The Daily Herald from Provo, Utah • 5

Wednesday, November 23, 1983 THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Page 5 Does College Basketball Start Sn? Marion Dunn a the other guard. He played a lot last year and is a tough competitor. He plays good defense and is gaining confidence in his shooting. "That will be our starting team. "Marty Perry will be our backup point guard and he does good things.

Backing up both guards will Brian Taylor who is coming along and Ritchie Webb will backup Sinek. Paul Drecksel will be a swingman and freshman Neil Astle will play. "We don't have a true center yet although Carl Pollard at 7-2 and Jim Usevitch at 6-9 are going to be fine players. And Kevin Nielsen will backup Durrant and he will get a lot of playing time this year." For the record, when Nielsen, a Provo High grad who has served a two-year mission and had a redshirt year, was a freshman, teammate Mike Smith was only in the sixth grade. A rundown on the other three schools will be in Friday's column.

Have a happy SALT LAKE CITY Ordinarily the only thing that comes out of the annual meeting of the Big Four basketball coaches and the press is a rundown of each team. But last night's meeting in the TriArc here was different. It was different because of BYU's new basketball coach, the veteran Ladell Andersen. When it was Andersen's turn to brief the writers on the Cougars, he opened by making a strong plea to shorten the season. Andersen is returning to coaching after a 10-year hiatus and it is obvious he learned something during the break.

"I want to make an observation," Andersen said. "No coach deserves to lose a game before Christmas. It is just too early. The college basketball season shouldn't start until after Christmas. Maybe we need more football bowl games.

Anyway, the college basketball season shouldn't start before Christmas, no coach should have to lose before Christmas. It is too late to do anything about it this year, tive in the NCAA Championships. That makes the end of the season that much tougher. Why make the beginning so tough and why start it so early? What's wrong with holding practice only until after Christmas? This is the time when the semester ends. Players have test week to cope with along with playing games.

By postponing the start until after Christmas, that problem would be eased, and the Holiday Bowl could rightfully claim the lion's share of the news space without anyone feeling guilty or cheated. Hey, Ladell, even if the rest of the country won't go along with you, here's hoping next year will find the Cougars holding off until Dec. 26. But enough of this. Back to the purpose of Tuesday night's Big Four Basketball-Press bash.

Andersen, Utah State's Rod Tueller, Utah's Lynn Archibald and Weber State's Neil McCarthy talked about their prospects for the 1984 season. Andersen said he is still in but maybe next year." I'll drink to that. In the good old days ianc in this respect they were good old days) college football traditionally ended Thanksgiving weekend. And college basketball started practice the following Monday and the first games were played between Christmas and New Year's. The players and coaches and fans had a chance to enjoy the holidays.

If your football team was playing in a bowl game, all the attention could be placed on that big event with basketball moving into the spotlight after New Year's Day. I don't know what went wrong, but things have certainly changed. This year BYU's basketball team plays nine games before Christmas including two aga'nst in-state rival Utah State, which just happens to be the aitna mater and former employer of Ladell Andersen. And this year the WAC joins the majority of conferences around the country by holding its own post-season basketball tournament on which will depend the league's representa player at power forward. Brett Applegate is good inside and good outside.

He is a great competitor. Another fine inside player is freshman Mike Smith who you'll hear a lot about. He's the best 6-9 passer I've ever seen, and the best freshman player I'm ever liable to coach. He'll start against the Aggies Saturday and that's something for a freshman. "Chris Nikchevich is a good point guard and in the best condition right now of any of our players.

He gets things done. Scott Sinek will start at Sports A full report and commentary on winners, losers and coming events WAC Names Pour Cats On Offense, Three On Defense if I Z) DENVER (UPI) Brigham Young and Air Force, the only two Western Athletic Conference schools invited to post -season bowl games, led the list of players named to the All-WAC offensive football team announced today. WAC champion BYU, which will meet Missouri in the Dec. 23 Holiday Bowl, placed four athletes on the team, led by record-setting quarterback Steve Young. Air Force, preparing for a Dec.

