Thursday, September 6, 1913 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five Thursdt~y, September 6, 1973 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Basketball: legitimate darkhorse By GEORGE HASTINGS The 1973 Michigan basketball squad won't draw the pre-season raves from Big Ten cage Ana- lysts that its immediate prede- cessor did. This year's squad does not possess the height of the 1972 five, lacks its experience in the rugged conference play, has no big 6.10 center, and doesn't have a player who was once named All-American. Yet, despite these apparent liabilities, 1973.74 could be a much more successful one for the hoop squad than 1972-73., The 1972 squad was chock full of experience and talent: seniors Ken Brady at center, rebounding aces Ernie John- son and John Lockard at the forwards, and AII-American Henry Wilmore, the fourth- leading scorer in Michigan his- tory, at guard. These four plus the addition of super - sophs Campy Russell, Joe Johnson and C. J. Kupec was enough to convince most observers that the Wolverines were among the Big Ten's upper classes. All that potential was. left in the scouting reports as the Wolverines closed out with a sad 6-8 mark in the Big Ten and finished 13-11 overall. This year Wolverine coach John Orr hopes that a younger, more enthusiastic, and more coachable squad, playing under less pressure, will avoid the dol- Cagers Last Year's Record: 13-11 (6-8 in conference) Last Year's Finish: Sixth (tie) New Recruits: Bob Malaby, G; Randy Mclean, F-C; Johnny Robinson, F; Steve Grote, G. Outlook: Need the Big Fella. drums, mental lapses and let- downs which plagued last sea- son's team and turn ina respec- table conference showing. Led by returning Campy Rus- sell at forward, who had a solid year in his initial varsity cam- paign, the Wolverines are hop- ing to forget last year. The Michigan men inaugur- ated the Big Ten season well, enough whipping their first three opponents. Among the victims of the early Wolverine surge were the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans, both of whom tasted defeat on their own home ; court. The fourth loop contest, how- ever, was the beginning of the end for the Wolverines. Facing a relatively young Purdue quin- tet, the Wolverines allowed a large half-time advantage to dissipate and lost the game on a last second jump, by Frank Kendrick. After that things went downhill post haste. A vital showdown with Indiana was marred by a cold day from the field; Illinois and Iowa gained victories over the slump- ing Michigan club when they outhustled and outthought the Wolverines. With a mathematical shot still remaining at the title they thought would be theirs when the season opened, the Wolver- ines came back strong, drilling cellar - dwellers Northwestern and Michigan State. In the do- or-die fight with Minnesota, the Wolverines died in the second half after putting together a very impressive first 20 minutes of basketball. After that stunning defeat in Williams Arena, the club went down without much of a fight to Illinois, and Ohio State. No one answer can account for the dismal showing of the Wolverines. Many fans thought that Coach John Orr was not performing his job capably enough. They felt that with all the talent on the ball club, the mental lapses and the absence of hustle were disgraceful. Orr, himself, feels that the amount of talent on his team was overratedby the press in the pre-season, while that of teams like Indiana and Purdue was under-estimated. "We had more talent than the year before (when the Wolverines finished in third place)," he says, "but everybody else had improved themselves even more." In addition, Orr felt that the extreme pressure on the players to win that elusive Big Ten cham- pionship and play up to perfec- tion every game made them press, and ten when they did lose,'to suffer a tremendous let- down that took five games to cure. "Then," he cdntinues, "when we dropped back in the race we just lost the desire to win," and the three final pitiful efforts re- sulted. Despite those disappoint- ments, however, Orr looks to the upcoming season with re- newed anticipation. "We have some real good sophomores and juniors who played last yevar, but not up to their po- tential. I don't think anybody has really seen what they can do." The foremost of these under- developed players is Campy Russell. A high-school All-American at Pontiac Central who went on to lead an undefeated Wolverine freshman team with 35 points a game two years ago, Russell led the club in rebounding with a 9.6 average, was second to Wilmore in scoring with an 18.4 per game clip, and was even second on the club in assists. And Orr feels that he could have done even better. "Campy played every facet of the game well last year," Orr remarks, "But he can do them all even better. He was a little too worried about the crowd get- ting down on him last year, but he showed that he's a great, un- selfish, team player. This year I feel he will get to the point where lhe can dominate some games by himself." Next to Russell, both literal- ly and figuatively, the man upon whom Orr is counting is C. J. Kupec. Kupec, a muscu- lar 6-8 junior pivot-man, played center two years ago on the Russell freshman team, and was excellent in both, scoring and rebounding. The sixth man for the Wolver- ines last season, Kupec played in all three positions and conse- quently did not shine statistic- ally. lie was also hampered by his play on the football team, a squad of which he will not be part of this year. Orr is hoping for big things from his new