a
SPORTS
Page 8
Thursday; January 7, 1982
The Michigan Daily
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M, WISCONSIN CLASH IN BIG TEN OPENER
Michigan's eight-game statistics*
'Basement Battle'
begins
By JOHN KERR
Although tonight's Michigan-
Wisconsin basketball game at Crisler
Arena will probably have as much ef-
fect on the Big Ten title fight as Eastern
Michigan will, it could still Orove to be
an exciting contest.
Despite the, fact that the loser of the
Wolverine-Badger game is a good bet to
finish last in the conference, they are
probably two of the most evenly-mat-
ched squads in the Big Ten. Both are
young, relatively small and have
struggled through the non-conference
portions of their schedules, Michigan
with a 1-7 mark and Wisconsin with a 3-
5 record.
WITH THE Michigan roster un-
dergoing as many changes as a
chameleon, the Wolverines are for-
tunate that they get to open the tough
Big Ten season against Wisconsin.'
Michigan has recently been depleted by
the losses of Joe James, who quit the
team, and the injured Greg
Washington. Michigan coach Bill
Frieder added freshman Gerard Rudy,
a 6-5 guard-forward, to the squad to
compensate for the personnel losses.
That still leaves Michigan with only
eight scholarship players. Frieder isn't
overly worried, however.
"We've got ten good players out there
now so we are in good shape and really
dedicated and enthusiastic," Frieder
said. "Our problems are not the num-
ber of players."
Indeed, Michigan's main problem
has been a lack of height. And although
Wisconsin is also relatively small, they
do have 6-11 freshman-forward, Brad
Sellers. Sellers has pulled down 70
rebounds so far this season, while
Michigan's best rebounder, Thad Gar-
ner has only grabbed 61. The reboun-
ding of Sellers, who is also averaging 13
points a game, was not expected by
Wisconsin coach Bill Cofield.
"BRAD SELLERS has been a sur-
prise on the rebounding end," the
Badger coach said. "I thought that he
had excellent offensive skills and a very
good touch, but the big question I had
was rebounding."
Sellers is one of three freshmen who
start for the Badgers. The other two,
forward Cory Blackwell and guard Carl
PLAYER
Turner ....................
Garner ....................
Rockymore................
Hopson d.s.................
Person ....................
James.....................
Pelekoudas .............
Carter..................
Hall.....................
Washington............
Brown .................
Michigan ..................
Opponents ................
8-8
8-8
8-4
8-5
8-8
7-4
8.4
8-0
3-0
3-0
3-0
8
44-97
40-92
32.60
28-52
2661
23-50
13-24
13-29
1-3
0-2
0-0
220-470
202-406
460
434
533'
539
426
460
542
438
333
000
000
469
497
18-38
15-22
5-8
8-18
10.18
8-11
7-8
2-3
0-
0-0
0-0
73-126
131-185
477
682
625
444
555
727
875
667
000
000
000
579
708
16-2.0
61-7.6
19-2.7
43-5.4
44-5.5
17-2.4
10-1.3
13-1.6
2-0.7
2-0.7
1-0.5
259-32.4
266-33.3
106
95
69
64
62
54
33
28
2
0
0
513
530
G-S FG-FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT REB-AVG PTS AVG A
13.3
11.9
8.6
8.0
7.7
7.7
4.0
3.5
0.7
0.0
0.0
64.1
66.2
35
s
5
5
7
25
1.
0.
0
0
91*
102
I don't like opening on
the road. But if I have to
open on the road, I'd prefer
to open on the road at
Michigan this year.
- Wisconsin Coach
Bill Cofield
8 202-406 497 131.185
Big Ten Standings
Non-conference
W
Minnesota ......................8
Iowa ...... ..................8
Ohio St ..................9
Illinois .........................7
Indiana....... .............6
Michigan St ...............,....5
Northwestern .................4
L
1
1
3
2
3
5
4
Wisconsin ....................3
Purdue ........................3
MICHIGAN .................1'
Tonight's Games
Illinois at Northwestern
Indiana at Michigan State
Minnesota at Ohio State
Purdue at Iowa
Wisconsin at MICHIGAN
0
LINEUPS,
MICHIGAN (1-7) WISCONSIN (3-5)
(23) Dean Hopson (6-7) ..... F ..... (6-11) Brad Sellers (32)
(45) Thad Garner (6-7) ...... F ... (6-6) Cory Blackwell (30)
(52) Ike Person (6-1) ........ C .... (6-9) Keith Mitchell (41)
(2 ) Eric Turner (6-3)...... G ....... (6-3) John Bailey (12)
(32) Dan Pelekoudas (6-1) .. G ...... (5-9) Carl Golston (11)
GAME TIME & SITE: 8:05 p.m., Crisler Arena.
RADIO: WAAM-AM 1600, WWJ-.AM 95, WCBN-FM 89.3, WUOM-FM 91.7.
r
i
i
Golston, are averaging 14.3 and 12.9
points per game respectively. Yet
although these freshman have perfor-
med well so far this season, Cofield is
wary that the Big Ten could be quite a
surprise to them.
"I'm certain that they're (the fresh-
men) in for a shock," he said. "There's
nothing like playing a Big Ten game
and nothing like playing a Big Ten
game on the road. It's an experience
that will teach them a great deal.
"I DON'T LIKE opening on the road.
But if I have to open on the road I think
I'd prefer to open on the road against
Michigan this year."
Who wouldn't like to open against
Michigan this season? Michigan's
record is so bad that if it loses tonight, it
will be off to the worst start in Michigan
basketball history. However, the
Wolverines showed steady im-
provement at the Winston Tire Holiday
Classic in Los Angeles. Michigan
played then 19th ranked Alabama-
Birminham on even terms before
falling 73-72.
