Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 16

C2 Tuesday, May 27, 2003 SPORTS Wisconsin State Journal CALENDAR UW MEN'S BASKETBALL 0 Away TODAY WED, 28 THU.29 plan FRt.30 San Diego San Diego San Diego Los Angeles i 9:05 p.m I 9:05 p.m 4:05 9:10 p.m., i Quatomm StacBum Quafcomm Stadium Quatomm Stadium! Dodger Stadium itiirm-w-i, FSM FSN i FSN BREWERS no slam dun 1 Isl WIA 1 SPORTS ON THE AIR Associated Press Live and same-day tape events TV Radio Baseball 1 6:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Atlanta TBS 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs WGN 9 p.m. Milwaukee at San Diego FSN WIBAAM Basketball 7 p.m. WNBA: Los Angeles at Cleveland OXY 8 p.m.

NBA: Dallas at San Antonio TNT WTSO NHL 7 p.m. Anaheim at New Jersey ESPN Tennis 7 a.m. French Open ESPN2 11 a.m. French Open ESPN 9:30 p.m. French Open (taped) ESPN2 ber.

A waiver could be sought to set up the game between UW and a WIAC school, but that would have to be granted every year, Karner said. "The more desirable route, which would take some time, is to seek a legislative change in the rule," said Karner, who spoke to a couple of NCAA representatives last week about the issue. So, Karner plans to contact WIAC athletic directors, faculty athletic representatives and chancellors to gain a consensus as to whether he TV stations: WISC (Ch. 3), WMTV (Ch. 1 5), WHA (Ch.

21), WKOW (Ch. 27), WMSN (Ch. 47). Radio stations: WTSO (1070 AM), WIBA AM (1310), WTLX (100.5 FM), WIBA FM (101.5 FM). Digest mi fi Paul Kariya, left, leads the Anaheim five.

He scored 81 points during the Net Continued from Page C1 Devils, who have won the Cup twice and will make their fourth trip to the final round in the last nine seasons, against the Ducks, who had not made it past the second round until this year. It will match a veteran coach, the Devils' Pat Burns, against a rookie coach, the Ducks' Mike Babcock. Although the teams met only twice during the regular season (both Devils victories) there will be some familiarity, if not contempt. The Devils will send out defenseman Scott Nieder-mayer against his brother, Ducks forward Rob Nieder-mayer. The Devils will also be familiar with Anaheim's Peter Sykora; the Ducks will recognize the Devils' Jeff Friesen.

These two forwards were key elements of a multiplayer trade between the two teams last summer. But in this lengthy tournament of low scores and long overtimes, the most intriguing matchup in the Cup finals will be in goal. The established goaltender is the Devils' Martin Brodeur, who is a candidate for the Ve-zina trophy as the league's best goalie and the Hart trophy as the league's most valuable player. His opponent will be the Ducks' Jean-Sebastien Gi-guere, whose four shutouts and 1.22 goals against average have made him a candidate for the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Brodeur is 31 and a veteran of 10 seasons.

Giguere is 26 and has played only two full seasons in the NHL. "When I look around me, there's not too many guys that are older than me anymore," Brodeur said after making 24 saves Friday night. "It kind of hits you a little bit. Definitely young bucks coming up. There will be a lot of pressure on him and a lot of pressure on me." The Devils will be favored because they were the second-seeded team in the East and the Ducks were the seventh-seeded team in the West.

But the Devils may be the tired team. They had a 3-1 series lead on the Senators, but then struggled as the Senators tied it Associated Press John Christman celebrates after scoring a goal in Virginia's 9-7 win in the NCAA lacrosse title name Monday aaainst Johns Hopkins. Bo Ryan's idea about facing Division III teams in exhibitions faces many obstacles. By Jon Masson Wisconsin State Journal University of Wisconsin men's basketball coach Bo Ryan believes playing Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents in future exhibition games at the Kohl Center is a winning situation for his NCAA Division I program and those Division III teams. WIAC commissioner Gary Karner endorses the UW coach's idea and plans to pursue seeing whether Ryan's hope can be made a reality.

