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Show THE SIGNPOST TUESDAY, JULY 27,2010 WSU Men's Basketball schedule releas PHOTO BY BRVAN BUTTERFIELD I THL StCNrOSf James Hajek gets pushed out of bounds in the Big Sky Conference finals last season. The WSU Men's Basketball schedule was released on Tuesday. The Weber State University Men's Basketball schedule for 2010 was released Tuesday and it appears to be no cakewalk for the team. Along with the team's conference schedule, WSU will also play four in-state rivals: Utah State, Utah, Southern Utah and Brigham Young universities. Three of those games will be played on the road, with the only home game in the bunch coming against BYU on December 21. "Those are the fun games," said Randy Rahe, WSU's head basketball coach. "It's natural excitement when you play against rivals. The kids love playing in those games. The fans love them. They just make for a great atmosphere. We are fortunate to have great teams willing to play a home-andhome schedule with us." The tough schedule is nothing new to the Wildcats, especially since Rahe took over as head coach. "We always play a tough non-conference schedule/' Rahe said. "That about where we place at the start of the season," Higgins said. "We care about where we finish and the end of it." Some players, however, said they were frustrated with the polls and felt they could only see paper rosters and last season's statistics. "These polls don't see things that we've been doing, like our summer workouts," said linebacker Nick Webb. "Usually there are about 30 guys that hang around and work out during the summer. This summer we have had about 70-75 guys consistently here and working hard." WSU finished with a 6-2 conference record last season, placing the team in a tie for second place in the Big Sky Conference with Eastern Washington. WSU will begin conference in Ogden on September 11 against Northern Colorado University. 'Last Monday, the pre- season all-conference team was also released and four WSU players were selected to the team. Zac Eldridge (fullback), J.C. Oram (offensive line) and Mike Phillips (wide receiver) were the three offensive picks. WSU's sole defensive player named to the team was Taylor Sedillo. One notable name left off the team was Higgins, who McBride said deserved to be placed on the team. "He should be on the list," McBride said. "There are some pretty good quarterbacks in this league. The kid from Northern Arizona had some pretty huge stats but that's all right; the proof is in the pudding." Higgins was named to the team last season as a junior and was surprised to learn he was not selected on this year's team. is one of the first things conference schedule will I wanted to implement prepare them sufficiently when I came here. Playing for their opponents within against great teams makes the Big Sky Conference. "We are just trying to our team stronger. Our guys have to rise up and get better as a team in our games," play at their level, which non-conference improves their game." Rahe said. "We don't really Over the Thanksgiving look at wins and Iqsses in holiday, WSU will travel "those games. We just want to Alaska to compete to improve each game in the Alaska shootout. so we are ready come If WSU can get past December and January." Alaska-Anchorage, WSU will begin the host team, it could season play at USU on potentially play against November 13. The team's Arizona State University first conference game and St. John's University. will be played against The team hopes Montana State University December 29. the challenging non- on r O O T D 3 l l continuedfrompage 6 "Montana has earned that respect over a long period of time," McBride said. "They have been the flagbearer of the conference for the last last 17 years or so.- .They have always been a top-one or two team in the conference. They've eained the respect and the right to be in that spot." '•Montana went 14-1 last season before losing in the Division I National, Championship game against Villanova University. ; pastern Washington arifljf Montana were the other two teams picked to finish ahead of WSU. With WSU in the fourth spot, McBride said the poll;,, shows the depth aricf talent of teams in the Big Sky Conference. "The conference is good," he said. "I think this is the best 1AA conference in the country. There is not much difference between the top team and the bottom team." WSU players were not disappointed with the results of the poll. In fact, many said they were excited with how the poll played out. "I am kind of happy we were picked to finish fourth," said Cameron Higgins, WSU quarterback. "It reminds me of two years when we weren't voted to finish in the top couple teams. It's just more incentive to work harder and prove people wrong." The 2008 season was when WSU finished with a 7-1 conference record and took home a share of the Big Sky Conference championship. The team made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they were defeated by Montana, 24-13. For Higgins, preseason polls are just what they claim to be: preseason predictions that have no relevance when the season starts. "We don't really care Comment on this story at wsusrgnpost.com. Cameron Higgins runs away from a defender in a game last year. Higgins was left off the preseason all-conference team. V 3 y 111 continued from page 6 continued from page 6 understand that every shot counts. That helps in school too because every test counts and every assignment counts." Due to the golfers' work ethics, Kearl said he believes this would not be the only year both PHOTO BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD ] THE SICNPOS) players would receive AllAmerica Scholar status. "Nick and Kurt will both probably get the award next year," he said. "They are hard workers and I only expect them to improve not only their GPAs, but also their golf games. They have had great summers and have really worked hard. I'm expecting big things from them both this upcoming season." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. during the summer semester, with 9,740 during the fall and 14,050 for the spring semester." Due to the low numbers of students in the summer, the gym's administration has focused on promoting the facility. Several new programs have been and are being designed for the summer semester. The new programs include gym orientations and drop-in exercise groups, which have proven to YR&TC STlTEi WSU ARMY ItOTC CLASSES AUK NOW OPEN I OK 1MUHJ M I M Relaxing living @ HousingandResidenceufe PHOTO BY NATHAN CAULFORD | THE SIGNPOST Willie Harris lifts weights in the Swenson Gymnasium. Half as many students work out at the gym in the summer semester as compared to the spring semester. "Relax, the rent includes electricity, water, local phone service, fitness center, expanded basic cable and is right here on campus!" be some of the most , popular activities put on • by Campus Recreation, according to Bladen. For many students, the wide variety of , activities available at the gym is enough to ; get them to work out. "My favorite part of the gym is that there are so many different weights," said Megan Geister,; a sophomore at WSU majoring in psychology. "I like to run (at the gym) as well. I used to run for Clearfield High." Bladen said Campus Recreation is constantly " improving and refining the gym area. Two years ago, the academic building of the Stromberg Complex was remodeled, and last year the gym partnered with the Health and Human Performance Department and invested in new strength equipment. Campus Recreation also added an indoor climbing wall and education classes within--? the halls of the gymj> over the last few years.J Some students,-;?, however, are hoping"; the gym will simply-; get back to the basics.:" "We need newj: dumbbells," said Willie;: Harris, a sophomore", majoring in technical'-. sales, "particularly the ; (dumbbells) that are ' heavier then 90 pounds." The Stromberg/ Swenson Gym is open 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. MondayThursday. On Friday it is open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Comment on this story at 3101 University Circle - Ogden, UT 84408 - 801.626.7275 - www.weber.edu/housing |