Arizona Daily Sun from Flagstaff, Arizona • B1

1 SPORTS THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018 azdailysun.com SECTION BEN NUCKOLS AP Sports Writer MOSCOW Lionel Messi is going to have a hard time keeping up with Cristiano Ronaldo at this World Cup. The Argentina great had a pen- alty kick saved during his tournament-opening 1-1 draw with Iceland. At 31, this could be last World Cup, and match against Croatia is crucial as the longtime Barcelona forward tries to deliver his rst major title for Argentina. biggest rival, Ronaldo, seems less burdened during what could also be his nal World Cup run. Ronaldo has scored a tourna- ment-leading four goals all of goals so far while silently needling Messi.

After his rst goal, the 33-year-old Ronaldo stroked his chin, im- plying that he was the an acronym for of all Messi is featured in ad with a real goat. And when Ronaldo took the eld for 1-0 win over Morocco, he sported a goatee on his previously clean-shaven chin. He promptly scored with a header in the fourth minute. Croatia leads Group after its 2-0 win over Nigeria, and another victory would put Ar- gentina in a precarious position. Veteran elders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic shined in the opener, with Modric scoring one goal and setting up another.

Croatia advanced past the group stage since 1998, and this could be the last chance for Modric, Rakitic and Mario Mand- zukic, all of whom are over 30. Another veteran provided a bit of drama for Croatia. Coach Zlatko Dalic sent home Ni- kola Kalinic because the striker come the bench as a substitute. The team will con- tinue with 22 players. Croatia and Argentina play late match at 9 p.m.

History, Ronaldo dogging Messi Ask a Ranger: I recently read about the Treaty of 1868 being on display in Window Rock through June. like to know more about its his- tory and ties to the Four Sacred Peaks of the Navajo? Imagine, if you will, an at- tempt to displace an entire people from their homeland, people whose very identity was inseparable from that land. Imagine further that they are compelled to go to a faraway mirage, a place described to them as better than what they are leaving, but instead it is at, barren, lacking in useful water and well nigh im- possible to farm. Consider that these people would be force-marched, in bitter winter or relentless heat, irrespective of their state of health, aged and youthful alike, carrying their few belongings in a nightmare of despair. This hopeless dispossession, sadly, did occur, beginning in 1863 and continuing for several years.

It was ordered by the United States in its insatiable against the people who had dwelt in the four corners vastness for centuries. At that point in Story behind Treaty of 1868 KATHY WEISER-ALEXANDER AND DAVID ALEXANDER, COURTESY Navajos stand at Fort Sumner, the army post built to keep watch over the Navajos at Bosque Redondo. JOHN MINCHILLO, AP PHOTO In this March 14 le photo, Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley shouts to his players during the rst half of an NCAA Tournament First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer TEMPE Arizona State was one of college big- gest surprises during the 2017- 18 season, rising to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and mak- ing the NCAA Tournament for the rst time in four years.

The Sun run came a year ahead of their schedule. looked at it like this was going to be the Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said Wednesday. before last season, I had a pretty good sus- picion we would exceed expec- tations of what people thought, but really deep down this was the year with having the size in the front court and having a high- level recruiting Led by senior guards Tra Holder, Shannon Evans II and Kodi Justice, Arizona State knocked Kansas and Xavier while putting together the rst undefeated non-conference schedule in school history. The Sun Devils had a little more trouble when the Pac-12 season started, but their resume was good enough to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Syracuse in the rst round. The senior trio is gone to grad- uation, but plenty left in the cupboard at Arizona State.

Dynamic point guard Remy Martin is back after a stellar freshman season, ready to take the reins of Arizona of- fense. The big men who com- plemented the senior guards also return, led by Romello White and Lake. The Sun Devils also will have forwards Mickey Mitchell and Kimani Lawrence for the entire season. Arizona State should get a big boost from transfers Zylan Cheatham (San Diego State) and Rob Edwards (Cleveland State), who know system after practicing with the team while sitting out last season. Add to it a stellar recruiting class by Hurley, led by ve-star forward Taeshon Cherry, and the Sun Devils should be in position for the rst consecu- tive NCAA Tournaments since 1978-80.

lose three guys that were critical to what we did, very key players to what building, but replacing them with six guys that are very Hur- ley said. year we were under the radar, especially initially but the out. We have good players, we had a great season last year and got to make sure ready to do it Out of necessity, Hurley played a guard-oriented style his rst few years in Tempe, often with four guards on the court at the same time. It worked when Holder, Evans and Justice were making shots, but a lack of size inside limited what the Sun Dev- ils could do and led to matchup problems. The additions of White and Lake last season helped even things up for Arizona State in- side, but there were still size issues once the Pac-12 season started.

