Saturday, Mauch 19, 1977
THE MICHIGAN DA.iLY
Page Seven
Saturday, March 19, 1977 THE MfCHIGAN DAILY Page Seven
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MAXWELL LEADS N.C. CHARLOTTE
The Baxter factor
lu fce1Vean Gr een attack
By KATHY HENNEGHAN
Speciil to the Daily
LEXINGTON - Last weekend in Bloom-
ington, Johnny Orr mentioned that he might
consider leaving coaching if Michigan wins
the national championship this year.
And that's what worries UNC-Charlotte
Coach Lee Rose.
"THEY'VE GOT some motivation going
that I don't have," said Rose. "Al McGuire
said he was quitting at the beginning of the
season and now his team wants to win it
for him."
"Well, at Michigan, it's a little different,"
explained Rose. "Green and those guys are
graduating, so they don't care. But the jun-
iors and sophomores had a meeting and de-
cided, 'Hell, let's win and get him out of
here.
The meeting, of course, never existed, but
if it had,,odds are that Dave Baxter would've
smoothed things over.
Not that anyone has it in for Orr, vo'i
inderstand. Tt's just that the junior guard is
usually at the center of any discussion re-
garding basketball.
"I LOVE the game not just playing it,"
said Baxter. "I like to watch good basket-
ball. I want to teach- and coach when my play-
ing days are through."
ALTHOUGH BAXTER suffered an off game
against Detroit, he has been one of Michi-
gan's most consistent performers."
"Our fast break is usually.
the best when Baxter iv on
the floor," said Michigan as -
sistant Bill Frieder. "He doesY
the right things and he's in
the right places. We get a
lot of spurt baskets with
him."
Baxter is a "student of the
game", as the saying goes.r
"WIN OR lose, I talk about
our games three days after
they are over," said Baxter, " I l
"and I visualize the games ''
to come all of the time." l.
"Basketball is a smallt
man's game' and it seems
like the big man is taking
over," explained Bax. "When
you are younger it's the '
smaller kids who are'better . <r:.
At 17 or 18, the big guys are
getting really good." Ba
"A guy like me, not real tall and not very
big," said Baxter, "has to out-think his op-
po lent."
TO PREPARE for a coaching career, Bax-
ter is majoring in Physical Education.
"A lot of people look down on that, Oh
he's a dummy,"' said Baxter, "but I take it
seriously. After four years I want to be very
close to getting my degree."
A guy like me, not real tall
and not very big, has to out-
think his opponent.
-Dave Baxter
WHILE BAXTER enjoys the game, the
pressure of being part of a top-ranked team
somstimes bothers him. So, on occasion,, do
the fans. 'There've been times here when
I've told my mom not to come to games,"
says Baxter. "People would talk about me
like I was a dog."
"Some people aren't going to like the way
T nlav. I know some, people don't even like
te wav Rickey Green plays," Baxter added.
"You don't have to respect me as a basket-
ball nlayer. Respect me as a man.
"Fans surprise me sometimes," he said.
"They've been great lately - against Mar-
qfette thev were fantastic."
BUT TWO months earlier, Michigan strug-
oed through a cold-shooting first half against
Wisconsin. Crisler fans booed the players as
they headed for the locker room.
"That hurt my heart," said
Baxter. "We don't mess up
on purpose. I can understand
them wanting to see us play
well, b't we're human beings
too. There are lots of things
the fans don't know about us.
"I'm 20, Phil's 20, Joel is
20. we're all young men, and
we're under more pressure
than most people will ever
face.
By DON MacLACHLAN
Special to The Daily
LEXINGTON - Most basket-
ball followers thought this year'st
North Carolina at Charlotte team
wo"ld be fortunate to improve!
in last season's 24-6 record and'
runner-up finish in the NIT Tour-t
r ament.
However, the 49'ers are en-
joying their best season ever
with a slate of 27-3 as they head;
into today's NCAA Mideast Re-3
gional Final against Michigan.
While playing in the shadows
of North Carolina and North
Carolina State, Coach Lee
Rose put together a squad of
unselfish, easygoing players
and turned it into the Cinder-
ella team of the 1977 NCAA1
Tournament.
"Thy're a good - looking
team," said Michigan coach
Johnny Orr. "Boy, they're husky
and they shoot well too."
All-American center Cedric
Maxwell is the man who makes'
the Mean Green go. The
school's all-time leading scoreri
averages 22 points and 12 re-
bounds per game while hittingI
on 64 per cent of his field goal
attempts.
"Cedric can go to the board,1
bring the ball up the floor, and
play defense," said Rose, whose
squad has reeled off 12 con-
secutive victories.
Hle was the MVP at* the
NIT last year, and there were
some real good players in it,"
Rose added.
Today's matchup between
Maxwell, nicknamed" "Corn-
bread," and Michigan center
Phil Hubbard should be out-
standing.
Hubbard is coming off one of
his finest games in a Blue uni-"
form Thursday, when he tallied 1,
22 points and a career high 26
caroms against Detroit.
