OCR Text |
Show The Daily Utah Chronicle, Thursday, January 16, 1986 Page Six SPORTS Utah faces 'biggest games' of the season this weekend by John Youngren Sports Editor Runnin Utc Coach Lynn Archibald wasn't downplaying his team's accomplishments over the weekend. This was a very important game for us," Archibald said, moments after Utah's 7 romp over Hawaii Saturday night, 9 coming one evening after the Utes overtime victory over San Diego State 89-6- 93-8- Friday. But then he paused, and added, stretch that we have to go. ItH be tough, but well have to play through it," he said. The first step on that road will be against the Rams Thursday night. CSU is 8 overall, but have recovered sufficiently to have an early WAC lead, with a conference Center Rich Strong paces the mark of team, with a 16.9 scoring average, while guards David Turcotte and John Dudley chip in 10.2 and 7.9 points a game; 7-- 3-- 1. respectively. "The Rams arc coming off an impressive win over New Mexico," Archibald said. "They play good defense and shoot well." Shooting the ball well right now for Utah, however, is senior Jerry Stroman. "Of course, the next two games are very important, too. In fact, we've got the two biggest games of the season so far coming up right here." He was referring to of course Utah's trip to Colorado State Thursday night and to Wyoming Saturday afternoon. Utah, which began its WAC season 2 on the road, but evened things up at 2 with its forward is averaging 23.7 points and five rebounds a game, and is shooting a scorching 63 percent from the field. He was also named WAC Player of the Week for his performances last weekend, when he in its games against the Rams and against the Rainbows. "Jerry's been shooting the ball very well 0-- 2-- conference home victories last weekend, will be looking to keep up the momentum scored 30 points against SDSU and 26 Cowboys. lately," Archibald said. "He's been our The CSU game will lead things off Thursday at 7:35 p.m. It will be broadcast locally by KALL (AM-910- ). The Utes return home next week, when they face Air Force in the Special Events Center Jan. 22. It'll be a brief stay, however. After the Falcon matchup, the Utes arc back on the road for their next four games, adding up to six of their next seven away from home. No, Archibald's not happy about the string. But what can he do? "This is the WJy i Since the WAC season began, the Utc 4r us most consistent player." The player himself agrees, if modestly. "If you just go out and play as hard as you can every game, good things will happen," Stroman said. . "The whole team played well in spots last weekend and shot the ball better," Archibald said. The question, however, is which squad will show up for the next two road games? The home Utes of the 0 record? Or the road utes ot the 2 mark? 2-- 0-- Chronicle photo by Todd Crotbnd Utah's Manual Hendrix plays tight defense as San Diego State oppoenent prepares to snag the ball in Runnin' Ute action last Friday. The Utes are on the road Thursday night in Fort Collins for a game against the 1 Rams. 3-- You heard 'enm here first: Jorg's theories' of hoop In my own humble opinion, the college game of basketball is a vastly superior spectator sport than its professional counterpart. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching both. But when it comes right down to it, I'd choose a Runnin Ute-BY- U game over a Jazz-Lak- er matchup any day. Now while some people share my feelings, many others don't. Some may even question my reasoning. Selection Committee takes into consideration a team's overall record and the strength of its schedule when bids. choosing the But the NBA, on the other hand, has 82 regular-seaso- n games. Dropping a couple of contests in a row doesn't hurt near as much. Take the Jazz for example. If the season would have ended last Saturday, following the horrendous stretch in which the Jazz lost 10 out of 1 1 games, they would have still made the playoffs. Reason Number Two: The NCAA Championships are truly games with only teams with records The NBA playoffs last too included. outstanding and it. make too teams , long many format makes things The NCAA's loss fans One and coaches has is basketball saying "wait 'til To convince those NBA lovers that college exciting. next year." Sometimes the better team loses, like where' it's at, here's "Jorg's Four Reasons Why College Basketball is Superior to Professional:" Georgetown in last year's finals against Villanova, but that Reason Number One: Unlike the NBA, in college only serves to make things more interesting. And even with the expanded basketball every game is important. tournament, if you consider 200-plI basketball, only the top Division in teams the basketball of WAC the week its Although only the third it. teams actually make season, the University of Utah has a pair of "crucial" In professional baseball four out of 26 teams qualify for Rockies this The weekend. side of the other the on games a remain the playoffs. Only eight of 28 teams go on to postseason Utes need a split, if not two wins, if they hope to play in the NFL. Why then does the NBA allow 16 of 23 strong contender in the conference title race. teams to go to its playoffs? Teams with losing records get On the collegiate level, even the preseason has meaning. If a team doesn't gain an automatic berth by winning a in every year. Does it really take 82 games to weed out seven teams? conference championship, the NCAA Tournament ON SPORTS Loren Jorgensen at-lar- ge "do-or-di- e" single-eliminati- Then once the playoffs start they seem to never end. And even then you can lose a game or two and not be too concerned, due to the best of seven format. By the time the Championship Series is finally over, it's the middle of June and I'm sick and tired of watching basketball. Now, I know the reason there are so many NBA games is to make enough money to stay afloat, but enough is enough. Reason Number Three: College teams tend to have a "team concept," while the pros are more apt to be "individually oriented." Basketball was conceived as a team sport and when played that way it's at its best. In college, this spirit of working for the betterment of the entire team is noticeable. For the most part, players are unselfish and defense is played with intensity. The NBA seems to have many more "one-on-ontype players, whose only goal is to score and get better stats for himself so that, come contract time, he will have more bargaining power. Loyalty to a team lasts only as long as he gets the amount on his paycheck his agent thinks he deserves. Defense and teamwork are rare. So there you have it wait, I almost forgot the most important one. Reason Number Four: Long before I ever started watching pro basketball I was hooked on the college game. You know what they say, "old habits die hard." on e" 64-tea- m us tjtie Info i Representatives from Texas Instruments will be in the University Bookstore Ian. 20. 21 from 10 a.m.-- 5 n.m. to provide information on Tl's nationwide service organization. As an additional service, Tl wi offer exchanges of selected models. (Quantities will be limited.) time to register for an Institute Class Still FRIDAY NOON DEVOTIONAL Amelia S. McConkfe wife of Elder Bruce Central Institute Chapel on-the-sp- Saturday 10 .m. Meet in Central Institute Lounge CHART YOUR COURSE FOR A OF SAVINGS! AMT COPY AND PRINTING S 20 Copies FREE Expires Feb. 20, 1986 100 Copies (same original) - $2.00 1,000 Copies (same original) $14.99 10,000 Copies (same original) - $129.00 ot Self Service - 40 each Service Project AMT COPY Sleigh Riding with Asian Refugee Children PRINTING 850 East 5600 South 8 Murray S UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE UNIVERSITY UTAH OF CAMPUS" 1 |