Page 8-Thursday, January 25, 1979-The Michigan Daily
BIG TEN ROUNDUP:
Illini duel Iowa for 2nd
LATTANY CLEARS 7'I" AT EMU '
By The Associated Press
Illinois and Iowa, crippled by injuries
to key players, battle for second place
in.the Big Ten tonight at Iowa.
.,"The last week was the best seven
days of basketball we've played since
I've been at Iowa," said Coach Lute
Olson, whose Hawkeyes whipped In-
diana and Purdue before falling to
Michigan State.
"The game should be a battle bet-
ween two exceptional teams. And, I
think we can play with anybody when
we play with enthusiasm," Olson said.
Both teams are 4-2 in the conference.
Illinois, ranked eighth nationally, is 16-2
for the season, and Iowa is 11-4.
Illinois beat Wisconsin on the road
last week before losing to Purdue at
home Saturday.
For the Iowa game, the Illini will be
without the services of 6-foot-11 center
Derek Holcomb, who has a sprained
ankle, and 6-foot-4 guard Steve Lanter,
who has a sore knee.
Illinois Coach Lou Henson has been
working with 6-foot-10 freshman James
Griffin and 6-foot-6 Levi Cobb in the
post since Holcomb's injury.
Ohio State coach Eldon Miller isn't so
concerned about winless Northwestern
as he is about his own Ohio State
basketball squad, leading the Big Ten
and ranked 10th nationally.
Big Ten Standings
Conference All Games
!/
The Wildcats, crippled by injuries
and grade problems, still have pushed
Michigan and Minnesota to the limit
before losing by two points to each.
Northwestern is 0-6 in the Big Ten.
"The only thing we're concerned with
is getting better ourselves," said
Miller, responding to a question about
preparing mentally for a last-place
team.
Iowa may be without starting center
Steve Krafcisin, who suffered a con-
cussion and a cut over his eye during
Saturday's game.
In addition, forward Vince Brookins
has a broken hand, and forward Clay
Hargrave has been declared
academically ineligible.
Fighting to stay out of the cellar are
the Wisconsin Badgers, who travel to
Bloomington to face Bobby Knight and
his "disciplined" Hoosiers. The
Badgers will try to attain the intensity
that they displayed during their
comeback and eventual upset of
Michigan.
In the final Big Ten game, the upset
kings Purdue Boilermakers journey to
Minneapolis to confront Jim Dutcher's
young Gophers. Purdue has knocked off
Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan
during a very topsy-turvy campaign.
Striders host Michi1
By JOHN LIBBE nis Building. Elliott, Baumgartner and
The Wolverine indoor track season Tim Thomas are all coming off strong
began quite promisingly last Saturday performances last Saturday. Thomas
as high jumper Mike Lattany cleared7, won the 600 yard dash in 1:11.6. and
1" at the Eastern Michigan Open to Elliott and Baumgartner placed one
qualify for the NCAA Championships in and two in the 1000 yard run, with times
March. But head coach Jack Harvey of 2:11.6 and 2:12.5, respectively.
and assistant Ron Warhurst are not "WE WANTED TO get a race under
about to stop with the success of Lat- our belts," said Harvey. "The people
tany. Qualifying the two-mile relay we did take did real well. Elliott looked
team is next on the agenda. real strong." Warhurst added.that "we
The team of Greg and Tim Thomas, just wanted to give them something
Jim Baumgartner and Steve Elliott faster to do (in preparation for this
will be shooting for the qualifying stan- weekend)."
dard this Saturday in the Michigan This Saturday's meet consists mainly.
Relays to be held at the Track and Ten- of relay events, andthat's the area in
:><,:;r r: r<which the Wolverines will be concen-1
trating. "We try to load up as many
relays as possible," said Harvey. "The
LL f' other people will run the individual
l~fR: : ; ;:?.^::::#": " "':t ' v?: a;r t , events.
Over 450 individuals will be com-
i:1:s...:v' zi:>...,. :?za ;; ><.;'events.''f ?:1 s:
in Relaysj
peting Saturday. Tentatively, nine
teams besides Michigan are entered:
Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan,
Bowling Green, Toledo, Saginaw
Valley, Ohio University, Hillsdale,
Wayne State and Michigan State.
BOTH COACHES are pleased with
how the team is shaping up, but they
foresee much improvement. "We're
pretty strong right now in every event
from the 60 through the three mile,"
commented Warhurst.
"We've got two good high jumpers
and two good long jumpers. We're light
in the pole vault, indoor shot, and triple
jump. At this point in time we don't
believe we're in top form," added Har-
vey. "We don't know where we are."
It may seem that the Wolverine two-
mile relay squad should race to an easy
victory Saturday. But don't count on it.
: ('uckrin9
'r . 4P0run4
Too early now . .u.
... to bury the
icers
Ohio State
Iowa
Illinois
Mich. State
Purdue
MirInesota
Wisconsin
MICHIGAN
Indiana
Northwestern
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Today's Games
Michigan State at MICHIGAN
Illinois at Iowa
Northwestern at Ohio State
Purdue at Minnesota
Wisconsin at Indiana
daily hoto by gRAD,Bt,IJAM,,,
IN PAST ACTION at Yost Arena, Notre Dame's Brian Walsh knocks a Michigan attacker off the puck as goalie Len Moher
defends. Michigan hopes to improve its 5-15 WCHA record when they twice face the Irish this weekend. The Blue dekers will
attempt to avenge two earlier losses to Notre Dame this year, along with trying to break their eight-game losing streak.
