currently plans ally hard times this season. drawn up for a new wrestling last season squad. Landon Smith Crossword Puzzle Challenge The College Times wants you to get the most out of your New York Times everyday. So for the rest of the semester if you are the first one to solve the Friday crossword puzzle, and turn it in to us by 5:00 PM on Friday, we will buy you lunch on Monday. Come see us in SC-220 for more details. center. The team will move across the freeway from the warehouse where they have been practicing to the old Alpine School that the school purchased last year. The proposed site is located on the northwest end : of campus, just north of the; practice soccer field. "If the; idea comes out as planed, it would be a perfect setup up; for us. Having the wrestling • and weight room alongside; the wrestling offices would; mean so much for us and our; recruits," Sanderson said. "It' would give us a much-needed: image and something that we; could show our recruits. The; only thing that I can show re-: emits now is my crowed of-'. fice." j The team season is over, but • there will be no down-time.; Coach Sanderson feels that; it's important that the guys; continue to work on their! wrestling skills because the '• off-season is the best time to • learn. The wrestlers will also; be lifting and conditioning on; their own until September,; when they will start practical ing as a team. -*' |