Friday, January 21, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Seven Friday., January 21, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY full court ___PRESS Hubbard good on paper .. SGrote good on court By TOM CAMERON PHIL HUBBARD scored 19 points last night (16 in the first half) picked up 14 rebounds, and held Joe Barry Carroll, Purdue's 7-foot center, to 12 points, and 10 rebounds. He had a great game. Steve Grote scored only six points, lost the. ball six times and picked up only two steals. But he had a great game, too. Hubbard was awesome. He dominated the boards against three guys who were either taller or as tall as himself. His first half production of 16 points gave Michigan the lift that kept Purdue back. It's not as easy to say such superlatives for Grote's case. He comes up very short in the stats column . . . like a midget. But the 6-2, senior. co-captain of the Wolverines has been giving some super shows in his last few outings. "Grote was ;just super again," Johnny Orr said. "He had a great game at Iowa, and boy, he had quick hands out there (to- day). He stole the ball many, many times for us." Many, many times only adds up to two in the stats as the steals are usually given to whoever comes up with the ball. Grote usually just deflects the ball to someone else. "I thought he played a super game," assistant coach Bill Frieder echoed. "He was really fired up. As I said many times, so many things that Grote does is not measured in the box scores. "He comes up with the steals, the deflections, the big plays." The only stats that Gro'e does well in is assists. The all- time Michigan assist record holder dished out five last night - effectively crushing Purdue's zone defense. "Grote was pene- trating the zone and dishing it out," Orr said. "You have to do that," Frieder commented. "Especially when they are spread out. You have to take it in there and make the defense react." Few appreciate the things that Grote does. Like Purdue's coach Fred Schaus. He was asked if his guard Bruce Parkinson's performance had anything to do with Grote's tough defense. His answer: "Not a damned thing." This might be a first. I always thought that a tough de- ferise could throw off anybody's game. This year is perhaps the year that Grote should be appreciated the most. His defense has improved, his quick- ness has improved, and his performances have followed suit. "I feel I've been quicker all year," Grote said. "I'm sure it's the weight loss (20 lbs. from last season) and the con- ditioning from trying out for the Olympics that has carried over." The Crisler fans had a lot to be pleased about last night. Especially the play of sophomore Phil Hubbard. Let me emphasize sophomore. Since the first day Hub- bard put on the Blue, he's worked like an experienced Big Ten center. But he's not all that experienced and he's not really a center. At 6-7, he was dwarfed playing next to Carroll. Although the game looked like one where the guards were the featured highlight, it was on the boards that the game was won. And in the battle of the boards, Hubbard won it for Michi- gan. "He was super on the boards ... Fourteen rebounds is just outstanding," Freider said. "We felt if we could outre- bound them, we would beat them." Michigan did outrebound Purdue 40-30, thanks to Hub- bard. And Michigan did win, thanks to Hubbard and his stats ... and Grote ... without any stats. GRAB BIG 10 LEAD Blue By SCOTT LEWIS It's been" a long time com- ing, but after last night's vic- tory Michigan can finally claim the undisputed top spot in the Big Ten. Not since March, 1974 have the Wolverines sat alone atop the conference standings. But after many previous failures in the "showdown" games, they refused to let the pressure and bad breaks of the game hold them back. In an intense sellout at Cris- ler Arena, Michigan held small and uncertain leads throughout, and prevailed in the end for the 82-76 victory before 13,609 frenzied fans. MICHIGAN never led in the game by more than eleven points, and Purdue always loomed within striking distance l until a near-perfect Michigan stall at the end sealed the clutch victory. When the going got tense near the end, reserve guard Dave Baxter had to come in with 7:31 left for injured Rickey Green, and he did a masterful job of running the offense. He scored ten of Michigan's last twelve dum ps Purdue, 82-76 I points in the last 6:13, and handled the ball much of the time during the stall. "I feel I've been doing a real good job the last