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Show Page Openings C-- 6 1989 Men's Basketbaix Majerus' fakes control of rebuilding hoop scpad hoop program. I think it will be tough. The only evaluatory media I've had is film. It's going to be a challenge," Majerus noted. "It's going to take four to five years to build a good program" However, all is not bad with the Utah hoopsters. Not all inheritances are sweet, although at first glance, new Sophomore Josh Grant (10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) returns to the team Utah men's head basketball coach Rick Majerus would and veteran point guard Tommy Connor rejoins the squad after arena redshirting last season with back problems. Returning lettermen seemingly have it all what with a spacious 15,000-sefor his team to play in and a supportive administration all in the Jon Hansen (5.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Van Gray (5.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg), Walter Watts (4.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Keith Chapman (3.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Justin midst of a hoop-craze-d state. But first looks can be deceiving especially in regard to the Brooks (0.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Dan Sampson (0.1 ppg, 0.3 Tpg) Runnin' Utes. current condition of the Runnin' Ute basketball program. A should help stabilize the new-loo- k he's But skills. lot has 7 of a "Josh got to be more aggressive got squad which suffered through a campaign a year ago. said better the fired and who reviewing his newly dealt inside," Majerus replaces Majerus, the former Ball State mentor play are who seniors the it's "However hand. of really going to have to talent. veteran a Lynn Archibald, inherits team depleted Keith (Chapman) will and this (Connor) it second a team year. Tommy step up Departed seniors Mitch Smith, selection a year ago, Watkins "Boo" Singletary and Jimmy have a load to carry." Madison leave a gaping hole for the Utes to cover. In addition, Top newcomers to the Utes include freshman Jimmy Soto, senior guard Mark Lenoir is not expected back for his final Judge Memorial High School, and Craig and Mark Rydalch, South Summit High. Soto averaged 28.7 points per game his season due to academic problems. honors three times in his Such an empty cupboard may bother some coaches, but senior year and captured from Oakley, where both hail brothers The once-prou-d career. Utah the is forward to Rydalch prep rebuilding looking Majerus selections. Craig, the elder of the two, spent garnered last season at Dixie College, where he averaged 15.2 points per outing. Mark, on the other hand, spent much of his senior year at South Summit rehabilitating an injured knee. He averaged 27 points and 15 assists his junior year. recruits are guards Tyrone Tate of Chicago Joining the and Byron Wilson of Gary, Ind. Unfortunately, both players will most likely miss the upcoming season as Proposition 48 casualties. Tate, considered to have been the best point guard in Chicago high school ball last season, and Wilson, a superb shooter who owns prep field goal marks of 52 percent his senior year and 63 percent during his junior campaign, give Majerus' program some quality depth for the future. This season's schedule, although one of the weakest in recent By Dirk Facer Chronicle Sports Editor at 16-1- All-WA- C . All-Sta- te All-Sta- te in-sta- te memory, will provide the Utes tests at both ends of the contests range from Cal State spectrum. Humboldt to State (Nov. 27) to Big 10 Stanislaus (Nov. 24) conference member Purdue (Nov. 30). The good news is each of road those contests is at home. The bad news is affairs in Washington (Dec. 5), Oregon (Dec. 7) and Providence action includes Huntsman Pec. 23). Additional Center clashes with Utah State, St Peters and Texas Wesleyan. WAC play gets underway in January with the conference postNon-conferen- J- ( - ce non-conferen- ce . non-conferen- ce season tournament slated for El Paso, March In evaluating his team, Majerus forecasts a squad centered around a solid defensive effort. "We are going to play good defense," the former Ball State mentor said. "We are going to put a body on our opponent and we are going to play hard as a team. Good defense wins games." As the Utes enter the Majerus era, the new leader promises 0. Utah eager Josh Grant is the top returnee to this year's Runnin' Ute basketball team. Grant, who suffered through a 16-1- 7 campaign last season, will be counted on to help first-yehead coach Rick Majerus turn the program around. ar 1909-9- 0 as L 5 J DATE Nov. 16 Nov. 24 Nov. 27 Nov. 30 Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Dec. 9 Dec 16 Dec. 18 Dec. 23 Dec. 28 Dec. 30 Jan. 4 Jan 6 Jan. 11 The Runnin' September 3 17-2- atOregon University of Denver at Weber State Utah State at Providence at Utah State St Peters at San Diego State at Hawaii New Mexico provide some additional insight on the expectations of each of Utah's athletic squads. FOOTBALL- - Scott Mitchell enjoyed a record-breakin- g campaign as the Ute gridders claimed a winning mark of The Utes captured their last four games in a row including a 6-- 5. 