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Show StatesmanSports Friday, April. 8, 2011 Page 9 Morrill honored as Jim Phelan national Coach of the Year By TYLER HUSKINSON assistant sports editor In a season where, despite history-making efforts, Utah State men's basketball once again failed to advance in NCAA Tournament, anyone but head coach Stew Morrill could have received the 2011 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award. However, Morrill was awarded the prestigious honor during the Final Four in Houston, Texas, the Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award is given each year by Collegelnsider.com . The award is voted on by a committee of media members, coaches and athletics administrators. "The funny thing about it is I was honored to be nominated," Morrill said. "When I looked at the guys nominated, I said to my wife we won't have to worry about not being at the Final Four because I have no chance to win this award." Morrill was definitely qualified to win the award, however. The 13-year head coach lead USU to its fourthstraight regular season Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title with a 15-1 league mark to go along with its second WAC Tournament Championship in the last three years. USU finished the year with a school-recordtying 30 wins and played in its third-straight NCAA Tournament. Even though Morrill was more than qualified to receive the honor, he wasn't able to attend the Final Four to receive the award. "It is certainly something you feel humbled by and not really sure you deserve, but it was an awfully nice honor by College Insider for sure," Morrill said. "Then I felt bad that we weren't going to be at the Final Four. We had family obligations in Colorado so Depth: Linebackers play intense continuedfrom page 8 reasons. One, it reduces the risk of them getting hurt, something that is especially important after the injury to star running back Robert Turbin last offseason. Secondly, it gives the young guys a chance to get in and get lots of practice time. "They're (Wagner and Gallagher) getting very limited reps," linebacker coach Kevin Clune said. "We're trying to work on a lot of the younger guys; Vigil, Doughty, Parker and Forrest Dabb." The talent is there and the intensity is there, but most importantly, the unity of purpose is there. These guys know what they are playing for and they are all on-board, something that is obvious when Doughty echoed Wagner's goals saying, "We want to compete at the highest level we can, win a WAC championship and go to a bowl game." Wagner, Gallagher and a group of other guys hungry to contribute seems like a pretty good formula for something special to happen. It's still early, but with the pieces Andersen and the Aggies have assembled, the future for this upcoming season is looking bright. - mark.israelsen@aggiemail.usu.edu New era: Medlin set to shine continuedfrom page 8 right in there and get going," Duryea said. For the 6-foot-11 Stone, the staff isn't predicting as much of an immediate impact rather than bigger things down the road as his game progresses. "We knew when we signed him that he was a big developmental guy and we're excited about his potential," Morrill said of Stone. "I like Jordan a lot physically. I think he's raw in terms of his skill level." When it comes to replacing a trio of Tyler Newbold, Pooh Williams and Brian Green, the first name to pop out of the coaches' mouths is the only familiar face among next year's wings, redshirt sophomore Preston Medlin. "Preston Medlin is obviously, of those guys, probably the most proven since he played last year," Duryea said. Medlin emerged as a scoring threat early during his freshman season at USU in 2009-10, scoring 17 points in just his fifth college game against Southern Utah, followed by an eight-point performance at home in a 71-61 win over BYU. Medlin said redshirting was difficult after playing the previous year, but not without its benefits, such as playing on the scout team. "You get to work on your offense a lot," Medlin said. "You get to do things that you might not normally do." Entering his third year in the program, the coaching staff is excited about how Medlin's game has developed since he last took the court. "We think he's got the ability to score the ball in all different ways," Duryea said. "He's probably the best passing two-guard that we've had here in my tenure for sure." Medlin will be joined on the wings by a pair of junior college All-Americans in Antonio Bumpus, who redshirted for USU in 2010-11 and Norvel Arnold, who will join the team this summer. Duryea said that both Bumpus and Arnold should be able to jump right into the rota- tion with their skill and athleticism, making for a competitive scenario on the wings. The staff also hopes to redshirt Danny Berger, another wing player who will be returning from an LDS church mission. The 2011-12 season leaves several starting positions wide open for competition for the first time in several years, but there's nothing but optimism among the staff. "We think we've got some talented guys there that are just waiting for their chance to earn a spot and earn minutes and keep the tradition rolling," Duryea said. "It'll be a new era in Aggie basketball." - matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu.edu we weren't there to receive it. I offered to have them give it to somebody else where I wasn't going to be there and they kind of laughed at me on that one." The coaching carousel of college basketball spins often, and coaches of successful teams seem to take a ride to find greener pastures. Morrill receives plenty of offers year after year, and the end of the 2011 season was no exception. Morrill's named was tossed around as a possibility for many vacant head coach positions, but for the most part, they were only rumors. "We have had some success and there is always things that pop up," Morrill said. "When someone gets real serious with you, which is what happened