mw w . w
-W
'S
w
1S.
Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 22, 1985
The Michigan Daily - Friday, Nov
Frieder frets, Blue aims I
(Continued from Page 4) ". L - mf
Daily Photo by DAN HABIB
Destined for Dallas?
Blue booked for critical test of discipline
Tarpley, Rellford, and Wade, after
working together for three years are
AWESOME. No other words
necessary.
lright, then, shall we just get the
monial garbage out of the way,
crown the Wolverines Big Ten Cham-
pions, and pack our bags for Dallas
(site of the Final Four)? That's what
many people seem to be saying. All
the media attention, the fan attention
and the given talent of the team is
snowballing into a mountain of con-
fidence.
And Bill Frieder is worried.
"One of my biggest concerns for
this team is expectations," said the
sixth-year head coach. "People are
going to be high on us becuase of what
happened last year and everthing
that's been written this year.
"But what's happened last year is
over."
That's a tough lesson to teach a
group of kids just beginning tosoak up
national exposure and everything thaf
comes with it.
"I don't know if they know how hard
it's going to be," said Frieder. "Even
though they think they're
working hard; that they still have to
work harder. That's the main thing
that
remains to be seen.
The players have matured,
however, and seem to realize that a
team must not only have great
players, but also must play well
together.
"I think everyone has dedicated
themselves to their role," said
Joubert. "We have a lot of great
players on this team, but sometimes
you have to sacrifice yourself to
playing a role in order to win. We all
understand that."
Tarpley agreed. "We're unselfish,"
he said. "Everyone knows they can
score, but we're just concerned about
Ten Player of the Year, thinks that
his selection as co-captain (with But-
ch Wade) will open a new avenue for
him.
"I'm going to be able to lead the
team this year, because I'm a senior
and I've been through it all," said the
6-11 center. "When we're in the game
and it gets sticky, I'll let them know
how it is. 'Come on, let's pick it up
guys, let's go.' I sound like a coach,
don't I?"
No, no. No one sounds like the
coach.
"You have to work hard to get to the
top. Then once you get there, you
'I don't know if they know how hard it's going to be.
Even though they think they're working hard, that
they still have to work harder. That's the main
thing that remains to be seen.'
-Bill Frieder
By TOM KEANEY
T HE FUN WAS finally over. Someone had
turned off the rides at the amusement
park. The other boys had taken their ball and
gone home.
After winning 17 consecutive games, in-
cluding 15 straight in the Big Ten and a league
championship, the Wolverines were proven
fallible. The season was over with a loss to
Villanova in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament.
The loss, despite coming to the eventual
national champions, gave the season a bitter
taste. Nothing could take away the tremendous
success the Wolverines had achieved through
their hard work during the regular season, but
somehow something didn't seem right to the
Wolverines about their losing in the second
round.
This year the players are looking to make
amends.
"We want to get to the Final Four so bad,
we'd do almost anything," said senior forward
Richard Rellford. "I'm psyched about the
season. I've got a few surprises for this year."
Surprises might be hard to come by for the
Wolverines, however. This year everyone is on
to them. Especially the opposition.
"I defy anyone to come up with a team in the
history of the Big Ten that has better players -
one through 15 - than Michigan," said Iowa
Hawkeye head coach George Raveling. "This
team has an unbeatable combination of talent
and experience."
Unbeatable combination. Strong words from
a rival coach. To what extent Raveling is
exaggerating remains to be seen, but at the
very least the Wolverines have the tools to be a
fantastic team.
Back is the same personnel that played out of
its collective mind last year, putting Michigan
in the NCAA Tournament for the first time sin-
ce 1977. This year's team seems to have it all -
balance, depth, coaching and experience.
BALANCE: So crucial to Michigan's offensive
and defensive attacks is its ability to combine
quickness and strength.
Center Roy Tarpley and guard Gary Grant
are the speed demons, the catalysts of the
team. Tarpley's quickness comes primarily on
offense where he moves to the basket quicker
than any big man in the country. Grant's
quickness is on defense where he led the team
last year with 50 steals.
Countering the quickness is good old-
fashioned brawn. Rellford and power forward
Butch Wade stand an imposing 6-6, 230 and 6-8,
235 respectively. You can be sure that when
push comes to shove, these two are doing most
of the shoving.
DEPTH: As Raveling indicated, Michigan
has talent not only in its starting five, but all
the way down the bench as well.
At 6-9, senior Robert Henderson doesn't simply
"fill in" at center and forward, he is a powerful
force as Michigan's sixth man. His leadership
and rebounding coming off the bench will be
essential.
Garde Thompson gives the Wolverines ad-
ditional quickness as the third guard. Last year
at Iowa, his confidence under fire sparked
Michigan's comeback victory.
Forwards Steve Stoyko and Glen Rice
will both see playing time as well, rounding out
a corps of substitutes many coaches would love
to have as starters.
COACHING: You aren't going to hear any more
"Bill Frieder don't get no respect" stories,
because he does. Associated Press' 1985 Coach
of the Year is finally seeing the fruits of years
of laborious recruiting.
But credit Frieder for more than just good
recruiting. Many talented teams never amount
to anything. Any DePaul team in the past five
years is a good example. Frieder not only
brought talent to the school, but he cultivated it
and has gotten the most out of it. That's a real
trick when you have a team full of front-
runners.
