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Show 12 - The Daily Utah Wednesday, January 13, 1999 Chronicle FILLIP Nate Althoff isn't Mike Doleac, but he s getting there Brandon Winn Chronicle Sports Editor Nate Althoff is not a doctor. Rick Majerus does not talk about his great potential, his surprisingly soft touch for a big man or his deceptive speed when running the floor on a fast break. He is not a team captain or a NBA prospect, nor is he expected to compete for WAC Player of the Year honors. In other words, Nate Althoff is not Michael Doleac. But that's who he is expected to be, so he better start taking some medical classes and practicing an appendectomy on a buddy, because that's what everybody this side of the Wasatch Mountains wants. You don't think Althoff feels the pressure? He feels it. Heck, he swims in it. Doleac helped the Utcs to four WAC titles and the NCAA Championship game last year, and was one of the most popular players ever to grace Utc fans with his play. Althoff is, well, just beginning down a road he hopes leads to similar rest stops. "Any compliment I can get in comparison to Doleac I'll take," Althoff said. "I practiced against him for two years, so I'd like to think I learned a thing or two from him, but I have a long way to go." Every part of Althoff's game has improved since he came to Utah over two years ago. His strength, rebounding, post moves and defense have all grown. Still, at times he still feels like an awkward beginner in a complex Ute offense run by one of the country's more demanding coaches, Rick Majerus. When Althoff walks around campus, carrying his bookbag slung over one shoulder, it takes onlookers all the might they have to resist running over and offering the n giant 6-- help. Judging by the way Althoff walks, you'd swear his joints were ravaged by some sort of virus as a youngster. It's almost like his legs are not the same length, like the right one is just an inch or two short, and the rest of his body bobs up and down like a car cruising on a road full of potholes. He doesn't run like a man who should be starting for a team that's won its last four conference titles. In fact, he looks like a man who should be handing towels to the starting center for a team that's won its last four conference titles. But that's exactly where Althoff finds himself, starting for the Utcs who are just beginning their quest for a fifth straight WAC title. And he's not doing such a terrible job at it, though you would think he was doing about as much good for the Utes as the bubonic plague did for Europe if you paid a lot of attention to his coach throughout much of the preseason. A few of Majerus' nuggets about Althoff: "Nate will not play until he starts doing the things I want him to do," Majerus said early in the year. This statement prompted the question, "What are those things?" from one of the reporters circling around the Utc coach. "I want him to play hard," Majerus bit back. "Larry Cain a former Ute who stood over seven feet tall, but well under 200 pounds brought more to the table than Nate does." You could say Majerus is not Althoff's biggest fan, and you'd be correct. "Coach is just that way... I wasn't as aggressive as I should have been. Coach got on me, and he still gets on me," Althoff said. "I've just tried to work on what he says, and have become a better player because of it. He's very demanding." In spite of the stinging criticism by his coach, promise has shown through. It's been a turbulent years for the sophomore from Minnesota, but a small ray of light has made its way past the dark clouds and into Majerus' sight. Majerus likes that Althoff has started hustling, uses his body more and takes the ball to the rack in a powerful manner. The progress prompted Majerus to let his guard down and even praise Althoff, albeit for a brief but mem- - u j Nate Althoff is piling the lane vacated by the NBA's Michael Doleac, and is not doing such a bad job manning the middle for the Utes. orable instant. because he feels he must. Especially when it bounce, but he would rather have me push "I'll say this about Nate: I've never had a comes to Althoff. guys around and use my body," Althoff said. The Utah center is not the world's most "I've tried to work on my strength a lot. That's player that seems to get better every time he In whatever. in God athlete. Nate In when was been my biggest improvement since coming fact, plays. gifted practice, games, handing improves every time he steps on the floor," out verticals, Althoff was off in another room here. I need to become more physical, said Majerus, who must have realized how busy getting stone tablets tied to his ankles, or though." kind he was being and quickly added, "but he so it would seem. As a freshman and a sophomore, Doleac has a lot he still has to get done." He is a quick leapcr, but that's because had the same problems as Althoff. He was tall, The improvements have come in the midst when he jumps, one could barely slide a piece not yet used to his body and gimped around of paper between the soles of his Recboks and the court like his legs were a pair of Slinkys. of a storm, with Majerus providing the thunder. The Ute coach has been incredibly harsh But he worked. the hardwood. Althoff realizes his limitations with Althoff, riding him and riding him and and, instead, capitalizes on his gifts. Soon, Doleac learned to race up and down sure He when him God absent the wasn't handed at floor. He even began to beat the other practice. riding out bulk. team's entire defense down the floor. "The Majerus knows how to use words to motiAlthoff is easily the strongest Ute on the Tortoise and the Hare" isn't some crazy fantavate. He knows how to make remarks that burn more than a hot iron, and through the team, standing just under seven feet and sy that tries to teach kids some life lesson. course of the year, when it comes to dealing weighing in at about 245. For that reason Doleac picked his spots and, when he saw a with his project center, Majerus has commitalone, Althoff has been able to enjoy some chance, even he could outrun the swiftest of success in the pivot as he often overpowers defenders to the hoop. ted arson. much weaker and much smaller men who Doleac' had a suitcase full of physical gifts, But Althoff is beginning to fight through the block his path to the hoop. This has led to a yes, but he had another ability he used to flames. team-hig56 percent from the field. tower over opponents even more than his "You really just have to take the good over But size alone will not get Althoff or the size. His head. the bad with coach," Althoff said. "He's trying Utes where they want to go. Althoff knows Doleac wasn't a quick leaper, didn't own to make me a better player, but it's hard somethis. lot." times. He is on us a "Coach has always said that I have good But Majerus only fires bullets at his players see althoff 13 h page |
