4 Page 12-The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, February 3, 1988 Pointguard strives to e el on and off court Armstrong leads Iowaasul By PETE STEPrNERT Iowa point guard B.J. Armstrong has never been one to turn down a good challenge, whether it be run- ning the Hawkeye offense, working as an assistant stockbroker, or go- ing water skiing. "I like to just try a lot of things and see what I really like," said Armstrong, whose initials stand for Benjamin Jr. "I think I'm just a very versatile person." The Detroit native demonstrated his adventurous spirit when he chose to leave his home state to play basketball at Iowa. This fol- lowed a brilliait career at Birming- ham Brother Rice High School, where as a senior he was named to The Detroit News' five-player Michigan "Dream Team." "I didn't think it was right for me to stay at home," Armstrong said. "Being an only child, I felt I needed an opportunity to get out on my own a little bit. It was some- thing I wanted to do, and my par- ents were behind me." AFTER a period of acclimation, the 6-2, 165-pound junior settled nicely into Hawkeye country. He rooms with teammate and good friend, Roy Marble, another Michigan native. "I just stuck in there when things weren't always going my way," the boyish-faced Armstrong 'I think by the end of the year as he goes into his senior year, you're going to be looking at maybe the best point guard in the country.' -Iowa coach Tom Davis said. "I just kept my head in there and kept fighting through it. Hard work pays off." His gradual improvement from year to year attests to that. He has gone from seeing limited action as a first-year player to leading this year's team in scoring, assists, free throw percentage, three-point shooting, and minutes played. He ranks third in the Big Ten in scor- ing, tossing in 19.3 points per game. "I came here with the attitude that I knew I could play," Arm- strong said. "I just continue to work and try to build my confidence up to a level where it's supposed to be, and things have been happening for the best." NUMBER TEN molds his game around his ingenuity. He never enters a game with a set plan. Instead, he lets the game's tempo dictate itself and then adjusts his style accordingly. "I think by the end of the year as he goes into his senior year, you're going to be looking at maybe the best point guard in the country," Iowa coach Tom Davis said. "If he's not the best, he's going to be pretty close, and that's a great trib- ute. "He's so consistent as an indi- vidual and as a person, that as a coach I can predict his success a lot easier than I would if you're dealing with somebody who is not quite as steady in his personal life." Coaches around the conference echo Davis' sentiments. "I know everybody talks a lot about Gary Grant, and I have a lot of respect for Gary, but if there's one guard play- ing great basketball in this confer- ence right now, it's B.J. Arm- strong," Wisconsin's Steve Yoder said after Armstrong's 19-point, nine-assist effort last week in a 104-89 win over the Badgers. ARMSTRONG also earned the praises of Indiana's Bob Knight when he scored a career-high 27 points in the Hawkeyes' 84-70 vic- tory over the Hoosiers earlier in the season. Armstrong downplays the atten- tion like John McEnroe downplays etiquette. "It's just there, and you just put all of that behind you every day and remember what got you there, and that's hard work and a lot of hours at the gym shooting and See B.J., Page 13 Daily Photo by JOHN MUNSON Michigan's Gary Grant will have a tough time guarding Iowa's B.J. Armstrong tonight at Crisler Arena. Armstrong is third in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game. ; z, 3 Hawkeyes next on Blue slate k Michigan swimmers qualify A By PETE STEINERT Illinois, Syracuse, and tonight Iowa - the parade of top 20 op- ponents continues for 11th-ranked Michigan. In the 13th-ranked Hawkeyes, the Wolverines will face their stiffest conference competition yet (8 p.m., Crisler Arena. Ch. 62). "They're playing great basket- ball," said Michigan coach Bill Frieder, "and it's no surprise be- cause they've got a great nucleus back from a team that had an ex- cellent season a year ago. "It's going to be a tough bas- ketball game. We know we've got our hands full." Iowa (15-5 overall, 5-2 in the Big Ten), winners of five straight, enters the contest hot on the heels of first-place Michigan (17-3, 6- 1), and Purdue. The Hawkeyes rely on their press, and a balanced scoring at- tack led by guard B.J. Armstrong (16.8 points per game) and forward Roy Marble (14.6 ppg). The rest of the probable starting lineup in- cludes guard Bill Jones, forward Kent Hill, and center Ed Horton. for summer 01 By TAYLOR LINCOLN "It is the highlight for any amateur athlete."