| OCR Text |
Show John He Jklt Jake tribune I ri ii ii Hpoiv. l.iiilor By Dick Rosetta Tribune Sports Writer BIRMINGHAM. committee, so I was wearing two hats," he reminded. "I feel I was lucky in being in the time span when the tournament interest real!) took off, when the Final Four rivaled the World Series and the Super Bowl as a premier spectator event. "The first championship thrill, the duel between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in Salt Lake City, was just the beginning of the great tournament games we have produced over those years. "The tournament committee has done some remarkable things in balancing the brackets in the four regions across the country. Fans in Utah will not forget the two upset victories over UCLA and Illinois a year ago, and every section has these memories. "In Rhode Island our fans still talk about Danny Ainge's performance against UCLA, and few people will forget his remarkable dash to snatch the victory over Notre Dame at Atlanta. "Last year, the championship between North Carolina State and Virginia at Weber State was a basket- Local Ala. - Kentucky the next night. What BYU was plotting here, Wednesday for the 8.40 p.m (MST) tipoff Thursday in the Birmingham Civic Center was to spoil the UAB Deep in UAB might be a little overconfident since UAB is on its home floor and the Blazers invincibility at this downtown location in the last 63 games reads 60 wins and just three losses. They did, however, lose two at home this year, and one was to VCU, Jan. 19. Even more interesting, perhaps, arena is is the fact the 17,000-scs full expected to be only Thursday night for the Oregon State-WeVirginia opener (7:08 MST) and the Cougar-Blaze- r night- 1 festivities much y like they crashed VCUs shindig in 63-6- tucky. And, its almost eerie that Ala- BYUs NCAA Mid-Earegional opponent here Thursday night, is from the same conference as Virginia Commonwealth University. You see, VCU was the Sun Belt Conference club that BYU confronted last Dec. 16 in the Kentucky Invitational, the same team that seemed to view the Cougars as just a blip on the screen as the then Rams anticipated the title game bama Birmingham, first-roun- d 17th-ranke- d BYU whipped the Rams that and even night in Lexington, though the Cougars got their rear ends paddled the next night by Kenthe win over the Rams tucky. two-third- 81-7- st 93-5- cap. "We have yet to match the provides fodder for the BYU-UAcollision here Thursday. The first inclination is to figure UAB might be just might be overlooking the Cougars the way VCU did back in December. The second inclination, and the more overriding of the two, is that By Roger Graves Tribune Sports Writer They are four of the brightest minds in college basketball. But Wednesday, they spoke as if addressing a convention of concert pianists. Their talk was not of funky dunking, dazzling dribbling, and the traditional twaddle that accompanies the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament. Nope. They were waxing eloquent about get this tempo, rhythm and pace. What was this, the annual meeting of the AFL-CImusicians' union. Well, no. On the eve of Thursday's NCAA West at the University of Utah Special Events Center, Nevada-La- s Vegas' Jerry Princeton's Pete Carril. Louisiana State's Dale Brown and Dayton's Don Donohcr were merely oppoanalyzing their nents like any good Mozart would analyze a symphony in sneakers. UNLV's Tarkanian, who has fast break written right into the Runnin' Rebels nickname, is concerned that his Porsche offense will be reduced to a Volkswagen pace by Princetons Walkin Tigers in Thursday's opener at 7:10 p.m. Meanwhile, LSU's Brown isnt so sure Daytons Donoher wont try to compensate for a size disadvantage up front by transforming the Flyers into Joggers in the 9:40 p.m. nationally-televised nightcap. Tempo, rhythm and pace. "Princeton is very difficult to prepare for, especially when you only have one day. Their slow style of play is rather unique. There is no other team in the western part of the country that plays like they do, so tempo will be important. stressed Tar-kania- Feels for Couch "As a former coach, I can sympathize with those coaches and players who were not selected. I know how it feels to be a coach, waiting for the phone to ring and then feeling resentment when he doesn't get an invitation," David continued. "The Bradley coach created quite a fuss in the media a couple of years ago when his team was not invited, but the last two years have seen less pressure on the committee. "Most of the pressure develops within the committee and its pressure we put on ourselves trying to select the best teams. There is a lot of on the part of the committee in the final three days (in Mission, Kan.) when we make the selections. first-roun- g committee which makes the decisions. The computer provides valuable resources and quick and accurate information, but in the end, it boils down to the committee decisions. season almost assured a team of a berth in a tournament. But there is such a wide split among Division I competition you have to go by the caliber of opposition rather than victories. This year, I recall there were about 21 teams which won 20 games and did not make the tournament field and Im sure it will be the same when we expand to 64 teams next year. "Take Brigham Young University as an example," Gavitt continued. "The