OCR Text |
Show DAILY C4 HERALD Saturday, December 8, 2007 LOCAL COLLEGE SPORTS BYU moves on to Elite Eight Men's Hoops Continued from CI today that they are more than willing to abide by the dared Three A's. Anytime. Anybody. Anywhere. Which is why Izzo's Michigan State team, ranked No. 9 d nationally, wiD play the Cougars at 2 p.m. at EnergySohitions Arena in Salt Lake City. About 4,000 seats remain in the arena that seats nearly 20,000. While it's technically a neutral court, Izzo fully expects the crowd won't be school-colo- r green with envy. And that's just fine. It's a ?; new place, a new obstacle. Bring it oa "I know this isnt a big recruiting area for us," Izzo said. "But I'll admit, I'm selfish. I want to go see different places and let my teams have different challenges." BYU is more than happy to accept. Like the Spartans, it has lost to a team that has been at the top of the rankings. The Cougars lost to North Carolina over Thanksgiving weekend on a neutral court in Las Vegas, while MSU dropped a game to 9-- too-rare- DAILY HERALD ' UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. BYUs magical run through the NCAA Tournament continued Friday night as the Cougars swept Middle Tennessee State in the Regional Semifinals to earn their first Regional Finals appearance since 1998. 2 With the win, BYU will now be one of eight teams still playing for a National Championship. The mom mwmsmf0 Cougars will play in the round of eight Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. MT) against No. 1 Perm State. The match will be broadcast on ESPNU. "I'm very proud of our team," said BYU head coach Jason Watson. "Middle Tennessee State is a very good team that put a lot of pressure L on us, especially in game three. MARK PHILBRICKBYU I'm proud of the resolve we showed." Above, Erica Lott goes for a kill against Middle Tennessee State Senior Chelsea on Friday. Right ?YU's Rachel Dyer tries to spike the ball on Goodman led BYU in kills for Friday in University Park, Pa, the 22nd time this season with 19. Junior middle a match-hig- h time as the Cougars recorded blocker Rachel Dyer also run to take a 13-- 5 early lead. kills with the 8 victory. The Cougars tried valiantly to posted double-digi- t 15 while tallying a match-hig- h BYU came out strong in cut the deficit, getting to with , five points at eight blocks and .500 hitting game two to jump out to a only to see percentage. BYU hit .333 in the lead. From there, the Cougars the lead soar back to eight at contest while holding MTSU, never looked back, leading prompting a BYU timewho entered the match sixth in in the 2 win out . The Cougars once again the nation in hitting efficiency, as MTSU came no closer than cut the MTSU advantage to to just .215 hitting. three points. Goodman record- five points at 4 out of the k Both teams came out fighted eight kills in the game while break, but after ing from the start as Middle Dyer posted four winners and Blue Raider scores, it looked Tennessee State pushed to four blocks. BYU hit ,.375 in the like the match was headed to a lead. However, BYU a fourth game. game while holding the Blue Raiders to a .143 attack perHowever, with Amy began to make its move from Schlauder at the service line, there as a kill and an ace from centage in the game. "I think that the main thing run to the Cougars made a Bryn Porter started a 2 CouMowas definitely passing. We were get within three at gar run that put BYU in front able to get our middle involved," ments later, the lead was down After trailing the Blue Raiders fought back Goodman said. "It's hard on you to just two at 1 after a Blue with three straight points to Raider hitting error. MTSU as an outside hitter if you know cut the lead to just two points fought off the Cougar advance they're always trying to block at as the game neared completion, Porter once again you because they know you're came up big for BYU as she but a 30 BYU spurt brought the going to get set. We really got recorded three kills to keep the Rachel Dyer and Ashton HanCougars all the way back for sen involved in there when we'd a 5 lead, outscoring MTSU Cougars ahead. Leading to a 17-- 7 after the timeout. game-poiopportunity, get them the ball." the Blue Raiders fought off With their backs against the After kills from Dyer and k the first two chances on Ashton Hansen, BYU found wall, the Blue Raideres came out hard and strong in game itself with match point at Cougar errors but couldn't hold off BYU a third three, putting together an 80 But, as they had done through-30-2- 30-2- 20th-ranke- 34-3- 71 30-2- 6-- 1 15-10- t'-'- J r 18-1- wire-to-wi- 30-2- 19-1- back-to-bac- 9-- 5-- 0 19-2- 2. 23-1- 19-1- 23-2- 23-2- 27-2- 29-2- 6 back-to-bac- 29-2- '..' I 13-1- 0 out game three, the Blue Raiders continued to fight, fending off both Cougar chances to The earn a game point at teams traded scores as two more MTSU game points went by the wayside to knot the A Blue Raider score at hitting error on the next play gave the Cougars the opening they were looking for, and a block from Dyer and Porter sent the BYU players streaming onto the court as the Cougars pulled out the 2 win. 30-2- 32-3- 34-3- WSC should have confidence edge over BYU Jason Franchuk against NMSU in Wednesday's third consecutive loss, but eventually a team needs positive It 's no secret that on a yearly results to gain esteem. basis, BYU is going to attract Hopefully sooner, like today, for head coach Jeff Judkins. He more prolific women's basketball players than Utah Valley says "it's an uphill battle right State College. now" and has declared this More