OCR Text |
Show UVU REVIEW B2 SPORTS MARCH 17, 2014 Senior send oft Utah Valley will say goodbye to their hardcourt seniors By Garrett Coleman Assistant Sports Editor @legendgary62 Each year, Utah Valley has the privilege of sending its seniors into the sunset as they finish out their respective playing careers. This year, UVU gave a send off to Kyra Prause and Whitney Jenkins of the women's basketball team, with Ben Aird, Holton Hunsaker, Keawe Enos and Taylor Brown of the men's team. The Utah Valley Men's basketball has outdone any type of expectation that was set for them as it entered the WAC for the inaugural season. The team was actually picked fourth in the preseason polls. The Wolverines have been lead by the seniors to help put Utah Valley at the top of the WAC. Holton Hunsaker has been the most proactive player in UVU history, playing in the most games of any person to dawn a Wolverine uniform and is the all-time leader in steals and assists. Included in his long-tenured career, Hunsaker has earned some accolades a long the way. This season, Hunsaker has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team. Other awards include: Great West Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, the highest honor from the Great West; first-team All-Great West Conference, named to the Great West Academic AllConference Team, received Great West All-Conference Second Team honors and Great West All-Conference honorable mention as a freshman. Hunsaker also has surpassed 1,000 career points, which he did as a junior. Hunsaker has helped the team in every aspect to help them rise to the top. In an interview for UVU athletics, Hunsaker spoke about how far this team has come and how he has been a part of it. "The program has come a long way in the time that I have been here," Hunsaker explained. "With us joining the WAC this year, there has been a lot of excitement." Ben Aird has been the Malone to Husaker's Stockton. Aird has had a decorated career here as well and surpassed the 1,000 point mark around the same time as Hunsaker. Aird is also the career rebounds and blocks leader all-time for UVU and ranks second all-time in scoring. Aird's accolades also include: Great West All-Conference First Team, Great West Academic All-Conference honors, Great West All-Conference Second Team honors, and Great West Academic All-Conference distinction. Aird might also have some great awards coming his way at the end of the WAC season. The season has been a great testament to his career and AFTERMATH from B1 common, making it less poignant and meaningful. I think as fans we have reduced our justification for storming the court. This season I was struck, even perplexed, when I saw Penn State fans rushing the court after beating No. 22 ranked Ohio State. I know there is no rule that indicates when fans should storm the court, but I've always thought it should be saved for when a lower ranked Aird is looking forward to the opportunity of playing in a tournament in March. "It's every kid's dream to play in the tournament and to be a part of it," Aird said. "It's a lot more fun that way to know that there is something at the end that shows your hard work." Continuing with the Jazz comparison, Keawe Enos would be like Jeff Hornacek. Enos has been a great addition for the tandem of Hunsaker and Aird, adding a three-point dynamic for the Wolverines since he transferred here in 2011. This year, Enos has been lighting it up from downtown, hitting 46.3 percent. The biggest three Enos took all season has to be against New Mexico State, when down by three and getting fouled to send him to the free throw line. Enos has also been great from the charity stripe and ranks 3rd all-time in career free throw percentage. Enos also hit all three of the free throws to send the game against the Aggies into overtime. Enos is also averaging a career best 7.7 points per game this season and has been a complete team player while playing for the Wolverines. He never makes anything about himself and plays for the team. "You learn through experience that it's not all about you," Enos said. "There's a bigger picture and a bigger impact you can have." That sediment has helped the Wolverines in the position to make history as they continue the run for the NCAA tournament and embrace the madness of March. Taylor Brown has also been a deep threat in his career and is hitting .333 from deep this season and brings a great amount of energy coming off the bench and playing great hustle defense that won't show up on a stat sheet. In his time here at UVU, Brown Ranks 6th all-time in games played at UVU and has been a member of two conference championship teams. The women's team got a jump on senior night, playing against the mighty Kangaroos of Kansas City on Feb. 22, winning 49-43 and capping off a two-game win streak at home. In her final season, Jenkins has been averaging 6.2 points per game with a 2.8 rebounding average per game and 1.1 average on steals per game. Jenkins was a great talent defensively, having most of her total rebounding coming on the defensive side of the court. Prause was also a defensive force for the Wolverines. Prause averaged 1.9 rebounds, most of them defensive nabs on the board, while averaging about a steal per game in 24 games played this season at Utah Valley. They may be leaving the programs, but these athletes have put in so much time and effort. For that, they will not soon be forgotten. team defeats, say, a top-five team in the country, or after winning a national championship. I don't necessarily believe that the court should be rushed after beating the No. 22 ranked team or even edging out a New Mexico State for first place in the WAC. The sad news is that storming the court will likely become a thing of the past. Even more disappointing could be that a rule change would forever be linked to Utah Valley University. Holton Hunsaker Keawe Enos Kyra Prause Ben Aird Whitney Jenkins Taylor Brown WAC basketball standings Prior to final games of the season (Conference record, overall record) MEN Utah Valley 12-3,18-10 New Mexico State 12-4, 23-9 Grand Canyon 9-6, 14-14 Chicago State 7-8, 12-18 Kansas City 7-8, 10-18 Idaho 6-9, 13-17 Seattle U 5-10, 13-15 Bakersfield 5-10, 12-17 Texas-Pan American 5-10, 9-21 STEROIDS from B1 debate is its illegality. "There are a few medical conditions where (steroid use) is indicated," Nelson said. "What you see in all of the sports scandals is illegal use of steroids. So you could simply say that it is unethical to break the law." Nelson claims that in his eight-year career at UVU, he hasn't seen a single person test positive for steroid use. "I don't see steroid use as a problem right now at UVU," White said. "That being said, I think that the potential for steroid use is always there at almost every school. You will always have athletes that are willing to sacrifice their health and set aside the rules to gain an unfair advantage." White credited the stringent NCAA drug-testing policies as a deterrent. "If you are selected, you are required to show up the following morning to take a test," he said. "This seems to WOMEN Idaho 14-1, 21-8 Bakersfield 11-4, 17-10 Grand Canyon 9-6, 20-8 Texas-Pan American 8-7, 14-14 Seattle U 8-7, 13-15 Kansas City 7-8, 11-17 New Mexico State 7-9, 10-19 Utah Valley 4-11, 7-21 Chicago State 0-15, 3-25 work well because it keeps athletes from taking substances, because they worry about being tested." The drug policy at UVU applies to all illegal substances and includes steroids. This policy outlines what Nelson calls a "threestrike rule." There is a lot of flexibility with the policy after the first offense, according to Nelson. Possible consequences include drug counseling, follow-up testing, a threemonth suspension, or in the case of possible substance abuse, the athlete will receive the support he or she needs to attack addiction. The second offense is less lenient and usually warrants a one-year suspension and community service, Nelson said. The third offense is a permanent suspension from UVU athletics. We aren't trying to trap anybody or get anyone kicked out of the program," Nelson said. "The primary focus is to help the wellbeing of the athlete." |