0 Page 12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 30, 1984 Icagers return with pride ONE SMALL VOICE ByJeff Bergida By PAUL HELGREN Not even a seven-hour wait in Newark, N.J. could dampen Bill Frieder's elation over Michigan's first basketball championship. A snow storm that blanketed the east coast yesterday delayed the NIT cham- ps' return flight to Ann Arbor. But weather was the only thing that stopped. the Wolverines during their sweep through the National Invitation Tour- nament field, which culminated in a 83- 63 thrashing of Notre Dame at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night for the title. THE championship could not have been a more fitting end for Michigan. Snubbed the NCAA tournament and of- ten criticized for under-achievement by Wolverine fans and sports writers alike, Michigan simply devasted the Irish to claim the NIT crown. It's a crown Frieder and his team will wear with pride. "Like I told you guys on that Sunday (when Michigan was bypassed by the NCAA tournament), we were disap- pointed we didn't make it to the NCAA's but we weren't going to mope about it," said Frieder about an hour after arriving in Ann Arbor last night."We attacked the NIT with enthusiasm and we went into it to win it. And I think we won it decisively." Wednesday's victory certainly could not have been more decisive. A 20-2 run in the second half, sparked by tourney- MVP Tim McCormick who finished with a career-high 28 points, sent the Irish home with their tails between their legs. "That first eight or nine minutes in the second half was the best we've ever played," commented Frieder. FRIEDER HESITATED to call the championship his greatest thrill ever, but he did put it "right up there" with his two state high school championships at Flint Northern in 1971 -72, reaching the NCAA finals as a Michigan assistant in 1976 and being named head coach at Michigan in 1980. So how did Frieder celebrate his big victory? A hot night at Studio 54? Nah. Dinner, a couple of Pepsis and lots of basketball talk sufficed until the wee hours of the morning. After little or no sleep, the Wolverines scrambled to Newark yesterday mor- ning to catch their flight to Detroit's Metro Airport. Too bad there was no 45- second clock at the airport. A snowstorm put the stall on Frieder and Co. No matter. It gave them a little more time to savor the feeling. . BUT THE euphoric repose won't last too long. Practice resumes. for Michigan on April 26 in preparation for its tour of Europe in May. "It's hard to believe," Frieder groaned. "In three weeks we gotta start practicing again." Don't let Frieder fool you. He can't wait. When you're a champion, the return to the hardwood can't come soon enough. NIT champs elated after annihilating Irish Michigan NIT Champs .. . H .. chomp critical chumps THE WORD OF the day is champion. Perhaps there are too many ways to become a champion in college basket- ball. Besides the post-season tournaments, there are conference champions, Christmas tournament champions, scoring and rebounding champions and dozens of all-star teams to denote individual champions. While the word may be overused these days, it is the best description of the 1984 NIT winners, the Michigan Wolverines. From Bill Frieder and his staff down through the last man off the bench, this team has demonstrated the ability to battle back - the true mark of a champion. Wednesday night's 83-63 trouncing of a Notre Dame club that didn't know what hit it was the perfect note upon which to end the year. Some were disappointed with Michigan's 18-10 record, forgetting that included among the losses were three overtime games, two one-point decisions and a two- point defeat at the buzzer. If five of those games had gone the other way, the record becomes 23-5. Add five post-season wins to that mark and what have you got? A championship record. This team, consisting basically of two seniors, juniors, three sophomores and a freshman, was criticized when it failed to meet the expectations of some overly optimistic fans and writers. But Frieder kept saying that it wasn't ready yet, things hadn't come together. Not until the NIT, that is. Following the Notre Dame game, the Michigan players who had just gone out and played like champions, spoke with appropriate pride of their achievement. "This just boosts our confidence 100 percent," said an elated Rich Rellford. "I think the NCAA made a mistake when they didn't take us and I think they know they made a mistake." "This is something we can have forever, they can't take this a way," said tournament Most Valuable Player Tim McCormick, The title was a personal redemption for the big guy from Clarkston who has taken more than his share of abuse during the season. After being blamed for not providing the strength the Wolverines needed during the Big Ten schedule, McCormick responded with an outstanding post-season, cap- ped off by his 28-point, 14-rebound performance Wednesday. "Michigan basketball was down for a while, but (now) I think it's right back up there," said the 6-11 forward. "Hopefuly, in the next few years, we're going to be able to keep at that level." It looks like things can only get better. Antoine Joubert is blossoming into the player everyone thought he would be while Rellford and Roy Tarpley are proven commodities. Michigan proved that it was of championship caliber on the court, but a lot of people may not know what kind of winners the Wolverines are away from the game. Michigan players are always willing to talk to a reporter. Unlike many college players, these guys are not a bunch of prima donnas. If they recognize you, they treat you as a friend. These aspects are a reflection of their coach. And you couldn't help but be happy for Frieder as he was cutting down the net at the Garden. The man has been abused by the fans, by writers who claim that there's friction on the team, even by a fellow coach. No matter what you might think of his basketball strategy, Bill Frieder is a gentleman and he likes his team. They're 'great kids. We haven't had on problem this year that I can recall," he said at Tuesday's press conference. "They all go to class, and they're fun to be around." To finish off this discussion of champions, consider Dan Pelekoudas. The Downers Grove, Illinois native closed out his career with 14 assists during the NIT final four. After four years of booing, Michigan fans don't have Pelekoudas to kick around anymore. The guy has put his heart into every minute he spent on the court while compiling a 3.9 GPA in the classroom. How may people have accomplished what the former co-captain has in either area? Believe Frieder when he says that his team will miss the senior who played 25 minutes on Wednesday. But while Pelekoudas graduates, everyone else returns. Don't be sur- prised if that NIT tile spurs the Wolverines on to bigger things. After all, we're talking about champions. I I Frieder .. not moping over title Roy Tarpley skies for a jumper during Michigan's first NIT victory over Wichita State. The Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor last night, celebrating their well-deserved championship. No doubt about (N)IT Reservations (CIH 1 Take-out 971-0970 ' '' ~Service GARDEN Best Chef Award Winner in Washington. D.C. Winner 1983 Michigan Chefs de Cuisine 1) Rated No. 1 in Carry-Out Service by Ann Arbor News 2) Selected Best Chinese Restaurant by Michigan Daily a a m 3035 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Open 7 Days A Week 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 1 Poor roads lead to costly vehicle repairs... We need good roads. . ROADS TO BE IMPROVED For better Ann Arbor streets vote yes April 2 on the 1 mii .Street a a -i