But several legislative hurdles must be cleared before Division III men's and women's teams are even permitted to play in such exhibitions. Ryan, who previously broached his idea to Karner, suggested it at the recent Big Ten Conference meetings as an improvement over the foreign and U.S. all-star teams that the Big Ten teams often play during the exhibition season. Ryan's idea, which also included Division II school UW-Parkside, would financially assist the smaller schools. "The way things are going, it's very difficult to get teams that are running sets or running plays," said Ryan, a former coach at UW-Piatt eville.

"Instead of just a pickup game, with a Division II, III or NAIA team, you are getting a team running a system. That's what I like. That's why I like the state schools. It would keep money in the state and they can use it. I know." Karner said he envisions the exhibition as more than just a basketball game.

"It would be an event," Karner said. He said the experience for a Division III athlete would be memorable and what he plans to pitch, more than any financial gain. "How great would it be, how neat would it be to play in the Kohl Center aind I don't know that this is what it would be before 17,000 fans," Karner said. "What a neat experience. That's a big part of Division III, to give experiences they won't ever forget." Ryan and Karner would like to see it happen, with Ryan eyeing the 2004-05 season.

But will it? Can it? Right now, it isn't possible. For a Division III school, the game would count against its 25-game regular-season game total, Karner said. In addition, Division III schools cannot play prior to the Friday before Thanksgiving unless the game has exempted status, such as a game vs. a foreign team or in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic, Karner said. UW's exhibitions typically are scheduled earlier in Novem Mighty Ducks in playoff goals with regular season.

Devils vs. Mighty Ducks Today: at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Thursday: at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Saturday: at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Monday: at Anaheim, 7 p.m.

June 5: at New Jersey, 7 p.m., if necessary June 7: at Anaheim, 7 p.m., if necessary June 9: at New Jersey, 7 p.m., if necessary at three games each, forcing Game 7. Before that, the Devils needed five games to get past the Boston Bruins and five to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Ducks have played only 14 games since April 10 after sweeping the defending champion Detroit Red Wings, ousting the Dallas Stars in six games and sweeping the Wild with three shutouts and allowing only one goal in the other game. Burns acknowledged, grudgingly, that his team will be favored. "If people say, 'You are the I am going to say, 'Excuse me, so was Detroit, so was Dallas, they were all favorites, Burns said.

"So I don't think anybody is a favorite." With veterans like Nieder-mayer, Brodeur, Jamie Langen-brunner, Friesen, Sergei Brylin, Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens, the Devils have more depth and late-round experience. But Ducks General Manager Bryan Murray has added veterans like Sykora, the other Niedermayer, Adam Oates and Steve Thomas to support Paul Kariya. The Ducks may be healthier in part because Joe Nieuwen-dyk, a regular center for the Devils, is expected to miss at least the opening game of the series with what he called a "lower body injury." Turner Stevenson is also injured. Although the teams have never met in the playoffs, they may learn much about each other with as many as seven games in 14 days. John Madden, the Devils' top checking forward, will probably be assigned to stop the top line of Kariya, Oates and Sykora.

"I would think so, I think that's safe to say," Madden said. "We'll get to know each other real quick." Dallas 4-2 in the conference semifinals and Minnesota 4-0 in the conference finals. Season series: Devils won 2-0. Slap shots: New Jersey beat Anaheim 3-2 in overtime Nov. 12 in East Rutherford, N.J.

and 3-1 on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif. The Devils led the NHL in fewest goals allowed (188) and penalty kill percentage (87.8) The Mighty Ducks led the league faceoff won percentage (55.2) and were second in penalty kill percentage (87.3). State Journal wire services NHL and has separate categories for North American and European talent, has Suter rated seventh among North American skaters. Late last year, Ryan's father, Bob, expressed some reservations about having his son enter the draft this year instead of 2004, which he could do given his age.

At the time, Bob Suter said he wanted to see where his son fit into the upcoming draft landscape. "He's projected to be one of the higher picks, so it's probably worth going in (to the draft)," Ryan Suter Bob Suter said. "I don't see a downside." In addition to entering the draft, Ryan Suter can and will participate in the annual invitation-only NHL Prospects Camp in Toronto this week. Because Suter has not yet entered college, the NHL can foot his bill. And once Suter is drafted, he can attend the preseason training camp of the club that acquires his rights before enrolling in classes at UW.

