Page 8-L firday, December 2, 1978-The Michigan Daily
WOLVERINES, CRIMSON TIDE CLASfH AT CRISLER
_
BlueY
JAMIE TURNER
Improved defense, fewer n
mistakes leaig to turnovers an
ter rebounding is what Michigan
will lead the Wolverines past Ala
today at Crislter Arena.
The game which is sold out, fe
two teams -tat closely resembl
other in size, -speed and style o
Michigan, 1-0 after defeating C
Michigan Thursday night, willf
self fast-breaking against anothe
that lives anddies by the run.
aims to curb errors against 'Bama
mental
nd bet-
hopes
abama
,atures
e each
f play.
,entral
find it-
r team
The'Crimson Tide comes to Ann Ar-
bor with three games already under
their belts. Normally, that would mean
three victories, but 'Bama was upset in
its opener by little-regarded Wagner
College, 86-74. Since then, American
University and Austin Peay have fallen
by the wayside, and Alabama arrives
with the hope of duplicating last year's
78-63 triumph over Michigan in Bir-
mingham.
Johnny Orr denies that his charges
come into the game with a revenge
motive against the red-shirted visitors.
"We like to win because they're
national games, and we want to wint
every game we play," said Orr, then heF
added, "but if we beat Alabama,7
Louisville and Dayton (Michigan's nextv
three opponents) we could start
thinking about the national champion-t
ship."''
Alabama sagged to fourth in thea
Southeastern Conference last year af-b
ter winning the Ititle in 76-77. Thiso
season hopes run high in Tuscaloosas
with the return of SEC Player of thev
Year Reggie King (6-7, 225) and the ad-t
dition of two solid freshmen, Eddiev
Phillips (6-6, 220) at forward and guardn
Eddie Adams (5-11, 175).. Phillips hasA
per contest.
"(Who) they play really doesn't mat-
ter," said Orr. "Johnson, King and
Phillips all zing around the court.
They're a real fast team. Hopefully,
we'll be better for them. We better be."
Orr plans to start the same quintet
that began the CMU game, Staton and
Marty Bodnar at guard Thad Garner
full court
1P'RESS
THE LI
MICHIGAN
45
40
35
23
24
Thad Garner
Mike McGee
Phil Hubbard
Tom Staton
Marty Bodnar
(6-7).......
(6-5).......
(6-7).......
(6-3).......
(6-3).......
F
F
F
G
G
moved into the starting lineup and is
the second leading scorer with a ]6.7
per game mark. Adams comes off the
bench and adds long range shooting (12
ppg.) to Alabama's strong inside game.
All-American King, who carries a 22-
point average into today's game, will
face the Wolverines' Phil Hubbard in
the center position. Ironically, head
coach C. M. Newton feels King would be
a better forward - something Hubbard
can sympathize with. The Tide senior
had 30 points against Michigan last
year, and it will be Hubbard's task to
guard him, as compared to overmat-
ched Tom Staton last year.
The other forward spot will be han-
dled by second-year man Ken Johnson
(6-7, 200) who averages about 13 points
r
t
r
f
k
t
c
t
c
and Mike McGee at forward with Hub-
bard in the pivot. Showing his concern
over the turnovers and defense, Orr " " l
spent about an hour in the locker room
with the team going over two films: a,. . .acking in opener
tape of Thursday's game accorpanied
with a horror movie - the final ten By GEOFF LARCOM
minutes of last year's collapse at
Alabama. PROBLEM WITH opening games is that they frequently raise more
questions than they answer. Thursday night's opening affair with
Central Michigan at Crisler Arena was no exception.
The truckload of preseason speculation on the Wolverine fast break had
me expecting a frenzy out on the court. Michigan was going to run, run and
run some more. A glance at thJ Michigan lineup lent credence to these
NEUPS claims.
NEUPS "Keith Smith, the freshman from Detroit, was labelled by coach Johnny
Orr as the fastest guard he's had since Rickey Green. Orr has never had
ALABAMA anyone to match Mike McGee's quickness, while Thad Garner, his starting
frontcourt mate, can burn the lanes as well. Finally there was Phil Hubbard,
.......32 Ken Johnson (6-7) the key to the whole shot, the man who could throw the good outlet pass.
.......51 Eddie Phillips (6-7) So where was the fast break? It was nowhere to be found in the first half.
..52 Reggie King, (6-6) The Wolverines managed to convert on only one fast break during the initial
.......4s Joe Hancock (6-5) tanza, as they relied primarily on the outside shooting of Marty Bodnar and
.41 oe ancok (-5)Mike McGee.
.......10 Robert Scott (6-1) Some halftime advice from Orr seemed to speed things up in the second
half, but the Wolverines were hardly the flashes they were expected to be.
