- full court
PRESS
Baxter excels...
Wokerines triumph
By HENRY ENGLEHARDT
Special to The Daily
NEW YORK
D AVE BAXTER'S butter-luscious jumpers woke up a woozy bunch of
Wolverines in the second half here yesterday and spurred them to a
victory.
In the first nine minutes of the second half the senior co-captain zipped
in twelve points. He was really smoking, but only Fordham could have
thought it was an illegal substance.
He opened the half's scoring with a perfect swish from fifteen feet, next
he was on the layup end of a fast break, followed by a perfect pop from four-
teen feet, another from the top of the key, another layup off the break and
then bingo from eighteen feet.
After that one Michigan led 50-46, a twelve point difference from the
halftime score. "He got them going," praising Fordham coach Dick Ste-
wart. "His long jumpers pumped up the whole team."
Baxter finished the game with scoring honors at 20 points including
8-11 from the field in the second half. He also had four assists and five
rebounds in thirty-eight minutes.
"I look for Baxter to shoot," said Tom Staton, the other member of the '
starting backcourt. "When he's, hot, he's incredible. They (the opposition)
have to help out on him which leaves someone else open. This is when we
work best."
The first ten minutes of the second half Michigan really was at its
best. Fordham, unlike EMU, didn't let the Wolverines have their way.
Michigan had to fight and it did. The Blue outscored the Rams 27-9 in this
stretch, showing a lot of maturity and poise.
It is only a shame that so few people came to see Michigan at its
worst and best. There ate about 11 million people in the New York area,
give or take a few hundred thousand, but there couldn't have been more
than two thousand at Madison Square Garden for the opening tip.
Baxter was asked what he thought of the crowd. "What crowd?" he
answered. Hey, the Michigan players aren't used to strutting their stuff
for empty seats and it hurt the.m. "It's hard to get enthusiastic for a game
when there is nobody there," Baxter said.
In the first half Michigan let the tiny crowd, among other things,
weaken its desire. "We had no fire," said Staton. "The lack of crowd, the
lack of really talented competition... we were lackadaisical.
"If we play like that against Louisville," Staton continued, "we might
be thirty down."
"In the first half," Joel Thompson explained, "we didn't play hard or
well. Some days we're not going to play well, but we've got to play hard."
For fans wondering what would happen to this year's squad when they
don't shoot well; yesterday's first half provides an answer: inferior talent
can beat them. Michigan shot 42 per cent from the field in the first half
and a sickly 36 from the line.
Now the easy part of the Michigan non-conference schedule is over.
The next three (Louisville, Dayton and Alabama) will really test this team's
quality. And they know it. "We're 3-0," said Johnny Orr, "and it was hard
getting there, and if we'll be 6-0, it'll be a lot harder."
FORDHAM FALTERS,
he'Michigan Daily-Sunday, December 4, 1977-Page 7
77-62
E
__
Blue
By RICK MADDOCK
Special to The Daily
NEW YORK - At the Big Apple's
Madison Square Garden yesterday,
the first half of the Michigan cagers'-
Fordham contest tasted sour, as the
Rams led 37 to 29. But the second half
was delicious for Michigan.
Leading the Wolverines to their
77-62 victory were co-captain David
Baxter, who netted 20 points, and
freshman Johnny Johnson who sank
18. Johnson, the first half's only tasty
Wolverine morsel, scored eleven
points after he replaced Tom Staton
with 12:33 left. The Wolverines
stayed alive because of his spark.
"HE KEPT US going in the first
half. It would have been disasterous
(without him). He was the only one
going to the basket," Michigan coach.
Johnny Orr said.
"I just wanted to give the team a
lift. That's my job," Johnson said.
Baxter, who has a bad cold, picked
up where Johnson left off. The senior
guard popped 16 of his points in the
second half mixing fast break lay-ups
with long jumpers.
ALTHOUGH BAXTER was the
game's leading scorer, he was not
totally pleased with his performance.
"I made too many mistakes. I
missed a let of free throws (0 for 3). If
the game was close, and I missed
those free throws we would have
lost," Baxter said.
The senior from Detroit's Lutheran
West was not the only Wolverine who
missed a lot of free throws. Michigan
sank 19 of 37 (51%) from the charity
line, and eight of those misses were
front end bonus shots. Yet, that per-
centage statistic looks like gold
compared to Michigan's first half
rally j
performance which was 7 for 19, just
under 37%.
WHAT WAS the problem? "Lack of
concentration, and like we didn't get
to practice here at all," Baxter said.
The Wolverines had a variety of
other problems in the first half,
including poor field goal shooting
(42%) and a shoddy defense against a
team that started three freshmen
and sported a 1-2 record before the
game.
