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Show The Salt LakeTribune SPORT ~ “CHANCEOF A LIFETIME § Utahskiers payfor the chanceto race Alberto Tombaat DeerValley.| B-11 AUSTRALIAN OPEN,B-2 MPREP HOOPMELEE, B-3 MI SCOREBOARD, B-8 EOTOy SUNDAY ° i BASEBALL, B-9 GORDON MONSON e Quiz Show:Jazz Try to Answer JANUARY24, 1999 Bulldogs Frustrate Cougars Fresno State ends BYU’s winstreak at 3 Big Questions BY JOE BAIRD THESALT LAl ‘TRIBUNE Four days into Jazz training camp, there are questions, questions ofsignificance, of consequence, of great weight. About great weight. Some are presented here, and addressed by a panel of Jazz answer men: Bryon Russell, Jeff Hornacek, Greg PROVO— Oneday, perhapssoon, the BYU Cougarswill learn how to beat the really good basketball teams. One day. the Cougs will take a California, an Ari- Ostertag, Karl Malone, Shandon An- zonaor a FresnoStateinto thefinal five derson, Greg Foster, Howard Eisley minutes and figure out how to finish them off. and John Stockton .. . Until then, they will have to satisfy Did Ostertag pound too many Ding Dongs during the extended offseason, or is he in decent shape? Ostertag:‘I’m ready to go.” Russell: “He's looking pretty good. We'reall looking good.” Hornacek: “He’s OK. Not as big as before. When he’s in good shape, we're in good shape.” After everything that has gone on, what is Malone’s state of themselves with being close — but still not quite ready for a return to prime time. It was all there for BYU Saturday night — a crowd of 21,645 at the Marri- ott Center that was as passionate asit was large. The Cougars played hard Theyplayed well. They even hadthe lead with under 13 minutesto play. And they could not sustain it. Using road-tested poise and some clutch three-point shooting, Fresno State pocketed a 79-75 victory, leaving the Cougars muttering to themselves again. “It’s frustrating, because everybody is working so hard,” said BYU Coach Steve mind? Malone: “I'm just ready to get going ... Now, whenI step on the court, I'm here to win a championship.” Hornacek: “Karl's like he always is. He’s ready to play. For us, everything he’s said before is meaningless. It’s like nothing happened.” What is the key to the Jazz win- Cleveland, whose team lost by four to Arizona in overtime and by one to Cal “We're so close. But we have to take a big-picture view. We're learning from these experiences.” ning their first NBA title, after coming so close in the past? Maybeso, but theyarestarting to wear a little thin. “This wasn’t experience,” snorted BYU guard Michael Vranes. “This wasa loss.” A loss that halted BYU's modest winning streak at three with the nastiest road trip in the league — to Texas-El Paso and New Mexico —coming up next. Anderson:“Last year, welost close, big games down thestretch. It wasjustlittle things that cost us. Now,weall know what we have to do.” 0. Hornacek: “We battled through a lot of things last season. Plus, the layoff before the Finals hurt us. We have to stay at our highest level of play.” Foster: “Michael Jordanretired, that’s the No. 1 thing right there. But it’s going to take someone other than John and Karlto step up in big games. We need something from someoneelse. We need an explosive scorer. We need rebounding.I feel I'mready; once my ankle heals, I'd like tofill that void.” “Nobodyin El Pasois feeling sorry for us,”’ said Cleveland. Trent Nelsou/TheSalt Lake Tribune Utah's Andre Miller makes his move,driving by San Jose State's Michael Quinney on Saturday at the Huntsman Center. Despite Slowdown, Utes Stomp Spartans lead the team in scorRs Whowill i ‘Not me. (laughter). It's kind of hard when no plays are run for you.” Are Hornacek and Stockton BY PATRICK KINAHAN ‘THE SALT LAKETRIBUNE Old-time basketball minus the wooden buckets and those cute short- away, 70-54. “It was a weird