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Show MWC Tournament Special Edition • MWC Tournament Special Edition • MWC Tournament Special Edition Thursday, March 1Or 2005 Page 6 A dlosjfer look at the U starters Photos by Kevin Buehler ..V-..••.-• ::» V V . K - ;V ess than two L years ago, nobody, including The Bogut file No. 04 Position: Forward/Center die-hard Ute fans, Height: 70" had ever heard Year: Sophomore of the big AusFrom: Melbourne, [ sie. But how can Australia you be surprised High School: Australian at the success of a guy who lives Institute of Sport basketball the way he does? Bogut's hobbies consist of playing basketball and watching basketball. What else would you expect from a guy who went to a high school called the Institute of Sport? Bogut will leave Utah as one of the most distinguished players to don the crimson and white. Current U rules prohibit retiring a number from f a player who hasn't played o THIS is what the hype was about. S Recruited by Kentucky and Arizona out of high school, Markson followed Tim Drisdom to Utah, where he promptly took residence on Rick Majerus' bench. Markson's high-flying, up-tempo style of play didn't suit the coach, so Bryant sat. Thanks to coach Giacoletti, Markson has been reborn. His shot has improved, his defense is staunch and his hops allow him to achieve dunks that would make Josh Smith jealous. All of that improvement No. 2 0 parlayed Position: Forward itself into Height: 6 6 " third-team, Year: Junior All-MWC From: Monrovia, CaliF. honors. The Markson file High School: Monrovia HS IS ^\JU T wo weeks ago, Hawkins wasn't even on the radar of most Ute fans, much less a candidate for any MWC awards. But thanks to averaging 19.5 points and having big second halves when the Utes really needed them, he earned an All-MWC honorable mention. While he is a bit undersized for a power forward, Hawk has managed to hold his own down low. It will be interesting to see how he fares when the Utes start matching up with some truly talented front courts in the big dance. t's been a bit of a quiet year for the V.P., having battled I a broken hand and losing his starting job to Markson. But when some players would have pouted, Chaney just went about his business, playing hard and picking up the scoring slack when other Utes went cold. Having Chaney back to 100 pet. gives the Utes another weapon from the perimeter, and it should be fun to watch him and Markson play together in the tournament, something they have not had a lot of chances to do this year. The Hawkins file No. 05 Position: Forward Height: 6 5 " Year: Sophomore From: Anaheim, Calif. High School: Mayfair HS The Chaney file = 4 No. 13 Position: Guard forward® Height: 64" Year: Junior From: Los Angeles, Calif?? High School: Verbum Dei ad c I t looks like Chris Hill has done it again. Plucked from little Eastern Washington, Giacoletti has changed the whos into wows in only one season, revamping the Ute system and turning Andrew Bogut into a household name. Coach Ray will deflect any praise to his staff and players, but the proof is in the pudding when you consider how far Bogut has come and how much improvement Bryant Markson has shown. For all those fans expecting an Urban Meyer exodus, Giacoletti is steadfast in his promise to stay at the U. He doesn't "expect" or "plan" to stay, he "is going to make Utah my home and stay as long as they allow me." Right now it appears he will be allowed here for a while. The Giacoletti file Head Coach First year College: Minot State H The Jackson file J is re-admittance to the No. 02 team was a P.R. conPosition: Guard troversy, but using Height: 6'1" his stellar play and Year: Senior team-first attitude, From: Salt Lake City, Utah Jackson has earned High School: Olympus HS his way back into the good graces of Ute fans. Instead of being remembered as a quitter who couldn't cut it under Majcrus, he will be remembered as the gutsy, tough point guard who helped the Utes blow past the MWC. Jackson earned first team all-conference, and his sharp-shooting talents will help the Utes in the tournament when they need some offense on the perimeter. |