Men's Tennis vs. Illinois Fri., March 30, 2:30 p.m. Track & Tennis Building SPORTS NIT semi-finals Michigan vs. Virginia Tech USA Cable Network Monday, 6:30 p.m. The Michigan Daily Sunday, March 25,1984 PageE Wolves,Hokies soar into Garden By JEFF BERGIDA with wire reports Start spreading the news... Michigan coach Bill Frieder got an early look at the city that never sleeps yesterday when he flew into New York for the NIT press conference. His team will be longing to stray right through the very heart of it upon arrival this af- ternoon. BUT THERE won't be much time for sightseeing as the Wolverines prepare to battle the Hokies of Virginia Tech, tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. Coach Charlie Moir will be bringing in a team that knows how to win the close ones, as evidenced by its performance thus far in the NIT. The Hokies' three wins have come by a total of nine points. "They've all been nail-biters," noted Moir, and he isn't kidding. After pulling out a 77-74 victory over a fine Georgia Tech squad, VTU got by South Alabama, 68-66, and Tennessee, 72-68 to advance to the final four. The Lineup ViriiaTech (21-12)Michigan (21-p.- t44) Bobby Beecher..ft,-9)F (4 i corik.,(- h+ 0 Perry Young .. ( ) F (40) Rich Reilford ... f42) John Dixon.,......* (6-9) (42) Ray Tarpley .... , t4$- f$)Dale Curry .... .. . (4) G 01l) Antoine Jouhert .. (" *(AYo g.... f-0) G (25) Eric Turner lYug., ...(.. . t6- SIE: dai on Square Garden N1W MEm ET .U'Ne.twork (hanel27) * ADO:WUOM (91.7 PM), WAAM (1600 AM), WJ (950'AM. LAST METING: igar. 84, Virginia Tech 63 (1974) .:IE C(1Rfl: Michigan las - On their home court in Blacksburg, Va., Friday night, the Hokies needed a few breaks to come out with a "W." They took the lead for good after a technical foul on the Tennessee bench. The Volunteers proceeded to turn the ball over three times in the last two minutes to hand Virginia Tech the vic- tory. TENNESSEE COACH Don DeVoe was impressed with the Hokies' play. "Virginia Tech did a good job early with their defense forcing us to make some mistakes," he said. "We got our- selves in the fast play and that really hurt us." Moir's team has had an impressive season in compiling a 21-12 record. Virginia Tech clobbered highly- regarded Memphis State during the season and upset Louisville in the semi- finals of the Metro Conference tour- nament. Led by 6-4 guard Dale Curry, who contributed 27 points against Ten- nessee, and scoring forward Perry Young, who added 17, the Hokies have the talent to play with anybody. But talking to Moir, one gets the im- pression that Michigan will win this one without breaking a sweat. "I DON'T see too many advantages that we have," he said. "Michigan is an impressive team. We're going to need all of our quickness to match up with their line-up." While Moircites Michigan's strength as its major attribute, Wolverine guard Eric Turner calls the running game the key to Michigan's three NIT victories. "We're getting into the transition game a little more and getting into a wide-open game," said the junior point guard.j SPEAKING TO reporters in NO York, Frieder recapped Michigan's season and once again noted that suc- cess in the NIT is no small accom- plishment. "We beat three teams in the Final Eight of the NCAA," Frieder said of his team's victories over Dayton, Indiana and Illinois. "So you can't call this a loser's tournament.". In the other semi-final tomorr night, Notre Dame (20-11) batt Southwest Louisiana (23-8). Digger Phelps, head coach of the Fighting Irish, feels that his club needs strong play in three areas to prevail. "WE MUST, have defense, reboun- ding and good foul shooting to win," said the New York native. "I've told the team that we can shoot 45 or 55 percent from the floorand still win games if we have the other three things." Will Virginia Tech's little town bl melt away? Or will Michigan make brand new start of it? Daily Photo by DAN HABIB Wolverine center Tim McCormick raises his fist in exultation following Michigan's 63-62 victory over Xavier Thursday night at Crisler Arena. " n :a "::::: .. .. ::::.: i:i : :... ." ":::: By ADAM MARTIN 6-7 loss to Bronco Doug Eyssautier. The Wolverines succumbed to "I wasn't at the top of my game and I Western at second and third doubles in They looked a little sluggish at the was trying to hit flashy shots," two tight, three-set matches, but it was Schreiber explained. '