Page 8-Tuesday, January 24, 1978-The Michigan Daily BASKETBRAWL SEASON REVIEW NBA enters ring for i By SCOTT M. LEWIS Now that the pro football season has merci- fully drawn to a close, the sports spotlight has shifted to what are classified as the "winter sports," particularly basketball. Despite the relative lack of media coverage, the 1977-78 NBA campaign has been eventful and tumultuous, both on the court and in the front office. The season opener proved to be a harbinger of things to come. The Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in a fit of frustration, slugged the Milwaukee Bucks' Kent Benson in the eye, sending the rookie center reeling to the floor. Although he scored a TKO, Jabbar's punch was costly - he was fined $5,000 and suspended for three weeks by Commissioner Lawrence O'Brien. The suspension was academic, how- ever, as Jabbar broke his hand in the skirmish. Since the Jabbar-Benson mishap, several in- teresting things have happened. Five coaches, most notably Boston's highly successful Tom Heinsohn, are looking for employment, their respective owners finding displeasure with their work. The Portland Trail Blazers, defending NBA champs, extended their home victory streak to 42 games. Their current record of 35-7 is by far tops in the league. Kermit Washington, a 6-8, 235-pound Laker for- ward, became a serious challenger to Muham- mad Ali's heavyweight crown. A more proficient fighter than Jabbar, his one-punch knockout of Houston Rocket star Rudy Tomjanovich earned him a shot at the title. Indiana Pacer forward Adrian Dantley (since traded to - you guessed it - the Lakers) attacked two security guards who were standing in front of the Milwaukee dressing room in an effort to settle an old grudge with the Bucks' Dave Myers. Violence notwithstanding, there have been few other surprises this season. Here's a look at the divisional races so far: * ATLANTIC DIVISION - Philadelphia, under new coach Billy Cunningham, has a nine-game edge over the potent but sporadic New York Knicks. Julius Erving, George McGinnis, and company are hustling and winning for their likable coach, and occasionally even disdain a Spectacular reverse dunk shot for a simple layup. The Knicks, under former NBA great Willis Reed, have a wealth of talent, but, as in previous seasons, the chemistry is simply not there. They . rest 'comfortably in second place, ahead of Buffalo and pathetic New Jersey. The Nets feature rookie sensation Bernard King, who is scoring nearly 25 points per game. Unfortunately, they have little else. CENTRAL DIVISION - San Antonio's recent surge has vaulted them past Washington and into first place in this close divisional race. The Spurs' Larry Kenon and George Gervin are shoo-ins for the All-Star Game (Feb. 5), and the San Antonio fans are the most vocal in the league. The Bullets are rolling along at a .571 pace National Basketball Assn. EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W ] Philadelphia .............. 30 1 New York ................. 23 2 Buffalo ................... 16 2 Boston .................... 14 2 New Jersey ............... 9 3 Central Division San Antonio............... 27 1 Washington ............... 24 1 Cleveland ................. 21 2 New Orleans .............. 21 2 Atlanta ................. 21 2 Houston................... 16 2 L 12 21 25 27 36 18 19 21 24 26 28 Pct. .714 .523 .390 .341 .200 .600 .558 .500 .467 .447 .364 GB 8 13% 15%1 2212 2 411 6 7 10%1 itde igh (24-28), ahead of Cleveland, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Houston. None of these teams figures to challenge the Spurs and Bullets, although the Cavaliers did lead the division for a short time. MIDWEST DIVISION - The Nuggets, Den- ver's "other team," sports the league's third best record [28-15] and hold a sizable lead over the formidable Chicago Bulls and the improving Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, a collection of first and second round draft picks, are an inexperienced yet tal- ented bunch. Ex-Celtic star Don Nelson, the Milwaukee coach, has his team playing over the .500 mark for the first time in over three years. Tied for fourth place are the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. Detroit's Bob Lanier and Eric Money are performing well, as are newly-acquired Al Skinner and John Shumate. However, interim coach Bob Kauffman is having trouble finding both a competent coach and a winning combination for his beleaguered Pis- tons. The Pacers, beset by