full court ' r _iPRESS Buckeye storm hits ..will losses snowball? By RICK MADDOCK COLUMBUS So, you're wondering how Michigan could lose to Ohio State by nine points. Many different factors can be pointed to, and any one or any combination may be right. Or maybe the answer lies solely in the incredible balance of the Big Ten this year, which appears to be fact and not just conference PR. But first, let's try to figure out what happened at St. John Arena on Monday night. The Wolverines, whose backbone is composed of perimeter shooting, hit for 38.8 per cent - 45 per cent in the first and a horrible 33 per cent in the second half. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes hit 49 per cent of their field goals - 54 per cent in the first and 43 per cent in the second. Ohio State's accuracy dropped 11 points, yet it was still able to increase its lead over Michigan by three points in the second half. How come? Consider Michigan's poor second half shooting, but also the fact that only two Ohio State buckets in the second half came from over 10 feet away. Buckeye baskets came from driving the lane, sneaking in the back door, and tipping in offensive rebounds. Michigan's man-to-man defense could not stop the Buckeye offense at the critical stages of the game. When Ohio State needed a basket to stall Wolverine momentum, it got the basket. And that may be the key to the game, because had Michigan been able to regain the lead, it would have gone into its effective zone defense. This is the first Big Ten game in which Michigan did not meet its defensive goal of 65 points. Sure, the Wolverines tried to shake things up defensively by applying the free throw press, and occasionally it worked well. But Michigan also got burned at times by OSU's quickness. And finally, coach Johnny Orr oftentimes wanted to apply the press but the free throw was missed, thus ruining the opportunity. When Michigan misses free throws, which is part of basketball, it can really destroy its defense. Then when the Wolverines commit ten turnovers in each half, like they did against the Buckeyes, one sees a perfect example of how an offense can hamper its own defense. It works in a cycle once the offense starts faltering, the defense starts pressing, getting tired, and fouling. Where in the reverse situation, if the defense is weak, the offense has more of a chance to offset its weakness by matching the opponent shot for shot. In Monday's game, however, there were times when the two teams matched each other turnover for turnover. And that has to be the factor that bothers Orr and his squad the most. Ohio State committed 14 turnovers in the second half, which shows that more than once the door was open for a Wolverine comeback. With 10:45 left in the game, Michigan was within two points. But after that it began its downhill slide, never coming that close to the top again. "I thought we tried really hard. We worked hard in the second half," Orr said. "We just couldn't get over the hump." So, as one can see, there are many possible factors in the loss. But more important is what position the loss leaves Michigan in. Right now, Michigan State looks awfully nice with a two-game bulge over Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue. If the Spartans do not lose this week to either OSU or Indiana, they could be miles ahead since Purdue plays both Minnesota and Michigan this week. The Wolverines did not want to enter the toughest part of their season with a loss at Ohio State. They now have four brutal clashes in a row: Indiana and Purdue at home, followed by Michigan State and Purdue on the road. The consensus opinion is that the title winner will have no more than four losses. Michigan has only two losses to go before it reaches that point. And besides the two road games next week, the Wolverines must still face Minnesota and Indiana on the road. Yet, the answer to what this team is, contender or second-division, will come on Thursday against Indiana. Both Orr and Assistant Coach Bill Frieder have repeatedly said that success comes from the ability to bounce back from a loss, thus avoiding a losing streak's infectious germs. As one can see from the schedule, it would not be hard to snowball down to non-contender. The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, January 25, 1978-Page-; S Striders boa -A-. By KEVIN ROSE BOROUGH A lot of seniors, veterans, and leadership. These, according to Michigan track coach Jack Harvey, are the necessary ingredients of a successful team. And happily for Coach Harvey, this year's squad has lots of what he cites, not to mention a great deal of talent. THE OUTLOOK for Harvey's tracksters this indoor season looks very bright. After finishing a mere point behind Illinois for the Big Ten indoor championship last season, Michigan returns this year with an almost identical team. The Wolver- ines have