OCR Text |
Show HERALD DAILY C6 IMiwsJjv 10C8 WJ'cto 2008 MWC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 2008 r.IWC LIEN'S DASinCTDAT.T. ". Noon (No WednesdaySaturday 1 p.m. (Mtn,) 2005 Diego 7 p.m. New Mexico Diego 2001 BYU 2000; UNLV 1p.m. 'Mta : (CBS College Sports) (3) New Mexico ,: (Mtn.) (6) Utah V- 2 p.m. (Versus) WOMEN'S (2) TCU : 2005: New 2004: New Mexico 2003: New CHAMPION 8:30 p.m. (Mtn.) (7) Air Force Mexico j Mexico 3:30p.m. 2002 BT 2000: Utah: (Mtn-- ' (3) Wyoming U p.m. ; (Mtn.) - V.;.;y.V (6) San Diego St. : approximate times; ': also on CBS College Sports (formerly CSTV) approximate Women :CBS College Sports (Formerly times; women in the MWC Tournament BYU Continued from Cl seed against No. 4 New Mexico, to and find a way make things right back to the NCAA tournament. A hot streak would mean a sudden winning record for the year for a squad, and a fresh start on what has easily been coach Jeff Judkins' toughest winter since taking over the program in 2001. It's been a hard year," Judkins said of a squad that went 9 in conference in what will likely end as his first losing season as a player or coach. "I feel bad for (the players). You know, sometimes in life you have to learn the hard way. I know in mine things have never come easy. And maybe this is the year I have to learn how to do some things better as a coach in order to get my team ready." BYU split its series with UNM (17-1this year, even taking the game at The Pit something even some of BYU's better teams in recent memory haven't been able to pull off. BYU will have to to repeat its most solid three-gam- e stretch of the year, when it beat UNM, Air Force and nationally ranked Wyoming around the end of January. Go figure, BYU lost to that whole group then fell to TCU in the final regular-season game to go to the postseason e with a losing streak. This season, it's obvious the older players are disappointed to be playing for such things as pride and fun when they're so used to winning. It has had various circumstances that caused it go to awry. and Lauren Mallary Gillespie-CarlinRiley Varley, the pair of normally bubbly seniors, have been weighed down by the extra pressures that in some respects simply didn't fit their personalities or games. It hurt in the offseason, when expected starting forward Mary Martha Abell and fellow talent-lade- n point guard Haley Hall were done with recurring knee injuries. That changed everything for Judkins, regarding roles and expectations. And, well, he admits it might have changed his temperament too much as 14-- 7 OVERALL RECORD vs. Air Force 1-- 0 13-1- 5 State vs. Colorado 3--1 vs. New Mexico 1-- 2 vs. San Diego State 1-- 0 vs. TCU 1-- 0 V v.. vs. UNLV 3-- 1 vs. Utah well. "I've worked harder this year than any year I've coached. And it's sad not to get results from it," Judkins said. "But I've always been taught when things are tough, work harder. I think it's helped me appreciate things better. 3-- 3 1-- 0 BYU'S RECORD WHEN PLAYING AS THE ... lSeed 4--2 No. 2 Seed 2-- 1 No. 3 Seed 41 No. - . four-gam- g ,. vs. Wyoming 9-- I BYU's voters y- - : f (f , i i r M .;; ff :' A f 1 1 FILEDaily Herald Mallary Carling, left, will try to lead the Cougars past New Mexico today. Maybe I was too hard on myself, and my coaches and my team, but I wanted another championship. Maybe I wanted it too much, and it wasn't the best approach." Approach is the key word today. who has sherd, her Gillespie-Carlinfair share of tears this year, would like hard and consistent effort herself included. "If we go down and just compete, play hard, and play like I know we can, I'd love to go out like that," the senior guard said. "There's been games this year, I have no idea who we are out here; it's not our team." The play of some freshmen bodes well for the future, though Mindy Niel-socan't fathom what it's been like n years, are playing internationally. It's hard to say how much impact that's had on the "I think this might be one of league, which has had its share the best MWC tournaments as of inferiority complexes far as matchups that I've been namely the TV deal that finally a part of in my time here," appears to be a go. Cummard said. Giddens, who started ' as a highly touted Which means there's time to shooter at Kansas, doesn't apsort out how exactly to value the upcoming crops. One thing pear to be getting a lot of draft the MWC has struggled with is attention. He may have to use draft workouts, a la former putting its players of the year Lobo star Danny Granger, to into the NBA. In the previous eight seaget a shot at the next level. Plaisted, a bouncy sons, BYU's Rafael Araujo (who shared in 2004 with Air junior center, may have the Force's Nick Welch) got a shot best shot to get to the NBA next season. However, he's not as a lottery pick. Andrew Bogut of Utah betalking about his goals until after the season. came a No. 1 pick