Ignorance claimed by
Stabler in frame-up
to Bee sports writer Padeckythat a
packet of cocaine was planted on
Padecky's rented car Monday - the
day Padecky said he came for an inter-
view and got something of a runaround.
instead.
Padecky, in a copyrighted account .Qf
the incident in yesterday's Sacramento
Bee, said Maples had a submachine gun
beside him in his car as he drove him to
the Pensacola, Fla., airport for his
departure. Maples said yesterday he
felt it was in the writer's best interests
to leave town.
Stabler told the Mobile Press that he
didn't have any knowledge of
Padecky's arrest.
He was quoted by Padecky earlier as
saying, "I don't mind telling you it's
strange, but it's not strange for Gulf
Shores."
The police chief said, "We have no
suspects as to who put the stuff on his
(Padecky's) car at this time, but we are
investigating."
Padecky said Stabler voiced
irritation with him and accused him of
being "the first reporter who came into
my town trying to dig up dirt." Padecky
earlier had written a three-part story
on Gulf Shores' view of the Oakland
quarterback.
The police chief also confirmed to the
Mobile Press that, after it was deter-
mined Padecky was the target of a
cocaine frameup, charges against the
writer were dropped and he escorted
Padecky on a hurry-up exit from Gulf
Shores.
By BILLY SAHN
The slogan, "Keep the faith baby," was popularized during the
tumultuus 1960's when the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement
occupied the front pages of newspapers around the nation. Yet, the
statement is just as pertinent to the Michigan hockey team, but in a different
sense.
Based on recent events concerning Michigan sports, I question if losing
is becoming a common demoninator to the most publicized athletic teams on
this campus. Needless to say, the football team's third consecutive Rose
Bowl loss has brought doubts to my mind about that team.
Furthermore, I find the Wolverine basketball team in a precarious
position. With a 2-4 Big Ten record, the Conference championship appears to
be out of reach for the cagers, as are their chances of making post-season
NCAA competition.
Another major athletic team to come upon hard times is the Blue hockey
team. The Wolverines are 7-17 overall, and 5-15 in the tough WCHA. With
these kind of statistics, doubt exists that the icers will see any postseason
action.
Currently, Michigan occupies the tenth spot in the ten team conference.
Yet, the icers. are not sunk yet.
Injuries and inexperience
Considering that eight of the 10 teams will be involved in the post-season
playoffs, and that the two teams ahead of Michigan, Denver and Michigan
State, are not strong teams, the Wolverines still have that chance. They are
not mathematically eliminated as of yet.
Granted, they probably would not get very far if they do make it to the
playoffs, but that's no reason for the icers to bow their woeful heads.
They're a good team.,
What is the problem then? The answer lies in two words: inexperience
and injuries.
.At 'the outset, Michigan had a very young team. This youth can be tran-
slated-into inexperience. The WCHA is no easy conference. The top college
hockey teams in the country are in it. Naturally, it takes any kid coming out
of high school time to adjust to this quick, hard hitting and intense style of
play.
Short on centers
One kid that seemed to adjust well was rookie center Terry Cullen.
Unfortunately though, Cullen, whom icer coach Dan Farrell looked upon as a
future leader, sustained a serious neck injury after the first four games of
the season. Likewise, junior center Dan Lerg fell victim to the disabled list
because of a knee injury. But the list doesn't stop there: freshman center
Murray Eaves sprained his knee last weekend in North Dakota.
The result is that Michigan has gone through the season with its three
top centers out of action at one poiht or another. With all three icers healthy,
Michigan won its first three games. Since the injuries have occurred, the
team's record has been 4-17.
"The center problem is overpowering," said Farrell. "Every week I see
teams with centermen not as accomplished as ours. Without the injuries,
we'd be challenging for the top spot in the conference."
Despite the ifs, the reality of the situation is obvious. The icers are in
deep ice-the cellar. But, it's not fair to judge them solely by their record.
Farrell has succeeded in building a nucleus of very fine hockey players
for future seasons. Repeatedly, Farrell has commented that the bunch of
kids he's coaching now are the greatest. They are a very tight group of
athletes facing cold stats with optimism. Likewise, Farrell is optimistic.
"This team is going to be a super team next year," remarked the
Wolverine coach. According to Farrell, Michigan is two or three players
away from being a contender.
As for this year, it's not over yet. The guys on this team are not a bunch
of quitters. Their mental attitude is a good one. With 12 regular season
games left (including series against MSU and Denver), I would not rule out
the Blue icers. The playoffs are still a realistic goal. They will reach them
only if they start winning now.
V
U
I
Grand9pen i
WCHA
Standings
New Bar at the
Village Bell.
All drinks
halt price
this Thursday,
~ Fridav&
North Dakota
Minnesota
Minnesota-Duluth
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Michigan Tech
Colorado College
Denver
Michigan State
MICHIGAN
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Pts
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This weekend's games
Notre Dame at MICHIGAN
North Dakota at Michigan Tech
Wisconsin at Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota at Denver
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