an amazing 50 of 57 points they scored in the conference meet coming back in the form of exper- ienced athletes, compared to only 28 for Illinois and 26 for Indiana and Wisconsin. The team, obviously, will be ex tremely strong if it can avoid the injuries that were largely respon- sible for last year's slide to fifth in the outdoor standings. "We are a very well-rounded team. We have men who have proven they can score in all areas except perhaps the triple jump and the 600," said Harvey. The Wolverine middle and long distances are particularly strong. Here, the squad boasts Dave Furst, two-time Big Ten 880 champ, Big Ten cross-country champion and co-cap- tain Bill Donakowski, school mile record holder Steve Elliot, and distance ace Mike McGuire. Mc - Guire, who missed last season due to illness, holds the school two-mile, three-mile, and six-mile records. Freshman Bill Weidenbach, who ran the fastest prep two-mile in the country last year, adds to the already Championships all the way," said deep and talented contingent. Coach Harvey. "Our team has a real Co-captain James Grace leads the good attitude. We've got two strong sprinting corps. He won the 400- leaders who are fierce competitors: meter outdoor championship, was The team is fired up and really wants runner-up at 440 indoors, and was a to win." member of the winning 440 and mile The Michigan runners make their relay teams last year in the Big Ten debut Saturday when they host the meet. Doug Hennigar of Ann Arbor is Michigan Relays in the Track and a solid,, dependable scorer in the Tennis Building. Attending will be 15 sprints, and juniors Arnett Chisholm, teams and a total of 500 athletes; Charles Crouther, and Don Wheeler including Michigan State, Eastern handle the hurdling capably. Michigan, Western Michigan, arid i ,: h k . SENIOR JIM STOKES, the varsity pole vault record holder - (17'%"), sophomore long jumper James Hen- ry, and shotputters Randy Foss and Mike Hetes are key performers in the field events. Transfer student Mike Lattany, a 7'%" high jumper, figures to score some Michigan points. "We're aiming for the Big Ten Central Michigan. The preliminaries start at 2:30 p.m., and an exciting slate of final events at 7:00 p.m. Included in the finals will be an invitational mile, featuring Elliot, Donakowski, former Wolverine Greg Meyer, and outstanding Western Michigan miler Tom Duits. "A sub= four minute mile is a definite possi- bility in this race," stated Harvey. -. ;,, BLUE SWEEPS CAN-AM TOURNEY Fresh' By BILLY NEFF The old cliche reads: When the chips are down, look for your exper- ienced players to come through with the clutch plays. Well, this weekend at the Can-Am tournament in Wind- sor, Ontario, was quite an exception. Freshwomen Abby Currier and Brenda Venhuizen disproved this notion by carrying the women's basketball team to three victories and the tournament title. Currier's 35 points and adroit pass- ing propelled Gloria Soluk's five to an 85-76 championship win over Hamil- ton. Her dazzling play placed her along with Venhuizen on the all- tournament team. Venhuizen added 16 points to the Wolverine cause in the championship game. In their two previous games, Soluk's quintet tipped St. Clair Community College, 56-50, and Wind- Big Ten Standings vets' cagers., spur women sor Club 240, 84-63, behind the 22 points of Venhuizen. Coach Soluk echoed the team's sentiments about the tournament, "I'm happy for the kids; we were struggling at 2-8 and now we're 5-8. Not only are things looking up for the women cagers this season, but prospects have improved immensely for next season too. "By the end of the year, we hope to boast that we have recruited the Free Press' all-state team." Right now, Soluk claims to have plucked two of the first five along with a second teamer. Soluk lists Shelly Chapman from Marquette, Chris Hansen from Flushing and North Adams' Penny Near as her recruits. One player she can't recruit this season is. Earvin Johnson's little sister, who was a first teamer as a junior. Unfortunately for Soluk, she can- not use any of these prep standouts Rudransnds Ashrsm s now offer ng Beg ining courses in Meditation & Kundalini Yoga BEGINNING CLASSES every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 5:30 FULL CLASS at 6:30 995-5483 against Shaw tonight in Detroit or us through the Shaw game and into Michigan State in Ann Arbor on the weekend against Michigan Saturday. In addition, the women's State," said Soluk. mentor will be without the services of Michigan State is the game that th& guard Sheila Butler, who presently is squad really points to. The women academically ineligible, cagers host MSU at Crisler Arena Soluk looks for a "really tough this Saturday at 11:45 a.m. "We're game with Shaw since Eastern really excited about playing Michi- Michigan only beat them by one." gan State; we want to pull off the The Wolverine women were thrashed major upset of the year." by Eastern, 77-54. If either games comes down to the. 