10 outing against Mississippi in the Independence Bowl, had three players on the all-league offensive squad. Wyoming, San Diego State and Colorado State each placed two players on the team. Young, who set 13 NCAA records in his career at BYU, was joined on the team by Cougar teammate Gordon Hudson, a 1982 consensus All-America. Hudson, who missed the last three games of the 1983 season with a knee injury, held five NCAA records, including most career catches and most career yards for a tight end. Other BYU players on the team SPORTS EDITOR the process of getting acquainted with his players but had special praise for senior forward Devin Durrant who was at the meeting.

"Devin is our captain and one of the WAC players-of-the-year last season. I can tell you it is a good thing when your best player i3 also a good guy. Devin is so consistent. He might have had one, but I can't remember him ever having a bad game," he said. Then he turned to the rest of the team: "We have another great Jack Weil, the Wvdming senior who is the nation's leading punter, heads the specialists on the squad.

Weil has a 46.5-yard average. The punt returner on the squad is SDSU wide receiver Jim Sandusky. Completing the defensive squad are Utah senior tackle-end Jeff Reyes, Texas-El Paso senior linebacker Raymond Morris and Hawaii junior strong safety Rich Miano. Two former first team choices CSU linebacker Jeff Harper (1982) and Hawaii linebacker Fa-laniko Noga (1980) were picked for the second team. The second team line includes Stan Hornung, CSU; Kesi Afalava, Hawaii; Charlie Heath, AFA, and Jim Herrmann, BYU.

The third linebacker is Mark Blosch of Utah. The second team secondary includes Kyle Morrell, BYU; Pete Benedetti, Wyoming; Reggie Richardson, Utah, and Torran Nixon, SDSU. Second team specialists are SDSU's Mike Saxon, the nation's second-leading punter, and Hawaii returner Mimke Akiu. Two reserves, Mark Palmer and Chris Rogers, led Western Wyoming with 14 points apiece. The game was a typical early-season affair as both teams had countless turnovers and mental mistakes.

The two teams were whistled for 57 fouls and probably could have been called for as many more. Utah Tech jumped to a 3-0 lead on a three-point play by Palmer and never trailed. The closest the Spartans could come was the two ties at the start of the second half. The victory was Utah Tech's fourth of the young season without a loss. The Wolverines will now travel to Tucson, Ariz, for the Pima Invitational Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

WESTERN WYOMING (81) Allen 0 6-7 6. Sanchez 3 0-0 6, Skeen 2 1-1 5, Smith 3 2-3 8. Terrell 1 4-4 6, Zimbeck 1 0-0 2. Parker 4 6-7 14. Rogers 7 03 14, Wright 3 4 5 10.

Mason 4-2-2 10. Fletcher 0 0-0 0, Totals 28 25-32. UTAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE (17) Horn 2-4 12, Palmer 8 5-6 21, M. Johnson 7 6 8 20. Albritton 1 2, Clark 3 0-1 6, K.

Johnson 3 3-4 9. Christensen 4 0-0 8, Anderl 4 6-7 14. Hansen 1 0-0 2. Hibbert 1 1-2 3. Gorringe 0 04) 0, Totals 37 23-34.

Half time score: Utah Tech 44, Western Wyoming 40. Total fouls: Western Wyoming 28, Utah Tech 29. Fouled out: Smith. Technical Foul: Christensen. only other White Sox winners were Gary Peters in 1963 and Luis Aparicio in 1956.

Kittle, a 25-year-old from Gary, was signed originally by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 but was released because of chronic injuries in 1978. He joined the Chicago organization in 1979 and worked his way up in the farm system. At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Kittle is an aggressive right-handed hitter known for vicious line drives. Tech Bombs Western Wyoming Abdul-Jabbar scores over Utah's Mark Eaton during Utah's win. NBA Roundup Jazz Knock Off Lakers In LA selection Jimmie Carter, and BYU each placed three players on the All-WAC defensive team named Tuesday.