Reluctant to run
"We worked some on them (the Orr ascribed the slower pace to the fact that it was opening game and his
istakes), and we showed the films of team was wary of turning the ball loose against the Chippewas. Thus,
the two games," said Orr. "Most of the despite the fact that CMU was crashing the offensive boards, the Blue cagers
mistakes were mental. If we had just 15 were still reluctant to get the running game going. Assistant Bill Frieder of-
fewer turnovers and had 15 more shots fered an additional explanation.
against Central, we would"ve won that 'They were really playing low. There was a crowd under the basket and
game by forty' it was tough to get the ball out," he said. "Also, the guards were not getting
WOLVERINE TALES ..e.to where they should be to receive the outlet pass. They were too far upcourt
Statonis still recovering from the a lot of the time."
bronchitis that has been bothering himTo a man, the Wolverines expressed confidence they'd be breaking with
the past few weeks. "In the second half more effectiveness soon; it simply takes some time to adjust to the idea of
of Thursday night, I got an attack," bekn taltms
breaking at all times.
said Staton. "I couldn't breathe or "We haven't broken off of made baskets since I vebeen here," said co-
anything." The senior co-captain captain Tom Staton: "We'll get the break in gear. It will come soon."
should see a little more action Another question mark remains the Wolverine guard situation. Orr is
today ... Yes, that was Mike McGee's here the imperfect magician. He has a whole bag of tricks-none of which
car that was almost towed away Thur- are able to fully solve the problem.
sday night during the game, and no, it With his starting combination of Staton and Marty Bodnar, he has strong
wasn't towed. defense plus the deadeye aim of Bodnar (8-12 against the Chips) from the
outside. Yet neither can bring the ball upcourt and pass it off with the speed
and precision of Keith Smith, who came in first for Staton Thursday night.
However, Smith cannot play Bodnar's defensive game. Still, the fresh-
man is the catalyst in the fast break. He makes things happen on the court.
Two player combinations, two partial solutions. What can you do?
o ?victoric..,
9 vct ryTough choicefo Orr
It appears Orr's best solution is to vary his lineup according to what
COWENS GOT plenty of help from the situation dictates. Lacking the all-around guard he's had in the past, Orr
Marvin Barnes, who scored 17 points in still is able to call on a variety of talents. Thus Bodnar was able to riddle the
a fine all-around performance as the Chippewas' 2-3 zone with 20-footers when the speed game faltered right off
Celtics snapped a three-game losing the bat.
streak and evened their ecord 4-4 since Questions still remain however.
they replaced Satch Sanders as coach. For example, what's to become of Johnny Johnson, the guard-forward
Cowens finished with 20 points as the who was billed as the likely backcourt starter along with Staton in the
Celtics successfully slowed down Seat- preseason?
tle, which has the NBA's best percen- "Bodnar has simply really come up," is Frieder's answer. Evidently
tage record of 16-6. Bodnar's fine play during the waning days of preseason practice has
relegated Johnson to a temporary phantom's role. The slick shooting
sophomore played only four minutes against CMU following a 16-point per-
formance against Windsor.
Johnson can't understand his apparent demotion. "I guess they just
don't like me around here. It's really affecting my confidence. I just gotta be
Gene Banks' basket with six seconds strong," he said quietly after the game.
left gave top-ranked Duke a 65-63 win It's admittedly a touchy situation for Orr to have to handle, having such
over No. 6 Nqrth Carolina State in the varied talent. Ideally for the Wolverines, Marty Bodnar's forecast will come
opening round of the Big Four Basket- true. "We're the type of team where some guard will always pick up the
ball Tournament. slack. Against Alabama, probably someone else will pick up in the back-
court."
;--fig
Doily Photo by BRAD BENJAMIN
MICHIGAN FORWARD Alan Hardy looks to pass off in last week's exhibition
win over Windsor. After having defeated Central Michigan 87-78 on Thursday
night, Hardy and his mates must now battle Alabama today at Crisler Arena.
COLLMGE AND PRO CAGE ROUNDUP:
I
Tar Heels racuse roll
By.Ibe Associated Press drove the length of the court and made second half.
GREENSUORO, N.C. - Sophomore a (dunk shot with L:50 left before the in- The undefeated Orangemen ran off 29
AlWood seded 21 points last night as termission. North Carolina increased points before Ken Cunningham scored
14th-rankedNrth Carolina rolled to its lead to 30, 48-18, as Bradley hit the Western Michigan's first field goal of
uneasy 7355 Win over Wake Forest in first two buckets of the second half. the second half with less than eight
4he opening round of the Big Four * * * minutes remaining in the game
t
c
Basketball k$'rpament.