pivotman, "Ku- pec's a smart player, so last year we used him at any posi- tion," Orr commented, "but back in the pivot, I think he'll be able to hold his own in rebounding." Guards Joe Johnson and Way- mann Britt are two starting holdovers from last year's team. Both split time in the guard slot next to Wilmore. Johnson, a 5-10 junior, did not have the brilliant ballhan- dling season he did on the frosh squad two years back and his outside shot was quite weak while Britt, slightly taller at 6-2, gave the Wolverines a leaping backcourter, he did not possess the guard's main wea- pon, a consistent shot. There has been some talk a m o n g Michigan basketball coaches that Britt will move into a forward slot, but that is vet to be determined. Both Britt and Johnson, Orr feels, 'are capable of shaking the slump which effected their floor play.If they do, Michigan could move close to the crown. Greg Buss, a senior who in- jured his knee in the first Illi- nois game, was granted an extra year of eligibility and should be around to lend an experienced hand if asked. Though at the time of pub- lication theaWolverines had not landed the really big man who could stabilize the squad, Orr hit the recruiting" trail hard this year and has brought to Ann Arbor some really top- notch players. Two forwards and three guards highlight the list (see box). Orr is high on all. "They're all leaders and winners", he crows. 1973 marks the second year of Michigan's three team plan. As a direct reaction to freshman eligibility, the Don Canham led athletic department has made the freshman team a non-ten- dered squad. Coached by former Michigan ace Richard "Bird" Carter, it is open to all non- scholarship players. Replacing the frosh is the jun- ior varsity, a squad made up of tendered athletes who are not quite seasoned enough for the varsity. With conference rivals Indiana and Purdue returning strong 'squads, Michigan does not yet figure in the championship pic- ture. But in the topsy - turvey Big Ten, that may be a real blessing in disguise. 1973-74 Schedule Home Games in CAPITALS Dec. 1-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Dec. 4-at Toledo Dec. 8-at Detroit Dec. 10-XAVIER (0.) Dec. 12-at Western Michigan Dec. 15-DAYTON Dec. 21-22-MICHIGAN INVITA- TIONAL (FORDHAM, YALE, BOWLING GREEN) Dec. 28-29-Bruin Classic (UCLA, San Francisco, Wyoming) Jan. 5-INDIANA Jan. 12-at Minnesota Jan; 19-MICHIGAN STATE Jan. 21-at Purdue Jan. 26-at Iowa Jan. 28-WISCONSIN Feb. 2-at Illinois Feb. 9-OHIO STATE Feb. Il-NORTHWESTERN Feb. 16-at Indiana Feb. 23-PURDUE Feb. 2S-at Wisconsin Mar. 2-MINNESOTA Mar. 9-at Michigan State Daily Photo by ROLFE TESSEM Russell . . up and in ST IUM R ESTAURANT OPEN 7 CATS A WEEK 7 AM TO 2 AM. ' ~SERVING BREAKFAST . ' ALL DAY . GREEK & AMERICAN FOOD A SPECIALTY featuringl GREEK MENU Tuesdays and Thursdays +... . Z[A . STEAKS . CHOPS o CHICKEN + SEA POOL SS .SAE NO -4 * 6 _____________________________________________ _______________ ___________________ - ______ .-.-.----.-------...--~---.-.---.-..---..- .~-.----.--..-____________ -.--....- I MICHIGAN FOOTBALL-Still the Best Bargain in Town for U-M Students 1 A I ,1973 Schedlule I I Daily Photo by ROLFE TESSEM JUNIOR CAMPY RUSSELL (20) seen passing a Beaver defender in last year's Oregon State game is the key for all of Michigan's Big Ten title hopes. Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 at Iowa STANFORD NAVY OREGON at Michigan St. WISCONSIN at Minnesota INDIANA ILLINOIS at Purdue OHIO STATE i N 1 d r I Nt 1C If Student Headquarters for MICHIGAN CAMPUS WEAR SWEAT SHIRTS (including specicl orders for fraternities, Fnjoy Seven Saturdays Of Action for Just $8 sororities, dorms and clubs) JACKETS 'M' BLANKETS FOR SMALL FRY-Sweat Shirts, Suits, Sweaters T-SHIRTS WOMEN'S GYM ATTIRE SHORTS SHOES BADMINTON BIRDS BLOUSES FIELD HOCKEY SHOES PHYSICAL EDUCATION MAJORS' UNIFORMS ALL GOLF and TENNIS SUPPLIES MEN'S ATHLETIC SUPPLIES SHORTS, REVERSIBLE T-SHIRTS, WARM-UP SUITS, SHOES for ALL SPORTS, EXERCISERS, PADDLE BALL PADDLES, HAND BALL GLOVES, SQUASH RACKETS, TEAM UNIFORMS Complete Line of TENNIS and GOLF SUPPLIES FENCING EQUIPMENT ISO-KITS WHITE- STAG SPEEDO-SWIM SUITS i COMPLETE LINE OF ADIDAS SHOES TRACK, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, TENNIS, 1 BASKETBALL, CASUALS, K WY olverines Gear For Another Title Run Already there's plenty of excitement building for the 1973 Michigan football season. Seven home games and a rugged schedule are offered at a bargain price of $18 for a season ticket (just $2.57 per game) for Michigan students. You'll see such teams as Stanford and Oregon from the Pac-8, Navy on Band Day, Wisconsin in M's Homecoming, Indiana, Illinois and, of course, the annual classic with Ohio State. Michigan, led by exciting junior quarterback Dennis Franklin, Student Football Ticket Information Students will be charged for their football tickets through the Student Accounts Office. _Price for the 7-game home schedule is just $18, less than half-price. Each student will be given a football coupon during registra- tion. The coupon may be ex- changed for a season ticket on the dates bsted below. *Tickets will be distributed at Yost Fieldhouse Sept. 7, 10-12. H o u r s of distribution will be - from 8.30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. + Priority will be b a s e d on " We look forward to an ex citzng season this falland hope to have Your support in the stands. B -Bo Sche tbcclcr For Ticketkl COMPLETE LINE OF TENNIS RACKETS & EQUIPMENT-RESTRINGING ar_ _ ._vr^ r - -L.. I t t1 _C - -4 ,,, 6 Ch,, , h- +gM-r cin Snnrf.1 i I!