Snyder learns in Jazz's loss

TAYLORSVILLE — Kirk Snyder seems like a well-adjusted, level-headed guy, But even after three years of college, he's still a young man, and young men have things to learn in life.

Snyder says he learned a valuable lesson this week during the Rocky Mountain Revue, which concludes with the Utah Jazz playing Phoenix at 4 p.m. today at the Salt Lake Community College Lifetime Activities Center.

Last night, the Jazz, playing minus four of their best five players, were walloped 80-63 by a Charlotte team players who could make the fall Bobcat.

Jermaine Boyette returned for Utah after jamming a big toe in the third game. But the Jazz were without Raul Lopez and Mo Williams and employed Ruben Douglas at point. Absences of Lopez and center Curt Borchardt were planned; the Jazz didn't want them playing three games in a row. Kris Humphries (ankle) has been out since Game 2. Williams has been on and off all week with a sore calf. Most of the four are expected to play today's finale. Additionally, Dan McClintock sat the bench most of the game with an ice bag on his abdomen.

Keith Waleskowski led 3-3 Utah with 18 points, 14 rebounds in 33 minutes. Primoz Brezec had 21 and 10 for Charlotte, now 5-2.

Snyder, a first-round pick in last month's NBA Draft, No. 16 overall, had little chance to show his newfound knowledge in this game of Survivor. He scored 10 but shot poorly.

He calls the nine days of the Revue "a roller coaster" for him. He's looked good at times and looked lost at times but shot 50 percent and scored 23 points in Thursday's 82-71 Utah win over Atlanta.

Broken down and built back up in a little more than a week.

"I just opened up a little bit more, started accepting, you know, coaching. It's been so long since I've had to accept coaching," said the Nevada product who was WAC player of the year and led the Wolf Pack to 2004's NCAA Sweet 16.

But now, he's just a rookie, and that had to sink in.

"It's like I'm at the beginning stages of my career," Snyder said Friday.

"My mom said, 'Just open up and listen to these guys (coaches).' That's kind of hard, going from college and being the man and now being humbled and just having to adjust to a few things here and there."