7ZS STANLEY CUP FINALS PREVIEW should go forward with writing a proposal to be considered at the Division III convention in January, 2004. The idea would have to be I 1 id Ryan approved by the chancellors, he said. The proposal, which would seek changing the rule for the men and women so that such a game against a Division I or Division II team could be played as an exhibition prior to the Friday before Thanksgiving, must be sent to the NCAA office by July 15, he said. New UW women's basketball coach Lisa Stone, who formerly coached at UW-Eau Claire in the WIAC, said she hadn't given thought to playing WIAC teams. "Right now it can't be done, so I can't comment on it," she said.

But she likes the concept. "I'm a big fan," Stone said. "Last year at Drake, we played South Dakota State, a Division II team, in an exhibition game. It was tremendous for our team, playing against a team that practices and prepares that has out-of-bounds plays." Ryan would like to see the WIAC receive guaranteed money for the exhibition (possibly $15,000 to which would be split among the schools (plus Parkside). That seems more preferable to him than giving money to a foreign team or U.S.

all-star team and not knowing what level of a team UW was going to play. Ryan understands the idea has to go through channels in the NCAA. "This could take some doing," he said. Karner said having two UW coaches with ah affinity for the WIAC helps. But he acknowledged there could be resistance from other Division III schools that might not have such a relationship with a nearby Division I school.

Karner said he believes if the idea can spread beyond the Big Ten, then "we've got a fighting chance." Karner, asked whether such a legislative proposal to Division III was realistic or just a pipe dream, said, "You just never know." tions Tournament and was a member of the American squad that finished fourth In the World Junior Championships. Recruiting update Plover center Joe Pavelski will take one more official campus visit to Minnesota-Duluth this week before deciding which school he will attend starting in 2004-05. Pavelski, fresh off leading the Tier I U.S. Junior Hockey League with 36 goals and being named Rookie of the Year, visited UW earlier this week. He previously made stops at Vermont, Northern Michigan and Minnesota State-Mankato.

Only Vermont has been eliminated from consideration, according to Joe's mother, Sandy. She added that Ferris State and Minnesota have contacted them about getting involved in the recruiting process, but Sandy said her son intends to focus on the four schools he has visited or is scheduled to visit. Previously, Joe Pavelski said he would like to make a decision before summer begins. He also plans on returning to Waterloo of the USHL for a second season in 2003-04. New Jersey vs.

Anaheim Records: New Jersey 52-21-8-1 (No. 1 seed in Eastern Conference, Northeast Division champion). Anaheim 40-27-9-6 (No. 7 seed in Western Conference, second in Pacific). How they got here: New Jersey beat the New York Islanders 4-1 in the first round, Philadelphia 4-2 in the conference semifinals and Ottawa 4-3 in the conference finals.

Anaheim beat defending champion Detroit 4-0 in the first round, UW MEN'S HOCKEY NOTES She struck out four and walked four three of those intentionally. Florida State was selected as the first of eight national seeds in the 64-team Division I college baseball tournament for the second straight season. The Seminoles (50-10-1), making their 41st tournament appearance and 26th in a row, will host one of 16 four-team, double-elimination regionals that begin Friday. Charlie Carr, the chairman of the Division I baseball committee and Florida State's senior associate athletic director, said he didn't have any input in his school's seeding. The winners of each regional will advance to the super regionals, played June 6-9.

The eight winners of the super regionals will play in the College World Series, which starts June 13 in Omaha, Neb. The other national sepds are: Louisiana State (40-19-1), Georgia Tech (44-16), Auburn (40-19), Rice (48-10), Stanford (41-15), Cal State Fullerton (43-13) and Miami (39-14-1). By being national seeds, the teams are assured of not playing each other until they reach the College World Series. Defending champion Texas (43-17), looking to become just the fifth repeat winner in College World Series history, was not one of the eight national seeds but was the top seed in its regional. A.J.

Shannon scored four goals and Chris Rotelli had a goal and four assists as Virginia won its third NCAA lacrosse championship with a 9-7 victory over Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. The Cavaliers (15-2), raced to a 5-0 lead and avenged an earlier 8-7 loss to the top-seeded Blue Jays (14-2). Virginia, which last won the Division I title in 1999, out-scored its opponents 54-26 in four playoff games this month. Amer Delic of Illinois won the NCAA men's singles championship in tennis, defeating Benedikt Dorsch of Baylor 6-4, 6-3 in Athens, Ga. The last Big Ten player to do so was Michigan's Mike Leach in 1982.

