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Show Sports MONDAY, NOVEMBERS, 2007 • THE COLLEGE TIMES B5 Returning players re to take over Ben Webster Sports editor Mark Johnston / College Times Utah Valley's Joe Walker gets fouled as he attempts to score in the exhibition game against Mesa State. Walker finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. After four seniors led Utah Valley to a 22-7 record last season. The men's basketball team has some new seniors and a couple juniors ready to take control. Seniors Joe Walker, Jordan Brady and Richard Troyer all showed promise they can take on the leading role in the 91-59 win against Mesa State, A Division II team, in Utah Valley's first exhibition game. They had plenty of help from juniors Ryan Toolson and Josh Olsen as well. "I want to see the returning players really try to lift and carry the new guys along," Coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They're very up in the air with their terminology, responsibilities, our style of play and the many, many little things we do." Brady said, "It's definitely an advantage to be a returner. Coach Hunsaker's system is one that it takes a little while to learn." Walker started to breakout last season but was hampered by injuries the final weeks of the season. With a wrap on his right hand in this game he came away with six blocks, 14 rebounds, 13 points, two steals and more confidence. "I'm ready this year," Walker said. "I believe I can score any time I get the ball in the paint. I know I can score any time I get the ball in the paint. I just keep fighting." Toolson led the way in scoring with 19 points to go with eight assists. Brady added 10 points; seven rebounds and a spin in the lane capped by a lay up to finish a fast break in the first half. The starters came through as expected but Brady was impressed with the way the new guys helped out. "The young guys stepped up and did their job and we did what we were supposed to do against this team," Brady said. One of the new players, freshmen Kevin Woods, played 21 minutes, mostly backing up Olsen at point guard. Woods showed flashes of what he can do while scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shots from the field. But Hunsaker said Woods still has some things to learn. "He's [Woods], frankly, a blank slate. He's got a lot to learn about the system [and] acquiring leadership skills. He has a lot of work ahead of him," Hunsaker said. After shuffling the lineup a number of times in the first half and getting everyone in the game, Hunsaker settled in with his starters for almost 10 minutes to start the second half. When the game was out of hand, everyone became involved again the final three minutes. "The upperclassmen bring the underclassmen along and our roles are to help those guys figure it out," Brady said. The Wolverines have another exhibition Monday against Westminster and open their home schedule Nov. 20 against Troy after three road games. WRESTLERS from B3 In the evening's final featured match, highly touted recruits Ben Kjar and Flint Ray grappled in a tight contest match. Kjar recorded a second-round escape (4:30) to jump ahead, 1-0. Ray answered in the third round with an escape of his own. Behind 2-1, Ray exploded taking Kjar down, then recording a three-point near fall in the final 20 seconds to win 7-2 with riding time. When Williams, now in his second year leading the team, took the helm of the wrestling program he promised that within five years he would make it a top20 program, abold statement, but one most of his young grapplers are buying into. The Wolverines first home meet isn't until Jan. 3 when the team plays host to South Dakota State for its first of five home meets this season. Sports briefs UTAH BLAZE MLB UTAH FLASH Coming off his monstrous year Former UNLV point guard Kevin Danny White and the Utah Blaze Kruger was the expansion Utah Flash's statistically, there is no one more valu- will begin their 2008 campaign against first draft pick in the NBA Develop- able to a baseball franchise than third the Arizona Rattlers March 1. The ment League draft last week. Kruger baseman Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez, Blaze released their 2008 schedule last averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists for along with the help of agent Scott Bo- week with seven of the team's eight ras, opted out of his contract with Yan- home games on Friday or Saturday the Rebels as a senior. nights. The Flash drafted 10 players to kees to test his market value. The asking price is reportedly The Blaze's other home game will join the four already drafted in the Dleague expansion draft. Utah Jazz for- $350 million. According to espn.com be a nationally televised Monday night ward Paul Milsap's brother, John Mil- the New York Mets, Los Angeles An- game against the Los Angeles Avengsap, will also join the team for training gels, San Francisco Giants and Florida ers on June 9. Arizona hosts the Blaze camp. The Flash's home opener is Nov. Marlins are among the teams likely to June 21 in the regular season finale. COLUMN from B3 pursue Rodriguez. 27 at the McKay Center. shoulders better than Utah Valley. With a bye to start the tournament, the Wolverines will already be in position to make it to the final. And if, maybe, possibly some fans actually show up and support the team Wolverine Field may turn in to the Wolverines' favorite place to play. Inconsistency has been the name of the game for the young team, which started the season winless for six games and went on a four-game losing streak mid-season, except against conference opponents. The Wolverines beat Howard 5-1, South Carolina State 6-0, NJ1T 5-1, and Delaware State 5-1. It should be an easy run to a rematch against Longwood in the final, if Longwood makes it that far. Success against conference opponents hasn't come as easy for the Lancers who won every conference game by a goal. Maybe the Lancers aren't as good as their undefeated conference record. They did beat Utah Valley late on their own field. The competition isn't great in the conference but the Wolverines should win the thing and easily. They won't have to play a tough match until the final and that could easily turn into a rout if the Wolverines get clicking and put a knock on Longwood early in the match. Utah Valley has proven it can score against this level of competition where Longwood hasn't scored more than two goals against any conference team and scored more than two only once all season. The season should end on a much better note in this tournament. And if not there's always next year, when hopefully the season will start and finish on a better note. Making headlines NFL FIFA MLB The team with the most World The Dallas Cowboys waited long The New York Yankees have their enough to see if Tony Romo was going Cup titles gets to have the tournament man. After Joe Torre turned down to be their quarterback of the future. played in its home country. The soccer- a year contarct to manage the team Last week Romo signed a six-year, $67 crazy nation Brazil will play host to shortly after the Yankees were elimimillion contract, with $30 million in the 2014 World Cup. The last time the nated from the playoffs the Yankees South American nation held the tour- hired Joe Girardi. Girardi was named guaranteed money. Drew Bledsoe gave way to Romo nament was in 1950. the 2006 NL Manager of the Year in It didn't hurt to be the only candi- 2006 with the Florida Marlins. Girardi last year against the Giants at halftime. A week later the Eastern Illinois prod- date this time around. Brazil won the reportedly signed a three-year deal for uct, who signed with the Cowboys as tournament on a unanimous vote the $7.5 million dollars. an undrafted free agent, got his first same day the 2011 Women's world start. The Cowboys (6-1) are off to a Cup was awarded to Germany. Brazil hot start this season and now it's time has 10 of the world's largest soccer for Romo to earn what he will get. stadiums. Sports schedule Sports on Campus Join the discussion online.at th&iiew wolverine greertblo'g spot.com Me it a step Nov. 5 . Nov. 8 Nov. 9•. Nov. 9 Nov.76 Nov. 10 _N9Y-AQ Nov, 11 Men's basketball Women's soccer Women's soccer Women's basketball Women's soccer Women's soccer •Westminster, at 71 United Soccer Conference Tournament, TBA :-Mesa State, at 7:05 p.m. United Soccer Conference Tournament, TBA iNeyada, at1 p.m. Cat St. FuHerton, at 3:05 p.m. United Soccer Conference tournament." United Soccer Conference Tournament, TBA CollegeTimes NBA Nov. 7 Nov. 8 Best sports on TV Mfarnf at Sani Dallas at Golden State College football Novr 10 N p : i 2 M i c h i g a n ' ^ Nov. 10 No. 16 Auburn at No. 10 Georgia NFL s atSan;ptegq i 8:30 p.m. on TNT TBA |