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Show 10 TUESDAY, MARCH 21, THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 2000 Utah Getting Cold Again Utes Are Heading to Minneapolis as No. 1 Seed In Their Region Utes received. Particularly because the NCAA did not send his team to Georgia or Alabama, by far the two toughest places to compete. The Utes will battle West Virginia, Minnesota, Denver, Utah State and Southern Utah in an attempt to earn one of two spots at Nationals. Of the five teams, Utah has defeated all of them this season with the lone exception being West Virginia. But that is only because the Utes did not compete against the No. Mountaineers. After the Utes dominated BYU and Southern Utah 197.200 in a lopSaturday night, scoring a season-hig- h sided victory, they moved up to No. 4 in the national rankings. That meant the Utes were guaranteed a No. i seed in whichever region they were placed. With nearly two weeks until Regionals, Marsden has one goal in mind not to see another nurse for the rest of the season. The Utes have been ravaged by injuries, but Marsden is hoping the extra rest will mean the Utes are extra fresh once they hitch a plane for Minneapolis. "We need to get some of our people back," Marsden said. "We'll probably go easy in practice. It's hard to do that, though, because we hzve to do enough to stay " sharp but we don't want to risk more injuries BRANDON WINN Chronicle Sports Editor .7 L Alex Jensen v?as one of the most versatile players MEH HOOP continued from page 9 junior-colleg- Utah history. The least enthusiastic about leaving basketball behind, Killion was the most visibly upset about the end of the season. "I can't explain it; it's sad," he said. "It's going to be hard not playing in front of people. I'll be just a regular person next year." A few rows ahead, Jensen and Mottola sat playing cards with Sluga and Nick Jacobsen. Both spent seme time posing for pictures with the band and cheerleaders on the plane, neither one interested in talking basketball anymore. A few seats farther sat Harvey, watching the snow whip past as the plane prepared to land in Iowa. "It was fun while it lasted, but I'm ready to start something new," he said, by far the most philosophical of the group. "I don't want to have to use basketball as a crutch, playing because I can't do anything else." Harvey and Killion will both leave Utah with degrees this spring, as will all three other seniors by the end of the summer. "It's- not all TV and glory," Harvey said of playing basketball at Utah. "I'll be a Ute fan for the rest of my Hanno Mottola, Brandon Sluga and Tony Harvey, have reached the end as well; and as the Utes second round loss to Michigan State faded, the emotions of a team changing floated to the surface. "This is a tough day for me," an unusually emotional Rick Majerus said. "I have a great sadness for those guys who are leaving." In a iocker room full of post-loslong faces, it was easy to spot those who wouldn't ever play again. The jerseys were tugged on a little more, the shoes came off slower, and the talk was less about Michigan State and more about days at Utah. "It's difficult. You think about the times you've had, the coaches you've had and the guys you've played with," Jensen said. "It's been a fun four years." Jensen is one of two players (Mot-tol- a is the other) who is likely to begin a new basketball career next season. League MVP as a senior, and a player whose scoring and rebounding averages have increased in each 'life." of his four years at Utah, Jensen has become an NBA prospect one Majcrus says he will stake his reputation as a coach on. "I'll talk to all 29 NBA teams if I have to," he said. "I'll cover the ' expenses if he doesn't work out." Which NBA team Mottola will play for is the only question which remains to be answered. Like Jensen, Majerus has promised to find him a professional home. Not that either one wanted to talk much about the future on Saturday. "In four years I've gone through a lot, and had a lot of success," Mottola said. "I owe a lot to the fans and the people of Salt Lake City. I'll never forget it." When the game ended Saturday, Majcrus delayed the throng of reporters gathered outside the Utah locker room to talk to each senior individually, but he would talk about them as a group. "I enjoyed this group so much for its spirit," Majerus told the press. "I'd have any one of those five as my son." Back on the plane, Killion continued. "I've been a student and an athlete my whole life," Killion said, more thinking out loud than answering questions. "Now they are both over. As soon as it ends, you wish you could do it a million more times." For Killion, Harvey and Sluga, Saturday was perhaps more final. Two e transfers and a walk-on- , none of the three is likely to have a pro career. s, In , The weather outside might be frightful, but it beats the heck out of the frozen wind whipping through Minnesota. Fortunately for the Utah gymnastics team, it seems to be heating up just at the right time. The Utes will find that out firsthand if their hot play of late is enough to fight through the Minnesota ice when they travel to Minneapolis to compete at Region-al- s on April Fool's Day. The NCAA handed out invitations Monday and made the Utes the top seed in their region. Utah coach Greg Marsden was hoping to be sent to Arizona, which would give fans a chance to drive down to support the team; but he is happy with the draw his The Utes battled injury all season but stiil managed to earn a Ho. 4 ranking. They hit Regionals in two weeks. The University of Utah Chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi announces EHIJCA 1 (to Prizes: $1,500 Awards be awarded after the first week of fall semester, 2000) AWARDS TO SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS REQUIREMENTS; 4. Describe your educational and career goals and personal factors that have influenced your decision to pursue an undergraduate degree. The University provides a rich range of learning opportunities that supplement the depth of knowledge acquired in your major. Among these are conducting research or creative work under faculty supervision in your department or through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UR.OP), expanding learning through participation in Science Learning, Study Abroad, an Internship or other special programs. Discuss how your involvement in one or more of these programs would enhance your education. Limit your statement to 500 words or less. (Note: You do not need to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi to win.) 1 Two letters of recommendation from university professors with whom you have studied, or other persons having knowledge of your academic potential and who can attest to your scholastic ability, motivation, discipline and initiative. Be a full-tim- e student at the University of Utah in Fall of 2000 (at least credit hours). SEND ALL AlATERI ALS TO: Phi Kappa Phi, Undergraduate Studies Office, 132 Siil Center. (Be sure to include your name, address, phone number and If you have questions, contact Phi Kappa Phi at the Undergraduate Studies Office, at ' ; DEADLINE: APRIL 4, 2000 2. is defined as a student with 30 to 59 hours houre must be taken at the University of Utah. 'Sophomore of course work; also 24 of these is defined as a student with 60 to 89 hours of course work; also 24 of these hours must be taken at the University of Utah. Junior Overall GPA requirement of 3.5. Submit current copy of your transcript. Students must le matriculated sophomore or junior undergraduates at the e (at least 12 credit hours). University of LTtah and attend school 3. full-tim- Hours include AP and transfer credit at the time of application, Spring Semester 2000. 12 |