ODDS AND ENDS Thirteen-year-old soccer prodigy Freddy Adu agreed to a $1 million contract with Nike, The Washington Post reported Landon Donovan scored on a penalty kick, and Eddie Lewis also scored for the United States men's soccer team in a 2-0 victory over Wales in San Jose, Calif. Detroit Lions receiver Scotty Anderson and his brother were stabbed in the parking lot of a Houston nightclub early Monday after a scuffle with another club patron. Anderson's brother, Stevie, once a receiver with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, was critically wounded and is hospitalized. Staff, wire reports AUTO RACING Haseleu takes Pepsi 100 at MIS lvicuaiicui aauvc isauicui xia- seleu led from start to finish to win the the Pepsi 100 at Madi son international speedway Monday afternoon. Haseleu, a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck series driver, pocketed $7,000 for the win, the 16th of his career at the half-mile Oregon oval.

"It's definitely a good feeling because we haven't been running very good this season," said Haseleu, who started in the front row of the 100-lap feature after winning his heat race earlier in the day. "I got to start up front for the feature so I got to save my brakes and our tires." Franklin's Jeremy Lepak finished second and Beloit's Ryan Hanson was third. Madison's Brian Hoppe was running a close second to Haseleu, but experienced electrical problem on Lap 36 and ended up 19th. Busch series driver and Ne-cedah native Tohnnv Sauter was scheduled to participate, but his car failed pre-race in spection. Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus received five-year contract extensions from Hendrick pleting an impressive two- race sweep at Lowe Motor Speedway by winning The Winston and the Coca-Cola 600.

Lowe's, primary sponsor of the No. 48 Chevrolet, also agreed to stay with the team another five years. Tora Takagi, whose fifth-place finish was the best among nine first-year drivers, was selected as the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year. COLLEGE SPORTS Goerl no-hits Cal as UCLA wins title Keira Goerl threw a no-hitter and Toria Auelua drove in the game's only run with a single in the ninth inning, giving UCLA a 1-0 victory over California in the title game of the NCAA Softball championship in Oklahoma City. UCLA (54-7) won its ninth championship and first since 1999.

The Bruins, after losing 7-3 to Cal in the first round, became the first team since Texas in 1983 to win the tide after losing their opening game. "I think it's pretty amazing," said Goerl (40-7), who struck out four and walked four. "But it wasn't really about me. It was about the defense around me and the offense because they picked me up a number of times." California (49-20) was trying to become the first team since Arizona in 1996-97 to win back-to-back tides. Goerl, who pitched all 47 innings in the tournament, made sure it didn't happen.

NHL, Suter already on first-name basis Five other UW recruits are projected to be drafted: forwards Jacob Dowell, Robbie Earl and Andrew Joudrey, defenseman Jeff Likens and goal-tender Mike Brodeur. Once Ryan Suter is drafted, the next major question pertains to the length of his career at UW. The last two NHL first-rounders to play for the Badgers defenseman David Tan-abe (1999) and winger Dany Headey (2000) spent two years or less on campus. Can Bob Suter envision a scenario where Ryan would be at UW for two years or less? "It all depends on who drafts him, what they need and where they think his progress is at," Bob Suter said. UW recruit honored Ryan Suter will receive the Bob Johnson Award from USA Hockey during a ceremony June 13 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The citation, named for the former UW, U.S. Olympic and NHL coach, recognizes excellence in international competition during a specific season. During the 2002-2003 season, Suter led the U.S. National Team Developmental Program to a gold medal in the Four Na Defenseman Ryan Suter, a Madison native, is expected to be a first-round draft pick. By Andy Baggot Wisconsin State Journal University of Wisconsin men's hockey recruit Ryan Suter will make himself available for the NHL entry draft next month, a decision that no longer involves a great deal of thought or controversy.

The NCAA once had a longstanding rule that forced high-end prospects like Suter, an 18-year-old defenseman from Madison, to choose between the draft and college eligibility. But the legislation was changed last fall, thus enabling Suter to sign with UW and declare earlier this month his intention to attend the NHL draft June 21-23 in Nashville, Tenn. By all accounts, Suter will be a first-round pick, the fifth to skate for the Badgers in program history. Red Line Report, an independent scouting service, ranks Suter 18th among all international prospects. The Central Scouting Bureau, which is affiliated with the.