Cougars played at least 12 games against teams which were ranked high at the time. Or consider Virginia, a team which played 18 games against Top 25 teams. Playing a schedule like that should count more than a team with a lot of victories over weaker teams. "Of course, a team has to have some quality victories in the schedule, since just playing top teams "Once, a isn't enough. "If a conference looks to be weak, it behooves a strong team in that conference to beef up its schedule against some quality opponents. Surely, 24 conferences get automatic berths in the tournament field, but it's becoming a smart thing not to count on winning the conference to get into the tournament "This is true especially where tournaments they have which decide the NCAA representatives. A team which figures to be strong better insure its chances bv scheduling lough teams outside the conference "Since this is my last year on the committee I hope to see all the Final Four teams before they get to Seattle for the finals, Dave added see the games here this week, tin n watch the tournament in Lexington, St Louis and Atlanta thiee (lavs next week. Meanwhile. I have in family along and we plan to Jo a little skiing in Utah between 'aurna ment games. Dave added post-seaso- 11 ( Jb'fi valion W ;inl Why not put the pari-mutuing proposition on the ballot 2:17-202- .5 i lac- and Id the public decide what the publir wants, rather than counting on 111 members of the Legislature to make the decision for us'. I a You see, yet another reference to matchup. The home crowd aside Cougar Coach Ladell Andersen said it could be a factor but the fever of the NCAA sort of neutralizes some of BYU seems to those things match up reasonably well with the Blazers. UAB, a mediocre f 6 in regular season Sun Belt play, caught fire behind 5 senior forward McKinley Singleton to win the conference tournament with three straight victories, and Singleton was named y 6-- MVP. senior guard Luel-leSingleton, (Lu) Foster and sophomores Jerome Mincy forward), Anthony Gordon (6-- center) and Steve Mitchell (6-- 1 guard) give UAB what Andersen terms "an innate plus -- n 4 (6-- 6 7 their quickness. Its always a prob lem. Quickness helps both offensively and defensively and theyve got a ton of it." Andersen said one big problem for his Cougars is they dont have any one particular guy who you concentrate on. Theyre all good. They sort of remind me of UTEP, Andersen said. Great balance. If theres a UAB Achilles heel, it could be in field goaf percentage. Singleton has a 14.1 scoring average, Mitchell is at 13.7 and Mincy carries a 11.2 average. But their seasons total shooting percentage is just 46.5. And in the Sun Belt Conference, the trio shot just 44 percent. In a loss to South Alabama at home Jan 31. the Blazers shot 29 percent from 65-4- 6 the field. Singleton, who ended the UAB regular season with 33 points, said Column 1 See Page Coaches Talking Tempo On Eve of West Openers isnt just "While we rely on the computers for information and strength of schedule, when it boils down, it s my football- atmosphere here with the area basketball program," a UAB spokesman said, even though the Blazers will be in their fourth straight NCAA. We may fill it up Saturday for the Kentucky game, though." -crazed coincidental we get more and more of these great games in the tournament. They come about because the committee attempts to balance the power in each region. There always will be complaints when teams are left out, and wnen w'e go to 64 teams next year, there still will be coaches and fans who feel they got the short end from the selection committee." n ' Call Page 12 15, 1984 No. against December, there was a basketball someone giving feeling like this Brigham Young University a sort of superficial look-se- e merely as a warmup to playing powerful Ken- the basketball nine-ma- or Hecordt'fl Scores Blazers Looking Past Y. to Kentucky? Dave Gavitt is winding up six years on the Division I basketball committee, serving as chairman. and it all began with the NCAA championship in Salt Lake City. 'I was winding up my career as a coach and serving my first year on ball classic, and it Thursday, March Section D Mooney 1 Tt tljiinr MnM fhoto i v hjI ramihton Utah States Ron Ence (23) takes swipe at layup attempt by Southwest Louisianas George Almone during NIT contest. d Tarkanian, whose Runnin' Rebs lost two of three PCAA games to patient Fresno State under similar circumstances this season. versus Princeton UNLV(27-5- ) Yes, we're talking opposites. versus The Runnin Rebels are one of the most prominent scoring teams in college basketball. They average 83.7 points per game. But Princeton. (18-9)- ? walk-and-tal- n TV Log, Page I)-1- 1 the flip side, leads the nation in defense for the second successive season. The Tigers yield 49.2 points. UNLV likes to break. The only break Princeton runs is to the water cooler at intermission. But it isnt only their basketball philosophies that differ. Princeton is pure Ivy League, a pillar of academia. No athletic scholarships. Nevada-Las Vegas? Well, point guard Danny Tarkanian is an academic But let's just say there are a few operatives on Tarks roster who might give you a blank stare if you mentioned the word which Princeton leading scorer Kevin Mullin was throwing around after amassing a career-hig38 points in the Tigers' NCAA preliminary