Wildcats seek shooting touch

The Big Sky Conference is probably a not-too-secret dream destination for Utah Valley State College.

It's only fitting, then, that tonight's game between the Wolverines and Weber State is UVSC's fourth straight game against a Big Sky opponent. It will be one of eight games this year against schools from the conference.

That doesn't mean, however, that Weber State is planning to be a gracious foe.

"We've got to get things right," WSU coach Joe Cravens said last weekend after losing to Boise State. "Right now, we're not shooting the ball very well and that concerns me. We've got to do a much better job putting the ball in the basket. We're not taking too many bad shots, we're just not making many of them."

The Wildcats are hoping the Wolverines are just what they need to get straightened out after three straight losses.

After starting the season 3-0, the Wildcats have yet to shoot better than 35 percent in a game and the frustration is mounting in Ogden. Cravens sent a message to its starters in the last game and benched them all for the first four minutes of the contest.

Despite losing that game, the Wildcats (3-3) are hoping the message will carry over as they travel to Orem to play the Wolverines.

UVSC, on the other hand, is simply happy to be playing one of its instate schools. As relative newcomers on the Division I scene and an independent, the Wolverines are usually seen as a scheduling liability.

"This is a great opportunity for Utah Valley State to play an in-state game," UVSC coach Dick Hunsaker said. "We appreciate Weber State giving us the opportunity to participate in an in-state home-and-home match up."

The Wolverines (3-4) have yet to lose at home and are led by Matt Peterson and Ben DeVoe who are combining for nearly 26 points per game.

Weber State's Coric Riggs is scoring 13.3 points per outing while David Patten chips in 11.7.

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com