few games," said the pleased Baxter. "It's a good feeling going in for a guy like Rickey and still be- ing able to win the game." THE SHARPSHOOTING left- hander has hit 9 of 11 shots the last two games coming in as Michigan's main zone-break- er. But it was the usual team ef- fort that dominated the Boiler- makers, with Michigan Coach Johnny Orr crediting player up- on player after the game. The all-around play of Steve Grote, especially in the first half, helphed Michigan to an early 28-18 lead. In the period, the. senior co-captain dished out five assists in penetrating Pur- due's zone defense. On defense, he gave Boilermaker star Bruce fits, coming up with numerous steals and deflections of pass- es. Center Phil Hubbard did more than neutralize Purdue's tall centers Playing against 6-10 Tom Scheffler and 7-0 Joe Barry Carroll, Hubbard led all re-t bounders with 14.1 In addition, 'he hit 8 of 14 shots from the field on his wayt to 19 points in the game, 16 of which came in the first half. c "I HAVE NO different strate-t gy against bigger men," said1 Hubbard. "I just played theF game. I had a lot of help from the other guys on defense." Despite the height disadvant- age, Michigan outreboundedj Purdue 404-0. The quicker Wol- verine frontcourtmen continu- ously outpositioned their coun- terparts, coming up with many key rebounds, especially on' of- fense. After Michigan jumped out to its early lead, Purdue gradu- ally chipped. away, due to a tougher man-to-man defense and penetrating on offense. The score was tied three times aft- er that but the fast break put Michigan on top at halftime, 46-43. Purdue continuously challeng- ed the small leads in the sec- and half, and when Green went out with Michigan ahead by seven and over 7 mminutes1 still remaining in the game,, things started looking a little bleak for the Wolverines. PURDUE NEVER got closer than three in the final half. Green suffered a twisted mus- cle in his back, and his sta- tus for Saturday's Illinois game is unknown thus far. He still suffered some pain after the game. Michigan shot unusually well from the free throw line. Man- aging a meager 69 per cent from the line before the game, the Wolverines hit 24 ofx27at- tempts for the game. Baxter, averaging but 58gper cent for the season, connected on six straight tosses in the final min- ues. Michigan used its fast break constantly throughout the game. Many times Hubbard or for- ward John Robinson would grab the rebound and dribble down- court themself. "EVER SINCE Hubbard's been on the Olympic team, he thinks he's a guard," mused a happy Orr. Rusted Boilers EXPERIENCE KEYS IRISH - Robinson Thompson Hubbard Green GGrpte Staton Hardy Baxter Team Totals MICHIGAN FG/A FT/A 1-7 4-4 4-9 3-3 8-14 3-4 8-15 6-6 2-6 2-2 2-6 0-0 0-0 0-2 4-5 6-6 29-62 24-27 Blue icers ..,. face ND By JOHN NIEMEYER Oh, how things can turn around in the WCHA. Two years ago, Notre Dame was a weak sister in the con- ference, finishing with a 13-22-3 record. This weekend, the Fighting Irish will batte Michigan's hockey team for second place in the conference as they host the Wolyerines in South Bend. Notre Dame is currently tied for third place with North Da- kota, sharing identical 11-7 conference records. If Michi- gan holds onto second this weekend, they will have to fight the Sioux next weekend, making this weekend's con- test even more crucial. The reason. for the turn around in Notre Dame's for- tunes is largely experience. Nearly all of last year's squad which finished 19-17-2 and lost to Michigan in the first round of the playoffs returned this year. Included among those return- ees are some super players that have given the Irish a strong, balanced attack. The Irish offense is led by superstar center Brian Walsh. Walsh demonstrated his offen- sive prowess to the Michigan State Spartans last weekend as he scored six goals and added four assists to increase his dom- inance among the WCHA scor- ing leaders. Walsh has 45 points on the season, and his nearest com- petitors are Craig Norwich of, Wisconsin and Michigan's Dave Debol with 38 and 36 with nullifying the most prolif-' goals respectively. ic offense in the nation. This Adding some muscle to the task will rest squarely on the offense are solid performers shoulders of the talented Irish Jack Brownschidle and Clark netminders, John Peterson and Hamilton who also rank with Len Moher. the league's top goal getters. Peterson has the second best Hamilton, a wing, plays on a goals against average in the line with