F.meniLl
The 7-loot center is congratulated by his teammates after his performance against an Australian club team last November at McArthur Court.
Carson
Continued from Page 7
bounds and 3.6 blocks per game
his senior year, Carson expected
to immediately contribute to the
Ducks.
Before that season even began,
however, Carson had surgery on a
stress fracture in his right foot. He
then played in just seven games
before a follow-up exam revealed
the injury had not healed, forcing
him to undergo another surgery
and miss the rest of the season.
Carson says that season was es
pecially difficult because he was
also going through the routine
freshmen adjustments, and then
he missed Oregon’s NCAA Tour
nament loss to Texas, which has
been the Ducks’ only tournament
appearance during his career.
“1 found out 1 had played too
many games to even get that year
back [in the form of a redshirt],”
Carson says, “and with being home
sick, surgeries and struggling in
school, it was pretty depressing.”
In his sophomore season, Car
son made six starts near the begin
ning of the season and tallied 3.4
points and rebounds per game
while playing an average of 13
minutes. He also enjoyed the
finest game of his career thus far
when he torched Hawaii-Hilo for
19 points and nine rebounds in
November of 1995.
But instead of a progression,
Carson’s junior season marked a
regression.
His averages dipped to 1.1
points and 1.4 rebounds in just
seven minutes per game. He did
not start a game.
So last season was to be Car
son’s coming out party as he
would be a full-time starter for the
first time in his career.
He performed steadily in those
first six games, averaging 7.5
points, 4.5 rebounds and 18 min
utes a game.
However, the irrftiry bug struck
again.
Although the setback hurt at the
time, both Carson and Kent now
see it as a blessing in disguise.
“He gets to work with just a
great group of guys, a very talent
ed group as well this year, and be
a major contributor with this bas
ketball team,” Kent says. “He just
needs to regain his composure
and his confidence and con
tribute.”
Guard Terik Brown, the only
other senior on the team, says Car
son plays a key defensive role for
Oregon.
“I think Mike brings a force and
a presence in the middle,” Brown
says. “He lifts our defensive spir
its. I think he’s one of the best de
fensive big men in the Pac-10.”
Carson leads the team in defen
sive rebounding through the first
three games with 12 and is also tied
for the overall rebounding lead at
6.7 per game with forward A.D.
Smith. He is also averaging 6.3
points and 25 minutes per game.
With Oregon off to a 2-1 start
heading into Saturday night’s
home game against Brigham
Young, Carson is excited about
Oregon’s potential.
"We’ve got the tools this year to
go the NCAA Tournament,” Car
son says. “And that’s something
I’ve really wanted to go back to
since my freshman year.”
In the end, Carson hopes the
pieces will fit together after all.
Spoils brief
Clemens to leave Jays
after two years
NEW YORK — Available: The
only five-time Cy Young Award
winner.
Price: Negotiable.
Roger Clemens, angered that
the Toronto Blue Jays won’t
spend enough money to field a
contender next season, told the
team Wednesday he wants to be
traded, and the club said it will
comply.
“This is certainly not done
with any acrimony or with any
anger on either side,” Blue Jays’
general manager Gord Ash said,
adding, “The team will make
every effort to complete a deal
within 10 days.”
When Clemens signed with the
Blue Jays in December 1996,
team president Paul Beeston
said, if Clemens didn’t think
Toronto would contend, and he
asked for a trade, the Blue Jays
would deal him. Beeston left the
Blue Jays during the 1997 season
to become baseball’s chief operat
ing officer, but Ash said he will
honor Beeston’s commitment.
“It’s a two-prong situation,”
Ash said. “There’s a desire to be
closer to home or with a club that
has a better chance to provide
him with a World Series ring.”
The World Series champion
New York Yankees, the Houston
Astros and the Texas Rangers are
considered the top contenders to
land the 36-year-old right-han
der.
Ash visited Clemens at his
home in Katy, Texas, outside
Houston last week along with the
Blue Jays’ two assistant general
managers, Dave Stewart and Tim
McCleary.
“There was a lot of listening,”
Ash said.
Emerald
Carson looks to pass inside in the Ducks' 67-58 victory against Santa Clara last November.
weekend
late nite special
at the EMU Rec Center and The Buzz
1 1 pm-2am
2.0% OFF
Pool at The Rec Center
i , .
Alkfood and drink at The Buzz
Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-l 1:30pm • Thur-Fri 10am-2am • Sat Uam-2am • Sunllam-11:30pm