Carter, a 6-2 senior defensive end, also was picked for the squad in 1981 and 1982. UNM linebackers Johnny Jackson and Ray Horn-feck, both juniors, were named to the team for the second time. The only other repeater on the squad is BYU linebacker Todd Shell, a 6-4, 200-pound senior. Other Cougars on the squad are cornerback Jon Young and defensive tackle Brandon Flint. The WAC team is composed of players from eight of the nine league schools.

Players are selected by a vote on the nine head coaches and 55 members of the WAC area sports news media. The Air Force Academy, headed for the Independence Bowl after Saturday's victory over Notre Dame, placed two juniors on the squad, tackle Chris Funk and safety Greg Zolninger. Utah, Texas-El Paso, Hawaii, Wyoming and San Diego State each had one player on the first team. By BOB HUDSON Herald Sports Writer Former Orem High star Darin Palmer scored 21 points and Mike Johnson added 20 as Utah Technical College defeated Western Wyoming 97-81 in non-conference basketball action Tuesday. The Wolverines were in control nearly the entire game, leading by as many as 13 in the first half before allowing the Spartans to close the gap, then running away again in the second.

Western Wyoming's Drew Skeen tied the score at 44 with 19:15 left in the game. But, after the score was tied again at 46, the Wolverines scored seven straight points to pull away for good. Johnson and Palmer were the architects of the streak with Johnson scoring five points on a basket and three free throws and Palmer adding a basket. "Our pressure defense was an important key to the victory," said UTC coach Vince Miner. "A team can only take so much of that before it gives up.

"Our team's in good shape," Miner continued. "That's why we had good pressure in the second half." Joining Palmer and Johnson in double figures were Perrin Anderl with 14 and James Hern with 12. Pacific Coast League and was the first minor leaguer in 25 years to put together a 50-home run, 140-RBI season. He followed that with 35 homers and 100 RBI for the White Sox, who went on to win the AL West title and finished with 99 victories the most in the majors. His home-run total was two shy of the AL rookie record set by Al Rosen of Cleveland in 1950.

Kittle is the first White Sox player to win freshman honors' since Tommie Agee in 1966. The were running back Casey Tiumalu and lineman Rex Burningham. Air Force placed running back John Kershner, lineman Scott Wachen-heim and kicker Sean Paviich. Young, Kershner, Hudson and Paviich were repeaters from the 1982 All-WAC Team. Running back Walt Goffigan and lineman Joe Ramunno represented Wyoming on the team.

Goffigan was a 1981 All-WAC selection. San Diego State placed center Matt Long and wide receiver Jim Sandusky. Colorado State athletes named were lineman Kevin Call and Jeff Cham pine, also a 1981 all-conference choice. The second-team offense included quarterback Marty Lou-than, AFA; running backs Steve Bartalo, CSU, Mike Brown, AFA, and Eddie Lewis, Utah; center Don Oberdieck, AFA; linemen Doug Kellermeyer, BYU, Bernard Carvalho, Hawaii, Craig Garrick, BYU, and Mark Melcher, AFA; wide receivers Kirk Pendleton, BYU, and Mike Kirby, AFA, and tight end Keli McGregor and kicker Jon Poole, both from CSU. New Mexico, led by three-time Mirk Schneller Photo Wolverines' win Tuesday.

Under the 5-3-1 point system, Kittle finished with 104 points to 78 for Franco and 70 for Boddicker. Despite some 79 rookie eligibles appearing in AL games during the 1963 season, Kittle, Boddicker and Franco drew all the votes. No other rookie was named on the 28 ballots cast by the two writers in each AL city. Kittle entered this season with some impressive minor league credentials. He was the 1982 Minor League Player of the Year with the Edmonton Trappers of the Jh ill In other games, the New York Knicks beat Boston 117-113 in double overtime, Philadelphia downed Detroit 112-108, Golden State nipped Washington 102-101, Kansas Qty whipped San Diego 118-99, Houston beat Phoenix 118-96, Atlanta toppled Indiana 104-93.