"We're capable of playing, but it
was frustrating. We couldn't operate
our offense in the first half. We
weren't running the breaks, and we
weren't looking up,"said Orr.
"ON TUESDAY or Wednesday we
were like five jack rabbits. We were
so quick. Today we were like five
turtles for a long time," Orr added.
"We let them take it to us, and in
the second half we took it to them,"
said Baxter.
Michigan came out shooting in the
second half. The Wolverines closed
the Rams' eight point lead to two by
scoring the first six points. Fordham
stopped play by calling . a timeout
with 17:48 left in the game.
"WHEN MICHIGAN gets hot, they
are a very explosive team," Ford-
ham coach Dick Stewart said.
"We're not a comeback team. In the
first half, we held them to one shot.
They did play harder in the second
half. They shot with better balanc in
the second half, and they created our
second half turnovers."
Several of those turnovers came
when the Wolverines attacked with
their full court press that comes after
completed free throws. Fordham
turned the ball over six times, and
Michigan scored six points as a
vrecks
direct result of the press.
"They turned our turnovers into
points. They must -have converted
nine of every 10 turnovers, and it was
the difference between winning and
losing," Stewart said.
FORD HAM ' took the lead witt
11:51 to go in the first half, 17-15, and
held it until there was 14:25 left in the
game, when Michigan tied the scorE
41 apiece. After Michigan grabbed
the lead momentarily, Fordham
regained it for the last time for about
two minutes.
With 11:21 left, Joel Thompsor
grabbed a rebound on the left side of
the lane and banked in a layup as he
was fouled by Fordham's Kevin
Ryan. Thompson sank the third point
of the play, putting the Wolverines or
top for good, 48-46.
This play, preceded by a Baxter
bucket was part of a 13-point barrage
by the Wolverines. Fordham led
46-43, with 12:37 left to go. The next
time the Rams added to their score
was at 8:48 left, which made the
score 56-48 in Michigan's favor.
Rams
THOMPSON scored only one point
in the first half, but came back with
eleven in the second half to tie him
with Alan Hardy for the third highest
l game total.
J. T. still has problems with his
ankle, which was considerably swol-
len after the game. "It's real sore,
and usually by halftime it's very
sore," he said.
Last year's game was marred by
over-aggressive defense. Fordham's'
Tom Kavanagh was ejected after
nearly tackling, Steve Grote.
Yesterday's game was cautiously
officiated as there were 33 fouls
called on Fordham and 23 on
Michigan. However, Orr comment-
ed, "I didn't think they were nearly
as aggressive as they were at our
place last year. They played good
defense. They sagged good, and they
mixed it up well," Orr said.
"We heard.a lot of stories before
the game - like how we were gonna
get a screwing by the referees. I
thought the refereeing was terrific,"
Orr added.
Bronx bombed
MICHIGAN
FORDHAM
Hardy .................
McGee ................
Thompson...........
Baxter ................
Staton.............
Johnson.............
Heutrman..........
Bergen ................
Lozier..............
Mk.Bodnar........
My. Bodnar ..........
Robinson............
Total ................
FG/A
4/11
2/6
4/7
10/16
1/4
8/11
0/1
0/0
0/0
0/0
0/0
0/0
29/56
FT/A
4/6
7/7
4/8
0/3
0/3
0/0
1/5
1/2
0/0
0/0
0/0
0/0
19/57
R
6
4
10
5
4
1
f 2
1
0
0
0
33
A
2
4
1
4
3
3
0
0
0
0
0,
0
17
T
12
11
12
20
2
18
1
1
0
0
0
0
77
Walsh .............
Williams............
Ryan ................
Holloway ..............
Lombardi.......
Kavanaugh.......
O'Neil.............
Tripucka............
G. White...............
K. White...........
Dowell..............
Akin ..................
Totals ...............
FG/A
2/5
4/7
2/2
3/8
2/3
2/6
4/6
2/6
0/4
1/1
0/1
0/0
22/49
FT/A
1/1
2/4
0/0
5/6.
5/6
3/4
0/0
1/2
0/0
1/3
0/0
0/0
18/26
E
z
4
2
7
3
2
6
1
0
0
32
A
0
1
3
7
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
T
5
10
4
II
9
7
8
5
0
3
0
0
62
Score by Periods
MICHIGAN ....................... 29
Fordham............................ 37
48 - 77
25 -62
PALMER LEADS SWEEP:
Wolverines wall(
By PAUL CAMPBELL
Rick Palmer's unofficial comeback was officia" completed last night
before the largest crowd of the year at Yost when he and his teammates
throttled Wisconsin 7-3 to complete a two-game Michigan' sweep of the
defending national champions.
