The BYU men's basketball program is hungry for a victory, any victory, and hopes it can get one tonight against BC Albacomp, a team from Hungary. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center.
OK, so this is just an exhibition game. But the Cougars haven't won a game this calendar year. The last time BYU triumphed at home was, well, last November when it defeated a team from Croatia in an exhibition contest. In fact, the Cougars have an eight-game winning streak against foreign teams at home. How's that for something from the Silver Lining Department?Yet as if new coach Steve Cleveland didn't have enough problems as he tries to salvage a program that went 1-25 a year ago, he has to deal with a slew of injured players.
Sophomore Bret Jepsen, a 6-foot-11 center, should be available tonight after sitting out with an ankle sprain while senior forward Justin Weidauer has battled back problems and may not see action.
Then there's freshman guard Sean Kelly, who will undergo ankle surgery on Monday and could redshirt this season. Another guard, Lance Archibald, is day-to-day, recovering from a stress fracture in his tibia. Finally, freshman Chris Handy is suffering from a broken finger.
Good thing BYU has some healthy players on the roster in newcomers Mekeli Wesley, Brian Dignan, Danny Bower, Jared Peterson and Brian Hamilton.
The Cougars will be facing a huge size disadvantage tonight as the Hungarian team has a trio of 6-10 players and a 7-footer. BC Albacomp began a seven-game tour of the United States Thursday against Utah.
Following the BYU game, the Hungarians will continue their tour by playing the University of San Francisco, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, Indiana State and Northern Iowa.
On Tuesday, BYU meets the California All-Stars in another exhibition affair at the Marriott Center.
The Cougars open the 1997-98 season Nov. 14 at San Diego State, scheduled as a non-conference tilt even though the Aztecs are members of the WAC. BYU will help christen SDSU's new arena in a 10 p.m. game.