t Thursday, January 10, 1974 THE MICHIGAN DAILY rage 5even ThrdyIaur 0 94TEMCIA AL rage Seven Bruins By ANDY GLAZER On December 29, 1973, the UCLA Bruins beat Michigan, 90-70, for their 83rd consecutive win, and almost every- one at Pauley Pavilion was surprised; not surprised that UCLA had won, but rather, at how Michigan had lost. For 25 minutes, they were all the Bruins could handle. John Wooden, UCLA's coach, (and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1972), called the Wolverines a physical team, "a typical Big Ten team in that respect." Perhaps he meant that the Maize and Blue wouldn't lay down for his team. Trail- ing 8-5, the Wolverines ran off nine straight points on a 15-foot jumper by Wayman Britt, a lay-up and a jumper by Campy Russell, a Joe Johnson free throw and a Russell lay-up of a miss- ed free throw. All of a sudden it was 14-8, Michigan. The near-capacity crowd of 12,618 was buzzing. The night before they'd seen the Bruins sleep to an easy 85-58 win over Wyoming. They wanted a close one tonight, to be sure, but Michigan was giving them more than they had bargained for. It wasn't meant to be. UCLA, jerked alert by the Michigan explosion, and aided by some very poor (or very for- findNMichgan tunate, depending on your point of Britt started the second half, and for view) refereeing, outscored the Wolver- the first seven minutes the game was ines 30-10 over the next 9 minutes to virtually even. But then history repeated pull comfortably in front. Ten of those itself. Britt drew his fifth and last foul points were by Bill Walton, UCLA's with 13:03 to go, and the Bruins prompt- superman center. ly scored 12 in a row. Campy Russell Even on his off nights, which are stopped 'the streak with a free throw, few and far between, Walton has the Now that the Bruin fans knew they knack of making the big play. No ex- were safe, they could afford some kind- ception was the 29th of December. ness. When Russell hurt his knee late With the score tied at 20 all, Walton in the game, the crowd gave the tourna- grabbed an offensive rebound that he ment's leading scorer a' standing ova- had no business even being near. On tion. Steve Grote scored three buckets his attempt for a basket immediately down the stretch to make it a little following, he was fouled by Wayman closer, but the game had already been Britt. It was Britt's fourth personal, won by the better team. and he, who had played brilliantly UCLA 90, MICHIGAN 70. What a against the Bruins thus far, quickly shame. departed for Chuck Rogers. No, not a shame that Michigan lost, Up to that point the Wolverines had but a shame that the game wasn't been playing superb defense - superb played at Crisler. Michigan fans aren't team defense. Johnny Orr's men were used to playing David against Go- switching and pressing and helping one liath. For the lucky Wolverine rooters another out, generally keeping the it's usually the other way around. Bruins off balance; they yielded few The ironic part, though, is that for good-percentage shots. But when Britt such inexperienced Davids we gave a left, the defensive flow slowed. The great showing. Most teams that face Bruins, who needed 12 minutes to get the powerful Bruins seem to play in awe their first 20 points, got 20 more in the of them for the first couple of minutes. next six. Britt returned with two min- By then the score is 15-2 and any ques- utes left and the Bruins got only two tion of an upset is gone. more points, but the damage had been But the Wolverines didn't do that. done. UCLA led 42-32 at the half. They came out and fought UCLA tooth no cakewalk and nail, actually dominating the first seven minutes of play. Were they un- afraid of the legend they were facing? Hardly. Campy Russell, who was su- perb throughout, said afterwards that he had "half expected UCLA to be a team that never missed a shot, never threw a bad pass or lost a rebound." That's pretty frightening. But the Wolverines played tough. They made the Bruins work hard for their win-something that few teams can say. The way they came out and played inspired basketball tells a lot about this team's character. In speaking with Steve Grote, after the Wolverines' 88-66 win over San Fran- cisco in the opening round, the raw talent that each of these teams possess became apparent as did the fire that Grote has inside of him. He said, "I wasn't good