"I hope Hubbard didn't get,
all his rebounds last night,"
Orr joked.
"A good offensive player
like Hubbard is virtually im-
possible to stop man to man,"
Maxwell said. "But it won't
be just an individual match-
up. Down the line it will be
our team concept that decides
the game."
NC-C is a very unselfish team
that works for good percentage'
shots. All five starters are shoot-
ing over 50 per cent from the
field and averaging in double
figures.
"We primarily take the ball*
to Maxwell," Rose said. "All
of our kids are pretty good
shooters so it is hard to slough
off on just one guy."
Another key matchup is at
guard where the quickness of
the Wolverines Rickey GreenR
and Steve Grote opposes two
"big" guards in Chad Kinch and
Melvin Watkins, who was a cen-!
ter in high school.
. "I haven't seen guards that
big since (Quinn) Buckner and1
(Bobby) Wilkerson (or Indi-
ana)" Orr said.
Cagers return
The Michigan basketball
players will be, returning to
Crisler Arena t 7:00 this
evening after today's game
with UNC-Charlotte.
cal," Watkins said. "Chad and through Atlanta," Rose said.
I will just have to adjust." "You know, we don't want
"As a team Michigan impres- to stop playing this afternoon,"
sed me the way they get it off Rose added on a more serious
the boards,"Watkins added.' note.
"They're number one and
we're number 18 but they won't
be able to throw their jocks out
on the floor and. say they are
going to win,"- Maxwell said.
"We're gonna come out and
play hardnosed."
Today's tipoff is at 2:15 and
will be regionally televised on
Channels 4 and 10.
"It's going to take a full team
effort to beat them."
Forty-niner forward Lew Mas-
sey, netting 20 points par game,
although only 6-4, is the team's1
second leading rebounder and
gets the Mean Green moving on
the fast break.
Wolverine Co-captain John
Robinson confronts Massey on
the hardwood today. Rob has
always been impressive in -
NCAA play throughout his ca-
reer, and this year is no ex-
ception.
The senior from Chicago to-
talled 41 points and 10 rebounds
in the Tournamentdthus far and
will be at full strength today
after injuring his knee in the:
first half of the Detroit game.
NC-C has proven it is no push-
over throughout the season. The
Mean Green lost by two pointsI
to Wake Forest and Tennessee
Today's Regional Final
should be close and the Mean
Green are confident they can
give the top-ranked Wolverines
all they can handle.
THE LINEUPS
MICHIGAN
35-Phil Hubbard 6'7"
23-Tom Staton 6'4"
45-John Robinson 6'6"
24-Rickey Green 6'2"
30-Steve Grote 6'2"
UNC-tHARLOTTE
C 33-Cedric Maxwell 6'8"
F 25-Kevin King 6"7"
F 23-Lew Massey 6'4"
G 32-Melvin Watkins 6'3"
G 21-Chad Kinch 64"
"My record was terrific and has walloped Creighton
against them," Orr quipped. "I along with Syracuse.
hope they're not like them." Orr is not surprised the under-
Watkins holds the school as- rated 49'ers are still in the race
sist record with 178 this year for the national title.
nd thM aGree' caa "oach Orr told me in Bloom-l:
anl s t e M a re ns r t -;"yst and point guard. Both W at-
kins and Kinch are excellent:? ington he'd see us in the Fi-
perimeter shooters. nals,' Rose said.
Green's 19.5 scoring average And Orr was right. The win-
and speed concern the Mean ner of today's game will pro-
Green, along with the aggressive ceed to Atlanta next weekend
play of Blue Co-captain Grote. for the NCAA Finals.
"I'm sure it will be tough "I know we're going to At-
because Green is quick and lanta because I can't get home
deceptive and Grote is physi- to Charlotte without going
INTER COOPERATIVE
TO AY 'COUNCI L
s ea
Now inte i'viewing
for maagment;
opportunities
The United States Army is interviewing
sophomores and other selected students hav- :
ing two years remaining on campus for
future positions as Army officers.
Applicants are required to participate in a'
six-week summer program at Fort Knox, Ky.,
to qualify for college ROTC courses next
year. Pay for the six weeks is approximately
$500, plus travel, room and board.
Students who complete the summer train-
ing and enter ROTC do not have to serve on
active duty upon graduation.
Make an appointment *ith the
CAREER PLANNING and
PLA(EMENT OFFIE,
Room 3529, Student Activities Bldg.,
or call 76 4-2400/240 1
"A COUPLE times this
year we lost and I cried,"
said Baxter. "We want to
win the national champion-
shin worse than the fans
want us to win it.
"Tf we don't," he added,
"T don't want to hear about
it. I wasn't born to live up to
an-body's exoectation."
PAIRINGS
Wxer
East Regional
Kentucky (26-3) vs.
North Carolina (26.4)
Mideast Regional
MICHIGAN (26-3 vs.
North Carolina-Charlotte (27-3)
Midwest Regional
Marquette (21-7) vs.