confident ones, esperhaps his most trying time in six plus years as BYLTs head pecially this year, could be a completely different story as the coach. teams meet at 5 p.m. today at The senior captains, Carling reand Lauren the Marriott Center. main optimistic that the tough Utah Valley State College is coming off its first loss, but still days will turn around. All part stands at 1 heading along Uniof the process of training a bunch of new talent, and also versity Parkway to face the Cougars. trying to get the older players Confidencet belief in their (themselves included) to mesh into more responsible roles, they respective systems, and the estimate (confidently, at that). ability to execute could play the difference. Quite simply, "We know what we need the Wolverines are older, more to do, we just need to do it and prove it," said Carling, a sucexperienced and feeling better e cessful shooter who about their various roles. And has made just eight of 26 during they know how to find the basket at a significantly better the losing streak. BYU has won both meetings rate. While the Cougars have only with UVSC in the past four e Carling averyears as the latter has ventured into Division I play. Give Judaging double digits in scoring ( 14 points per game), UVSC has kins some credit. He's been three in the club. gracious enough to schedule the Division I upstart Wolverines, Here's the kicker: Take the even going to McKay Events averages of Robyn Fairbanks Center and winning last year by (22.2 ppg), Sandy Marvin (19.3) and Julie McMurray (19.8) and 14 points. It's always a battle that total is roughly nine points for the fledgling program to get higher than BYLTs average for games. the entire roster (about 53). Cathy Nixon's team could You could spin the reasons favor this return the road-wiyear, with four starters returnwhy to a variety of factors. Yes, the Cougars have a bad ing and most everything clickloss at No. 1 UConn in which ing. Yes, there was the loss Wednesday at Montana State, they scored just 34 points and lost by 46. But losses to the first loss in 11 games dating back to last season. Sacred Heart and New But its worst shooting perMexico State (at home) have followed. centage in a game this season Effort's been good, at least season, 39.7, still rivals BYLTs DAILY ZD Z Kt- - HERALD )? 3-- 5 long-rang- CRAIG DILQERDaily Herald Julie McMurray of UVSC drives towards the basket for a shot against Seton Hall during a game on November 21. ward that his team did nothing resembling what he drew up. years at Cougars but the grainy tape doesn't allow much ability to interpret body language and played or coached for seven BYU. "Getting the chemistry on track is not easy to do, even if you do have so much experience. But we've been fortunate that players are understanding their roles. There's a lot of confidence in that." Trailing 2 against NMSU, Judkins called a timeout with five seconds left to set up a tyg shot. BYU ing or didn't get much of anything and Judkins was frustrated after 54-5- game-winnin- The hustle was there all game, but there's a lot of uncertainty around. How much? Nixon has watched the confidence. "Those kinds of things are difficult to assess that way," she said. So it'll be interesting to see the vibe the Cougars give in person. "I think our players have a healthy motivation to compete against BYU," Nixon said. SANTA BARBARA. Calif. After playing a closely contested first 15 minutes, UC Santa Barbara's hot shooting took over as Utah Valley fell, to the Gauchos. The preseason Big West favorites used a big run at the end of the first half and beginning of the second to build a big lead. 81-6- 1 "Santa Barbara is an outstanding team," UVSC head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "They are experienced and talented. There were things I though we improved upon to h three-pointe- 7-- 7-- 52-1- Tip-in- s: Dr. Nick Groneman DMD Wolverine men fall to Gauchos night and some things we still need to work on." UVSC was led by Ryan Toolson who scored 25 points. Jordan Brady was the Wolverines reboimder with eight in the game. True freshman Kevin Woods provided a spark off the bench for UVSC as he seven. scored a career-higThe Gauchos were led by Alex Harris' 25 points. After UVSC opened the r, scoring with a Toolson UCSB responded with a 0 including five early points from James Powell to take a 3 lead with 17:05 left in the first half. The heels." Is this a chance for Rose, who is 9 and on the verge of taking the Cougars to a whole different stratosphere? Cummard talks about his coach the way MSU players would talk about Izzo. "We know what he wants," Cummard said, "and when we execute it we're pretty good." 6-- average at this point (about 37). "We have the majority of our kids back, which makes it basically the same team but still a different year," said Nixon, who 186 South 1100 East American Fork, UT 84003 DENTAL HERALD L I Apparently the network, Versus, turned down the chance to televise the game. It is focusing on professional cagefight-in- g oa "One of the referees had noduring that time slot. ticed our schedule," Izzo said, BYUTV is available on satel"and asked if I was crazy. lite systems Dish Network and DirecTV, and about 200 Maybe I am." Rose could be called a difcable outlets, according to a ferent type of loony. He's BYU press release. ...MSU already played Louisville and returns all five starters from the Tar Heels, and will go last year's team that defeated to Wake Forest next month in Detroit. The BYU, right before conference play Spartans are led by 7 sophomore forward Raymar Mor(the Demon