OCR Text |
Show Aggies, SJS Open PCAA Meet John Mooney Tribune Sports Editor Having conquered ailurophobia, the Utah basketball team must prove it can overcome rhabdopho-- ; bia and perhaps kinesophobia to earn a possible share of the Western Athletic Conference title Saturday against Air Force. With a sweep of the ries two-gam- se- e with BYU, the Utes have John Mooney) proven a fear of cats offers no problems for this season, but they still have to worry about losing to the Falcons, and their patient motion offense. And if those latter two phobias manifest themselves, the Utes could fret about monophobia, which is the fear of being alone, where the Utes might be, in second or third place in the standings and out of the NCAA tournament consideration. Few expect the Air Force to provide more than cannon-foddfor the Utes Saturday, with the Utes at having the least within reach. After all, the Falcons have won only two conference games this season. But, in a sobering thought, one of those victories was a 0 victory over Utah at the Academy. er si 66-6- i , 4 r Brigham Young, which can gain a three-wa- y piece of of the WAC title by beating Wyoming Saturday afternoon at Provo, appears to be out of consideration for the conferences berth in the NCAA, on the basis of the two losses to Utah, even in the event of a three-wa- y tie. Texas-E- l Paso, with a piece of the at least secured, championship could win the NCAA berth if both Utah and BYU lose. If the Cougars lose, Utah and UTEP would tie and apparently Utah will get the nod on the computer analysis of the strength of the schedules. Poorest Record This will be the first year since the 1971 season that the WAC hasnt had at least one team with 20 victories, despite the teams playing more games, with many of the WACs playing 29 games this year limit before against the old Hawaii was admitted to the conference. This also will be the first year the WAC champion will have lost five league games, and its possible three teams will be the with that many losses. The best record overall among the WAC teams is UTEPs 19-mark, while Utah and BYU, with victories Saturday, will finish overall with 3 and 4 respectively. The worst overall record for a WAC champion was in 1967, when tied with BYU (14-1Wyoming for the title and the Cowboys beat BYU iu the playoff for the NCAA spot. But they were 2 in conference play. 9 ; $ 16-1- t ?; i f i 15-1- (15-1- I t 8-- Pays to Belong r Every now and then you hear arguments that a team ought to leave a conference and go independent, but the NCAA basketball tournament, and its financial rewards, is the reason more independent teams are forming conferences. V I, i M ( f; The top 28 conferences get automatic berths in the NCAA tournament field, which means those champions are admitted, regardless of their seasonal records, whereas the independent teams have to qualify on the basis of their records for the season and their schedule of opponents. This year, as a pertinent example, the W'AC would not have an NCAA entry if it didnt have its conference berth. As it is( there will be considerable bleating around the country from the teams with much better records than the WAC entry, when these others may not be admitted. The WAC has not fared well in the NCAA tournament, either, in recent years. By Ray Herbal Tribune Sports Writer INGLEWOOD If timing could be construed the godfather of success, Aggie Coach Rod Tueller likes his tip time Thursday afternoon when Utah State opens the PCAA basketball tournament here. "I think we got a break by playing the 3 p.m. (MST) game noted Tueller Wednesday en route to Los Angeles where his Aggies face San Jose Stale in the tournaments opening session. "Look at it this way, Tueller said. "We get the first game and, if we win, we get to rest until the late game Friday night. Also, our kids will know they are still in the tournament and can sit around and watch the other teams beat up on each other the rest of the night." After Utah State and San Jose State conclude their third meeting of the season Thursday, Fresno Slate (18-- 9 and 7 league) plays (16-1at 5 p m., foland vs. ) lowed by UNLV (25-- 2 and at 8 p m. The Pacific and long first day winds up with Fullerton State 121-- and ) facing Long at 10 and Beach State (12-1- 5 UC-Irvi- 9-- 8-- 1 15-1- 0 12-4- 6 have to keep them off the boards. "Weve had trouble with them and especially (Chris) McNealy on the offensive boards. McNealv is tough. Only Sidney Green (UNLVs is probably tougher for me to play against. San Jose State is pretty much of a team. And that dimension is McNealy, the senior forward. McNealy has enjoyed good success against the Ags this season, scoring 47 points in the two meetings. McNealy hit for 19 points in Logan and 28 at home. He averages 9.2 rebounds per game, but bettered both his 19.0 scoring avei age and rebound marks against USU this year. "He is awfully tough inside." said Grant, USUs most prolific scoring and rebounding freshman in the We 6-- 7 p.m. The semifinals are set for Friday at 8 and 10 p.m. MST. The Aggies own two victories over the Spartans this season, a nine-poiwin in Logan and an decision in San Jose. "It's not easy playing and beating a team three times in one season." offered Ag frosh sensation Greg Grant. "But I think well be ready. Section Thursday, March C 10 1983 Page By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer The Denver Nuggets are in a stretch in which they have all the answers. Wednesday night at the Salt Palace, the Nuggets were