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Show -- 1 Sports Mg OtGS Mm The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Ten Bliss said. "They do a nice job mixing up defenses and are really By Dirk Facer Chronicle Sports Editor playing well right now." Entering tonight's action, eight of the nine teams in the WAC sport 1 1-- Utah's newly established "giant killers" take to the Huntsman Center today for a 7:35 p.m. meeting with New Mexico. The Runnin' Utes, who upset Hawaii 61-5- 4 on the Islands last Saturday, will be looking to slay another Western Athletic Conference favorite to keep pace with the conference elite. "I think Utah is playing great basketball right now. I think their win at Hawaii was probably the biggest win in the WAC so far this season," New Mexico Coach Dave conference records. This grouping includes every team except Air Force, who opens its WAC slate tonight at home against Hawaii. Despite the visiting New Mexico cagers' present status in mediocrity at 5 overall, the Lobos do possess 9-- a powerful lineup and have been tabbed by numerous sources as favorites to win the conference title. In fact, both New Mexico and UTEP, who visits Utah on Saturday, are generally recognized as having the deepest squads in the WAC. G f 11, 1990 "I think both New Mexico and UTEP are better, bigger and more talented than we are," Utah Coach Joe Cravens said. "But I think we broke ground last week (at Hawaii) and proved we can play with anybody. But two nights earlier (in a 67-6- 0 loss at San Diego State) we one and gave it away. All we proved is that we can play with one good team Hawaii. We have to play the same way at the same level to remain competitive and continue to make an impact." Physically the Utes will nave its gift-wrapp- ed hands full with the Lobos, center Luc especially with the pivot. The Longley manning leads the from Australia junior Lobos in scoring with a 19.1 average and rebounding at 9.2. However, Utah's coach feels Longley, an performer last season, can do more than just score and rebound. "He's a tremendous passer. He makes everyone around him better," Cravens added. "That's where he really hurts you." Besides Longley, among the group of Lobos the Utes will also need to contain is backcourt mates Rob Robbins (15.8 points) and Darrell McGee (6.5 points). Former All-WA- C JIP'&, Thursday, January 7 Illltlllltl Utah prep star Kurt Miller (8.9 points), a starting forward, is another force that could give the Utes some trouble as is sixth-ma- n Willie Banks (10.0 points), who gives New Mexico a powerful weapon off the bench. Utah's defense will really be put to test by the Lobos, the WAC's second-bescoring team at 75 points per st outing. "I think they are going to try to push the ball up the floor," Cravens noted. "And if they don't get good transition, they'll push to it-i- Longley." Offensively the Utes will look to sophomore Josh Grant (17.5 points) along with seniors Keith Chapman (13.3 points) and Tommy Connor r! nt 1 center Luc Longley, a native of Australia, leads New Mexico with 19 points and nine rebounds per game. The Lobos face Utah tonight in the Huntsman Center. All-WA- C (12.2 points) to govern Utah's attack. On defense, the Utes, second best in the WAC yielding 60.5 points, are expected to continually shift sets with Walter Watts drawing the assignment to contain Longley and senior Jon Hansen being counted on to keep Robbins at bay. "I think Tommy Connor is the key - - --- - Runnin' Ute senior Tommy Connor leads Utah into a WAC meeting with New Mexico tonight. Connor, Utah's floor general, was called "the key for Utah" by Lobo Head Coach Dave Bliss. Action gets underway at 7:35 p.m. for Utah. He does so many things (910 AM). KUED TV (Channel 7) well for them. They are doing a will air the game on a tape delay good job overcoming all their earlier basis at 10:30 p.m. Joe Cravens is -- problems," Bliss, the Lobos' boss said in evaluating the Utes. "We are going to have to play one of our best games of the year to win. We'll need to execute well offensively and keep a handle on Josh Grant, Tommy Connor, Keith Chapman and Walter Watts. Utah is doing a nice job right now.". GAME NOTES: Tonight's game will be broadcast over KALL Radio 3 at the Ute helm since taking over on Dec. 14. Lobo Coach Dave Bliss owns a career coaching mark of 250-17- 0 in his 15th year as a major college coach. Utah leads e the series However, last year the Lobos beat the Utes twice, 85-6- 6 in Albuquerque and 79-7- 6 at the Huntsman Center. The Lobos are 3 on the road this season. 4-- all-tim- 50-2- 7. 