Dallas shaded San Antonio 118-117, and Portland throttled Denver 156-116. Knicks 117, Celtics 113 At New York, Bernard King's turnaround jumper with 1:44 to go in double overtime gave the Knicks a 114-113 lead and enabled New York to hand Boston its fourth straight BUI Cartwright led the Knicks with 28 points and 11 rebounds, King and Rory Sparrow had 24 each and Ray Williams 17, including 4 points in the second overtime. 7(ers 112, Pistons 108 At Philadelphia, Julius Erving scored 31 points and Moses Malone added 2) with 17 rebounds to lead the 76ers and hand the Pistons their 21st consecutive defeat at the Spectrum. Warriors IS, Bullets 101 At Landover, Lester Conner made 1-of-2 foul shots with IS seconds remaining to lift Golden State. Joe Barry Carroll scored 19 punts fix lie War rims and Ricky Snorts scored 26 for Washington Kings lit, dippers 99 At Kansas City, Larry Drew scored 24 points and handed out 11 assists to lead the Kings to their third straight triumph.

The Clippers, who are unbeaten at home, suffered their eighth straight loss on the road without a victory. Rockets 118, Sans 91 At Houston, Robert Reid scored 23 points and James Bailey added 20 points and 15 rebounds to lift the Rockets. It was the first time this season Houston put together two consecutive victories. Walter Davis led Phoenix with 27 points. Hawks 104, Pacers 93 At Atlanta.

Dominique Wiltons scored 26 points and Eddie Johnson added 23 to spark the Hawks to their seventh straight home victory without a loss while the Pacers lost their 21st straight road game over two seasons. Mavericks 118, Spars 117 At Dallas, Pa' Cummings' two free throws with one second left gave Dallas the cushion it needed to survive a wild finish and escape with a victory, its eighth straight at home without a loss. Trail Blaser lit, Nai At Portland, Lafayette Lever scored 22 points and four other Trail Haers had 20 each to power the Trail Blazers. Denver was led by Kiki Vandeweghe with 26 points and Alex English with 24. INGLEWOOD, Calif.

(UPI) -Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden' says his days of being the Rodney Dangerfield of pro basketball are numbered. "We have been losing for so many years, but now we are starting to get some credibility around the league," Layden said Tuesday night after the Jazz pulled off a 130-125 upset victory in overtime over the Los Angeles Lakers. "The referees are respecting us. The media is respecting us, and I think the other teams are respecting us," Layden said. "The main thing is we have to learn to win.

In beating the Lakers, the Jazz snapped a seven-game Los Angeles winning streak, leaving the Pacific Division leaders with a 9-3 record. Utah also recently upset Boston, ending a nine-game Celtics winning streak. Dan-ell Griffith hit two 3-point shots in overtime to lead the Jazz to the win. The Jazz scored the final 10 points of the extra session en route to only their second victory in seven years over the Lakers in Los Angeles. Los Angeles took a 126-120 lead 2 Vi minutes into the overtime, but then Griffith hit his consecutive 3-pointers to tie the score at 126-126 with 1:50 remaining.

Rookie forward Thurl Bailey then hit a jumper with 1:20 left and guard Rickey Green added two clinching free throws with five seconds left The Lakers, meanwhile, contributed to their loss by missing five straight shots. "We had them put away," said Lakers coach Pat Riley. "I was sure of it. We went soft on Griffith and we paid for it. UTC's Perrln Anderl scores in Kittle Named AL Rookie of the Year NEW YORK (UPI) Ron Kittle, the bespectacled left fielder who helped power the Chicago White Sox to a division championship, Tuesday was named the American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America kittle beat out Julio Franco of Cleveland and Mike Boddicker of Baltimore in a tight three-man race.

Kittle collected 15 of 28 first-place votes while Franco received 8 and Boddicker 5..