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Show PTS look at NOVEMBER WEDNESDAY. 3, 2004 drspctsOheraldextra.ccn 344-255- 5 John Beck ready to take on San Diego State John Beck A SECTION BYU quarterback John Beck's statistics after eight games, compared to last season. Darnell Dickson DAN.Y , BYU quarterback John Beck remembers last year's San Diego State game very well As a redshirt freshman, Beck threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in BYlTs 6 victory. He also had two fumbles returned for touchdowns and took some vicious shots from San Diego State's defense. Beck was so beat up after that game he didn't practice the follow 2003 statistics: 73of-14-5 (.503) for 864 yards, 5 TDs, 5 interceptions 44-3- 2004 statistics: 138of-24- 9 (.554) for 1,790 yards, 9 TDs, 7 interceptions ing week and was ineffective in BYlTs 3 loss to Colorado State. . "I played San Diego State last year and I got knocked around a ton," Beck said. "I know how they play. It doesnt matter how late they come, they're still going to hit you. I remember on an option play I pitched the ball and was just standing there watching Ray (Brath-wait- e) run. Somebody came and bit me from behind." San Diego State put some big (and late) hits on Utah quarterback Alex Smith in Saturday's 8 loss, and 58-1- HERALD 51-2- Beck expects the same. "These guys are going to want to be physical, that's just football," Beck sakL "I cant let M rattle me." Beck is coming off of what could be his finest performance. Against Air Force on Oct. 23, Beck was 20 of 31 for 319 yards and four touchdowns after a rough first half. The injury to his (left) ' shoulder suffered in the opener against Notre Dame is nearly healed. "IVe been working on getting my throwing motion back," Beck said. "I g watch myself on film sometimes and say, that's not the way I throw the baL' Well deckle this week how we're going to tape M up or take anything to numbaV BYU coach Gary Crowton said it will probably be the first time Beck will go shot to numb his without a game-tim- e shoulder. "I want him to come out and be consistent," Crowton said. "I hope he has a good start and finishes strong. He's See BECK, C6 NBA SEASON fho's the ffltamee team? TUESDAY'S GLLTES For full stories, see C4 For NBA notebook and other team previews, see C5 I1' mw' " 11 With the Lakers breakup, anyone can step up and become the new ' ? standout team t I 'Kf Chris Sheridan THE ASSOCIATED 111 n, ft" m I. FJ PRESS r Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal agree on one thing: The NBA's new marquee team is ... drum roll, please ... "It'd have to be Detroit, wouldn't it?" Bryant said. "I don't know. vf AL PAUL -- s SAfCY A Associated Press Pistons 87, Rockets 79 Houston's Tracy McGrady (1) drives on Detroit Pistons Elden Campbell (41) in the second quarter in Auburn Hills, Mich. I'd probably have to say the Pistons," offered O'Neal. OK, so it's 7 a 1 '" J" argu- OVERVIEW ment made by the two superstars, but can anyone blame them? The NBA enters unfamiliar territory in its first season following the breakup of the Los Angeles Lakers, unquestionably the league's marquee team for the past half decade. Play started Tuesday night with the Lakers hosting Denver, defending champion Detroit hosting Houston, and Sacramento Vv ' i at Dallas. With O'Neal now in Miami, coach Phil Jackson in semiretire-men- t, and Bryant the only one of the threesome still remaining with the Lakers, there's a void where there used to be a vortex. Sure, the Pistons are the reigning champs. But they're not the ones headlining the league's Dec. 25 the annual time when commissioner David Stern tries to hook the casual fan into declaring "I Love This Game.", No, the big attraction that day is the first meeting between the former teammates known to many simply as Shaq and Kobe," who were split up over the summer when the Lakers dealt O'Neal to Miami for three starters and a No. 1 draft pick. Not since 1975, when Kareem See NBA, 1 TUN SHAmV Associated Press Mavs 107, Kings S3 er Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki drives for the basket during the second half against Sacramento. Nowitzki was fouled on the play. WILFREDO lE Associated Press Bryant left, chats with center Shaquille O'Neal during a timeout in the final seconds of the fourth guard against the Miami Heat in Miami, in this Feb. 10 photo. The NBA ts entering unfamiliar territory m its prst season LA. Lakers Kobe C4 following the breakup of the Lakers, unquestionably the NBA's marquee team for the past quarter half-decad- e. Jazz hobbling into season with three on injured list ' T.ATTTTTtS THE AT UTAH ASSOCIATED PRESS SALT LAKE CITY Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has until tonight decide who will start in the season Today, 8:30 p.m, Delta Center TV:ESPN,KJZZ Radio: 1320 AM play," Sloan said Monday. ,. That list is getting shorter almost Doug Alden to opener. It may take him about that long to figure it out. "First of all, we've just got to see who we have that's healthy enough to Milhfi Jazz put three players on the Monday, including Raul Lopez (right knee), Carlos Arroyo (sprained left ankle) and Aleksandar nc (tendinitis left knee.) t leaves the Jazz with 11 active yj Jiuetionable if. the Los Angeles Lakers after getting dak poked in the eye during practice over the weekend. Okur, the free agent center the Jazz picked up from Detroit, got hit in the eye while trying to dribble past new teammate Carlos Boozer, the Jazz's other big pickup over the summer. His right eye was still bright red See for today's game against JAZZ, DANNY MOLOSHOll Associated Press Lakers 89, Denver 78 Los Angeles' center Chris Mihm goes to the basket past Denver forward Kenyan Martin during the first quarter in Los Angeles. C4 W6l, BYU women s soccer opens season against Air Force today ' game begins at 7 pjn. at South Field. In BYLPs previous meeting with Air Force an Oct. 16 contest in Colorado It is said that the regular season is Springs, Colo. the two teams played to a 1 tie in double overtime. just a primer for the playoffs. And the The Cougars enter the tournament postseason is there to see if all the hard, as the Na 2 seed after they won then-las- t work has paid off. two games a overtime win The BYU women's soccer team will over New Mexico and a 2--1 win over put that philosophy to the test starting rival Utah last Saturday. The Cougars, tonight when it takes on Air Force in who finished with an identical the opening round of the Mountain conference record, earned the West Conference tournament. The . v thris Peterson HERALD CORRESPONDENT XXYUvs. y) air ' Y today, 7 p.m. at South Field 0 i ' n tiebreaker over the Aztecs. BYU beat the tourney's top seed, in their only meeting, Oct. 9 UNLV, 0 o in Rrovo. , Head coach Jennifer Rockwood, who led her team to a 4 overall record, says despite some struggles throughout the season the Cougars are where they should be entering the ' postseason. I think we've made some gcx strides, especially in our last two games," Rockwood said. "We hope to carry on with that momentum, and keep the confidence that weVe built." - One eaa&nation of why BYlTs record is less than stellar Could be its schedule early oa It seems apparent that Rockwood prescribes to the idea of playing quality teams, thus toughening up her squadto get ready for the second season Before the MWC regular season began, the Cougars played No. 6 Portland (a 0 loss) and No. 7 Kansas (a set--, 2-- 0 See SOCCER, C7 |