0-- to ban steroid users NCAA Dustin Morris Snowbird's refund policy bothersome DALLAS (AP) The NCAA voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to stiffen the penalties for drug use d and begin steroid testing of athletes. Under the new measures, first-tim- e offenders could lose an entire year's eligibility, and those who test a second time could be year-roun- Shortly before Labor Day, four months ago, my brother and I set out to get Snowbird season passes. As most of you are probably aware, Snowbird season passes are sold, not in unlimited passes, but in books of five coupons. The more passes you buy, the cheaper they are. My brother and I, with a contribution from my sister, scraped up enough money to buy 50 passes, thereby bringing down the price to $15 per pass, the best bargain available without being in cahoots with Snowbird's elite. You'll quickly realize that $750 was forked out by my brother, sister and me. Now, for a couple of college students and one junior high student, $750 is not mere chickenfeed. But such is the price for skiing. It's hardly worth it, but what can we do? When we set out to get our pictures taken, some time later, we were informed of some bad news. Unfortunately for us, my brother is 21 years old and, in the view of Snowbird policy makers, too old to be considered a family member for our purposes. Since my sister and I were too poor to buy the 50 passes ourselves, we requested our money back. We were assured that we'd have our money in three weeks. It was no surprise that months later, Snowbird is still earning 10 percent on our money while we test drive cars at Rick Warner to get free passes to Park West. Wednesday I called Snowbird to get a status on our check. And I wasn't about to take "it's in the mail" for an answer. First, I talked with a lady at information who, easily enough, transferred me to tickets. Before being able to finish telling my sorry tale to the lady in tickets, I was put on hold without even a complimentary, "Please hold." When the phone was picked up, I was connected to someone near, but not in, accounting. She checked with someone higher up, and found out, quite immediately, that my check had been misplaced for some time and had only two days ago been placed in the mail. Despite that only seconds after giving my name, my check's location was pinpointed precisely, I wasn't satisfied. I asked the lady why my brother didn't qualify as my brother because he was 21. Well, he's considered an adult, I was told, and should have a family of his own. If he wants a family pass, it can be purchased with his wife and children. But he' has neither, I pleaded. That doesn't matter, she explained. The only way he could be included on a ticket with me is if we had the legal documents to prove that he's my legal guardian. In other words, if I had crooked attorneys as friends, I could finagle papers proving that my brother is legally my father and all would be well. She agreed. I continued asking her questions, trying to find out what Snowbird would do if their clients failed to pay up after several months and what my chances were of obtaining a common law marriage on the grounds that my brother and I have shared a roof and bathroom for the better part of 19 years. Needless to say, the person with whom I was talking got snappy with me, and told me that I could speak with accounting if I so desired. Sure, I said. Click, she said. After awhile I was talking with someone in accounting, who explained to me, politely, the incredible amount of paperwork that the office had been flooded with lately. She explained that I really couldn't believe anyone who told me that the check is in the mail. I was dumbfounded. She took my name and agreed to look for our file and get back to me. Somewhat doubtingly, I waited. And to my surprise, she called back. She had searched for our file and come to the conclusion that never had a request for reimbursement been filed. My next step, she told me, was to get a hold of Gayle Coop, who was out of town, and officially request my money. I had a better idea. I figured that in three weeks, the sooner that I could possibly get any money from Snowbird, the university would be after me for tuition. I realized that people in accounting at the U. have no problem tracking down money owed them. And since they know the ropes, I'm going to let them deal with Snowbird. I trust they won't believe that the check's in the mail. Eositive life. Presently, the NCAA tests only at championship events and bowl games. If they tested positive, NCAA athletes now face only the loss of eligibility for postseason competition for 90 days. d The testing will cost year-roun- the NCAA $1.6 million. Both changes take effect Aug. 1. Delegates also voted today to offer scholarships to incoming athletes' for summer school the freshman year. On Tuesday the NCAA voted to slice three games off the basketball season and reveal each school's graduation rate for athletes. It took five ballots and four hours of parliamentary wrangling and power struggles to kill, then revive and finally pass the reduction in basketball games, which begins with the 1991-9- 2 season. This was favored as a move to give athletes more time for study, but opposed as a costly cash crunch for schools, which could lose up to $1.5 million per year. |