enough in high school to be approached by UCLA, but even if I had been, I don't think I would have gone. I've heard a lot about them, and I want to beat them soooo much." Intensity can go just so far, though. Grote again, a f t e r losing: "Every team has certain physical limits- things they can do and things they just can't do." The look in his eyes finished the sentence. In the end it was Bill Walton who did the Wolverines in. In the first half he scored seven points in a minute and a half to help UCLA increase their lead from 23-20 to 30-24. At 52-41 in the sec- ond (the point where Britt fouled out), Walton smelled victory like a shark smells blood. Twice the Wolverines came down the floor looking to cut their deficit to nine. Each time Walton limited them to one shot. Then he scored on a 12-foot turnaround jump. Thirty seconds later he grabbed a re- bound and threw an incredible full court pass to Pete Trovich for an easy lay-up. He rebounded Campy Russell's miss and scored at the other end. He blocked a Lionel Worrell shot. Walton had "turned it on" for three minutes and suddenly Michigan trailed 66-41. Yes, it's a shame that Wolverine rooters couldn't have seen this game. Those spoiled football fans who cry for more touchdowns when Michigan is ahead 49-13 could have learned some- thing. They could have known the pride that Navy's fans must have had after their 14-0 defeat at our hands; to have faced impossible odds and to have given a supreme effort in spite of them. The pride of playing a team of supermen evenly for a while. It seems a lot more satisfying than beating Iowa 60-0. More painful, but more satisfying. Daily Photo by KAREN KASMAUSKI FRESHMAN GUARD STEVE GROTE goes up and over a Southern Illinois for two points as Campy Russell (20) and Joe Johnson (24) follow up the shot before a sparse Crisler Arena gathering. F - - - - ------- -- -------- - Badgers favored in Big Ten periences the culture shocks of pos- sessing a non-contending ballciub. The Buckeyes stand 5-6 overall this year and 0-1 in the Big Ten after an opening homecourt loss to Illinois last Saturday. By Our Basketball Staff So far this year, Wisconsin has ing and most aggressive outtit Although the Big Ten basketball lived up to their preseason clap- around. season is nearly one week old, it pings. They have offed 8 of 9 -JIM ECKER is not too late to take a capsulated opponents, including an easy romp * * * look at what promises- to be an over Northwestern Saturday, with interesting and exciting campaign. their only loss a one-point defeat Pud' Graduation has depleted the at the hands of seventh-ranked The Purdue Boilermakers rate Big Ten of what many fans con- arquette. as one of the favorites to cop the sidered to be its finest collec- -GEORGE HASTINGS title. They have size, experience, tion of individual talent. Just one * quickness and an excellent ',oach, of last season's Top Ten scorers Fred Schaus. But thus far in the returns in Michigan State's Mike Indianashort Big Ten season they have Js- Robinson. Now a senior, Robin- Anybody who would write off played a quality that no other son is favored to win his third Indiana after what happened in Schaus coached team has shown, straight scoring crown. Crisler Arena last Saturday is be- the slow start. Gone are Weatherspoon, Horn- ing a trifle premature. One game Against Michigan State the yak, Kunnert, Wilmore, Downing, does not a season make, and the Riveters didn't gain the lead un- Behagen, Sibley, and Turner and Hoosiers are loaded with talent. til late in the second half. At many teams (including Minnesota The Hoosiers (8-3) play one of and Michigan) faced wholesale re- the toughest schedules in the Big ,. building. Ten. Before Michigan got to The smoke has cleared from the them, Notre Dame and Oregon whirlwind of New York to Hono- State (in the Far West Classic) lulu tournaments and the confer- offed Indiana, but such teams as KeutuctournamentsarandntheaK ence teams can settle down to the entucky, South Carolina, and old family quarrels here in middle Miami of Ohio have fallen beforeI America. the Big Red Horde. While most of the student body Chief among the army of return-, of the Big Ten schools relaxed, the ing sophomores that Bobby Knight basketball teams worked hard. can muster are the backcourt team { Some made p r o g r e s s; others of Quinn Buckner and Jim Crews. didn't. Here is our staff consensus Buckner spent last summer playi n did't Hre s urstff onenusbasketball on touring American and articles on each team in our tsg predicted order of finish: Junior DAILY STAFF CONSEUSUS Junior forward Steve Green an- AILSTAFF CNE U chors the front. line. "That Greenf 1. Wisconsin 57 is a prety good ballplayer, re- 2. Indiana 51 flected Johnny Orr after he scored 3. MICHIGAN 49 18 points on Orr's Wolverines. 