EXPERIENCE: Oh, and this could be the key to
last year's post-season woes. The freshman-
sophomore backcourt combination of last
season (Grant and Antoine Joubert) which shot
29 percent in the tournament is now a
sophomore-junior combination with tour-
nament experience.
The experience in Michigan's front line,
however, is just plain frightening. Grant and
Joubert are a premier pair of guards, yes, but
See FRIEDER, Page 17
winning. We're not trying to outdo
each other."
"People ask us about the ego
problems," said Rellford. "I think in
order for us to win, everyone's got to
have an ego problem. That's just
being competitive. That's how you
win games."
Tarpley, pre-season choice as Big
have to work even harder to stay
there."
Cliche? Sure. But so is "The road to
Dallas." The players know, however,
that mere words won't get them
anywhere. They know what it takes.
"We're not cocky," said Grant,
"we're determined."
GIFTS
* Perfumes Fragrances
" Adult Games " Travel Accessories
" Ladies Handbags " Hair Brushes
" Bristle Goods " Swiss Army Knives
SECRET SANTA GIFTS
UNIQUE SELECTION OF GAMES
AND TOYS
., PLUS ANN ARBOR'S LARGEST
STUFFED ANIMAL SELECTION:
Avanit, Dakin, Eden,
Gund, Applause
and many more!
514 E. William St.
662-0035
Mon.Fri. 9:30-7:00
CAMpUSBikeTY. o9:30-5:30
Sn12:00-4:00
S A
V-
i~bo EDWARDS
La Marque de Qualite
Daily 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Closed Sundays
9 Nickels Arcade
668-6659
By BARB McQUADE player in the country," said Illinois last year because I've worked on so contribute as they gain experience.
MICHIGAN may dish out a little head coach Lou Henson. "You can't many things I didn't do during the But behind the top three, neither will
more black to go along with its stop him. All you can do is slow him season this summer." probably see much playing time come
Blue this season, as the front line down. I expect a lot of people will "Rellford has become a fairly con- the Big Ten season.
bumps and bruises its way through double-team him." sistent shooter," Frieder agreed. The experience belongs to Rellford,
the schedule. In Michigan's 1985 NCAA tour- While the front line looks to improve Tarpley and Wade.
The Wolverines' big men - center nament loss to Villanova, the Wildcats its scoring, it needs only to show up on "When they came in as freshmen,,
Roy Tarpley and forwards Butch put double-coverage on Tarpley and defense. The three are proved battlers they didn't know what Big Ten'
S Wade and Richard Rellford - will do held him to 14 points. under the boards, and with their in- basketball was all about," he said.
nothing to damage the Big Ten's "If I could have scored more I could creased strength, don't count on their "They had no idea how hard you had
reputation for physical basketball. have opened up some things," said using tea party etiquette in the key. to prepare physically and mentally to
su c 'css Each worked with weights during the Wade. The 6-8 senior worked "LAST YEAR I was bumping a lot be successful. These are the main
summer to improve his game. throughout the summer, he said, to of guys and I was a little smaller," thing they have learned over a four-
THEY WILL have to provide more improve his field-goal percentage. said Tarpley, "but I'll be bumping year period. They have improved
than just brute strength though, if "(Now) I can attack them better if guys a little more now that I'm their basketball by doing all the things
on 1 Michigan is to reach the Final Four. that situation arises." bigger." in season and in the off-season that we-
"Our front line has problems "WE'VE GOT to get more scoring Wade plans to continue his rough- tell them to do."
scoring and that really concerns me," when they bottle up Tarpley," Frieder and-tough style of play.
said Michigan head coach Bill agreed. "I love to mix it up," said the They're certainly not resting on the
Frieder. "We have to develop more But that doesn't mean Wade will be aggressive Bostonian. "Sometimes it laurels from last year. Because of the
scoring consistency in our front line if putting it up from everywhere. works out to be one of my advan- effort each put in over the summer,
we're going to have a great team." "He's still going to be confined to tages."
so rin gTarpley, last year's Big Ten Player the paint area," the sixth-year head ANOTHER OF Michigan's advan- this season.
of the Year, averaged 19 points a coach said. "We need Butch to help tages is depth. Coming off the bench is "I don't feel any pressure at all,"
game to record most of the us inside and that's going to be his senior Robert Henderson. Michigan's said Tarpley of pre-season hype. "I
Wolverines' inside scoring. But role." 1982 Mr. Basketball will probably see fell like I can live up to the expec-
Rellford (11.4 points) and Wade (6.2 THE EXTRA scoring may come action at both center and forward. tations. It's just a matter of working
points) will have to find the bucket from Rellford. "I'll be looking to go to Last year, the 6-9 senior averaged 5.1 hard, and that's what I'm doing.
more often this season as opponents the hole a little more than last year," points and 4.1 rebounds per game. "I played a lot of basketball this
keep a close eye on the 6-11 center. the 6-8 senior said. "I think I've im- Sophomore Steve Stoyko and summer. I've got a lot of new moves
tk_ 1 "ROY TARPLEY is maybe the best 'roved my game a.liell'of a lot Ero nfreshman Glen Rice are' exbectedlto -tosho youall. '
n
Handcrafted
Sterling
Silver
and
Brass
*Jewelry
gloves
Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30
Fri. evening until 8
Sun. 12-4:30
Lo
w
J
........