57-2- BYU. 8 romp over The rebuilding process continued as the Lady Ute spikers improved by four games en VOLLEYBALL: experience. Write or call for more information: University of Utah Greek Council Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 (801) 581-806- 1 route to a 9 record in 1988. CROSS COUNTRY: Both the men's and women's teams placed in the top 10 at the District' 7 10-2- championships. The Lady Utes finished sixth and the Ute harriers placed eighth. MEN'S SWIMMING: The Ute tankers claimed another WAC crown last season and also enjoyed a top 20 national ranking during the year. Anders Bladh and Jim Giottonini earned invites to the NCAA championship. WOMEN'S Ufco at Washington the University of Utah gets underway, a brief look back at the events of the past 12 months may SWIMMING: The four-gam- g, Purdue 1989-9- 0 is expected to regain his starting position. nothing more than building a solid program with academic success being equally important with success on the hardwood. "We're going to play hard and we're going to play to the best of our ability. And all of the players will work hard in the classroom. I don't care about any kid who doesn't care about himself. I'll stick with any kid who gives it a good effort," Majerus noted. "I want to pursue the best in academic excellence. For some people, like myself, that may be a "C". If that's the best they can do, then that's good enough for me. It's me effort that I'm really interested in." The Utah cagers open the 1989-9- 0 campaign in the Huntsman Center on Nov. 16 against Simon Fraser. The game e will usher in a season-openinhomestand for the Runnin' Utes. OPPONENT season-endin- g Plan to join us for this fun filled last season will a back injury. The senior point guard Simon Frcsar Cal State Stanislaus Humbolt State Editors note: As a new sports year at I&uhWeek'89 Tommy Connor rejoins the Runnin' Utes after missing all of DccIiofbcII Sclrctlub Jan. 13 UTEP Jan. 18 Jan. 20 fan, 25 Jan. 29 Feb. 1 at Wyoming at Colorado State at BYU Colorado State Hawaii Feb.3 San Diego State Feb. 5 Feb. 10 Feb. 15 Feb. 17 Feb. 22 Feb. 24 Mar. 3 Mar. 7-- 10 Texas Wesleyan College atUTEP at New Mexico Air Force Wyoming at Air Force WAC TOURNAMENT at El Paso, Tx WAC games sports year in review pick Lance Madsen, the Utes finished 17-3- 2 overall. Their WAC good season with a HCAC finish. mark of 10-1- 8 included home wins MEN'S BASKETBALL: The preover powerful Hawaii and BYU. season conference favorites struggled GOLF: The Utes failed to recapture to a 16-1- 7 mark. At season's end the WAC crown last season, as they Lynn Archibald was replaced by Ball placed fifth overall. However, the State's Rick Majerus as head coach. Utah linksters did earn a trip to the WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: It was a NCAA Western Regional based on banner year for the Lady Ute cagers past performances. as Utah claimed both the HCAC t MEN'S TENNIS: Despite a rash of regular-seaso- n and postseason injuries, the Utes managed to recrowns. The season ended with an capture the WAC title and advance NCAA tournament loss to UNLV. to the second round of the NCAA GYMNASTICS: The HCAC and n tournament. NCAA Midwest Regional champions WOMEN'S TENNIS: Behind the recorded a disappointing e play of senior Michelle finish at the NCAA Championship Mras, the Lady Utes managed a meet in Athens, Ga. Utah's national second place finish in the HCAC and was the teams' lowest finish a national ranking of 18. Mras also placing in a decade. went on to the NCAA individual SKIING: The streak of national tourney for the second straight year. championships ended at three as TRACK AND FIELD: Lady Ute high the Skiin' Utes were narrowly jumper Brenda Alcorn stole the out Vermont. edged The Utes show here by capturing by ended up finishing second overall honors in the high jump. at the NCAA meet. Senior Eric Chesley claimed his SOFTBALL: improving Lady Utes culminated a WAC third-plac- e post-seaso- fifth-plac- All-Americ- an The Lady Utes posted a record as Utah placed fourth in the regular season and third in the HCAC championship tournament. BASEBALL: Behind the bat of All-28-2- 7 third consecutive WAC hurdles crown for the men, who placed sixth in the conference. The women tracksters placed seventh in the HCAC meet. |