in the draft The BYU duo and Giddens the next season. on first team were joined by Brandon Heath (San DUNLV guard Wink Adams and iego State) and Keena Young San Diego State's Lorrenzo (BYU), from the past two Continued from Cl to be an older player. The new point guard, thrust into an unfamiliar role, said it's had to be "So hard. They've been so patient with us. I don't know if I could've done what they have. We went so slow this year, it was things over and over again. For me, I made a lot of turnovers, things they didn't have to deal with last year because of the seniors they had around. But they've been so encouraging." would Judkins and Gillespie-Carlin- g like an enjoyable end to the season, something worth remembering years down the road. The coach admits he's felt like an parent at times, expecting so much and hoping of for so much perhaps to a fault his top player. He says he has a "great Wade, who is from Vegas. That should sell a few extra tickets. "It's going to be a great tournament," Cummard said. "There was a lot of buzz going on about it last year more fans from beginning to end and I think it'll be like that again this year." Even the play-i- n game features some talent. Wyoming's Brandon Ewing was picked among the top 10 players. He has struggled with a role adjustment under a new coach. CSU's Marcus Walker, whose team did not win a conference game, was the second-bes- t scorer in conference play. That can be taken two ways: Yes, he shot a lot. But even though opponents knew it was coming, it could be argued, Walker still couldn't be stopped. No. 4 Seed. 2-- 1 No. 5 Seed 2-- 1 No. 6 Seed 0-- 1 No. 7 Seed NA No. 8 Seed NA No. 9 Seed NA relationship" with BYU's second-bes- t shooter. The player says she's learned the value of patience, which is suited to all parts of life. It's her goal to give the program a spark to build on. "The transition from your freshman to sophomore year is huge. Everything just starts clicking," Gillespie-Carlinsaid. "They're going to be good next year. I'm a little selfish in saying I wish it was this year. But it's been a learning year. It's been tough for everyone, but we've learned a lot." A win against UNM would likely set up a Friday semifinal with Utah, which blew out the Cougars both times this year. A rematch could be a joyful opportunity, or a disaster. all-ti- g BYU sophomore Jonathan choice, Tavernari, a third-teais thrilled to go to his adopted home of Sin City. He thinks all of the blossoming talent appreciate it, too. "How many NBA-typ- e players do we have right now," Tavernari asked. "Lee, Trent, (Utah's) Luke (Nevill) and Johnnie (Bryant); UNLV's guys, Wade... We have a lot of NBA players. And what better place to be than in Vegas, where the league gets all of the exposure it needs." . I Double trouble: New Mexico is one of those teams that many pundits expect to be "on the bubble." It remains to be adseen how two home-couvantages work against them. Lobos will The No. probably play against home-teaNo. 2 UNLV jn the semi- rt m final. bid And a precious to the field of 65 was sucked up Monday night by San Diego, which stunned Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament title game. The Toreros got to play at their arena, Jenny Craig Pavilion, where they aiso ousted probable at large team Saint Mary's in double overtime. Walter Roese, a former BYU assistant, is in his first year with USD. I Worth checking out: The Las did a Vegas Review-Journnice, quick read in Monday's edition on third-yea- r BYU assistant Dave Rice, who spent a fair chunk of his life playing with or coaching the Rebels. It's always a handshake-fes- t when Rice goes to Vegas. Same with Tavernari and BYU freshman Mike Loyd. Colorado State women upend Rebels, will face Utah today Juanise Cornell added 10 points and seven rebounds, LAS VEGAS Sara Hunter while Amaka Uzomah had 7 and Elle Queen each scored points, 12 rebounds and 6 as16 points to lead a game-hig- h sists for the winners. With the Colorado State over UNLV, game tied at 4444 with 7:00 left in the game, Hunter scored 6849, in the play-i- round of the Mountain West Conference the contest's next six points tournament as the Rams broke converting two ers, a losing streak Tuesputting Colorado State up for day night. good. That started a 15-- 2 run Hunter was from as the lead never got below 10 range, while Queen had points the rest of the way. seven rebounds for Shamela Hampton led the Colorado State which No. 8 and host Rebels did not win a conference game with 16 points and six rethis season in 16 tries. bounds. Raquel Jupiter had The Rams now play eight points and nine rebounds for UNLV. Utah, which is ranked No. 12 nationally, in the quarThe Rams from 1 for 64 terfinal round this afternoon. range converted THE ASSOCIATED PRESS n 20-ga- ninth-seede- d ), (8-2- top-seed- percent, while UNLV was for 20 percent. The Lady Rebels led for