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Show B1 41 09115 FROM THE For the Lakers fans This one is for you purple-and-gold people Alex Rivera Sports Editor @HashtagginAlex Dom but not ou Being that I live in Utah, many would think that I'd eventually write something about the Jazz. Maybe how the Jazz have won five of their last seven games entering Wednesday, Jan. 30. Or how they are in the top 15 for points scored in a game on the season. Or I can talk about how they currently hold a spot in the playoffs. But considering there are quite a few Laker fans in Utah Valley, I decided I'd take the time to write one out to the purple-and-gold fans of LA. This one's for you. What's going on, guys?! There must be drama in Hollywood. I'll admit, when I first decided to write this column, The Lakers were in a six-game losing streak. I thought to myself, "They'll turn it around." And that they did, winning two games just to go on a four-game losing streak right after. Since then, the Lakers have balanced out their win-loss record a little bit, inching so much closer to .500 on the season. But you're the Lakers! There is no .500. They brought in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to win a championship this year with the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. Yet the Lakers are ranked 26th in the nation in points allowed and aren't even in the playoff picture. PRESTON OLSEN/UVU REVIEW Junior center Ben Aird and senior forward Alfonzo Hubbard have been sidelined by injuries recently. The Wolverines now look to senior forward Nick Thompson and junior guard Holton Hunsaker to lead. Injuries slowed the Wolverines down, but they picked themselves right back up. By Kyle Spencer Sports Writer Twitter @KyledSpencer With Ben Aird, back spasms, and Alfonzo Hubbard, ACL, sidelined with injuries, the Wolverines were forced not only to play with- out two of their starters but two of their top three scorers. The absence of such vital cogs showed in a loss at Chicago State on Saturday, Jan. 26. Despite owning an 8-2 record against Chicago State coming into the game, the Wolverines' performance demonstrated the importance of Aird and Hubbard to the lineup as UVU shot only 38.9 percent and committed 17 turnovers en route to the 62-54 loss. "Chicago State played multiple defenses and kept the pressure on us. Seventeen turnovers is hard Dick Hunsaker. While optimism surrounds a quick return to the court of the two stars, the team must focus on cornI think we're moving ing together in the interim in order maintain hope of competing for in the right direction. to a Great West championship. "Our team's production as a team NICK THOMPSON had been shaped, finally getting Senior forward some continuity, maybe better role nn definition finally taking hold as the UU season has progressed," Hunsaker said. "We're scrambling." The scrambling has led to the into overcome when trying to win on the road," said Head Coach sertion of junior guard Jason Johnson 66 and senior forward Zach Jones into the starting lineup. While an increase in production from the reservesturned-starters is crucial to replace Aird and Hubbard, one member of the Wolverines has already answered the call to action. Senior forward Nick Thompson is averaging 15.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds over the past two games while shooting 60 percent from the field, which includes making 3-of-4 three-point field goal attempts. See INJURIES, B2 KASSIDY BRADFORD/UVU REVIEW Something to be ashamed about. CARLOS SANCHEZ/UVU REVIEW Bears tranquilized UVU wrestling defeated the Northern Colorado Bears 39-0 on Jan. 26 By Garrett Coleman Sports Writer Garretjcoleman@gmail.com CARLOS SANCHEZ/UVU REVIEW (Above) David Prieto goes for the takedown. (Right) Avery Garner won by major decision. Utah Valley Wrestling followed up an impressive home win against Arizona State with a shutout victory against Northern Colorado, posting a dominant score of 39-0 on Jan. 26. This is the first time in school history that the Wolverines have posted a shutout performance against an opponent. Head coach Greg Williams has set the bar high for the program and is seeing the fruits of those labors. "I really like this team and I really like their work ethic," Williams said. "We've still got a lot of things to work on, but I'm really pleased with the way the guys are wrestling and the progress we're making." The night started out with very dominant performances by Avery Garner (141 lbs), Josh Wilson (149) and Abner Cook (165) getting dominant performances. Garner started by defeating his opponent 10-1. Wilson earned a tech fall in the first period, winning See WRESTLING, B3 They've had two different coaches this year, and I hear a countless number of times that you, the Laker faithful, want a third coach, Phil Jackson. Let it go. I'm pretty sure he's not going to come back. Just stick with your offensive style of play under Mike D'Antoni that has won him so many championships before. Oh wait. It hasn't. Howard is averaging a doubledouble on the season. He's also averaging about three tears every game after he goes through his process of complaining about the team, blaming himself and then repenting. Howard has been a stress case for not only the Lakers but for basketball fans as well. We had to watch him all year long last season change his mind time and time again about his Orlando Magic "issue." Although it wasn't as ground shifting as LeBron James's exit from Cleveland, it was just as annoying. And now Howard continues to bicker some more about his current team, then himself and then his team again. But let's look into the future. They are currently not in the playoff picture. But these are the Lakers, so we have to give them some faith. Steve Nash has only played half the games this season, and since his return to the line-up back in December, they're 8-11. Alright, that's not that great. The Lakers are on the road this week, where they hold a 5-15 record. Wow. This is hard. All joshing aside, the Lakers are struggling. There is no denying that. But when it is all said and done, they'll probably make it into the playoffs no higher than a six seed, in which they probably won't make it past the first round, whether they're facing the Spurs, the Thunder or their neighbors, the Clippers. Now that is an ending I don't want to miss. |