This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • A temporary tent city sprung up on the walkways outside the Marriott Center this week as BYU students prepared for the first visit from a No. 1-ranked college basketball in school history.
Students who form the ROC — Roar of Cougars — began camping late Sunday night so they could be among the first people admitted into the building Thursday and get the best seats in the student section behind the West basket for the game against undefeated Gonzaga.
Around noon on Thursday, about 60 tents could be found stretching from the northwest concourse to the bridge that extends south of the Marriott Center.
The students began taking down the tents four hours before tipoff and taking their place in line.
"In case we win, I don't want to miss being a part of history, and I want the best seat I can get," said Shelby Greenwood, who had been there since Monday. The students often rotate shifts so one person doesn't have to sit in the freezing temperatures the entire time.
Greenwood said BYU coach Dave Rose and several players brought pizza to the group on Wednesday night and thanked them for their support.
"It means a lot," BYU center Eric Mika said Wednesday after practice. "Anyone who knows our record or watches us play knows we play better at home, and that's because we feel comfortable here, we run better here, we shoot better here. We are just used to playing here and the crowd just has our back and gives us that extra boost."
Gonzaga's secret is playing as a team
Gonzaga assistant coach Donny Daniels, an assistant at Utah for 11 seasons under Rick Majerus, said Monday that one of the major reasons for Gonzaga's success throughout the years is team play.
"We play as a team," he said. "We share the ball. We try to convey each season and each game that it is not just one person's turn [to shine] every game. They have to be happy for the success of others, because that's what kind of team we have."
Matchup of big men
Thursday's game wasn't the first time that BYU sophomore center Mika has faced Gonzaga's Przemek Karnowski, the 7-foot-1, 300-pound senior from Poland. Mika and Karnowski squared off several times in 2014, before Mika left on a church mission to Italy.
"He is really big, and he looks big, and you don't know how big he is until you have to try and keep him out of the lane, when he ducks in or tries to seal you," Mika said. "I think that is when you realize how big he is. He is strong, and he is physical. And that's his game. … He does a heckuva job. He is shooting [71 percent in conference games] this season just because he is so good at what he does."
Briefly
Elijah Bryant started in the place of Nick Emery, who was ill Wednesday and a game-time decision on Thursday. Emery had started in 52 straight games before coming off the bench against the Zags. … Officials Thursday were Verne Harris, Randy McCall and Greg Nixon. … Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge attended the game.
Twitter: @drewjay