the majority of the first half, but never building more than a four-poilead. There were six ties in the in the Big Sky Conference tournament championship game for the third straight year. half, including at intermission, ). lead Northern Arizona Nate Geiser and Nick Larson each added nine points for the Josh Wil). Lumberjacks son chipped in eight points. Daviin Davis led Weber with 19 points. ) State 29-2- There were five ties in the second half before Hunter's Big Sky Men's Kyle Landry scored 21 points (21-10- (21-10- (16-14- Dezmon Harris scored 15 points for the Wildcats and Valeika had 12 points and Three was the lucky number 11 rebounds. for Northern Arizona on TuesNALTs Larson hit a er day night. with 2:56 left in the game that The Lumberjacks' third win of the season over Weber broke a 666 tie and gave the lead. Two State, a victory, put them Lumberjacks a Ar-tur- 69-6- 6 key inside buckets by Landry extended Northern Arizona's lead to 8 with 1:12 remaining to play. Weber State failed to convert on its last three possessions and Wilson sealed the win for NAU with two free throws with eight seconds left to play. Northern Arizona shot 58 percent from the floor and held Weber State to just 44 percent 73-6- and grabbed seven rebounds to Tournament 75-7- 0 tape delay at Midnight and 2 a.m. USBWA honors Cummard, PJaisted DAILY HERALD: ; After leading the Cougars to their second straight outright Mountain West Conference title and the second-bes- t record in program history, BYUs Lee Cummard and Trent Plaisted have been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VIII Team. The USBWA announced teams in men's nine regions from coast to coast, based on voting from its national membership. Each team consists of a coach of the year and 10 including the player of the year. District VIII represents the top players from teams in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Cummard is second for the 14-- 2 MWQ in Cougars (25-points (15.8), rebounds (6.6) and assists (3.4) while leading the Mountain West Conference in shooting 56.7 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures in 28 of 31 games while topping 20 or more points on nine occasions and posting three s on the year. of the The MWC Year has tallied season-high- s of 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Plaisted paces the Cougars with 15.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest while racking up 10 double-figur- e rebounding games. He is third in the MWC in shooting 54.0 percent from the field and has scored in double figures in 24 games, including 1 1 outings with 20 or more points. The Cougars' go-t- o player in the post has tallied season highs of 27 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks. This year's USBWA selection is the second for Plaisted, who was one of three freshmen in the nation to receive the award in 2006. Honors have poured in this season for the pair. In addition to USBWA recognition, both were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches First Team. The Cougars' "dynamic duo" was selected First Team. Joining Cummard and Plaisted on the District VIII Team are New Mexico's J.R. Giddens, who was named the player of the year, along with fellow MWC players Wink Adams of UNLV and Brandon Ewing of Wyoming. The team is rounded out by Utah State's Jaycee Carroil, New Mexico State's Justin studen- t-athletes, .y ... CSTV) ;: 7-- Youth i, k ; New Mexico 2001: Colorado St. 9:30 p.m. j BYU (5) 2006:Utah (Mtn.) ; BYU 2007: MEN'S CHAMPION 10 p.m. St.' " ; 2:30 p.m. (Mtn.) 2003: Colorado St. 2002: San : 68 Tournament Champions (7)TCU 2004: Utah WHEN: Tuesday- Saturday WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas (9) Colorado St. 7p.nhtNoTV) (9j Colo. St. i (4) New Mexico (2) UNLV St, 49Vpm.Mfo, (sjuNLv 5 p.m. ( Versus ) UNLV 2006: San (l)Utah 3:30 p.m. Mtn.) 5 ) Air Force Tournament Champions 2007: SnJgoSt.. 7:30 p.m. (CBS College Sports) SATURDAY FRIDAY TODAY - WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center. Las Vegas TV) (?J Colorado St. i4l TUESDAY WHEN: BYU (lj (8) Wyoming SATURDAY FRIDAY THURSDAY TODAY 2000 Liwc wosicirs BASiarrnALL TounNAr.inNT TOUHNAMENT shooting on the night. NAU outshot the Wildcats from the line Landry was a force down low and connected on from the floor and did not commit a personal foul on the night. double-double- Hawkins, Nevada's Marcelus Kemp, Boise State's Reggie Larry and Montana State's Carlos Taylor. UNLV head coach Lon Kruger received coach of the year honors. With the selection of Cummard and Plaisted, BYU has had six USBWA honorees in the last six years. Former Cougar forward Keena Young was so honored last season while Plaisted was selected in 2006, former center Rafael Araujo was honored in 2004 and former Cougar swingman Travis Hansen was named to the team in 2003. 11-- The latest in BYU Sports online wwww.haraldaxtra.com |