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 ........