'I hope the momentum [from the wire, look-for the experienced fresh- three previous victories] will carry women to make the difference. CAMP TAMARACK Brighton and Ortonville, Michigan INTERVIEWING FOR Counselors, Specialists, Supervisors, and many other camp positions JANUARY 31 Summer Placement Office CALL FOR APPOINTMENT-763-4 117 Camp Tamarack is the residential summer camp sponsored by the Jewish Fresh Air Society, 6600 W. Maple Rd., W. Bloom- field, Mi. 48033 I. Conference All Games Michigan State. MICHIGAN .... Purdue ........ Minnesota ..... Ohio State...... Illinois ......... Indiana...... Iowa ........ Wisconsin ...... Northwestern .. W 6 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 L 0 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 Pct. 1.000 .667 .667 .667 .500 .500 .333 .333 .167 .167 W 14 9 9 8 10 9 10 9 5 5 L 1 5 6 6 5 6 5 6 9 10 Pct. .933 .643 .600 .571 .667 .600 .667 .600 .357 .333 _ - APTop Twenty "9m v 11 SCORES I Thursday's Games Illinois at Iowa Indiana at MICHIGAN Michigan State at Ohio State Minnesota at Purdue Northwestern at Wisconsin U of M SKI CLUB' MEETING HENDERSON RM. 3rd Floor-Michs. League 7:30 P.M. Thursday. January 26 Everyone Welcome Discussing weekly and weekend trips I i .ii Team Record 1. Kentucky (56) ...................... 14-1 2. Marquette ........................ 14-1 3. North Carolina ..................... 15-2 4. Arkansas .......................... 16-1 5. Notre Dame ..................... 11-3 6. U.C.L.A ......................... 13-2 7. Michigan State .................. 14-1 8. Kansas ............................. 15-2 9. Providence ......................... 15-1 10. Syracuse ........................... 13-2 11. Duke ...................... ....... 14-3 (tie) DAILY LIBELS.............1-0 12. Louisville .... .................. 11-3 13. Indiana State .................... 13-2 14. New Mexico...................... 13-2 15. Texas ......... ................... 13-2 16. Georgetown, D.C................... 13-2 17. Florida State ....................... 14-2 18. virginia............................ 12-2, 19. DePaul.......................14-2 20. Illinois State....... ............. 16-2 Points 1,120 960 802 666 581 539 478 470 317 255 221 221 200 160 142 137 103 69 66 39 COLLEGE BASKETBALL DIT 89, Shaw 73 Holy Cross 82, Boston College 76 Oral Roberts 73, Drake 71 NBA New York 99, Golden Slate 97 DETROIT 104, Washington 101 BOWLING LEAGUES FORMING Sign u now at the Union 55C Per Game Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Evenings UNION LANES Open 10 A.M. Monday-Friday 1 P.M. Saturday and Sunday UPI Top Twent Student Newspaper at The University of Michigan r-- --W---WRITE YOUR AD HERE! ------I---- --- - --C IPADMi OAY- - - - - I USE THIS HANDY CHART TO QUICKLY ARRIVE AT AD COST SWORDS 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days 6 days addi. S0-10 1.15 2.30 3.05 3.80 4.55 5.30 .75 I11-15 1.40 2.80 3.70 4.60 5.50 6.40 .90 Pleaseindica e 16-20 1.65 3.30 4.35 5.40 6.45 7.50 1.05 where 1isad 21-25 1.90 3.80 5.00 6.20 7.40 8.60 1.20 forrent * 26-30 2.15 4.30 5.65 7.00 8.35 9.70 1.35 for sale 31-35 2.40 4.80 6.30 7.80 9.30 10.80 1.50 helpwanted _ I 1 36-40 2.65 5.30 6.95 8.60 10.25 11.90 1.65 perona 41-45 2.90 5.80 7.60 9.40 11.20 13.00 1.80 efr. 46-50 3.15 6.30 8.25 10.20 12.15 14.10 1.95 f Seven words per line. Each group of characters counts as one word. Hyphenated words over 5 characters count as two words-This includes telephone numbers., If i- Team Record 1. Kentucky (41) ...................... 14-1 2. Marquette ......................... 14-1 3. North Carolina ..................... 15-2 4. Arkansas .......................... 16-1 5. U.C.L.A .......................... 13-2 6. Kansas ............................. 15-2 7. Michigan State..................... 14-1 8. Notre Dame ........................ 11-3 (tie) DAILY LIBELS ................ 1-0 9. Louisville....................... 11-3 10. Providence............ ........15-1 I1. Syracuse ........................... 13-2 12. New Mexico.................... 13-2 13. Indiana State ....................... 13-2 14. Georgetown ........................ 13-2 15. San Francisco...................... 12-4 16. Florida State .................... 14-2 17. Texas .......................... 13-2 18. Colorado State..................... 12-3 19. DePaul............................ 14-2 20. Duke.............................. 14-3 Points 410 357 278 201 171 148 147 130 130 68 60 55 37 31 27 26 21 13 12 11 10 Ski Venture Cross County Ski Rentals of fers 5 GROOMED TRAILS MOONLIGHT TOURS LESSONS . o. ' '- NOTE: Polls do not take into account Monday night's games, in which Kentucky was defeated by Alabama, 78-62. GROUP PARTY RATES STUDENT DISCOUNTS WEEKDAYS WITH I.D. GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS: