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Page 10-Thursday, November 30, 1978-The Michigan Daily
STATON, BODNAf
Blue braces ori
By GEOFF LARCOM pressed with the Spartans, but were
There's beei little fattening )up on reticent to downgrade Central
pre-conference season opponents for Michigan.
Central Michigan so far this year. "There's no way you can write off
In fact, this week could entail some CMU as a bad team; losing to MSU on
weight loss for the Chippewas, who, on their home court is no disgrace, said
the rebound from Monday night's loss Frider. "On paper we're better, but
to Michigan State, must face Michigan they've got nothing to lose. A win for
tonight in the Wolverines' season them would be just another feather in
opener in Crisler Arena. their cap."
The Chips started out strongly again- Frieder and Orr aren't about to take
st the Spartans, but eventually suc- CMU lightly. Not after last year, when
cumbed to the Spartans' superior speed Toledo stuck it to the Wolverines over
and jumping ability, 71-54. Christmas break in overtime, 81-84, in
Michigan's last MAC encounter.
SHED NO TEARS for CMU however.
The Chips are favored to take the Mid- IN ATTEMPTING to turn that
American Conference title after losing nightmare into sweet dreams, the
only one letterman to graduation Wolverines will go with the same five
following last year's second place that started in last week's Windsor
finish. Blue Coach Johnny Orr and his walkaway. Freshman Thad Garner and
assistant Bill Frieder, who checked out sophomore Mike McGee will man the
the Chips at East Lansing, were im- forward spots with Phil Hubbard at
center, while Tom Staton and Marty
Bodnar will start at guard.
Until two days ago, Staton's starting
was in doubt. The senior co-captain has
been battling bronchitis for the past two
weeks anid according to Orr "hadn't his
usual spunk for awhile."
"I can go full speed now," said
Discuss Staton, who despite the illness still
Steamboat Jan. 3-9 playedagainst Windsor. "I'm fifty-per-
Staba an. cent better than I was last week."
and Staton's partner in the backcourt,
Weekend Trips Jan., Feb. Marty Bodnar, currently holds the hot
Thurs., Nov. 30-- 7:30 p.m. hand in Orr's guard merry-go-round, a
T ihus. Usituation where four players may see
Michigan Union Ballroom action as a starter during the season.
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Chippewa attack
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"WE'RE GONNA vary the five star-
ters according to the situation," ap-
praised Staton. "Marty is starting
because he's been our steadiest outside
shooter. We've also got strong shooters
in the frontcourt and he can get the ball
to them."
Orr is currently at a loss as to who his
second starting guard will be for the
seasson; he's tried all possible com-
binations in practice, yet still can't
decide. It's a situation that differs from
Orr's past years, when his backcourt
was fairly set before the season started.
"I've had great guards over the
years: Joe Johnson, Steve Grote,
Rickey Green and Dave Baxter. Now
this year I've got a good front-line and
am uncertain about the guards," Orr
said.
Coming into tonight's opener at 1-1,
courtesy of an opening victory over
Grand Valley, the Chippewas are led by
frontcourt man Jeff Tropf, last year's
leading MAC rebounder. Supplying out-
side firepower are senior guards Dave
Grauzer and Val Bracey. Frieder ex-
pects these three to do the most damage
for the Chippewas.
"CENTRAL MICHIGAN'S strength
is its shooting. Bracey and Grauzer are
great outside shooters, while Tropf is
very tough inside. Hubbard can't let
him get position on us low," analyzed
Frieder.
Withouth Hubbard last year, the Blue
cagers topped CMU by a 92-79 count.
Hubbard had played against Central
the year before, with the result a 1;3-62
crunching of the Chips. CMU head
coach Dick Parfitt thus is predicting no
miracles for his underdog team.
"Michigan has much quicker and
faster players than we do, they have the
best running team in the nation," said
Parfitt. "We're not going to try to run
with them, just play our own game."
WHETHER OR not tonight is a
blowout, the likes of the MAC will seem
awfully appetizing to the Chips after
this week's games. And for the
Wolverines, the preseason drudge of
banging solely into each other is finally
over.
"We're anxious to get going. The
guys are sick of each other and of the
coaches," Frieder joked.
Tori Ston
Marty Bodnar
full court
'P'RES
Young women cagers
face uphill climb
By LIZ MAC
Having a young team is a mixed blessing. At the present, the players lack
experience, whereas in the future, the roster will be loaded with four-year players.
That's the situation Coach Gloria Soluk faces with the Michigan women's
basketball team. "Right now, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages," she
admits. "The team is young and inexperienced."
There is one junior on the squad this year. The rest of the team is comprised of
four sophomores and ten freshwomen. Only three letter winners are returning
from last year: Abby Currier, Brenda Venhuizen, and Deb Allor.
AND BECAUSE of the fact that the inexperienced players' play tends to
fluctuate more in practice, Soluk hasn't decided on the starters for Saturday's
game with the University of Detroit.
Freshwoman Diane Dietz, freshwoman Jeanne White, and sophomore
Venhuizen have all looked sharp in practice. Junior Terry Schevers "has been
doing a super job," according to Coach Soluk.
Other players on the team are freshwomen Monique Bernoudy, Michelle
Grier, Kris Hansen, Katie McNamara, Penny Neer, Tammie Sanders, Jill Smith,
and Debbie Williams. Sophomore Yvette Harris is a transfer from the University
of Detroit.
ALTHOUGH HIGH school girls basketball programs are being developed
more and more, the transition to college balls a difficult one.
As one player remarked to Coach Soluk, "It's like I never played basketball
before."
Freshwoman Hansen agreed, saying, "It's much more aggressive. There are
a lot of new offenses and defenses to learn."
The Wolverines posted an 8-16 record last year, and it may be due to this that
the team has a new playing style.
"IT WILL BE a completely different team this year," said Soluk. "People will
notice that we are a much stronger team defensively. We are also developing a fast
break and a rather intricate moving offense."
One thing that Coach Soluk hopes to see is some fan support. "I would like the
students to make a commitment to come out and see one game. If they do that, I
feel they will become fans. That's why we scheduled 16 home games."
The women open their season this Saturday against a strong Detroit team, at
4:00 at Crisler (following the men's game).
10
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
SCHEDULE
Hubbard and McGee .
..: room for two stars
By DAVE RENBARGER
O BVIOUSLY, MICHIGAN is going to have a far better basketball team
this year than it had last winter. It simply can't be any worse-not
with Phil Hubbard healthy.
But, as Johnny Orr knows only too well, there is no obvious route to a
Big Ten championship, especially when the talent is so widely distributed.
With this in mind, let us look beyond the obvious for a moment or two in
sizing up the 1978-79 Wolverines.
For starters, it's pretty obvious that few teams can duplicate the scoring
potential of the Hubbard-Mike McGee frontcourt tandem. But the nicest
thing about such a combination is that Hubbard will be able to do his thing
without stepping on McGee's toes and vice versa.
"He's just so good around the basket, it's unbelieveable," said Orr of
Hubbard, whose knee is now complety sound. "He's been gone a year and
you forget that he can really do those things.'Now that he's back, I can see
how we won before."
Mr. Inside-Mr. Outside
Precisely. When they won the Big Ten title two years back, the Wol-
verines had Hubbard as a dominating middleman on the inside, and quick
sho6ters like Rickey Green on the outside. Last year Joel Thompson dian't
have the muscle to work effectively inside. As good an outsider shooter as
Joel was, it just wasn't enough. The offense relied far too heavily on the out-
side shot, and when the shooters were off, it was bye-bye, ballgame.
The lack of an adequate inside game also generated a distinct lack of
overall consistency. After posting three consecutive wins to kick off the Big
Ten season last January, Michigan was never a consistent team from one
night to the next as the season wore on. Beginning with the fourth game, the
Wolverines alternated wins with losses for 12 games before finally winning
two in a row. By then it was too late.
With Hubbard back in the lineup, the lhck of consistency is alleviated.
