When the University of Utah pounded Arizona in the 1998 West Regional final, it was the first of many lopsided, disheartening, what-am-I-doing-here defeats for Mike Bibby.
   
Soon after the Utes shocked the heavily favored Wildcats en route to their runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament, Bibby declared himself eligible for the NBA draft.
   
A dream scenario seemed ready to unfold.
   
The Clippers owned the No. 1 pick and could have taken Bibby, who was already well-known in Los Angeles after two seasons of tormenting Pac-10 rivals UCLA and Southern California. He seemed like a perfect fit for the perennially rudderless Clips.
   
On draft night, however, L.A. passed on Bibby. Instead, they took center Michael Olowokandi from Pacific. Vancouver made Bibby the second pick in the draft, and over the next three seasons the Grizzlies compiled a record of 53-161.
   
"No matter where you play, you want to have a chance to win," Bibby said recently. "We didn't have a chance in Vancouver."
   
Not that people noticed.
   
"We were on national TV once," Bibby said.
   
Of course, things change.