financial woes, will battle the Kansas City Kings for th6 Midwest cellar. PACIFIC DIVISION - Portland all the way. The Blazers show a striking similarity to the Boston Celtics' dynasty teams of the 1950's and '60's, particularly in their fast-break offense and in their fine pivot play. Bill Walton has estab- lished himself as one of the top three centers in the game. Trailing Portland by eight games are the Phoenix Suns, led by rookie Walter Davis and all-pros Alvan Adams and Paul Westphal. The Suns are better than they were in 1975-76, but then, so is the rest of the league. Hovering around the .500 mark are the Seattle Supersonics and the Golden State Warriors, both with playoff aspirations. The Sonics have staged a complete turn- around.-Before Player Personnel Director Lenny Wilkens assumed the coaching duties, Seattle managed to win but five of 22 games. Since Wilkens took over, they are the NBA's hottest team, posting an incredible 19-4 mark. Los Angeles, residing in the basement, should get better as Jabbar and Dantley become adjusted to the Lakers' new style of play. P2uck/h9 Season determnant.. ...in home sweet home w By ERROL SHIFMAN Well, so much for the crucial middle third of the season I wrote of in early December. It's over and so for all intents and purposes are Michigan's hopes of finishing on top of the conference. The Wolverines responded to the challenge with a wopping 3-7 record and dropped from third to fifth place. Midterm grade: E, no credit. Michigan's take home final (seven of the last 12 games at home) will in- clude finding a way to gain a home playoff berth. The teams Michigan will have to beat out are Michigan Tech, currently eight points ahead of the Wolverines and Minnesota three points ahead. It will be a tough test. Minnesota has it pretty good-for the remainder of the season. The only team within reach which has a tough road ahead is Tech. Here is the schedule of the games remaining among the contenders: Denver Wisconsin Tech Michigan Tech at Wisconsin at Tech Denver Denver at Wisconsin at Minnesota at Michigan at Minnesota Minnesota Michigan WESTERN CONFERENCE Midwest Division Wisconsin Denver at Denver Tech Denver ................... 28 l Chicago................... 25 2 Milwaukee............26 2 Indiana ...............19 2 DETROIT.............18 Kansas City...........16 Pacific Division Portland ............... 35 Phoenix ..............29 l Seattle .................... 25 Golden State .............. 21 Los Angeles ...............20 15 20 22 25 25 29 8 15 21 23 24 .651 .556 .542 .432 .419 .356 .814 .659 .543 .477 .455 4 412 9 2 10 13 6 /2 11% / 141/ 15 !/2 For Information On Jobs, Study, and Ally A OPPORUNITES IN ISRAEL See YEHUDAH BERMAN of the Israel Aliyah Center at the Jewish Expo Michigan Union Ballroom TODAY: NOON-EVENING Recreational The Central Campus Recreation Building is sponsoring two films on Thurs- day, January 26, at 7 p.m. in Room 2230 of the CCRB. The films are titled "Weight Training I" and "Bigger, Faster, Stronger." Registration is currently taking place for the following: Men's All Campus: Paddleball (doubles) entries due January 26 Raquetball (singles) entries due January 26 Men's Graduate: Squash - entries due January 30 All registration entries are due at the IM Building on 606 E. Hoover. The Adolescent Program begins on Sunday, January 29. Registration for the Adolescent Program occurs at the NCRB, Monday through Friday, 8:30-4:30. For further information, contact Ellen Gold (763-4560). Michigan has the edge in home games remaining with seven, Wisconsin and Minnesota have six each, Denver five and Tech four.. Minnesota has the advantage of playing the contenders at home and seems assured of posting a record in the last 12 games no worse thanr Michigan's. Wisconsin is also in relatively good shape and Denver, while it has to play four contenders, can not mathematically fall out of the top four. Sure Minnesota could hit a losing streak and fall behind Michigan, but the Gophers would have to play pretty poor hockey to even finish 7-5 and based on Michigan's past play, 9-3 is the best it can hope for. Granted, it could be close but I don't see Minnesota folding. Tech is currently on a 9-1 tear and appears too hot to fall, but eight of twelve games on the road can have strange effects on a team as the Wolverines well know. The Blue icers will have the opportunity to help their own cause when the Huskies come to Yost and with some help from Wiscon- sin and Denver, who knows? It is unfortunate that the Wolverines have to depend on some help to get a home birth instead of getting in on their own merits. Fortunately for Michigan, they are almost assured a playoff birth. Last year the Wolverines rebounded from seven straight conference game loses and came up with a twelve-game win streak, ending up in the NCAA finals. Can lightning strike twice? It will have to. 1 t l THE FACTS OF LIGHT WCHA Denver Wisconsin Mich. Tech Minnesota MICHIGAN Notre Dame Coo. Coil. N. Dakota Minn.