Deacons return that game to Provo next gan (17.6 ppg, 7.9rpg).The most known player is Drew year). That's a lot of high national ranking to chew. Neitzel, a senior guard who Izzo has noticed the BYU chips in 14.1 ppg. Look for schedule. the Cougars to mix up coverNeitzel Though the only time the age against the pair of coaches has really talk- on defense, but Morgan's, ed was before last December's athleticism presents possibly a bigger concern. ...BYU has game in Detroit, a 76-6-1 win at the Palace of Auburn Hills three double-digi- t scorers, led by junior center Trent (home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons), they really are alike. Plaisted's 17.4 to go with 9.4 One thing many people rpg. ...BYLTs next game is might not realize is each near- Wednesday at the Marriott Center against Lamar. ly left for greener pastures. Family Dentistry DAILY free-thro- 76-6- Mallary-Gillespi- es el six-poi- 8-- , fortune with top scorer Keena Young getting a pair of early fouls, BYU is ready to, if not avenge that defeat, show that this is an entirely new season. "It feels like it's taken a long time, but we're right where we want to be," junior Lee Cummard said of his three-yea- r career that has coincided with Rose getting the head coaching job. "I think we're right where coach wants us to be. I feel like we have the guys now to take it to the next leveL.Now is the opportunity, we have to make the most of it." As neutral-cour- t games in large arenas have become the norm for major programs, BYU has planned on taking full advantage of being situated about 45 minutes from an NBA venue. ' The' Utah Jazz have allowed the Cougars to play teams like Oklahoma State and Washington State Rose looks for teams from the upper-levmajor conferences. "I've spent a lot of time trying to talk to those programs," Rose said. , Rose learned long ago, as a college player, to value tough opposition. Izzo is also frequently commended for the slate he puts together. There are seasons when it looks like he plays a prelude to the Final Four in November and December. His team is coming off a courageous win at Bradley, a star of late. It was the first time in 30 years that a top-1- 0 team went to the home of the Braves. It's not just the Dukes and North Carolinas, and other blue bloods, that Izzo will take mid-maj- Riley-Varle- n UCLA in Kansas City, Mo. on Nov. 21. After losing to MSU last year, thanks in part to lousy Rose had the chance to become Texas A&M's top assistant under Billy Gillispie, who is now at Kentucky. Rose's shot came before the 2004-0- 5 season, which BYU went during and had Rose wondering if he made the right move to stay in Provo. He was an assistant for eight seasons. Izzo, not even Rose knew, was a coach at Tulsa for about two months back in 1986. Trapped as the third assistant for three years, and quite low paid, legendary MSU boss Jud Heathcote encouraged him to make the move to broaden his horizons and perhaps advance his career further. He was named top assistant and recruiting coordinator. But almost as soon as he got to Oklahoma, another MSU assistant unexpectedly took a head coaching job. The rest is history, as Izzo's become a living legend who took the head job in 1995 and won a national title in 2000. And he's expecting big things from BYU. "Neither of us played that well last year when we met," Izzo said. "BYU wasn't as good as when I saw them the rest of the year. But this year they're very good. They're sound in all phases. (Junior lefthanded center Trent) Plaisted is better with his right hand, and at the line. (Sophomore forward Jonathan) Tavernari is a weapoa Then you've got Cummard; he's an guy." MSU returns a more experienced team as well, all five starters from a year ago, led by senior shooter Drew Neit-zeat Brad- He went ley but the Cougars know the odds of him having consecutive off games is about as high as BYU losing two in a row that is to say, it doesn't happen often. The challenge for BYU will be to match MSLTs trademark toughness. Can the Cougars get the ball where the want to score from, which was a struggle at times in Detroit. And then can they convert? "Both teams are a lot different this year," Rose said. "Michigan State was able to do what they wanted way better than how much we were able to do what we wanted. Their half court execution was terrific, they kind of sped us up on offense and we got a lot of open looks we weren't able to covert on. And we turned the ball over a lot. Sometimes we were playing as the aggressors, but mostly they had us on our Wolverines answered with a 0 spurt to cut the Gauchos lead to after a Richard Troyer three pointer. UCSB run and responded with a the two teams traded baskets throughout the rest of the half. Toolson put the Wolverines within two points at However, UCSB scored five straight to maintain its lead. UVSC made another run courtesy of another to cut Toolson Santa Barbara's lead to 8 with 3:10 left in the half. The Gauchos finished the half on an run including making 5-- 9-- 8 4-- 0 23-2- 1. 5-- 0 31-2- 8-- 0 foul shots during the stretch to take 1 break at a game-hig- h advantage to the 7 if t. 39-2- Toolson led UVSC with 14 points at the break while Jordan Brady had four points and four rebounds. After UVSC cut UCSB's lead to nine with 17 minutes remaining, the Gauchos went on an 18-- 7 lead run to open a at 9 with 1125 left. The Wolverines return to home next week when they will face off against Boise State Thursday evening. Tip off at the McKay Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 59-3- Alter Honrs & Same Day Emergency Care |