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Show NCAA Selection Committee Gives U. the Shaft Again Jcn:$8 Echverd Chronkk Asst Sports Edtor Dirty or Not, Thueson Packs a Punch BRANDON WINN Chronicle Sports Writer X Depending on your point of view, Utah small forward Lisa Thueson is either the dirtiest player in the Wstem Athletic Conference, or one of the greatest gifts a team could ask far. It's all relative, to where you're watching die game from. Tzybc I'm just totally TV insane, ' but the JLVJLnCAA Tourney Selection Committee appears to be out to ' get the University of Utah-Hoelse do you explain how the second-ranketeam in the country getting a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance? And how else can you explain the horrible collection of teams the committee decided to send to Salt Lake City? It's the same old adage that has been around for years: :. w d Nobody respects . Utah. Regardless of whether it's the Jatz, the Utes or the Cougars, as far as the rest of the country is concerned, the n Wasatch Range is just a country. Perhaps it is. How else do you explain the green JeU-for-eig- phenomenon? There are two ways to deal with this lack of respect: get over it or get bitter. I'm inclined to get over it, but what's the fun in that? It's an absolute joke that the Utes were stripped of the No. 1 ; Many of the league's players take of the things Thueson does. Whether it be clearing out the paint with a few elbows or diving at die legs of opponents to gather up a loose baD, Thueson just can't seem to gain offense to many nr-- die respect of players. "Lisa Thueson is the dirtiest player in the WAC, by far," said BYUs Kari Gallup after die Cougars were beaten . by die Utes. , Tve never seen anybody get away with so many cheap shots in one game," said SMlTs Kim Brand! "She pushes, shoves, throws elbows, everything. But she never gets caught" But from a coach's standpoint, Thueson is a Godsend. Not many play-eare willing to sacrifice their bodies the way Thueson does. Thueson loves to dive for loose balls, loves to play a physical brand of defense and loves winning more than anything. "Thueson is Just plain tough, said -Weber State coach Caria Taylor. She's willing to take on anybody and isn't afraid to mix k up when necessary." Coaches realize what kind of dedication and desire k takes to do the things Thueson does, but many of the WAC's players have labeled Thueson as dirty. It's a label that Thueson takes great n offense to. seed. Some would say Utah was awarded the two seed, but that's ludicrous. The Utes finished with a 26-record and won their conference championship. And the reward for all their hard work? A two seed in the 7 3 Omomcu han "I wouldn't say I was a dirty player," move, always fighting for position and said Thueson. "I think that if I was on never quits on a play. It's no fluke that the opposing team and I was playing Thueson leads the team in floor bums, because she spends so much time div- myself, that may be how I look at k, but I think as k more as being aggressive. . ingonk. "If somebody's ni my way and we're r Physically as "a basketball player, both going after the ball and I run them Thueson is often overmatched. Because of this, Thueson is forced to play harder over, some may see k as dirty, but I see and more physical in order to be successk as being aggrcssrve," Thueson continful and earn any respect from opponents. ued. It may take a Thueson elbow to the It's easy to see why players might think this way, however. Thueson is die gut while she is clearing out after a ' type of player that's always on the rebound, a look so mean that k would , scare paint off a wall, or k may take getting thoroughly dominated by Thueson i for her opponents to realize how tough she rcaBy is. But she is always fighting, trying to cam that respect' " Part of the reason Thueson is labeled as a dirty player is because of her on- court personality. Thueson docs not compliment her opponents or help them up after knocking them down during the course' of a game. She rarely smiles. Her face is always fixated with a look of anger; she looks mean throughout die entire ball game. "It's hard for me to be friends with somebody on die court," said Thueson. d than anything that has ever Ill vv--i - courtesy of t the common Utes in putting the , an easy regional. In a poll conducted on ESPNct Sportszone, 47.1 percent of the 3,000 who participated said the West regional is the toughest regional. Who could argue, with Kentucky, Utah and Wake Forest making up the top three seeds? Some would say that if the Utes want respect, they have to earn it Well, now here's their chance. Assuming Utah advances past Navy and then . ' have cupcake mm "Edward" on pcc 11 . fc BrandL apparendy frustrated, refused Thueson's tough play and intensity may rub off the wrong way with other players, but nobody can fault her desire. It's her unquenchable thirst for success and absolute hatred of losing that pushes Thueson on the basketball Boor. But off the court, Thueson says she is a totally different person. Tm totally easygoing and get along with cwrybody off the court," great said Thueson. "I smile and have fun just like everybody else. But that's just not my style on the court" A lot of Thueson's personality change she credits to the help of her husband, R.J. Since being married almost three years ago, Thueson has learned not to dwell on things that transpire on die court "When you're frustrated, k's nice to cm hrvru atvi srerf nff tri snmronr after a game that sees things a different way than you do and get some different insight," said Thueson. "Sometimes they can help you realize that whatever happened wasn't dial big of a deal" But for now, Thueson will keep her attitude and get ready to last NCAA Tournament her in play This coming Friday, Thueson will be r NCAA victory, playing for her and she says she won't be letting up just mean-spirite- d first-eve- yet "There's nothing left after this for me. said Thueson. "I need to be meaner and more aggressive than ever, '" because k's now or never." When the season is over, and her career at Utah is finished, Thueson b planning on attending graduate school, but she realizes anything ' is ; to concede the ball to Thueson and began bumping and reaching in on Thueson. Thueson responded by coaching. Basketball wiD swinging her elbows in order to dear possible-evBrand! out, something all basketball always be involved with whatever she players are taught to do. One of 'does.- :v Thueson's elbows caught Brand! right Tm competitive, and Tve got to be in the chest, blocking her back a couple in something where I can compete, whether k's playing in cky leagues or oi steps. Brand was upset, and lashed out at coachinc." sakl Thueson. "I don't know Thueson following the contest in the if I couki coach because Tm so competitive. Td probably be too hard on my press conference, but never challenged Thueson for a rebound the rest of the players." One thing's for sure about Thueson pme. . Tve been tauej al my ESs that part in the near future. She's continue to ofbaskctbal ii keepinc your space ,and fight, scrap and dive for all the loose you can't be soft, especially at a balls she can ia the NCAA DivMoa I lewd," said Thueson. that Tournament, because at Thueson said, ax Has is k, my hst hurrah, k's time k meaci kavieg other players because then cat's the way it's let my ncan strcsk out asin. ' en H - 3 two days later. Carolina Um Tkaeaoa kaa beca aUe to trwaWAi; payers HI MfodMH going to have to be. Tm not willing to cost my team the game because I was soft and turned the baD over." - CharlotteGeorgetown winner, the Demon Deacons will undoubtedly be waiting. And if somehow the Utes do what they haven't been able to accomplish the last two years, beat Duncan and Co., Kentucky will be wait-in-s Whereas Duke and South "It's just my nature when Fm on the court I'm there to win." Obviously, Thueson is not one to be messed with when she is on the court SMlTs Brand! learned this in the WAC Tournament when the two teams hooked up. :.rMidway through first half in a rather tight baD game, Thueson rebounded a Brand! miss in traffic, cradling the baD to prevent a turnover. v UNC the j Utah small forward Lisa Thoeson gets down on all fours trying to track down a loose ball. Both Thueson and Ute coach Elaine Elliott have often said that sheH be remembered for her doggedness while at Utah. same regional as Wake Forest and Kentucky. As Bcavis and Butt-heawould say, "This sucks more sucked before." If the committee is going to screw the Utes out of a No. 1 seed, it should at least have il wIms accded, fast CMtr!&vtoa nitycimJw play Lac led to badly pxftt, If ok, dr |