-Duluth Mich. State Standings W L T TP 16 4 0 32 14 4 2 30 14 6 0 28 11 8 1 23 10 10 0 20 7 12 1 15 7 13 0 14 7 13 0 14 6 13 1 13 5 14 1 11 Team _ i. Boston University (6)..........15. 2. Denver (2)................. 19.4 3. Wisconsin .................... 17-5-1 4. Michigan Tech (2) ............. 17-7 5. Bowling Green............... 17-6 6. Cornell ........................ 9-4-1 7. Minnesota .................... 15-8-1 8. Boston College...............13-4 9. Clarkson.......................12-7 10. Northern Michigan.........17-6-1 Points 90 78 73 47 42 41 33 27 10 Top Ten - FREE Instructions Pocket Billiards WED. 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm of the MICHIGAN UNION WISCONSIN ATHLETES INELIGIBLE Badgers ain't bullish on brains By The Associated Press MADISON, Wis. - Three Univer- sity of Wisconsin varsity basketball players are scholastically ineligible and four football players, including starting quarterback Anthony Dud- ley, have flunked out of school, UW athletic officials said yesterday. CENT RA L CAFE FEA TURING: MEXICAN DINNERS AMERICAN-MEXICAN BREAKFASTS SANDWICHES, SOUPS, SALADS OPEN 7 AM-Midnight Mon.-Wed., 24 Hours Thurs-Sat., Sundays tit 9 PM 322 S. MAIN 665-9999 Ski Venture Cross Country Ski Rentals offers 5 GROOMED TRAILS MOONLIGHT TOURS LESSONS GROUP PARTY RATES STUDENT DISCOUNTS WEEKDAYS WITH I.D. GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS: CALL AND SCHEDULE YOUR EVENING NOW!. Wesley Matthews, highly touted 6-1 freshman who led the Badger basket- ball team in scoring through the first half of this season, was declared in- eligible for second semester play along with freshman reserve guard Darnell Reid and sophomore forward James "Stretch" Gregory. Gregory, from Washington, D.C., was the Badgers' leading scorer and rebounder last season and started most of this season. He sat out the, last two games when it became apparent he would be ineligible. GREGORY FLUNKED a five-hour Swahili course and Matthews, from Bridgeport, Conn., failed a four-hour English course during the first semester. Otto Breitenbach, UW assistant athletic director, said Gregory is remaining in school and could be eligible next season if he makes up his academic deficiencies. Breitenbach said Matthews com- piled a 2.4 grade-point average, well above the NCAA's required 1.6 minimum on a 4.0 scale, but did not achieve the required 12 academic credits in his first semester. MATTHEWS ALSO is in school and can be eligible for next year by accu- mulating a total of 24 academic credits before the fall semester begins, Breitenbach said. Breitenbach said Dudley, who shared the starting quarterback duties on the UW football team last fall, was dropped from school along with three other football players: Ken Burroughs, Steve Givens and Lee Washington. He said all four can regain their eligibilitysby enrolling at otr schools this semester and returning to Wisconsin for summer school. DUDLEY,. a junior from Detroit, completed 64 of 127 passes for 877 yards and two touchdowns, with 10 interceptions, last season. Washing- ton, starting sophomore linebacker from Miami, Fla., ranked third among Badger tacklers last season with 90. Another football player, junior linebacker Dave Crossen, was in danger of being dropped from school because his gradepoint had fallen below the university's required 2.0 for upperclassmen. However, Crossen was given a reprieve by academic officials at a special appeals hearing on Saturday. He was named the Badgers' most valuable player for the 1977 season. Rudran ads Ashram is now offering Beginning courses in Meditation & Kundalini Yoga BEGINNING CLASSES every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:30 FULL CLASS at 6:30 995-5483 I -i-s rv A Masters Degree in RADIATION PROTECTION at The University of Michigan OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE for: FACT: Pabst Extra Light has half the calories of our regular beer. Half the calories! So it's a lot less filling.