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News Nuggets, 10.30.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU shot-blocking wizard sidelined by thumb injury

One of East Carolina's leading returning basketball players will likely miss both of the team's preseason exhibition games as a result of an untimely injury.

ECU senior center Moussa Badiane, from Les Ulis, France, will be out of action for at least two weeks after injuring his right thumb during practice on Thursday, the school's media relations office said in a press release.

“It’s very unfortunate that Moussa got injured,” stated head coach Bill Herrion. “He worked so hard in the off-season and has been playing well in practice. Hopefully he’ll have a speedy and healthy recovery and be back on the court to help this team soon.”

Last season, Badiane played in all 27 games, making 24 starts, and averaged 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He finished sixth nationally in blocked shots per game, 3.33. He needs 53 blocks to become the greatest shot blocker in the 10-year history of Conference USA.

No indication was given in the announcement regarding the prospects of Badiane returning to the lineup in time for the Pirates' Nov. 17 regular season opener against Pepperdine in the BCA Invitational in Raleigh.

ECU will hold its annual Purple-Gold game in Minges Coliseum's Williams Arena on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., before the 3 p.m. football game in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium later in the afternoon between East Carolina and Army.

Newberry will pay a visit on Nov. 4 for the first of ECU's two exhibition games. The Pirates will host Barton on Nov. 11 in their final preseason tune-up.

Compiled from an ECU Athletics report.

Utes tune out Meyer speculation, BCS chatter

SAN DIEGO — All Urban Meyer really wanted to talk about during the week was San Diego State, the next opponent for his ninth-ranked Utah Utes.

Nice try, Coach.

It was a busy, distracting week off the field for the undefeated Utes.

Meyer was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Florida job, which opened when Ron Zook was fired on Monday, effective at the end of the season.

And the Utes (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) moved up a spot to No. 6 in the second round of Bowl Championship Series standings, putting them in position for an automatic bid to one of the four marquee postseason games, if they can hold onto it.

``It's an honor to be sixth in the country. And that is significant,'' Meyer said. ``However, the insignificant part is there are four games left and they are our hardest four games of the season. So it's over. We discussed it and basically the conversation goes no further than this.

``In December, we can have open discussion and have it mean something. It doesn't mean a thing now.''

Utah is trying to become the first team from a non-BCS conference to participate in the Bowl Championship Series.

All the BCS conjecture is assuming that Utah wins out. The Utes are 18 1/2 -point favorites for Saturday night's game at San Diego State (2-5, 0-3).

``I'll be surprised if any team finishes undefeated, including ourselves. College football is too even nowadays,'' Meyer said.

The Utes are one of seven Division I-A teams with perfect records.

``Anything can happen,'' tackle Tavo Tupola said. ``For me, I'm not too familiar with the rankings. I'm just worried about my assignments. That's a tough responsibility as it is.''

San Diego State is one of four Mountain West teams that could play spoiler against the Utes, although the last-place Aztecs would seem the unlikeliest to pull an upset.

Not only have the Aztecs lost four straight games, but they have a miserable record against ranked teams.

San Diego State is winless in 13 games against Top 10 opponents, and has a 16-game losing streak overall against ranked teams.

With the exception of their defense, which ranks among the best in the nation, nothing has gone right for the Aztecs this year.

Running back Lynell Hamilton, the conference freshman of the year in 2003, was forced to redshirt because of a leg injury, and there have been numerous other injuries. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin O'Connell will be making just his second start. He was shaky in a 19-9 loss at New Mexico last Saturday.

Now the Aztecs have to face Utah's diverse offense, which is ranked second nationally with an average of 42.6 points per game. Quarterback Alex Smith went to nearby Helix High in La Mesa, where he was teammates with Reggie Bush, now Southern California's star running back.

``Utah looks very impressive on both sides of the ball,'' Aztecs coach Tom Craft said. ``They're definitely a team that's playing with a lot of confidence and is a great test for us. Their ranking is very deserving.''

If Utah ends up in a BCS bowl, it would be guaranteed $14 million. Some of that money would go to the conference and its member schools.

``It's great for the conference and it's great exposure,'' Craft said. ``There would be a big financial reward for the rest of the universities if they make a BCS game and go undefeated.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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