- Jon Urbanchek. "It is a chance to compete with the best in the world. It's what all athletes are competing for."- Mike Barrowman. "It" is the Olympics. For two weeks in the summer, every four years, "it" is the focus of the world's spotlight. The Olympics are arguably the greatest spectacle in sports. The exploits of the athletes are magnified, glorified, and recorded forever in the timeless capsule of Olympic lore. HOPEFUL Olympians possess a rare blend of talent and dedication. They train for years in their particular discipline, in hopes of fully reaching their potential. They also must hope that maximizing their potential will be good enough for them to qualify. Four current Michigan swimmers, plus two who graduated last year, have qualified for the tryouts to represent the United States at this summer's games in Seoul, South Korea. Their dreams of participating in the Olympics will be on the line from August 8 to August 13, during the U.S. trials in Austin, Texas. Two other Wolverines, Erick Olsen and Alex Alvizuri, will represent their native countries, Nor- way and Peru respectively, at the games. Both partic- ipated in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. AMONG THE Michigan swimmers at the Olympic trials will be freestyler Brent Lang, breaststroker Mike Barrowman, backstroker Mike Creaser, and butterflyer Marty Moran. Several others ympic trials are thought to have a shot at qualifying for the trials. The pressure at the trials will be intense. Each, swimmer will participate in only a couple of events~ some in only a single event. "It will be the biggest meet of my life to that° point. It's what I've trained for the last eight years," said Barrowman, who will swim only in the 200 me-, ter breaststroke. "It's eight years for two minutes:" ; Freestylers Joe Parker and Dave Kerska starred in the Big Ten for the past three years, graduating in 1987. Both have stayed with the Michigan program*. this year as assistant coaches in order to train for the trials. .BOTH PARKER and Kerska will be trying out in the 50, 100, and 200- meter freestyle. Both are among the nation's top 16 swimmers in each event, of which eight will qualify. "I'm putting my life on hold for a year to pursue the trials," said Parker. "I wouldn't have put the time 4 into it if I didn't think I had a reasonable shot. It's really difficult. If I make it, it will be great. If I don't, life goes on." Parker was at the trials in 1984, but he wasn't as serious about qualifying. "It was my first experience with big time swimming. I was more or less just happy to be there. I was more or less overwhelmed.",' MICHIGAN head coach Jon Urbanchek is optimistic about his freestylers chances of making the 4 team. "Lang, along with Kerska and Parker, have, a pretty good shot at the relays," said Urbanchek. Barrowman ... Olympic bound? THE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET FAST RESULTS CALL 764-0557 A{ What's Happening G , NP FRIDAY FEB. 5 A i\~j Recreational Sports " INTRAMURAL MINI SOCCER SIGN-UPS FRI., FEBRUARY 5 and MON. FEBRUARY 8 11am - 4:30pm Intramural Sports Building Play begins: Thurs., March 10 For more information call 763-3562 " MEN'S SOCCER CLUB TRYOUTS MON., FEBRUARY 15 and WED., FEBRUARY 17, 1988 8:00pm SPORTS COLISEUM, Fifth Avenue & Hill Street For more information call John Metsker 662-9235 MYSTIC & Common Ground Theatre Ensemble present y\Vplt E CftI 5 LIVE TRACY LEE & THE LEONARDS U 510 E. Liberty -8 p.m. First Question, What do you thLnk should be done regarding- Anti-semitic Dkscriminetion fomophobic Beharvor Racel Atrassment SexuaJAssault? Second Question, Are the dviiliberties and dvil rzghts of students being violated by the proposed discrimination PolCy ? Third Question, What are theMarch16, 1973 Rules of The University Commuanity? Answer, ednesdaynfghts 7-3Opm NSA Cbambers 3909Michigan Union or coo 763-3241 9m - I 1