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Posted: Friday November 05, 1999 04:30 PM
Mountain West overview
New conference, same result for Majerus' Utes
By Phil Miller, Special to CNN/SI
Hanno Mottola is a key component in the Utah juggernaut. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
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A new conference restores old rivalries. But without an automatic NCAA berth to play for this year, will anyone care about a meaningless conference tournament? Can big-reputation coaches at New Mexico (Fran Fraschilla) and San Diego State (Steve Fisher) improve their teams' running-in-place results? Which college and NBA teams will court Rick Majerus after he notches his eighth conference championship?
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How they will spend Selection Sunday
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| Relaxing |
Sweating |
Fishing |
Utah
New Mexico
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Wyoming
UNLV
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BYU
Colorado St.
San Diego St.
Air Force
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Players to Watch
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| Top Three Frontcourt Players |
Hanno Mottola, Utah
• Turned down pro offers in Europe to try to lead Utes to sixth straight league title.
Alex Jensen, Utah
• Shot 60 percent in WAC, now he's Utah's best rebounder, MWC's top defender, too.
Ugo Udezue, Wyoming
• Led Pokes in scoring (20.5), rebounding (7.4), shooting (47.4 percent) as a sophomore.
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| Top Three Backcourt Players |
Lamont Long, New Mexico
• Unstoppable in the clutch -- he won five games with last second shots.
Mark Dickel, UNLV
• Longtime leader, he's played 94 games; recorded double-digit assists 10 times.
Anthony Blakes, Wyoming
• At 6-2, his 24 blocks show hustle and athleticism; all-WAC defender.
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| Top Three Newcomers |
Terrell Lyday, BYU
• Fresno JC gunner will have freedom to find shots inside and out.
Marlon Palmer, New Mexico
• He's so good, freshman may break into stacked Lobo backcourt.
Trent Whiting, Utah
• Goes from Snow (Utah) JC to point guard's dream: a team of veteran scorers.
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Coaches
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| Hot Coach |
Fran Fraschilla, New Mexico
• Lobomania is stronger than ever ... |
| Coach on the Hot Seat |
Fran Fraschilla, New Mexico
• But they won't settle for just making the tournament anymore.
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Schedules
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| Toughest Schedule |
Colorado State
• Rams face Oregon State, Arizona State, Michigan, Colorado
and Kentucky. |
| Quickest-Way-to-20-Wins Schedule |
Utah
• Home games with Stony Brook, Augusta St., Sioux Falls, Chicago St., Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Southern Utah.
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Mark Your Calendar
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Nov. 19, Utah at Kentucky (in preseason NIT second round if both win first-round games)
• Rematch of '97 NCAA final.
Dec. 1, BYU at Arizona
• Cougars nearly upset Wildcats in overtime last year.
Jan. 2, UNLV at Cincinnati.
• Rebels face perennial Midwest power.
Jan. 13, New Mexico at Wyoming
• Duel of the backcourts: Lobos Long and Henry against 'Pokes Blakes and McMillian.
Feb. 19, Utah at New Mexico
• Showdown in The Pit could decide conference title.
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Phil Miller covers the Mountain West for the Salt Lake City Tribune.
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