Page 4-Wednesday-,November 30, 1977-The Michigan Daily
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The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, Novemb
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Great freshmen toughen Big Ten

By HENRY ENGELHARDT
The Big Ten coaches have really
turned on the recruiting tap and
great talent now fills the conference
sink. -
In two or three seasons nine Big
Ten teams will legitimately call
themselves contenders for the NA-
TIONAL TITLE. That is an indica-
tion of the incredible talent Big Ten
coaches have recruited.
There are two teams this year that
stand above the others, both figura-
tively and literally. Minnesota and
Purdue, second and third place
finishers last year, start veteran
clubs both oozing with talent.
Minnesota's Michael Thompson
has great statistics, size, agility, de-
sire and a shooting touch as sweet as
Mom's apple pie. The 6-10 Bahamian
anchors a forward line that boasts
two others of the giant variety: 6-10
Dave Winey and 7-0 Kevin McHale.
McHale is currently recovering from
achilles tendon surgery, but should

be ready to go by Big Ten time in
early January.
Minnesota's big problem comes in
trying to replace Ray Williams, who
now plays for the New York Knicks.
"We can't replace him on the fast
break," says coach Jim Dutcher. To
offset the loss of Williams' quickness
Dutcher has sophomore James Jack-
son and returning starter Osborne
Lockhart at the guards. But defense
will be the Gophers' strength.
Purdue finished third in the Big
Ten last season and nearly knocked
off North Carolina in tournament
action. The Boilermakers return
three starters and two super subs,
who, because of graduation, now
move into starting roles.
Center Joe Barry Carroll didn't
start at all last year but logged more
playing time than the now-departed
starter. In a recent game against the
Russian national team, this hefty
seven-footer was a scoring and
rebounding standout.

The other new starter is hot
shooting guard Jerry Sichting. He
teams with exciting Eugene Parker
to give the Boilermakers one of the
most formidable guard tandems in
the circuit. '
Tough Wayne Walls and Mr.
Smooth - Walter Jordan, both
starting for the fourth year, man the
forward spots. "The bench is our big
weakness right now," says Coach
Fred-Schauss. In Schauss' five sea-
sons at Purdue his teams have
finished third every time.
After these two squads, which
every Big Ten coach (except Bobby
Knight, who doesn't make predic-
tions) called the top in the confer-
ence, the Big Ten is filled with talent-
laden, question-marked clubs.'
Alphabetically speaking, Illinois is
next. The Fighting Illini added two__
top-notch freshmen to a competitive
squad, but are really waiting until
next season when Indiana transfer,

6-10 center, Derek Holcomb can play.
- Illinois will start the same team as
last year's which means playing
without anyone over 6-7. Players to
watch are senior Audie Matthews,
soph Levi Cobb and freshman Eddie
Johnson.
Indiana perfectionist Bobby Knight
had another great recruiting year,
but this time around he must replace
center Kent Benson. Ray Tolbert, a
6-9 frosh could be the man to do it
however.
Knight is not one who expects big
things from freshmen. "You really
can't tell (how good they are) until
they play," he says.
Others from this fine recruiting
class are 6-8 Steve Risley and
defensive-minded guard Tommy
Baker. Returning vets include high
scoring Mike Woodson and playmak-
er Jim Wisman.
Practice has not gone well for the
See BIG, Page 8

Long
By DAVE RENBARGER
The day after the Michigan basket-v
ball team came home from its
unsuccessful Lexington connection
last March, the cagers promptly got.
together for their annual awards
ceremony. At the celebration center
Phil . Hubbard and guard David
Baxter were named co-captains for
- the 1977-78 campaign.
The Wolverines, however, haven't
been doing much celebrating since
then. Hubbard was forced to hang up
his sneakers a trifle early, kayoed on
the opening day of practice.
THAT LEFT Baxter,' the three--
year super-sub who gained fame
during brief stints on the court filling
in for the likes of Joe Johnson, Steve
Grote and Rickey Green, as the lone,
active captain.
It is a job that the 21-year-old
senior from Detroit certainly does
not take lightly, especially with the
current influx of seven newcomers to
the squad.
"I try to do what I can as far as
setting an example for the rest of the
team by the way I play in practice,"
said the team-oriented playmaker.
"By working in practice and hustling
all the time, I show some of the new
guys by example. I feel that this is
my job as captain."
The slightly built [6-3, 165] Baxter
has traded in his characteristic,
floppy Afro hair style of years past
for the close-cropped, wavy look.
But, when wearing the- familiar
number 25 on his back, Wolverine
fans will still recognize Bax's intense
and sometimes flashy style of play.
The one difference is that, as
captain, Baxter now displays his
talents day after day in practice,

wait over
with his teammates replacing the assignmE
fans as his audience. now mu
"I never have been much of a transition
practice player in the past, but now I guard. I
think that it is my job to set limited
examples," said Baxter. "Right now, Michigan
my actions speak louder than my regret hi
words. By the time we get going into "Playi
the season, it will be my role to take Steve ,G
charge on the court." Johnson]
TAKING THE reins from previous better p
co-captains Grote and John Robin- gone to
son, Bax is facing a somewhat differ- potential
ent situation than his predecessors. Baxter.'
Grote was a four-year starter and for a cha
Rob a three-year starter, but Bax is fitted."
at this noint a zero-year starter. With
With a grand total of four starting offensiv

for Bax

ents under his belt, Baxter
st make the long-awaited
m from third guard to first
Even though he has seen
court time throughout. his
n career, 'Baxter doesn't
s choice of schools.
ng behind Rickey Green and
rote for two years and Joe
for one has made me a much
layer than if I would have
a smaller school with-less
l and talent," said the patient
"While I have been waiting
nce to play, I have also bene-
nearly all of last year's
e punch either graduated or.

sidelined, a lo
looking for Baxt
deal of the scorir
When needed
Lutheran West s
put the ball in th
that four years
unbelievable 43,
during the state
year he ended
scorer in the
average.
WHILE IN A
Baxter has sco
prolific 6.1 ra
playing time th
can go nowhere

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Rugged non-con foes
include 'Bama, UCLA
By DON MAC LACHLAN "The biggest thing we have in mind
With a rugged Big Ten'basketball is getting ready for the Big Ten
schedule awaiting Michigan after the schedule," said assistant coach Bill
new year, Coach Johnny Orr put Frieder. "We don't want to lead up to
together a solid non-conference the season with nine games the
schedule to tune up the Wolverines caliber of UCLA, yet we want to play
for the league games. Three of tough games to get us ready."
Michigan's non-league foes are rated SIXTH-RANKED UCLA, tenth-
in the pre-season top 20. See MICHIGAN, Page s

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