When we left Bobby Hansen, he was punting the basketball about 20 rows up into the Oakland Coliseum Arena. The Jazz were walking off the court after Golden State's stunning playoff sweep and Hansen could only wonder about his lost season.

"It was a long summer, waiting," he says now.Six months later, Hansen is something resembling himself again. When the Jazz open the NBA season Friday night against Denver in the Salt Palace, he'll be trying to carry a strong preseason into his seventh pro year. "It's nice to see him come back and shake it all off," says teammate Mark Eaton.

Hansen had a lot to shake. Even before the celebrated incident with ex-teammate Bart Kofoed that left Hansen with a broken cheekbone and out for 16 games in January and February, he'd missed the first 20 games of the season with a broken finger. After apparently recovering with 20 points in a March win at Atlanta, Hansen closed the regular season with a shooting slump.

The playoffs were his chance to salvage the year - only things became worse. Hansen struggled offensively, Warrior rookie Mitch Richmond outplayed him and, for more reasons than just Hansen and Richmond, the Jazz went home early.

Hansen's '88-89 summary? "Just missing so much and not being in shape," he says. "I got mentally and physically worn down at the end of the year. I was kind of looking forward to getting it over with and regrouping."

If the trying season was not enough to make Hansen hungry, the Jazz delivered more incentive in the June draft. Hansen had never heard of an East Carolina guard named Theodore "Blue" Edwards, but the Jazz could have announced they were taking a guard named Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and still caught Hansen's interest.

In fact, guess who showed up for the Jazz's rookie-free agent camp in July - Hansen, not Edwards. "A little competition never hurts," Hansen smiles.

The funny thing is, Edwards turns out to be the Jazz's starting small forward, leaving Hansen and Darrell Griffith to divide the off-guard minutes two ways instead of three. That still makes the new Blue Edwards and the old Bobby Hansen the only two players who really have a chance to make the Jazz better this season.

"No question about it," says Coach Jerry Sloan. "Hopefully, (Hansen) will have a good year."

By the looks of the preseason, Hansen could be the player he was in the 1988 playoffs when his career was taking off, just before last season's injuries. His outside-shooting stroke is a little off, but you'd never know that by his .575 field-goal shooting for seven games. By running the floor for layups and even finding offensive rebounds, Hansen was productive.

More than anything, he's confident again. "I was thinking instead of reacting most of the time," he says of last season. "This is a game of reactions and things have to come naturally - and they didn't, being away so much."

He's back, and the Jazz want all they can squeeze out of Hansen. Not just points, because he'll never be a big scorer, but his defense and overall contribution. Even if the preseason statistics look good, Sloan's review is a little lukewarm.

"He's had stretches where he's played OK," Sloan said. "His concentration will get better."

It should. Almost no matter what happens, Hansen will have a lot less to worry about this season.

JAZZ NOTES: After four games in six nights, Sloan gave his players Tuesday off, leaving two practice days before the season opener . . . Two Jazz campers have signed with CBA teams, forward Reggie Turner with Omaha and guard Junie Lewis with Cedar Rapids. Guard Joe Hillman is also considering Cedar Rapids.

*****

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After a bad finish last season, Jazz guard Bobby Hansen is showing signs of a good start this year.

G Min. FG percentage Avg.

'89 playoffs 3 41.0 .314 11.0

'89 preseason 7 23.1 .575 9.7

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