Utah, Wyoming favored because of frontcourtstuds
ByDan HayesAssistant Sports Editor
Utah
Last season: 23-9 (10-4 MWC)
Results vs. SDSU: Win, 70-55 at SDSU; win, 83-65 at Utah
Key players: Britton Johnsen, F; Chris Burgess, F; Nate Althoff,F; Phil Cullen, F
Key losses: Hanno Mottola, Alex Jensen, Jeremy Killion
Strengths: Very strong and athletic frontcourt with the transferaddition of Burgess from Duke and Johnsen, who returns from atwo-year mission. Also, the Utes have a deep frontcourt with threeplayers at 6-foot-10 or taller coming off the bench. This year’sguards are much faster than those of a season ago.
Weaknesses:Lack of experience on the part of guards Kevin Bradleyand Travis Spivey could hold the team back from having a great year.
Quotable: “The 1998 team had a lot of overall stars but this teamhas more overall athleticism.”
— junior Jeff Johnson
Wyoming
Last season: 19-12 (8-6)
Results vs. SDSU: Win, 93-87 at Wyoming; win, 71-57 at SDSU
Key players: Josh Davis, F; Ugo
Udezue F/C; Chris McMillan G
Key losses: Ledarion Jones, Anthony Blakes
Strengths: Good frontcourt players in Davis and Udezue asevidenced by both receiving All-Mountain West Conference preseasonhonors. Davis had an excellent year in Udezue’s absence. Udezuemissed most of last season after averaging 20.5 points during hissophomore season.
Weaknesses: Udezue returns to the lineup after a year absence andis susceptible to a relapse.
Quotable: “We have a good nucleus returning … we will count onthose veterans while the newcomers make adjustments.”
— Head coach Steve McClain
Nevada-Las Vegas
Last season: 23-8 (10-4)
Results vs. SDSU: Win, 83-55 at UNLV; win, 85-64 at SDSU; win,77-72 at UNLV
Key players: Kaspars Kambala F/C; Dalron Johnson F; Trevor Diggs G
Key losses: Mark Dickel
Strengths: Good post play from Kambala and Johnson along with alot of overall team depth. Kambala needs to have a similar season tolast year which will help the development of Johnson.
Weaknesses: Lack of good, experienced shooters from beyond thearc. Dickel has been replaced by a true freshman and the RunningRebels can’t seem to beat any big teams outside the conference.
Quotable: “We’re the deepest we’ve been since I got here. Iusually like playing only eight guys, but I could get to 10 and notfeel like we’re missing much now.”
— Head coach Bill Bayno
Brigham Young
Last season: 22-11 (7-7)
Result vs. SDSU: Win, 72-50 at SDSU; win, 67-50 at BYU
Key returners: Terrell Lyday, G; Mekeli Wesley, F
Key losses: Michael Vranes, G
Strengths: The Cougars have a strong backcourt and good seniorleadership from Lyday and Wesley.
Weaknesses: Vranes, their best defender in the backcourt, was lostfor the season with a foot injury.
Quotable: “At Midnight Madness it was a dunk fest. People wereastounded by the way we play, the athleticism of the team. There’sdefinitely a buzz here.”
— Wesley on his team’s athleticism
New Mexico
Last year: 18-14 (9-5)
Results vs. SDSU: Win, 78-57 at SDSU; win 78-49 at UNM
Key players: Wayland White, F; Tim Lightfoot, G; Marlon Palmer, G;Ruben Douglas, G
Key losses: Lamont Long, Damion Walker
Strengths: Strong coaching staff headed by Fran Fraschilla. TheLobos also own one of the biggest homecourt advantages in the nation,playing at The Pit.
Weaknesses: The team lost its top two scorers in Long and Walkerand could barely fill out its starting lineup from the remainingplayers.
Quotable: “I don’t think any program can be rebuilt in onerecruiting class, very rarely anyway. The exciting thing is thisyear’s roster will only have two seniors so the majority will becoming back.”
— Fraschilla on the state of his team
Colorado State
Last season: 18-12, (8-6)
Result vs. SDSU: Win 75-67 at CSU; win,
74-46 at SDSU
Key returners: Garrett Patik, F; John Sivesind, G/F; Ron Grady, G;Aki Palmer, G
Key losses: Cedric Goodwyn; John Ford
Strengths: Most of the Rams’ backcourt, which led the nation inthree-point shooting, returns for another year.
Weaknesses: Since Dale Layer is the team’s third coach in as manyyears, CSU’s players must now adjust to another system.
Quotable: “I think you’ll see some changes. We’re going to be alittle more up-tempo this year.”
— Layer on his gameplan
Air Force
Last season: 8-20, (4-10)
Result vs. SDSU: Win, 83-65 at AFA; win, 81-77 at SDSU
Key returners: Jarvis Croff, G; Vernard Jenkins, G; Tom Bellairs,F
Key losses: Tyron Wright
Strengths: The team is under the leadership of a new coach in JoeScott who has a good young nucleus to work with.
Weaknesses: Lack of overall talent and a very young team.
Quotable: “We are going to do things at Air Force that winningprograms do and that’s stress toughness, competitiveness and playingto win.”
— Scott on his program
