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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