game,” said Utah's Hanno Mottola. “I’ve never played against a spread offensefor 40 minutes.” After getting drilled by 31 points shorts — was back in vogue for much of the evening Saturday in the Huntsman State went to extreme measurestostay Thursday at Brigham Young, San Jose Center. healthy? Will they retire, cs widely thought, when their contracts run competitive. After beingtied at halftime, the Spar- San Jose State pulled out the four-corners stall offense, spreading the floor and letting the shot clock tick down harmlessly. out after this season? Hornacek: “We're good. I'll be back next year. I was approaching the burnoutstage, but the seven tans led 37-30, seven minutes into the second half. The stall was frustrating the Utes, who had scoutedit and knew it was coming The tactic worked for 28of the 40 min- utes, as the Spartans were primed for a monthsoff weregreat. I got to spend timewith the family. I feel refocused again. John’s a gym rat. The crowd of 14,971 was preoccupied major upset. But Utah turned on the pressure defensively and Coach Rick Majerus screamedat the ref- erees over questionablecalls. With San Jose State's players standing motionless for 20 seconds each posses- sion, the best action in the building came from watching each coach’s sidelinean- ties. ‘That is, until the Utes (14-4, 4-0 WAC) decided to movecloser to the Spartans. “Obviously, we didn't plan to fall be- hind said Utah freshman guard Adam Sharp. “Once we fell behind, we had no choicebut to get on them.” with the officiating — a sure sign the Utes were losing. Several times Utah won going Vranes led the Cougars(8-9, 3-2 WAC) with 17 points, while Silester Rivers had another monster outing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. But BYU shot just 40 percent and missed enough open layups to lose a couple of games. How bad was it? The Cougars bricked 15 shots from within three feet. “At the beginning of the season, we missed someeasy shots, but nothing like this,’ said Mark Bigelow, whose January shooting slump extended another game. The Cougar scoring leader hit just 2-of12 shots, finishing with 11 points. The Cougars also broke down whenit mattered most. BYU scored six unan- swered points, shaving the deficit to 75- 73 when Bigelow draineda three-pointer from straightaway with 4:56 to play. It was BYU's last field goal. “Part of executionis finishing, and we didn’t finish,” said Cleveland Courtney Alexanderled the Bulldogs with 27 points, Chris Herren returned See UTAH, Page B-4 See BYU, Page B-4 He'll be back, too,” Will the short season helpor hurt the Jazz? Risley: ‘Early, it will help us be- Big 3rd Period Rallies Grizz Past the Moose cause we've been together for so long, Our chemistry is good. But this is a new experience for everyone. Thebiggest key for us is to stay healthy I like our chances.” Stockton: “It’s going to be difficult for everybody. It’s what we have. It doesn't do any good to whine about it.” If the Jazz could sign LaPhonso Ellis, how much wouldit help? Russell: It would benice. He's a powerplayer whocan shoot. He The way the Dallas Stars are playing this season, nothing less than a Stanley Cup championship would satisfy them. Thesamecould besaid for the PhiladelphiaFlyers. The Stars have the best record season's halfway as the league breaks for toAll-Star Game THES. PT LAKE TRIBUN! iT VALLEY CITY — Controlied Foster could back upat 5,” Hornacek: “No doubt he would — Details on B-2, B-5 frustration is the only way to deseribe how the Utah Grizzlies rallied Saturday for a 5-2 helpus. I talked to him on the phone. Sodid John. I just asked him was obvious fromthestart that Utah would not gogentl 2 loss to Manitoba, Utah As in Frid win over the Manitoba Moose. if he had any questions about our team or about Salt LakeCity,” Before 8,279 E Center fans, the Grizzlies