Wake Forest (22-7)
West Regionalx
Nevada-Las Vegas (27-2) vs.
Idaho State (25-4)
Affirmative Action
SHORT INFORMAL
TALKS WITH SLIDES
Refreshments will be served
e
BURSLEY: Tonight
7:30 p.m. in the
Snack Bar.
e
MICHIGAN UNION:
Mon., Mar. 21
7:30 p.m. in the
Assembly Hall-
e
for information
callDoua,761-1058
or ICC office-662-4414
SIXERS SLAM HOUSTON, 124 - 104:
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Sonics nip
Pistons, 105104
BY Tho Amedate rrem - the Philadelphia 76ers to a 124-]
DETROIT - Fourth-quarter 104 win over the Houston Rock-l
scoring sprees by Fred Brown ets in a heated battle of two I
and Dennis Johnson enabled the NBA leaders last night.
Seattle SuperSonics to fight off Holding a 31430 lead early in1
the Detroit Pistons in the clos- the second period, the 76ers]
ing seconds and gain a 105-104 reeled off 18 straight points to]
NBA victory last night. blow the game open. McGinnis1
Brown had eight points and had 11 points and reserve Steve
Johnson six in the last period Mix added 10 as the 76ers main-
while the Pistons rallied from a.aned67he19-point lead at half-I
15-point deficit in the third peri-m
od to pull within a point of the The loss snapped Houston's
Sonics with 25 seconds to go. nine-game win streak, longest
Detroit regained the ball 11 in the league this season. The
seconds 'later but Sonic Mike victory was Philadelphia's
Green tied up the Pistons' third straight.
Leon Douglas and forced a Three players were ejected
jump ball with one second re- for unsportsmanlike conduct
maining. with 9:22 remaining. Philadel-'
Green then won the tap as the phia's Mike Dunleavy fouled,
clock ran out to give the Sonics Houston's John Johnson. Mix
their fifth victory in their last got into the shoving match and
six games. all on the road. all three were thrown out.
Led in the first half by Slick
Watts, with 17 points. and Tom-
my Burleson, with 13, Seattle Cans crunch
led by as many as 19 points in
the second quarter and reached UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Foots
the half with a 57-41 advantage. Walker and Dick Snyder led a
Then the Pistons began to move. fourth-quarter comeback as the
With Douglas getting 11 points Cleveland Cavaliers erased an
and Eric Money eight in the eight-point deficit and beat the;
third period. Detroit had pulled New York Nets 101-88 in an NBA!
to within six after three quar- game last night.
ters.
The loss was Detroit's second Two free throws . by Mike
in a row and dropped the Pis- Bantom with 8:46 to go in the
tons three games behind Den- final period gave the Nets
ver in the battle for the Mid- their biggest lead at 79-71, but
west Division lead. after that the Cavaliers out-
scored them 20-3 to turn the
* * * game around.
Rockets crash Cleveland ripped off 10
straight points to take the lead
PHILADELPHIA - George for the first time, 81-79 on the
McGinnis scored 22 of his 28,
points in the first half, powering
last of three consecutive bas-'
kets by Walker. A goaltending
call against Cavs center Jim
Chones permitted the Nets to tie
the score, but Chones put Cleve-
land ahead for good at 83-81 by
hitting a jumper with 4:46 to
play.
Celts squeak
BOSTON - Two free throws
by Dave Cowens with 48 sec-
onds to play lifted the Boston;
Celtics to a 98-96 victory over
the Atlanta Hawks last night.
Cowens had 10 of his 18
points in the final period and
the Boston center made a cru-
cial block of Hawk John
Brown's shot in the final two
seconds.
Boston 'led by 10 for most of
the game, but John Drew
brought the Hawks back to with-
in two, 89-87, with 5:36 to play.
Drew led all scorers with 38
points, but his desperation shot
from 25 feet out after Cowens'
block went wide at the buzzer.;
See Michigan rt tleri rI
FRI.-SAT.
JOE
H ICKERSC
$3.00
Wolverines Play Bowing reen
7:30p~m.at Yost
A perennial favorite of Ark
audiences, Joe's vast, unusual
and clever repertoire is due to
his being the head of the Folk
Music Division of the Library
of Congress. This is his seventh
year at the Ark.
Sun DAVID BROMBERG
2 SHOWS: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Each show $4.00. Advance tickets on sale Fri.
and Sat. nite for customers only. Open sale
Sun. nite at concert.
1421 H ill ''
8:30
761-1451
T
SCORES
NBA
Seattle 105, Detroit 104
Philadelphia 124, Houston 104
Cleveland 101, New York Nets 88
Boston 98, Atlanta 96
Chicago 114, Kansas City 112
NHL
Minnesota 2, Cleveland 2 (tie)
Washington 5, Colorado 0
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Sunday Spedial
4pmto9pm
1/2 Chicken
r "
".
inch Fries
INTER
COOPERATIVE
Rai ati ;
Sunday's Winner Earns Trip To NCAA
Frinnc At flIlmnii -~taliuim
I -C-& II1 ---
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