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Mountain West Conference Notes
Dec. 8, 1999
Utah's basketball team under Rick Majerus does specific things well each season: Defend. Rebound. Shoot free throws. And never, ever panic. The Utes have hardly slammed their way to a fast start at 4-2 with victories coming against Arkansas State, Stony Brook, Augusta State and Utah State. There is a loss to Kentucky and one to Weber State, in which the Utes allowed 72 percent shooting in the second half, which happens about as often as Majerus wears a coat and tie. But the team picked to win the Mountain West Conference began last season 5-4 and then won 23 straight. And it hardly endured the speed bumps this current group has. Utah last night started its fourth different lineup in six games. The Utes are hurting. Literally. Senior forward Hanno Mottola (knee) -- the league's most complete player when healthy -- is out at least another three weeks. Nate Althoff is the starting center who is battling a back injury. Look closer, though. Mottola and Althoff are key pieces, but Utah is never without its share of post players. Majerus recruits bigs the way he does new restaurants. Point is, Utah needs stability at the point. Majerus this season must replace Andre Miller, one of the nation's best lead guards a season ago and the player who led Utah to a national championship game two years ago. A month has passed and Majerus is still searching for the correct fit. So far, it's been about more squares pegs in round holes. Junior college transfer Trent Whiting has been slowed by injuries, could take a medical redshirt and is more a shooting guard than point. Gary Colbert, a sophomore many thought could step in and produce immediately, has been overmatched. The man gaining the most minutes at point is senior Tony Harvey. "Everyone knew it was going to be tough replacing Andre," said Majerus. "He just did so many things for us on the court offensively and defensively. We're trying to address the situation and work through the problems. We're scrambling." It's early. Utah's struggles usually turn into others' misery. MWC tidbits Did you know? Colorado State and BYU have advanced to the women's volleyball NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. The Rams (30-2) play defending national champion Long Beach State (29-3) tomorrow in Honolulu, and the Cougars (28-4) meet Florida (32-2) in Stockton on Friday. BYU is led by conference Player of the Year Nina Puikkonen, while CSU has senior Catie Vagneur (20 kills in a second-round win against Kansas State). Key stat: San Diego State's men's basketball team ranks last in the conference with five three-pointers. Every other team has made at least 30. Quote to note: "We've ordered a bone stimulator for Whiting's leg, but at this university it could take five months to happen. I've offered to buy one myself." -- Majerus on trying to figure out the health problems of his JC transfer.
Basketball ratings 2. Utah: If all goes well in rehab, Mottola could return for the "Big Monday" game at SDSU. Yep, things just keep getting better and better for those Aztecs. 3. New Mexico: Word is, transfer Atilla Cosby wants out. Something about leaving school to write a television sitcom on fifth century Western Europe. 4. Colorado State: Plays rival Colorado tonight. Someone tell local police to leave their tear gas at home. 5. BYU: Cougars are used to thin front lines. Remember, Shawn Bradley once turned sideways and it took school officials a week to find him. 6. Wyoming: Without their Ugo, the Cowboys are a mere Pinto of their former NIT selves. 7. Air Force: Falcons blow out Regis by 20, holding Gelman to 3-of-16 shooting and refusing Kathy Lee a free campus tour. 8. San Diego State: Antarctica is an oven compared with this team's shooting right now.
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