The senior goalie, who had puzzled his coaches and fans with shaky
early season play which pushed him out of the number one position he held
last year, was nothing short of superb.'He turned back 43 Badger shots
during a busy but beautiful evening, including 20 in the first period alone as
the Wolverines were being outshot by Wisconsin 21-5.
Palmer stopped every type of shot imaginable, from wicked blue line
slapshots to clear breakaways. Oftentimes he was called on to kick out two
or three shots in sequence, and did so aggressively and with the confidence
he lacked the first month of the campaign.
"Rick's got it back together alright," exclaimed a beaming Michigan
coach Dan Farrell after the game. "He played real well last week in
Colorado, then he came out and kept us in the game tonight."
Wisconsin coach Bob Johnson was also liberal in his praises of Palmer's
efforts. "I thought we played'excellent, aggressive hockey in that first
period," said Johnson. "But he stopped everything we had.'
Not quite everything. Coach Johnson forgot that his son Mark found a
chink in Palmer's armor at 15:21 on a wrist shot from the faceoff circle to the
goalie's right. That tied the score at one, as Bill Thayer had scored the first
of this two goals at 10:54 on a similar shot that found its way between the legs
of Badger goalie Mike Dibble.
Palmer shut the door after Johnson's goal, however, and it didn't open
again for over a period while Dave Brennan, Ben Kawa, and Mike Coffman
scored to give the Wolverines a 4-1 lead. But with time running out in the
middle stanza,-wing Tom Ulseth got a stick on a Theran Welsh slap shot and
redirected it between Palmer's legs to cut the Badger deficit to two only ten
seconds before the buzzer.
Daily Photo by PETER SERLING
THE WOLVERINES Kip Maurer (17) lugs the puck during last night's 7-3 victory
over Wisconsin. The senior center didn't score last night or gain an assist for the
first time all season. However, while Maurer had to be content with no points in a
solid effort against the Badgers, Michigan picked up a lot of points; with the fans
whooped it up like never before and with the statistics. The Wolverines scored
18 goals this weekend.
Once more
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. M-Thayer (Olver, Turner) 10:54; 2.
'W-Mark Johnson (Lundeen) 15:21.
Penalties: 1. M-Turner (high sticking) 2:24.
second period'
Scoring: 3. M-Brennan (McCahill) 10:04; 4.
M-Kawa (Debol) 13:14; 5. M-Coffman (Miller,
Palmer) 16:47; 6. W-Ulseth (Welsh, Eaves) 19:50.
Penalties: 1. M-Coffman (roughing) 9:07; 2.
W-Griffin (roughing) 9:07; 3. M-Miller (roughing)
9:07; 4. W-McIntosh (roughing) 9:07.
with feeling
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 7. W-Ulseth (Lecy, Welsh) 5:10; 8.
M-Miller (Lerg, Waymann .6:40; 9. M-Thayer
(Manning, Debol) 9:41; 10. M-Waymann
(unassisted) 17:25.
Penalties: M-Coffman (tripping) 4:18; W-Suter
(holding) 9:20; M-Turner (holding) 15:20 M-Todd
(tripping) 18:12.
Shots on goal
)p Wisconsin,,7-
The Badgers mounted their only serious challenge. Ulseth scored again
on a tip-in, this time while Coffman was serVing a minor penalty for tripping.
Wisconsin picked up the pace, but Palmer preserved the lead and ninety
seconds later, Mark Miller gave the Wolverines breathing room when he
whistled a drive past Dibble after gathering in a Dan Lerg pass at the blue
line.
"We were desperate there in the third period," said Farrell. "If Wiscon-
sin had tiied it, we would-nave been in trouble."
Thayer made sure the Wolverines stayed out of trouble with a picture
perfect power play tally at 9:40. John Waymann blazed a shot past an im-
mobile Dibble late in the game to ice the sweep which vaulted the Wolverines
(9-3) into second place in the WCHA while dropping the Badgers (8-4) back
into third.
"What can I say," queried Farrell when asked about the significance of
the sweep. "We needed to win at home because eight of our next ten league
games are on the road. We got the solid goaltending and that did it for us."
--- - - PLEASE cut out and SAVE THIS ONE TIME AD -... em1........
* *A E CA L CH RISTMA S GIFT**
FOR UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FANS
Give yourself or friends a one of a kind present. The perfect gift for fans of
I any age is our souvenir edition T-shirt of the 1978 Rose Bowl game. Our
washable quality crafted T-shirt is artfully emblazoned with FIVE beautifully I
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I collectors' item. The souvenir edition insignia shown below is imprinted
' permanently and enlarged to full size to cover the FRONT of each T-shirt.