Next roster will give Hurley more lineup options. The Sun Devils will be bigger, not just inside, but at the guard spots. Martin is 6-foot, but Ed- wards and Canadian freshman Luguentz Dort are 6-4, and Finnish freshman Elias Valtonen is 6-6. And Uros Plavsic, an ac- tive 7-footer from Serbia, gives Arizona State the type of inside presence it had in years. way our roster is con- structed and built this year, going to be bigger even at the guard Hurley said.

have real good size at the wing positions. just going have more options, more With that size may come a change in the way the Sun Dev- ils play. Holder, Evans, Justice and Martin played a high-energy, sharpshooting game, so Hurley tailored the ense to their skills. Arizona State took 41 percent of its shots from 3-point range, making 36 percent. Now that the Sun Devils have size inside, Hurley may go to more of an inside-out of- fense rather than the other way around.

A call to keep building MIKE HARTMAN Sun Sports Editor NAZ Elite is showing a pair of 10s this week. Ben and Stephanie Bruce will be competing in the 10,000 meter race at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships Thursday, and Matt Llano will be racing in the BAA 10K Sunday. While Stephanie Bruce has been rolling along of late, Ben Bruce and Llano are in the midst of in- jury recovery. 10000-meter in Des Moines, Iowa, is Ben second race since returning from a pubic symphysis stress fracture. coming a June 10 perfor- mance in the steeplechase at the Portland Track Festival that saw him cross the nish line in 15th place.

The steeplechase, an event been a major part of his ca- reer, had acted as a opportunity for him to return to competing on his own terms in a race he loves. Now Bruce is set to take part in an event also been cant to his running. always fun to look at the elds because this is 16th straight year competing in the USA outdoor championships, so you look at some of the kids in this race, some are like 23 years said NAZ Elite head coach Ben Rosario. he started this streak, they were little kids. So that is a testament to lon- gevity in this sport.

And I think he gets excited about racing those young Shadrack Kipchirchir, a 29-year-old, holds the best mark in the eld for the distance with a time of 27:07.55. Mean- while, 35-year-old Ben Bruce sits with the third-best mark at 28:09.29, a time he set in March of 2017. In between the two, is Gar- rett Heath, who is 32 and holds a 27:56.11 for the distance. Lopez Lomong, a former Olym- pian and Northern Arizona Uni- versity standout, trails only Bruce, entering the race with a 28:21.37 under his belt. Both Bruces competed in last USATF Outdoor Champi- onships Ben took 15th in 29:43.92, and Stephanie eighth in 32:45.43.

At that time, Ben battled what would become the stress fracture. Although age and injury might be trying to slow him down phys- ically, Rosario had no doubts his veteran runner feels he can run with the pack. what makes Ben unique, special, is he loves the sport so darn Rosario said. Llano also gets to test his tness in Boston on a course that was n- ished in 27:58 a year ago by Ken- Daniel Chebii. Last year, spring turned into recovery period from a sur- gery for a sports hernia, and he race at all in the month of June.

Now looking to gain ground, recorded a fth-place n- ish at the Alaska Airlines Bay to Breakers 12K with a time of 37:02 NAZ Elite showing pair of 10s NAZ ELITE THIS WEEK Bruces set for USATF Outdoor Championships 10,000, Llano at BAA 10K ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL ASU Sun Devils up roster after successful season WORLD CUP KICKOFF Argentina star in spotlight as his team faces Croatia today ASK A RANGER JEFFREY COONEY Please see RUNNING, Page B3 Please see ASU, Page B3Please see SOCCER, Page B3 Please see RANGER, Page B3.