Michigan, though, will also put a
young lineup on the floor. Freshman
guard Eric Turner, who leads the
Wolverines in scoring with 13.3 points a
game, will be playing in his first Big
Ten game, while three of Michigan's
other starters, center Ike Person, for-
ward Dean Hopson, and guard Dan
Pelekoudas have seen only a small amount
of Big Ten action. Michigan captain Garner
will be the only player for the Wolverines
with .considerable Big Ten experience.
The first Big Ten game of the year is
always an important one, especially for
two teams that aren't expected to do
much. A win for either would be a huge
morale and confidence boost. And
Cofield knows that is exactly what the
Wolverines are looking for.
STUDENTS:
HOW TO GET
THE BEST APARTMENT DEAL
IN TOWN!
($96.50/month*- that's cheaper than a dorm!)
1.
2.
3.
Find a student friend.
Go to Windover.
See the spacious one
bedroom units with loads
of closet space.
4. Tell this person about
the free racquet club
membership, clubhouse,
pool, lake, laundry room
in each building and
that it's on the city bus
line.
5. Save up to $400 (the
heat's free).
6.. Sign up.
7. Congratulate yourselves.
You've found the best
apartment deal in town!
*Rent is $193/month.-Split it, and
that's only $96.50/month.
Extended through January 15'
Only during Windover's /3 off, one
bedroom apartment sale. Hurry.
Windover Apartments.
3089 Woodland Hills Dr.
971-2132
College ID
required.
New residents
only.
9
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( full court
PRESS
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By RON POLLACK
WUITH A MINUTE to play in its December 21 game against Louisiana
Tech, Michigan trailed by one point and was working for the final shot
of the game. Under such circumstances, a team normally tries to have its
star take the game deciding shot.
In recent years, stalwarts such as Mike McGee, Phil Hubbard and Rickey
r Green have filled such a role. But going into the Louisiana Tech game, the
Wolverines had no such star. This lack provided a dilemma for Michigan in
its attempt to decide who should take the last shot against Louisiana Tech.
Junior Joe James, who has since quit the team, eventually took the final
jumper,'but one got the feeling that Frieder would have given an arm and a
leg to borrow McGee, Hubbard or Green from their respective NBA teams
for just this one play.
You see, James is not the world's most consistent player. One minute, his
shot looks like it will singe the net. It can be that deadly. But the next minute
his jumper looks like it will dent the backboard or rim. This time the net and
backboard were spared, as his shot collided with the rim before falling har-
miessly to the ground.
1 The fact that James took the potentially game-winning shot said a lot
about the Michigan starting five's ability to take charge in a vital part of a
game. Apparently there was no Wolverine starter either willing or talented
enough to take charge of such a pressure situation at that point in the season.
;Otherwise, why would James be the one to take this shot?
After all, he didn't start in this game, and he received a "whopping" total
of six minutes playing time in Michigan's next two games at the Winston
Tire Holiday Classic. His limited playing time was due to his inconsistency
and inability to play up to his ptential.
This negative -situation was rectified against USC and Alabama-
Birmingham in the Winston Tire Holiday Classic in Los Angeles. Freshman
point guard Eric Turner saw to that. Throughout most of the non-conference
schedule, Frieder had stressed that Turner must take more control and
charge of games. Turner finally did so in California, and the Wolverines
responded with their best two games of the young season.
Turner led Michigan in scoring both games, with 17 against USC and 20 in
The wrong cager shoots ...
.. .But the woe is cured
the Alabama-Birmingham contest. But more importantly than the fact that
he was scoring, was the way in which he was lighting up the scoreboard.
The 6-3 freshman was looking for the ball and the shot. He was firing away
from outside with tremendous confidence and success, thus complementing
his slick passing. He was, in fact, taking control of these games and
Michigan was a better team for it.
"I knew that I had to be in charge," said Turner at tournament's end.
"But I'm just starting to understand my role. I have to shoot more, which
will also open up other people to'score."
Turner's improved take-charge capability leaves only one major flaw in
his game-his free throw shooting. Thus far this year, Turner has been about
as accurate from the charity stripe as a first-time duck hunter is in a thick
fog. He has only connected on 18 of 38 (.468) free throws.
"I think the problem is in my concentration," said Turner of his free throw
shooting. "When you're on the line and you're tired, if you don't concentrate
fully, you'll miss. I can only blame myself for that." He need not blame him-
self too harshly, though. Despite one for six foul shooting, he was voted to the
All-Tournament Team.
"The Big Ten's teams are awesome," said Frieder. "Tjere isn't a team
we've played who will be as big or balanced as our conference's teams."
Thus, the future does not look bright for the Wolverines. Having gone 1-7 in>
what seems to have been the easy part of its schedule, Michigan would seem
to be in, well over its head in its rugged conference. Nonetheless, the
Wolverine players think they may surprise a few opponents in Big Ten play.
"Teams will take us lightly, and that will be to our advantage," said team
captain Thad Garner.
Dean Hopson, meanwhile, came up with a unique theory for how the
Wolverines can turn their fortunes around. "We knew we were going to have
some bad times, but we'll get it all together. After winter break, we'll sur-
prise some teams. We just need some home cooking in our bellies."
It's not a standard cure for losing, but at 1-7 Michigan isn't in a position to
overlook any possibilities.
0
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Where alumni keep up
with the University.
WANTED
forMajor Events
CONCERTS
0
4-
C,
,;
... but it's easier at Ulrich's.
Ulrich's really tries to make
book rush less of a hassle.
They have people who'll
find your books for you.
They'll buy your old books.
They keep a full stock
of all the other supplies you
need. And you won't go
broke in exchange for the
convenience, either.
Why not try Ulrich's this
year? It could be easier
for you.
.Mj