4. Purdue 45 The biggest disappointments onI 5. Iowa 34 the Hoosier team have been ient Purdue's Kendrick 6. Illinois 22 Bensen and Scott May, both of Northwestern the Boilermakers 7. (tie) Ohio State 21 whom were highly touted in pre- turned the ball over eight of their Minnesota 21 season predictions. However, the first nine possessions. And an Michigan State 21 bench has kept the Hoosiers cap- airine Winterostad aI 10. Northwestern 7 ably staffed. John Laskows ki don't Tew interte," * Bob Wilkerson, and Tom Aber- don't know if ay " iconethy all have the talent to e uld have come back." Wihyalshvetenalntton Purdue is basically a four man ing the team with a 16.8 average while Fegebank is second with 13.9 and leads in bounds, hauling down 7.7 a game. After these two seniors the Hawkeye hopes rest on freshmen and sophomores. John Hairston, 6-2 frosh, is LaPrince's running mate at guard and is hitting 10.2 markers per contest. It was his 20 point effort that keyed the victory over Minnesota. Helping Fegebank on the front line are two sophomores, Scott Thompson, 6-3 forward, and Nate Washington, 6-6 center. As Coach Schultz readily admits, Iowa is short on experience and is also lacking height and physical force. And their 4-6 mark certainly won't scare any teams. But with the steadying hands of LaPrince 1-i. Fegebank along with the con- tinued improvement of the 'resh- men and sophomores, Iowa may well upset a few more teams this year. -MIKE LISULL Illinois It is a rebuilding year at Illinois. The Illini are figured to be among the bottom rung of Big Ten teams, but coach Harv Schmidt retains a guarded optimism. Schmidt has had to fill a pair of big holes in his starting line- up created by the graduations of center Nick Conner and the incredible Nick Weatherspoon. But a residue of talent remains and the Illini have parlayed this to a 4-4 record this year, high- lighted by a victory over Ohio State in the'conference opener. sage contend for the Big Ten. The Spar- tans are not tall and do not figure to do well on the boards, but will have to rely on their running game Eto beat any of the conference powers. I race Willie Williams, a 6-6 junior col- lege transfer mans the other for- ward spot and leads the Cats in scoring with 15.5 points per game. Northwestern's major problem will be rebounding and a lack of front court depth. Wisconsin man- handled the Cats last Saturday, 87-53, mostly on a 51-27 advantage in caroms. Another long season on the shores of Lake Michigan. -MARC FELDMAN Illinois' Dawson For the first time in severa years, the Wisconsin Badgers have a legitimate contender in a major Big Ten sport. In fact, the Badgers with one of the biggest teams in the country, are more than just a contender-with Indiana's loss to Michigan, Wisconsin now looms as the Big Ten favorite. When Badger coach John Pow- less says that his team is "physi- cal," he's not kidding. Wiscon- sin's starting five averages an unbelievable 6-8/, making it one of the toughest teams on the boards ever in the Big Ten. Leading the way are the 6-11 twins, Kim and Kerry Hughes. The Hughes boys rank as the top two returning rebounders in the confer- ence, and have been even better this year. Both have also been scoring in the high teens. The third leading Badger, both in scoring and rebounding, has been the other forward, Dale Koehler. Koehler is "only" 6-8. Wisconsin's back court may be its weakness. Of course, the guards are huge, with Marcus McCoy checking in at 6-6 and Gary Anderson at 6-5. However, their ballhandling has been sus- pect. Thus, in every game so far Powless has relied on little 6-1 Lamont Weaver to come off the bench and boss the Badger attack. .l e r' I regulars ski, in f playerc C f'ah Super Sub" akw s "Lasko-outfit, including three starters act, may, well be the best fr on the team. from last year's 8-6 squad. Junior John Garett, 6-11, leads this year's i oac Knignt has a habit of get- squad scoring 24 points from