Top-ranked Duke met No. 6 North
Xarolina State in the other half of the
first-rounddiUble-header.
THE TAIRREELS jumped to a 44-13
;lead in thy first half over the cold
jshooting Deacons and held a comman-
ding lead iommbeginning to end.
a North C olina hit 31 per cent from
tthe floor imdbe first half to only 35 per
scent for thezDeacons and held a 30-29
-advantag he boards for the game.
The Tar i4ls, 2-0, stretched the
'margin to }."at, 40-14 when Bradley
WMU walloped
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Roosevelt Bouie
scored 19 points as ninth-ranked
Syracuse University beat Western
Michigan 93-71 last night to move into
today's finals of the Carrier Classic
basketball tournament.
Utah State met Iowa to decide the
other finalist.
SYRACUSE erupted in the second
half, stretching its lead to 36 points
while shutting out the visiting Broncos
during the first eight minutes of the
Dale Shackleford added 16 points as
Syracuse ran its season record to 3-0
while becoming the 14th team in college
basketball history to win 1,000 games.
* * *
Do it, Coach!
BOSTON - Player-coach Dave
Cowens wrecked a Seattle comeback
bid with two consecutive baskets in the
fourth period last night, and boosted the
Boston Celtics to an 87-80 National
Basketball Association victory over the
Seattle SuperSonics.
i
I
1
1
t
t
-Im
SPORTS OF THE DAILY
A dome for Minnesota
Pirates, Royals lead
By The Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn.-The Metropolitan Sports Facilities
Commission, after 18 months of deliberations, has decided to
build a domed stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
The 65,000-seat facility, approved on a narrow 4-3 vote
Friday, would cost about $51.2 million and would house the
Vikings, Twins, and soccer's Minnesota Kicks.
Ali: no boxing
NEW YORK-Muhammad Ali, the only fighter ever to
hold the heavyweight title three times, is expected to an-
nounce his retirement from boxing next Thursday, according
to New York Daily News sports columnist Dick Young,
Young, in today's editions of the newspaper, quoted Al as
saying that "I want nothing to do with boxing anymore. I am
going on to a new life. Let the young guys have it (the title)."
iariners for sale
SEATTLE-A group headed by Burlington Northern Inc.
Vice President Taul Watanabe is offering to buy the Seattle
Mariners, a 1977 American League expansion team.
Watanabe confirmed yesterday he has talked with some
of the partners among the six Mariners' owners, the Seattle
Times reported.
.
in race to*
CINCINNATI (AP) - The race for
Pete Rose's services is in the far turn
and heading for home.
"I'll probably get up Sunday morning
and make up my mind," Rose; said. "I
want to do it early so I can get to watch
the football gaines on television."
There is still enough time for some
last-minute bargaining from the teams
still in the running for the 37-year-old
Rose, who claims he will no longer be a
member of the Cincinnati Reds.
Rose, who is a free agent, was unable
to reach a contract agreement with the
Reds. Meanwhile, Rose is scheduled to
meet for the second time today in
Lexington, Ky., with Dan and John
Galbreath of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates' offer reportedly includes
not only a three-year contract in excess
of $2 million but ownership of a top
broodmare. The Galbreaths are owners
Downhill Package
SCORES
College Basketball
Duke 65. North Carolina State 63
Louisiana State 91, Oral Roberts 75
Creighton 55. Iowa State 54
Southern Illinois 80, Alabama-Birmingham 72
Georgia Tech 7:3. Georgia 57
Pro Basketball
Boston 87, Seattle 80
Washington 117, New Orleans 115
grab Rose
of Darby Dan Farms, one of thorough-
bred racing's leading stables.
Also still in contention are St. Louis,
Atlanta, and Kansas City.
Royals' owner Ewing Kauffman
predicted Tuesday that Kansas City
had a 50-50 chance of signing Rose after
the Cincinnati star visited the Missouri
city. But Kauffman says the odds have
now risen to "60-40 or even 70-30."
Philadelphia was the toughest com-
petition facing the Royals, Kauffman
said in an interview. But the Phillies
fell from the race Thursday despite a
$1.8 million offer.
Kauffman believes his club has more
to offer than Pittsburgh when you con-
sider winning records and the fact "we
can afford him an extra year" because
of the designated hitter rule.
Rose has indicated he wanted to
remain in the National League for a
shot at Stan Musial's hit record. Butt
Kauffman added a new wrinkle
Tuesday by noting that as a Royals DH,
Rose would have a shot at Ty Cobb's all-
time hitting mark.
Meantime, Atlanta owner Ted Turner
was glum about the Braves' chances of
signing Rose.
"I'm not saying we're out of it, but it
doesn't look good," said the flamboyant
Braves' owner.
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