posed this question: As e an team, what do you do when you have to play without your top two point guards? The V answer: ?j.rf"vNuggets Alex English Mike Evans. Evans came off the end of the Nuggets bench in the first quarter 16 points and scored a season-hig- h with seven assists in 30 minutes to help the Nuggets stretch their winning streak to nine games with a 9 victory over the Jazz. There were some of the same old factors in this Nugget victory. The front line of Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, and Dan Issel combined for 85 points on 62 percent shooting (39 of 63). And T.R. Dunn (12 rebounds) and Danny Schayes (10 boards, but no baskets in his Salt Palace return) helped the Nuggets outrebound the opposition for the e wineighth time in this man the NugBut the streak. ning gets needed on this night was Evans, who has been on the team for just two months. The Nuggets starting point guard, rookie Rob Williams, couldn't play in this game because of a bruised heel suffered Tuesday in the victory over San Antonio. So Billy McKinney got the start, but just seven and a half minutes into the game, McKinney went down with what was later described as a hyperextension of his right knee. Enter Evans, who has averaged only 12 minutes a game for the Nuggets. When I saw Billy get hurt, I was just preparing myself mentally to play a lot of minutes tonight, said Evans, who made eight of 12 shots from the floor. I knew, with Rob out, Id get some time, but I didnt think Id get 30 (minutes). I have no qualms about playing him; its just tough to play three of them (point guards), said Denver Coach Doug Moe, whose confidence in Evans was justified' in this game. If Evans hadnt come through, this might have been a game in which the Nuggets could have been had. They had played a big game at home early-offens- 122-10- nine-gam- against the Spurs the night before, they were without their top two point guards, and Schayes, admitting that I was a little nervous at the beginning. played what Issel called his worst game since hes been with us. All of these factors led Moe to admit, "I was worried tonight. But Evans gave the Big Three just enough help to pull the Nuggets through. English was his self down the stretch, getting 10 points in the fourth quarter for a game total of 32 to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds. made 12 of 17 shots and got his 27 points in just 25 minutes. And Vandeweghe got the Nuggets out of the gate well with 10 points before finishing with 26. By the time it was over, the Nuggets had shot a blistering 56.8 percent from the floor. Still, as Moe granted, it was a game to worry about for the Nuggets. And the worries came as late as the fourth quarter, when Rich who had a solid 12 point, Kelley game against his former scored on a rebound to pull team the Jazz into a 7 tie with nine and a half minutes to go. But then the Jazz went dead. The Nuggets outscored them 15-- 3 over the next four and a half minutes to put the game away. Issel started it by hitting two consecutive jumpers from the top of the key to unlock the tie and put Denver The Jazzs ahead for good, 101-9rookie, Mark Eaton, just didnt get out that far to challenge Issel, and, as Moe said, "His open shot at the top of the key is almost automatic. Issel. the wise veteran, saw something that led him to believe Eaton wouldnt challenge him. What happened was I made my first 'jumper, he blocked my second, and the third time, I faked the jumper and drove on him, said Issel. Then, as we came back down-couafter that third time, I saw Frank (Jazz Coach Frank Layden) shake his head, as if to say, Dont go out for the jumper. From then on. he didnt really come out and challenge me on it. Eaton more or less seconded this account, saying. Frank told me to sort of contest it but to let him take it. After Issels two bombs, English scored from the baseline. Evans threw in a long jumper, and English 10 scored on a rebound straight Nugget points and a 107-9- 7 lead. e MtJll three-poin- t game. Berry calls the Spartan season "a San Jose roller coaster year. played two strong games against Nevada-La- s Vegas, leading in both before bow ing. "If we can play with consistency, we can beat anybody, I feel. remarked Berry. "Utah State is a See Page Column 2 C-- All-St- Is-s- first-quart- er 97-9- 7. rt Utahs Rickey Green snares a pass with fnuunc bTan Knoro Dy t hand and flings the ball into the hoop While the game was getting away from them at this stage of the fourth quarter, the Jazz were doing some strange things on offense. For instance, Darrell Griffith was in the midst of perhaps his most spectacular shooting night of the season, in the faces of two pretty fair defensive guards, Dunn and Bill Hanzlik. Griff had 34 points after three quarters and had made 17 of 23 shots. He seemed headed for the first night of his career, except that he didnt get the chance. Griffith shot the ball on only one Jazz possession in the fourth quarter. His final point total was 34. Why he getting the ball? nt quarter than he was in the first three. We stopped executing, that was one reason. Layden noticed. He didnt particularly like the idea that Griffith and John Drew, who had 22 points of his own after three quarters, got only four of the Jazzs 27 shots in the fourth quarter. Drew got two points in the fourth quarter, and Griff, as already mentioned, got none. It was simply a case of not getting the ball to the people who ought to get it. Athletic Conference basketball team points