qw : w w -IRW7 _,w Page 10 - Wednesday, November 30, 1983 - The Michigan Daily Interroatin&! The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, Nov 7kL The u dg (-7 Joubert adapts to media attention By PAUL HELGREN He stands at the free throw line, his 6- 5, 195-pound frame relaxed, his finger- tips gently massaging the ball. Practice is over, but like most of his teammates this particular player stays after for some extra shooting. Unlike some of them, however, ,this player does not seem to need it. He lets a shot fly with, a flick of his wrist. The ball hovers, follows a perfect arch, then lands with a splash in the net. He follows that with one just like it. The ball is retrieved, and Antoine Joubert starts another shooting streak with a swish... If playing basketball in the Big Ten were as easy as shooting hoops after practice, Joubert could claim his spot on the All-Big Ten team right now. But before this happens he must go through the inevitable growing pains that ac- company the transition from high school to college. But soon, maybe by the middle of this season, opposing coaches will tell their teams, "That 'If the game is tied with five seconds left, I want to shoot it. Because I think I'm going to score. There's no doubt in my mind. They can foul me or let me make it.' -Antoine Joubert. court - will be examined, analyzed, critized, praised, and discussed. In other words, it will business as usual for Joubert. Last-. year one.Detroit paper alone used Jouber's nameor nickname in 21 headlines. ,When he played poorly in two post-seasondall-star games, one writer speculated that maybe he was overrated. When he missed 20 shots for Detroit Southwestern in the Class 'A' state high school finals against Flint Central, there was talk that maybe Joubert shot too much. As you can see, the expectations for Joubert's performances are con- siderable. Nevertheless,. Joubert says he is not affected by this imbalaiced focus of attention. "I'm going to work as hard as I can for my sake, not for no one else because, you know, I'm Antoine and supposed to do this or supposed to do- that," he. says. "I just want to come here and play basketball and win." Michigan coach Bill Frieder, while not especially happy about the amount of attention his prize freshman receives, is confident that Joubert can handle the pressure. "He's the type of kid where that type of thing isn't going to bother him," says the fourth-year Michigan head coach. "There will be pressure on him, no doubt. He's already getting far more publicity than any one person should get. But I think he can handle it all." If adjusting to the spotlight of big- time college basketball weren't enough, Joubert also must work to im- prove many facets of his game. Of course, no more could be asked of hisduncanny shooting ability (he averaged 31.5 points per game in his senior year) and 25-foot range, but his defensive skills need sharpening. Also, if Frieder's plan to occasionally use him at small forward reach fruition, Joubert will have to learn how to rebound against taller and stronger players. Joubert is determined to improve his game so he can become a complete playeir. He is ready to do anything he can to help his team. "I just play to win," says the Detroit native. "I don't go home and say, 'Well, tomorrow we're playing a game and I want to hit 30 or 40 points.' I'm not like that. "The team is more important than me as an individual. I want to do anything to help the team win. I mean, I don't care if I don't have no rebounds, no assists, no steals, and no points -- as long as I hold ny man to the same thing and we win." But deep in his heart Joubert knows he's going to score. He knows when the chips are on the table he will want to play his hand. He wants to take that crucial shot, if only-because it will help his team win. "If the game is tied with five seconds left, I want to-shoot it . . . ," he says. "Because I think I'm going to score. There's. no doubt in my mind. They can foul me or let {me) make it. "I'm going to miss some; everyone misses," he adds. "But I'm going to make more than I miss." Apparently Joubert is very confident about his ability. He is also confident about his prowess with the books. He carried a 3.2 grade-point average in high school and hopes to go to law school one day. Of course, the inevitable question arises: would Joubert delay his un- dergraduate education and, leave Michigan if an opportunity to play in the NBA presented itself? It's hard to say. While he does not rule out the possibility, Joubert prefers not to put See JOUBERT, Page 14 t44 Wolverine Wolverines Wolverines. 14 Then another, and another until he has made 15 in a row. His motions groove with machine-like efficiency. Two on-lookers, who moments ago were about as animated as Crisler Arena seats, poke each other with their elbows, point, and smile. The player's 16th shot rattles the rim and bounces off. He grimaces, then smiles. He hates to miss. He doesn't think he should ever miss. man, number 11. Antoine Joubert. Wat- ch him very closely. Do not let him shoot. DON'T EVEN let him touch the ball!" The ominpresent eyes of the media already are watching closely the man they call "The Judge." When the newspaper men come to practice, they want to talk to Joubert. When the TV camaras roll in, they focus on Joubert. Everything he does - on and off the IL Eric Turn IS. -al BIMBO'S CASA di ROMA 3411 Washtenaw EVERY MON. and TUES. 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