round conquest of San Diego Tuesday night. We have to place more emphasis on academics, but we spend just as much time on the basketball floor practicing as most other teams," adsemitted Princetons Mullin, a nior who shoots 60.9 percent from the field and averages 16.2 points. Id say our styles of play are totally different. Las Vegas pushes the ball up the court. We get into trouble if h 6-- 5 we shoot too quickly. We play the we same way against everyone strive for patience." Thats why tempo, rhythm and pace are so important in Thursday's UNLV strugopener. If gles out of the blocks, it may not see the basketball. Remember, no shots clocks in the NCAA tournament. "It's important for us to get an early lead," noted UNLV's Danny Tarkanian, who runs the Las Vegas show from the point. "Princeton has smart players who hanbdle the ball well and you cant foul them fifth-seede- d . . because they make their free throws. I think we have an advanbut the key is gettage ability-wise- , ting the lead and making them play to our rhythm." Ironically, both Tarkanian and Carril were trying to discount their reputations Wednesday. Princetons Carril. who has guided the Tigers to 17 consecutive seasons and six trips to the NCAAs. swears his team doesn't slow it down that much. And Tarkanian. who owns the highest winning percentage among active college coaches and took the Rebels to the Final Four in 1976-7swears his team can win a halfcourt game. "Our reputation for holding the hall is excessive," stressed Carril. whose team exploded" for 65 points in disposing of San Diego Tuesday. "One of the writers from San Diego was really surprised. I guess he thought we just stand out there and hold the ball. We look for good shots and take them." "We can play a halfcourt game if we have to," points out Tark, who doesnt want to see a replay of the See Page Column non-losin- g D-1- 1 SW Louisiana Ends Ag Season With NIT Win By Ray Herbat Tribune Sports Writer LOGAN Lack of rebounding power has been a problem for Utah State all season, and the lack of rebounding position in the final seconds here Wednesday night resulted for Utah State. in the death-tol- l George Almones rebounded a missed shot and tossed it back in with two seconds to play to give Southwest Louisiana a victory over the Aggies in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The game drew only 3.846 fans in The Spectrum. Utah State squandered an lead in the final 4:40 of the game, and a backeourt violation with 1:11 to go was crucial. The Cajuns wiped out that deficit on the shooting of Alonza Allen. Graylin Warner and Dion Brown, and with 3:59 to play, the was back in it, trailing by only two, SWL 92-9- The Aggies went to their delay game, looking for backcuts and routes to the hoop. The quick Cajuns denied them easy access to the baskets. though, and USU was content to run down the clock. But with 2:09 showing on the clock. Vince Washington was fouled 94-9- 2 would have put USU in pretty good shape, since Washington led the PCAA in foul shooting this season with an Normally, this 80-pl- percent average. just wasn't to be. however. Washington missed the front end of the and Southwest Louisiana had a chance to tie. And the Cajuns did just that when Warner, who led all scorers with 31 points, fired in a It from the corner to make it was a new ball game. Still, the Aggies had the ball. But a pass to Chris McMullin slipped through his fingers and rolled into the backeourt for the decisive violation. The Cajuns took control and rolled down the clock to the mark, and called timeout to set their strategy. Warner took the ball inbounds and almost had it stolen by Greg Grant, but the Cajun forward recovered It hit the and fired up a rim and bounced away, but it went right into the hands of Almones. There was not an Aggie in sight, and Almones, who contributed 21 points, laid it back in. Utah State could do little with two seconds remaining, but McMullin and Grant gave it a try. McMullin heaved a long pass to Grant, who caught the ball between two defenders. Grant wheeled and threw up a but it missed. Micahel McCullough got the rebound tossed it back in, but the game had ended, and so did the Utah State season. The Aggies have not had much success the final portion of this season, mirroring the finish of the 1983 campaign. Utah State ended with a record while Southwest 19-1- 1 Louiaiana continues in the NIT with a 21-- mark. 8 According to Aggie Coach Rod Tueller, "Thats a tough, tough way to end a good season. There was some uncharacteristic things happening to us. Like an easy lay-i- n or a slam dunk by Greg Grant that was swatted away, a backeourt violation and two missed free throwes that You were the front end of take those away and its a different game. I was not pleased with our defense. Our lack of defense prevented us from putting the game away." SWL Coach Bobby Paschall. meanwhile, felt the key in the second half would boil down to which team would make the easy shots. "I didn't feel their outside shooting in the first half was the reason we were down by six at halftime." Paschall said. We let them inside too much in the first half. They scored nine layups in the first half, but we did a better job keeping the ball away from the basket in the second half. "We had heard that Utah State was weak aagainst the press. But I prayed wed be ahead and would not have to use