for the Cowpokes while Webster hit for 13.5 points per game for the Rainbows. The second team, listed in order of points received, consisted of Rick Simmons of the Air Force (73.8). a senior and a second team choice last year; BYU's Rrett Applegate (67.5). a junior; Colorado seState's Mark Steele (57.3). a nior; UTEP's Byron Walker (50.5). a senior, and Dave Keitl (27.8 freshman, and Utah's points) a senior. Peter Williams (27.8) a Honorable mention choices were Pete McCaffrey and Erwin Washington of Air Force; Greg Kite of BYU; Greg Hicks. Bobby Hancock and W illiam Colston of Hawaii; Tim Garrett, Phil Smith. Georege Scott. Michael Johnson and Don Brkovich of New Mexico; Keith Smith and Anthony Watson of San Diego Slate; Paul Cunningham. Kent Lockhart and Luster Goodwin of UTEP; Angelo Robinson of Utah and Anthony Johnson. Tonv Marlin and Mark 6-- 14-1- 4 all-sta- 6-- 9 4vouuttn.J Utahs Pace Mannion I1 Vl'rt rt K. - (20) ' was one of Three f,. Ik first team on r 19113 . Mannion, who will os pDoto Athletic All-Weste- 1 , I "We re fragile: we can t have bad games from anybody. said Layden. who got a couple on this night. points per game, shoots 82.5 percent from the free throw line and has 4.6 assists per game. Durrant, a 7 junior playing his junior season after returning from a church mission, is hitting at a clip on BYU's team which still has a shot at a trichampionship in the WAC. He was the leading vote-gett(212) among the picked by 59 participating media members. The nine coaches put their own players in nomination. Cage, like Durrant just a junior, received 203.4 votes, playing forward on a disappointing Aztec team which was picked to win the WAC, but faded to the middle of the pack. The Cage's 12.6 rebounds per game lead the WAC and he's second behind Durrant in scoring (19.0 per game). He was a second team choice a year ago. ... one-hande- Special to The Tribune LITTLETON, Colo. Brigham Young University's Devin Durrant. g the nation's scorer, San Diego State's Michael Cage, the nag rebounder and tions Utah's Pace Mannion. the best free thrower in the WAC. Wednesday were unanimous picks on the 1982-83 v- Jazz-recor- Team third-leadin- fL e It was just not a total performance for the Jazz. Kelley had a good game, and so did Ben Duquette, who had 15 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes. And Rickey-Greehad a great first quarter, with d a nine assists in the period and the nights most spectacud catch of a lar basket a Poquette lead pass and. all in one motion, a running shot off the glass and in. But he played only 12 minutes over the last three quarters. All-WA- C 15th-leadin- i. Fraughton Nug-on- 122-10- 9. - ard Haul while Denvers Mike Evans looks on. gets won ninth in row Wednesday, "Sometimes it just happens that way; its not by design, said Griffith. who felt that Dunn wrasnt playing him any differently in the fourth Durrant, Mannion Headline in 1981. Now that you may he arrested for drunken boating, there should be definite boundary lines established on the bodies of water on the Utah borders so the rummies will know where Its safe. Sort of like the old five-millimit on ihe coasts during son. Bowland hit five hoops en route to a For 9th Straight - W 6-- 8 trouble." Tueller added. Row land is the Spartans bomber. He is deadly from three-poin- t range. In one game against USU this sea- Nuggets Rip Jazz first-roun- Observation 15 1 Before that, the last time the Utes had reached the Final Four was in 1961 when the Utes lost to Cincinnati and St. Josephs. After beating St. Johns in the first round in 1977, Utah lost its first game to Nevada-La- s Vegas in the regionals at BYU. d Utah beat Missouri in a game in 1977 and then lost in the regular regional first round to Notre Dame. Utah lost in the first round to Pepperdine in 1979 and in the second round at home in the Special to North Carolina Events Center V points. Grant was guarding him that time and Grant, who has blocked some 70 shots this season, could draw the defensive assignment on McNealy again. "If Bill (Coach Berry) starts Ed Uthoff (a husky center) we will have Greg on him and put Michael McCullough on McNealy, explained Tueller. "Otherwise. Grant will take McNealy. Tueller feels the key is not stopping McNealy. whom he regards as one of the two or three best athletes first 4 battle for third place. ? 1 S 76-6- 5 in the PCAA, but to contain him. "Also, we can't let their role players such as Michael Dixon. Greg Vinson and Gavin Copeland to get out of hand. If they do. and they get the normal contributions from McNealy and Kevin Bowland. we could be in Fbr Recorded Scores Call 1 800 662-435Local 237 2025 14-1- 7 meetIn the most recent USU-SJAggie win. McNealy ing. a scored 28 points on 13 for 18 field goal shooting. He had San Jose's t Halt fake tribune While Utah's record is 5 in NCAA tournament play, you have to go back to 1966 to find a Ute team which won a regional championship and played for the finals of the Big Four. Then the Utes lost to national champion Texas Western in the first round of the finals and to Duke in the - schools history. "He gets a lot of rebounds because he seems to have a nose for the ball." try and lead his Utes to a piece of the WAC crown Saturday night against Air Force at home, received 154.9 points. The Joining Durrant. Cage and Mannion on the first team were Wyoming's 3 senior guard. Mike Jack-so6-- n points) and Hawaii's senior guard Tony Webster (77.2 (106.7 6-- 3 points). Jackson averaged 13.1 4 'a 6-- 9 5-- 0 6-- 7 I |