scored four goals in the third period to Maloneapologized for someof break the Moose’s hex over Utah. Manitoba hadwon three straight his baffling statements, will Jazz fanslet it be? against theGrizzlies andstili leads the seasonseries Hornacek; “Yeah, the fans will forgive him. Things have happened, but, when Karl goes out andplay 6-2, But momentum from urday's win maylast until the teams meet againin Win. nipeg in March. the wayhecan, it will be forgiven That was probably the most rousing third period we have playedall season andforgotten.” victory The Utes were behind byless than one-tenth of a point going into thefinal rotation, But they were onthebalance beam, while the Gophers wereon floor exercise and primedfor another upset after knocking off then-No. § Michigan. largely to a 9.95 effort by scored the game’s first goal and then watched the Moose came back with two power-play goals in the second period “The effort (the Grizzlies] gave in the third period was what I expected Friday,” said Goring. “Theydidn't leave av anything in the tank tonight non Bowles and a 9,90 Theice was obviously tilted in the third said Utah Coach Butch Goring. The Grizzlies cameinto the period down 2-1, but it Another Free Agent Spums Jazz B-5 MINNEAPOLIS Afterposting the nation’s second-best score of 1999 in theseason opener, University of Utah gymnastics coach Greg Marsden knew his team wouldfacea tougher test Saturday night at Minnesota, The Utes won, but Marsden was right, Utahtrailed after three events before rallying for a 194,60-194.175 (27-9-7) and the Flyers are second BY BRETT PRETTYMA could comein behind Karl, then Ute Gymnasts Beaming After Road Victory B NIIL All Stars by freshman Theresa Kulikowski, the Utes pulled ahead. ‘This teamjust refused to give up, See GRIZZ, Page B-5 Therm Kullhowski, Utah, 29180 2. Jody Cavame Minnente 3 MaryAnne Kelley, Minneota, 38628 4. Deaise Jooes, ah |, Denise Jones, Utah 9750 2, Angelika Sehation {tah 9728.3. te Ashley Kever and Theresa Woll Utah Judy Cavaaos and Courtney Nor fan tie) Jody Cavanon, Minnesota and Theresa Kulkowsh, Utah, 975 3. Deidra Graham, Utah 9.795, Beam Shanon owes, Utah 9.980 2. Therese Kulikowaki. Utah 9900.3 Cathy Keyser, Minneets, 9 850 | Judy Caraga, Mennowota, 9575 2 te Mary Ange Key, Minnesota aunt Aaley Kever, Utah #800, Attendee — 2.775 said Marsden. “I didn't feel like we were mentally tough to start the meet but I was extremely proudof our fin ish, Kulikowski won anotherall-around competition, scoring 39.150 and help: ing tosavethe Utes onthe beam. ‘Wehavetwo of thebest beam work ers in the country finishing up our line dMMarsden. up. ‘The first four were pretty good themselv eresa Wolf (9.775), An gie Leonard (9.725), Denise Jones (9.60) and Ashley Kever (9.70) set the stage for Kulikowski and Bowles. YS t/ ; . SCORE:L INE. A quicklook at keyfinal results in the world of sports WAC Men Men's Big 5 Men's Top 25 U Conn 62, Seton No. Carolina 52, Wake Utah 70, San Jose State 54 UTEP 67, New Mexico 49 Fresno State 79, Stanford 67, Washington 60 Idaho 77, Utah State 58 UNLV95, TCU 88 (OT) Colorado St. 91, Wyoming 83 Weber ‘Tulsa 65, Ri Auburn 73. Alabama 58 SMU 73, Air Force 71 Hawaii 87, San DiegoSt. 67 OregonState 60, State 92, BYU 75 NAU 88 (OT) Oral Roberts 86, SUU 63 Cincinnati 5! 5, Hall 47 Saint Louis 44 Kentucky 76, Mississippi St. 49 Arizona 59 rest 40 UCLA82, Louisville 70 Wisconsin 72, lowa 52 Purdue 81, Michigan 71 Ohio State 89, Minnesota 60 Arkansas 118, Providence 79 Texas 73, OklahomaState 70 Women's Big 5 BYU 81, San Jose State 38 Weber State 74, Northridge 63 Oral Roberts 82, SUU 56 Women's Top 25 Boston College 78, U Conn 66 La. Tech 79, W. Kentucky 65 Kansas 55, Texas Tech 45 Colorado State 93, Wyoming 67 Notre 99, St. John's 60 UCLA #4, USC 53 Colorado 70, Nebraska 53 Oregon 68, Arizona State 52 |