His inside game opens things up around the perimeters for guys like McGee
to take advantage of.
'(McGee's) the quickest player I've ever had-even quicker than
Rickey Green,'" said Orr. "He's just a dynamic offensive basketball player.
His whole game is improving."
McGee agreed. "I think my game is more complete this'year," he said.
"My defense is better, my shooting's better and my passing's better."
His speed isn't any better-although it is doubtful that he could possibly
move any faster on a basketball court than he did last year. Which is exactly
why Orr is planning on watching his offense operate on fast-forward this
season.
"We're going to run," said Orr. "We're going to fast break after every
opportunity. On turnovers, missed shots, interceptions, anything like that,
as well as after every made basket.
Bench strength crucial
"We're going to try to get the ball up the floor to McGee as quickly as
we can get it there. McGee has that option to take the shot or pass it to
someone breaking down the floor."
If he wants to run-and-gun for forty minutes, Orr is going to have to sub-
stitute freely. He vows to do just that, but has never done much of it in the
past. With this year's overall team depth, it would be foolish for Orr to
hesitate when the starters are running out of gas. Even his players realize
the necessity of a solid bench.
"Our biggest problem last year was our bench," said Alan Hardy.
"We're much better equipped this year. Whoever's on the bench this year is
going to be good. The bench has got to keep the momentum when the starting
five is resting."
"There will be occasions in all games where different players will play,"
admitted Orr. "I'm not a great believer in a lot of substituting, but it's going
to have to become a necessity.
Another necessity for Michigan is for the team to win its ballgames at
Crisler Arena. All of them-or at least all of them in conference play. Last
year MSU dropped only one league game at home, when Mark Lozier drop-
ped a last-second bucket to top the Spartans. Two years ago the Wolverines
went 14-0 at Crisler, and three years back it was Indiana which didn't lose at
home all year. But then the Hoosiers didn't lose anything that year, period.
Sure, it's an old saying, but it's true. You've got to win them all at your own
place, and split at worst on the road.
And finally, there is one last element present in any championship
calibre team. Call it confidence, call it enthusiasm, call it pride, call it what
you will. It takes a certain emotional mixture throughout the rugged, 18-
game schedule. This is the ingredient that can often separate the contenders
from the pretenders, and Wolverine co-captain Tommy Staton says it's
there.
"I'm always enthusiastic about every season, but I'm even more en-
thusiastic than usual this year," he said. "This is going to be the year that
last year wasn't."
Dec. 2
6
9
13
18
22+
28-29;
Jan. 4
Jan. 4
6
8
12
13
15
U. OF DETROIT 4:00 Home
Louisville Away
INDIANA STATE 1:00 Home
W. MICHIGAN 6:30 Home
ADRIAN 7:00 Home
GRAND VAL. ST. 2:00 Home
Motor City Tournament Away
Bowling
Bowling Green
N. MICHIGAN
U. OF DAYTON
WISCONSIN
INDIANA
OHIO STATE
Green
Away
4:00 Home
7:00 Home
7:00 Home
2:00 Home
7:00 Home
18
20
27
31
Feb. 3
8-11
14
17
19
22
24
26
Mar. 1-3
8-10
22-24.
Northwestern Away
NOTRE DAME 4:00 Home
Illinois Away
CEN. MICHIGAN 7:00 Home
Calvin Away
Big Ten Tournament Away
U. of Detroit Away
MICHIGAN STATE2:00 Home
EAST. MICHIGAN 7:00 Home
PURDUE 5:15 Home
OAKLAND U. 4:00 Home
Wayne State Away
SMAIAW Tournament Away
MAIAW Tournament Away
AIAW Tournament Away
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i
FREAKED AROUT FINALS?
DO YOU FEAR
-freezing or blanking on exams?
-not being able to concentrate on studying 'cause you're
scared?
-not enough time to get everything done?
IF YES, ATTEND ON
THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 7-10 p.m.
THE
Preparing For Finals Workshop
offered by
The Peer Counselors In Academic Anxiety
%..
.£