it. We wanted to go as See Page Column D-1- 1 Eaton, Jazz End Long Trip Against Warriors By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer OAKLAND While the Jazz's Mark Eaton has all but clinched the NBAs individual shot title for the season, there are some other numbers of hi rethat are becoming significant bounding numbers. r Prior to the break, the Eaton, who lias started only 95 games in lus NB career, was averaging a mere six rebounds a game, leaking only has amazing total of blocked slmis to boast about. But in the 24 games since the break, he's been avei aging 9 7 boards a game. HI 2 if ou throw out the last three single-digi- t etbu is in New York. Philly and I, as Vegas Rebounding lias si ill been a major w oe for th" Jazz on then cm rent Ktoad trip, which iddy, semi-gamends Thin sday night with a game lu ie against the Golden Slate War-ris ill 3U (i m. MsT i. The Jazz h ivc been nun elmunded in each ol their lust six games on the tup. and by a 7 But that dm xu'i margin of 47 blocked All-Sta- diminish the encouraging rebounding efforts of Eaton, who had games in Jersey and Boston on this journey, giving him nine games of a dozen rebounds or more in the first 21 since the break Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson, the man who has been most responsible for Eaton's improvement in all asp. cts of the game through his work during the summer and even in w duiing practices, was asked about his projects improvement in the one area where the Jazz desperately needed it T think probably the major thing is. how does it relate to playing time" asked Johnson. "I think the main thing is, he s on the floor more, lie's ( lit down on silly fouls," Tiue enough. Before the break. Eaton was aei aging just 23 8 minutes a game, but since the break, that's up to 30 4 minuti s He fouls Ess often, and head coach Erank Linden doesn't give him the automatic hook anymore when lie gets two fouls m the lirst quarter back-to-bac- k But still. Eaton has simply been a better rebounder, no matter how many minutes he's playing. On a projection, Eaton has averaged 15.3 rebounds per game since the break to only 12.1 before the number break. And that ranks him favorably with the two leading rebounders in the West Ralph Sampson (16.8) and Jack Sikma (14.5). So. yes. he is a better rebounder than before. post-brea- k "Its a learning process for him. learning how to position himself more, assessed Johnson. "He used to not get his body in position to get it (the rebound), so he was out of position and all he could do was slap at it. "There's a lot of balls he can get it he'll make the extra effort to get them. He didn't want to get in foul trouble before, so bed be too cautious. But I think the best fouls to take are rebounding fouls." Eaton, of course, still has plenty to learn For instance. Johnson says. He has to learn how to guard people out on the floor, learn to move his feet instead of reach." His problems guarding a quicker player like Mychal Thompson limited his time to only 13 minutes against Portland Tuesday night, and that caused the end to a fairly remarkable streak Eaton had blocked at least one shot every Jazz game this season before getting shut out against the Blazers. in While guys like Thompson might give him trouble, his defensive presence is still most valuable to the Jazz. Johnson feels that no other center, except Tree Rollins, can affect a game defensively like Eaton can In fact, it might even be a Jazz defensive problem in that his teamback there, mates, knowing hc sometimes defend more loosely. "I think thats a problem with our team sometimes; we think he should " get everything,' said Johnson. JAZZ NOTES: When L avden met with the in New Jersey 10 cJo.s iiqo and said he wonted a 46 record thr ough the next 10 he said he gomes (they're cuuenti wonted one road win out of six. Now its down to this game or too one in San Antonio n week fmm now to do it Jozz ore team against the Warriors this season. The Warriors, under John Bach, have equalled their victory total of a year aoo (30) ond are making a strong playoff run. Currently, they are seventh In the West (eight teams quality), but they'd (eel a lot better it they hadn't blown o home game to lowly Chicago Tuesday nloht. After Tuesday's games, the Warriors were only o game and o half ahead of ninth-plac- e Den. ver, and after they host the Jazz Thursday must night, they play 10 of their lost 16 games on the road. The Warriors, who have won seven ot their last 1, are 22-- 2 at on the read home, but only The Jozz, who ore 16-- 7 against the Pacific Division otter Tuesday's triumph ovei Portland In Los Vegas, practiced for about on hour Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum, but Darrell Griffith, who had his season-high game (35 points) the night before, sat on the sidelines Icing his left knee which he hyperextended near the end of the Blazers game. He'll ploy Thursday. The Warriors have storted Mickey Johnson at torword the last 20 gomes, and In those games. they've gone John, son, who has token Lorry Smith's place in the lineup, hos been a double-figur- e scorer ond rebounder In 11 of those 20, With scorers Purvis Sho'T ond J.B. Corroll loining him. the Warriors start ci fiont line. . . . The Warriors are lost In the Itague in shooting percentage, but they've shot 50 percent or better In each ot their lost four games |