{i
II
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r MICHIGAN
WASHINGTON c.yrgt 197
Optional Custom Work:
' For on additional charge of 15 per letter, we will artfully imprint any
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Choose any above or make your own funky message(s) and print in B-1
below. FREE111 FREE!! FREE!!
BUMPER STICKER WITH THE FOLLOWING CAPTION:f
' ~STAR WA RS 1978..
Michigan v.s. Washington
This dynamite bit of memorabilia from 1978 will be sent to you free of chre alon with ech T-shirt you purchase.
Order extras and save as collector's items.
.,.. ,e..n Mail coupon now. Allow 2 weeks for deliveryo...........
Gentlemen: Specialty Shirt Shoppes, Inc.
Please RUSH me the following item(s) P.O. Drawer 1834
' i have listed below: Tallahassee, Florida 32302
' A) Souvenir T-shirt(s) of the 1978 Rose Bowl Game at $4.95 each, AMOUNT
plus 506 postage and handling charge. I understand 1 will receive
the bumper sticker(s) as stated above FREE of charge with each shirt
IIbuy. Check size: ADULT: sm_ md__Ig_; CHILD: sm md__lg
No. SHIRTS x $4.95 $
1I 1) Custom Work: All of the above in A plus the following mes-
sage(s) imprinted on shirt back(s) at 1t5per letter (allow iI
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Please print.
No. letters x 15hn c
Wisconsin (Dibble).............4
MICHIGAN (Palmer) ........... 20
Attendance: 7,649.
8
12
S-17
11 -43
SPOR TS OF THE DAIL Y:
Women tankers capsize Central, Waterloo
By BOB WARD
"Nice and easy" was the theme for yesterday's
swim meet, when Michigan's women's team flooded
out Central Michigan and Waterloo at the first home
competition of the season.
The Blue mermaids took every event they com-
peted in, obliterating their opponents both in
swimming and diving. They scored well and they
placed in the top three in almost every race.
FRIDAY NIGHT the tankers opened their season
at Oakland University, washing out their competi-
tion 111-22. "I was happy with some of the races,
but some were a little disappointing," said Coach
Stu Isaac. "Everyone had high expectations for the
team and they weren't relaxed."
But yesterday the team did well, and Isaac attri-
buted it to poise (besides talent). "Today they were
swimming well because they were relaxed."
Katy McCully claimed first in three events, the
100 yard IM (individual medley)" 100 yard free-
style, an the 50 yard freestyle. In the 100 yard IM,
she was second until the last lap, when she began
1- 'rnn-. -A ..i.a r ~ amnc n--n +Mn ofte water
In diving, team captain Chris Seufert aced both
boards, while Julie Bachman took second and third
in the one-meter and three-meter. Julie Jeffries
claimed second on the three-meter and third in
the one-meter. But Friday Bachman won both the
one and three-meter boards.
Before the meet yesterday, Seufert expressed
concern about her diving, "My, tops are consistent,
but I'm not very consistent in my entries, that's
what I'm working on right now."
Big Ten roundup
Led by seven foot center Joe Barry Carroll, the
Purdue Boilermakers blew out Alabama for an 82-
65 college basketball victory.
After a fairly close first half, the Boilermakers
put the game out of reach with scoring bursts of
12-2 and 16-3 in the final period. Once they were
leading by 21 points, coach Fred Schaus brought
out the reserves.
Wisconsin took a 48-29 halftime lead to smother
Canisius College 96-70 in a non-conference basket-
ball victory yesterday.
mre unriar-. sft.r... -v 1 a byTamn C"'Urtrth"
Pistons bounced
In their worst shooting performance of the sea-
son, the Pistons shot only 40 percent on the floor
and only 27 percent in the fourth quarter as they
dropped a 103-89 decision to the Indiana Pacers at
home.
Al Eberhard tied the contest at 78-78, the Pistons
promptly went cold, being outscored 25-11 for the
remainder of the game.
Guard John Williamson paced Indiana with 25
points and Adrian Dantley, the NBA's second lead-
ing scorer, added 21. Eberhard, who sparked the
brief second half comeback by the Pistons, had 21
for the losers. Bob Lanier chipped in with 15.
By ERIC OLSON
SCORES
College Basketball
MICHIGAN 77, Fordham62
Duke 97, Wake Forest 84
Indiana St. 102, Baptist, SC 55
Notre Dame 89, valparaiso 75
Providence 60, Seton Hall 58
Temple 84, Assumption 66
Clemson 99, Citadel 65
i ,