Utes looking to slow Miners

TUCSON, Ariz. — UTEP coach Doc Sadler says Utah's Andrew Bogut is the best center in America. Utah coach Ray Giacoletti says UTEP's Filberto Rivera is the best point guard in America.

Maybe they're both right.

Whichever player, neither of whom is American by the way, has the best game in today's NCAA first-round matchup at the McKale Center is likely to be leading his team further into the tournament.

The Utes and Miners tip it off at approximately 1:15 p.m. today for the right to move on to Saturday's second round against the Oklahoma-Niagra winner.

Bogut, the 7-foot Australian is a prime candidate for one of the several NCAA Player of the Year awards. He leads the nation in double-doubles (23), is second in rebounding with 12.3 boards per game and is fourth in field goal percentage at 62.8 percent.

Rivera isn't up for any major awards, but Giacoletti believes the Puerto Rican, who is fifth in the nation in assists at 7.3 per game, is the best point guard and certainly the most unheralded player in the nation.

"I don't know that I have seen a better point guard than him," Giacoletti said. "I hadn't heard about him very much before we saw the tapes Sunday. I would have thought he would have gotten more publicity than he has. He plays so under control and has a great feel for the game."

When Sadler was asked about Bogut at Wednesday's press conference, he deadpanned, "Who?" and then proceeded to gush about Utah's sophomore all-American.

"What can't he do? I don't know. When they're talking about whether he should be the No. 1 pick or the No. 3 pick (in the NBA Draft), that's pretty good. He's had a great career in college and he's going to go on and have a great career in the NBA."

Sadler says his team doesn't really expect to slow down Bogut and keep him from another double-double. He says the key will be shutting down the rest of the Ute lineup and not let any of them go off.

"You know Bogut's going to get his points," said Sadler. "We've really got to minimize how many the other guys get. If their support people have better games than our support people, then we're probably going to lose. If our support people have better games than theirs, we're probably going to be in good shape."

Giacoletti believes the key to the game is tempo. He said the Utes can't afford to get in a running game with the Miners and they have to limit their transition game.