center Walsh, giving conference, while Moher is the Irish more than enough right behind in third place. scoring power when they are on The key to the series could be the ice. the momentum that Notre Dame Brownschidle, however, is a has built up in recent weeks, defenseman, and anchors a so including last weekend's sweep id platoon that has yielded only of Michigan State in East Lan- 77 points all year, lowest in the sg. conference. .For the Wolverines to return victorious, they will have to While the Irish can boast the penetrate the tough Irish de- best defense, they are faced fense, and shut down Walsh. VALUABLE COUPON WORTH 880 - R A TP 4 1 11 14 4 19 3 2 19 3 6 6 _.2 0 0 1 0 14 7 40 16 82 R A TP 2 3 16 0 4 11 1 2 9 10 1 12 1 1 12 4 30 12 76 PURDUE Jordan Walls Parker Parkinson Carroll Thomas Sichting Smalley McDermott Team Totals F G/A 7-15 2-6 5-11 3-8 5-8 2-2 4-6 4-0 4-0 FT/A 2-2 0-0 1-3 3-4 2-3 0-0 4-4 0-0 0-0 31-61 14-18 I I I I I I Ia BUY TWO DEUCIOUS MR.TONY SUBMARINE SANDWICHES(mg) FOR ONLY $1.50(andfthis coupoSAVE 88& 1 1 1 1 Daily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS Score by Periods Michigan junior Joel Thompson skies over Purdue guard MICHIGAN...........46 3682 Jerry Sichting in last night's contest at Crisler Arena. The Pd .--- .3 - Wolverines took control of the Big Ten basketball lead, down- Attendance:13,a9o ing the Boilermakers 82-76 before a sell-out crowd. Fouled Out -- Carroll JANUARY 23-11:00 P.M. THE DETROITSYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem JANUARY 24-1:00 P.M. AFTERNOON MUSICALE, Stephen Skelley, host. Works by Tartini, Grieg, Mozart, Hummel, Suk and Nielsen JANUARY 25--8:05 P.M.W K) A RECITAL by RUTH LAREDO. ANN ARBOR Works by Scriabin, Rachmaninoff' Makes It A Little Bat Beethoven and Ravele stALGe Bit JANUARY 26-8:05 P.M. Easier To Get Through OPERA NIGHT, Evans Mirageas, host. The Day Rossini: It Turco in Itslia JANUARY 28-8:05 P.M. THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC Mahler: Symphohy No. 8 FOR A FREE PROGRAM GUIDE CALL (313) 764-9210 Blue tankers active; battle Big 10 foes I By TIM PFOHL "WE'LL JUST be trying to, ekend rom- swim through the Wisconsin Thetupcomingweekenpor meet. We're looking forward to ises to be a crucial one for.MSU. It's our biggest dual meet both Michigan swimming teams, of the year and the girls are each culminating in important really anxious." Saturday night meets. ral niu. The men's team opens up Fri- In the only home meet of the day night at Purdue, then takes weekend, the women's swim on a talented Illinois squad Sat- team takes on Wisconsin Friday urday afternoon. The Boiler- night. The Badgers finished fifth makers are a "vastly improved in the Big Ten last year and team" according to Michigan boast a strong crop of new re- Coach Gus Stager. cruits. Coach Stu Isaac, how- "We'll be at a disadvantage ever, downplays the meet in fa- because that's not the greatest vor of the following nght's pool. I expect some pretty good matcnup at Michigan State. - races, but score-wise I think we can handle the meet." Stager felt that Illinois was a better team this year, also. "'They have good sprinters, in fact, they're fairly loaded all the Way up. They'll be more fired up than Purdue." * 7J~u 4 Expires*, For Pickup or Dine-in only. SUMARINES State & William 1327 S. University (W.:nar 769-9100 663-0511 --- - -m Re al like...n'ik a...kg R ubh...u sort~ooolu kno.u. t1 Let the Sun Shine In Canterbury House and M.M. Productions present as a Friendshipment benefit: _ I 1 gand Disc~ 611 CHUJRCH- ANN ARBORI 995-59~5 R N I ... _ _ _ % SCORES 7=7=777S i' ACU-I Tournament for MEN and WOMEN *1l College Basketball MICHIGAN 82, Purdue 76 Wisconsin 61, Northwestern 60 Michigan State 67, Illinois 58 Wichita State 68, Tulsa 48 Rutgers 87, George Washington 84 VMI 88, Richmond 79 NBA Portland 99, Cleveland 91 Kansas City 123, N.Y. Nets 92 BOWLi NG SAT. JAN. 22 10 a.m. I POCKET BILLIARDS SAT. and SUN. Jan. 22-23--12 p.m. UNION. THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE-ROCK MUSICAL Book & Lyrics:G rame Ragni,aRado /MusicGit Mac Dermot February 17 thru 20, 1977 Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, Ann Arbor Tickets: $3.00 and $4.00 at Jacobsons, Liberty Music, Hill Auditorium. $1.00 from the price of each ticket will go to "Friendshipmeflt". MICHIGAN 15c 15c OFF OFF IN- AIRN N -UBM RN -Nm- -- Gary Graser, U. of M. '77, replies to the question, "What does Genesee Cream Ale really taste like?" ---4 pN II 15r nFl ANY CIIRMARINI *1 i