this spring, then you have a decision to make. I have not pursued anything and really haven't for a number of years, and I don't plan on it. Every once in a while somebody pursues you and then you have to decide what you want to do, but it usually doesn't take me very long. This is where I plan on finishing my career; I have said that for a long time." Aggie fans can breathe a sigh of relief as it seems there is no price for which Morrill can be bought and moved to a different school. "I said 13 years ago when I came here that this would most likely be my last coaching job," Morrill said. "Every year I feel more and more like that, of course I am getting older and older. It is flattering when someone shows serious interest and that was the case, but there was really no serious interest on my part. I am happy where I am at and feel fortunate to be here." - ty.d.hus@aggiemaiLusu.edu UTAH STATE HEAD COACH STEW MORRILL hoists a piece of the net during the Feb. 26 game against Idaho. Morrill was honored by Collegelnsider.com as the nation's Coach of the Year at the Final Four last weekend in Houston. STERLING BOIN photo Hayward starting to put things together Alright, raise your hand if you expected the 12, Jazz to beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. Please keep your hand raised if you expected that win to come mainly due to the efforts of Gordon MARK JSRAELSEN Hayward, the baby-faced 21-year-old rookie. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that nobody's hand is still up. Well, believe it or not, it happened. Hayward not only scored a career-high 22 points to go along with six boards and five assists, but he also hit the go-ahead free throw and kept Kobe Bryant from even getting a shot off in the final seconds. Hayward's heroics propelled the Jazz to their first win in nine games, and their first win over the Lakers in the Staples Center since Jan. 1, 2006, a stretch of 17 games. The kid's on fire. Just two days before his performance against L.A., he scored 19 points, his careerhigh at the time, in a loss to Sacramento. The Jazz have got to be loving his performance, but I'll tell you one thing, Butler sure could have used their old superstar in the championship game on Monday. Hayward's departure to the NBA may have surprised some people. He was only a sophomore when he left and the Bulldogs had come within inches of winning a national championship. Who can forget Hayward's half-court heave at the buzzer in last year's game that was so close every Duke fan watching it nearly had a heart attack? But rather than return for his junior year and try again for a championship run, which the Bulldogs did without him, coincidentally, he decided to go pro. In the 2010 draft, Hayward was selected ninth overall by the Utah Jazz, the Jazz's first lottery pick since 2006 when they chose Ronnie Brewer with the 14th pick. So, with our 20/20 hindsight, let's examine how successful Gordon Hayward's rookie year has been. As of Wednesday night, Hayward is averaging 4.7 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game in 15.8 minutes per game. He has appeared in 67 of the Jazz's 78 games so far this year and has started 13. Hayward's performance, like most rookies, has been sporadic. He's been held scoreless 22 times this year, but has also scored in double figures 12 times. He played a career high 44 minutes against 14 Eye on the Hardwood the Clippers in December but also hasn't even found the floor in 11 other games. Yeah, he's been hot and cold, sometimes really cold, but sometimes, like Tuesday night, really hot. That's just what you've got to expect with most rookies. Many times though, fans don't think that way, and they get frustrated because they don't play well. Although it might not really make them feel better, fans should know that he is hardly the only one struggling. Of all the rookies drafted in 2010, only two are scoring in double figures, John Wall of the Wizards, and DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings. Many of the other picks have struggled just as much or more than Hayward. Take former Kansas center Cole Aldrich. Picked by the Hornets at number 11 and then traded to the Thunder, Aldrich was expected to do big things for OKC, but instead has played in only 18 games, putting up averages of 1.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Naismith player of the year in 2010 and highly touted coming out of Ohio State, Evan Turner has struggled in the NBA, only posting averages of 7.1 points and 3.9 boards. Ekpe Udoh, drafted number six by Golden State scores only 4.0 per game and grabs 2.9 rebounds. The concept of rookies struggling to adjust to the NBA game is not new. Hayward has had some rough patches, but I think all Jazz fans should be excited with his potential. In fact, let me relate to you a quote from the one and only Kobe Bryant concerning young Hayward. "I'm very, very fond of him," Bryant said. "He's a very skilled, all-around player. I think he's going to have a very bright future in this league. He reminds me of a more talented Jeff Hornacek. Jeff couldn't put the ball on the floor as well as (Hayward) can." That kind of praise from one of the best players to ever play the game isn't a bad start for any rookie. So have faith in Hayward, and maybe even believe Kobe on this one, even though I know how hard that is for Jazz fans. It's true that he didn't have the greatest season, but player success isn't defined by a single season. Mark Israelsen is a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering. He has also been a lifelong fan of the Utah Jazz. He can be reached at mark.israelsen@aggiemail.usu.edu et. .4_4&41t4tr . ROMAN C 1E11 TM Jai/ (67/eel/ o p We are proud to introduce our Romance Bridal Collection... inspired selections, created with stunning quality & relentless attention to every detail. So celebrate your timeless love with the lasting gift of exquisite diamonds. . 6771c et066y 930 North Main Street Logan, Utah (435) 753-9755 |