the ting the most out of his players, pivot while gathering nine rebounds and the d e f e n d i n g conference per game. Last year's MVP, senior' champs could very well repeat. forwam Lank edrick, gisi o ~-JOHN KAHL.ER forward Frank Kendrick, gives r -JON A some support inside with his 18 points and 11 rebounds per contest. Mlichigan Jerry Nichols, 6-6, junior, whom Michigan Coach John Orr re- Schaus compares to Jerry West ceived more than his share of flak starts at the other forward, al- last year when his highly-touted though his 10 points per game is basketball team sputtered, flound- somewhat less than the venerable ered and finally died through a West's. miserable 6-8 Big Ten slate. This And last but not least among year, with a younger, hungrier, the big four is 6-2 guard Bruce scrappier crew, the much im- Parkinson. Parkinson, not a big proved Wolverines rank as defi- scorer, is the quarterback of the nite first-division finishers and pos- club and his most adament ad- sible title contenders. mirer is Schaus.- The Wolverines .came through With an easy schedule, Fred preseason play with an impressive Schaus on the bench and the big 8-2 mark and opened conference four on the court, it's going to be action with an exciting, come- tough to beat Purdue this year, from-behind 73-71 shocker over de- real tough.I fending Big Ten champion Indiana. -MIKE LISULL Campy Russell leads Mich- igan's five undergraduate start- Ioiv ers with his All-American talent W andleadership abilities. Russell, e Coach DickSchltz has a versatile ballplayer capable of pegged 1974 as a rebuilding year, playing all three court positions, don't sell the Iowa Hawkeyes snort.I gives the Wolverines solid scor- ,While Iowa probably won't make Sing (22.4 ppg) and rebounding a run at the Big Ten title they (10.5 per game) consistency. will probably have a great deal :o 6-8 center and co-captain C.J. say about who the Big Ten sends Kupec adds rebounding power to the NCAA's. (123 per game) and a fine outside The Hawks did not look im- scoring touch (12.1 ppg) for a big pressive duringtheir non-confer- man. Forward Wayman Britt (31.3 ence slate, but this was basical- ppg), although small, 6-2, and con- ly due to lineup juggling. But it sequently plagued by foul troublenow appears that Schultz has has nonetheless added stability 'ofound a winning combination, as the Wil'terine lineup. evidenced by the upset of Min- - M1!i 7higan's backcourt tandem nesota last Saturday. of 5-10 Joe Johnson (10.7 ppg) [ spite the rebding claim the and freshm -n gHa rd Steve GroteHwkeyes are led by seniors, n . g -r --,e . Grt re L aPrince a d Nail Jeff Dawson, one of the con- ference's better guards, returns his 18.6 scoring average to the Illinois backcourt, where he is teamed with junior Dave Roberts. The forwards are freshman Brad Grapp lers mieet 'Cats Michigan's wrestlers sweated through their final challenge matches of the week, and bar- ring injury or other unforeseen complications, the lineup for this Saturday's meet at North- western is set. Bill Schuck successfully de- fended his position at 142 lbs. against Rick Neff in a tough 3-2 decision decided by a first- period takedown. John Ryan took over the starter's role at 167 with a semi-deceptive 5-2 triumph over Mark Johnson. Rich Valley has recovered well from his recent illness to reclaim his berthat126, while Bill Davids will move back to his regular spot at 134. Other- wise, the lineup should be iden- tical to the one which obliterated Ohio State. Farnham, 6-6, and Rick Schmidt, who has improved greatly over his nondescript sophomore year. Seven footer Bill Rucks and 6-7 Tom Carmichael occupy the pivot. "Between them, they average ten points and ten rebounds a game, and that's not b a d," mused' Schmidt.j The Illini lost the two games' they played in the ECAC tourna- ment, but they did hand the Uni- versity of Detroit its only loss this year. A title contender in Cham- paign is improbable, but not im- possible. --JOHN KAHLER Ohio State' Fred Taylor has coached Ohio State to seven Big Ten champion- ships during his 15-year sojourn i Columbus. Unfortunately for Buckeye fans, the 1974 campaign will not make it 8 out of 16. What one first notices about Ohio State is that Alan Hornyak and Luke Witte (the core of the Buckeyes' last three years) have graduated, leaving OSU without a high-scoring guard or a domi- neering big man. Coach Taylor juggled his lineup throughout the preseason, looking for the best working combination to bring in- to league play. Based on their last three games, Ohio State has settled on a start-! ing five of center Bill Andreas (6-6, 14 ppg); forwards Wardell Jack- son (6-7, 11.6 ppg) and Steve Wen- ner (6-6, 8 ppg); and guards Larry Bolden (6-0, 11.3 ppg) and Gary Repella (6-3, 10.2 ppg). Forward Jack Wolfe (6-6, 8.9 ppg) and guard Dan Gerhard (6-3, 7.0 ppg) are the first Buckeyes off the bench. As is typical of past Ohio State teams, this year's crew operates3 a patterned, patient o f f e n s e which works a series of picks and screens and displays good shot selection. However, it lacks a take-charge scoring threat and a powerful rebounder, as senior captain Jackson leads in the carom department with a paltry S8.7 per game. 1974 should prove a long year for Ohio State as Columbus ex- * * -- IUM E . K The biggest suspense up in4 East Lansing this year is houndf Minnesota to concern MSU guard Miket Robinson and his quest toMbe "This is going, to be a rebuild- come only the fourth player in ing year" is one of the most over- Big Ten history to lead the con-t worked cliches in jock journalism. In the case of the Minnesota bas- ference i scoring three straight ketball team, Coach Bill Mussel- years. man's wor is apply. The Gophers Only 5-11, Robinson nevertheless won 39 of 51 games the past two is extremely quick and a superb seasons, but Jim Brewer and Ron outside s h o o t e r, averaging 27 Behagen have changed into NBA points over the last two years. His uniforms leaving Musselman with touch was a bit off in some of the a deserted lockerroom. Spartans' early games, but it has The 1973-74 Gophers have won come around lately and he remains six of 11 games and scored over State's chief offensive threat. 70 points just twice. Minnesota Michigan State's second big- freezes the ball looking for "high gest scorer this year has been percentage shots" and In a triple 6-7 Lindsay Hairston, who, is overtime threat against Butler, finally coming into his own as a attempted only nine shots in the junior. He has been playing both second half. forward and center, leading the Dennis Shaffer leads the Goph- Spartans in rebounding and scor- ers (15.4 ppg) and three of his ing about 15 per contest. running mates in the typical Mus- The rest of the MSU cast is selman "Iron Five" average in neither especially big nor distin- low double figures. Bahaman cen- guished. Pete Davis plays guard ter Pete Gilcud is scoring about next to Robinson, while a pair of six ppg and if the Detroit game 6-4 leapers, Flint Northern's Terry Tuesday night is any indication of Furlow and Tom McGill, see a lot his board work, the Gophers may of time at forward along with 6-5 be headed for a long season. The Brian Breslin. Cedric Milton, 6-9, Titans (not as tall as they sound) shares time with Hairston at owned a 30-19 rebound advantage center. and attempted 25 more iield goals In early season action, the Spar- than Minnesota. Guard Phil Saun- tans have been less than fan- ders pumped in a career high 22 tastic, recording a 5-5 mark. How- points on 8-13 floor shooting and ever, in their conference opener at 6.6 from the line, but the Gophers Purdue, they played well for most attempted ,just 32 shots.-1 of the game, leading up until the Lack of offense will doom the final seconds in a tough 77-75 loss. Gophers to the second division. -GEORGE HASTINGS -MARC FELDMAN * * Michigan State Northwestern The Michigan State Spartans are Undisputed possessor of the Big a team which does not figure to Ten dungeon for each of the past three seasons, the Northwestern : "Wildcats are hoping for a reversal of that trend this year under new Coach Tex Winter. ..sWinter looked like a miracle man in the early days of Decem- ber when his charges ran up four victories in five starts. His earl record was especially ::}X;.: :'} i amazing in light of the reversals suffered by thehWildcats. Forward Greg Wells, NU's.loading rebound- er last year was dismissed from school and 6-10 center James Wal- lace was declared academically in- eligible. {. :x.,-,: " :::Winter had to drastically re- ".,r"'shuffle his lineup by moving bulky 6-8 senior Brian Ashbaugh Spartan Robinson to center and elevating 6-S sharp- shooter Joe Otis to forward. 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