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Robinson
By Julie Hollman
In 1986, while playing for
Rindge and Latin High School,
Rumeal Robinson had a choice to
make. His team had a chance to win
the Massachussets state champion-
ship and Ro inson had the oppor-
tunity to break Patrick Ewing's
school scorn. record. But there was
a problem.
RC' ; coach told him that
the team needed him to pass the ball
more in order to have a chance to
win. By the end of the game,
Ewing's legendary record still stood
and Rindge and Latin High was state
champions.
Robinson chose to toss aside
personal accolades and share his pride
and glory with his 15 teammates.
"I made the decision because a
championshi will always bewith
you," said the Michigan starting
guard. "You have fifteen other guys
on the team and what do they want
to remember. I'm sure they want to
remember that championship."
JUST LIKE the 1988-89
Wolverines hope they will have the
chance to remember a few other
championships.
Highly-ranked Michigan will call
on Robinson's level-headed, unsel-
fish play to lead it toward the Big
Ten and NCAA titles. He will have
' to take over Gary Grant's duties of
guiding the offense and defense, now
that last year's conference Player-of-
the-Year has graduated to the NBA.
"We need Rumeal's leadership and
for him to take control," forward
Terry Mills said. "He knows how to
win."
since grammar school. And in high
school he became one of the
country's best players. He earned
first-team All-American honors from
Basketball Weekly and Parade. He
also appeared in the McDonald's All-
American game in Detroit.
Robinson's only major weakness
coming out of high school was his
shooting. He has since greatly
improved his shot, but Robinson
might have to hold back the trigger
and serve as a mediator for an
offensive-minded team. With Big
Ten scoring leader Glen Rice, a
zealous front line of Terry Mills and
Loy Vaught, and a theatrical Sean
Higgins, Robinson may have to
slow things down when the going
gets easy.
"If the competition isn't too good
I may have to act as a balancer
because guys may start to show off
too much," he said.
Robinson worked hard over the
summer to further develop his game.
He attended the Boston Celtics
Rookie Camp and was the youngest
guard the club invited. While
playing with the Celtics' rookies,
Robinson picked up some pointers
from Red Auerbach. The red-haired
cigar smoker showed Robinson
some flashy new one-on-one moves
and told him to keep his chin up on
his lay-ups.
Robinson will have to continue
holding his chin high so he can clear
out a path for the Wolverines to take
to the Big Ten title. Then Robinson
will try, not to pass Ewing in the
ranks, but to join him - as a
member of a national championship
team. ,
Iowa
By Adam Benson
Athletic Directors of the Big Ten
may be looking at women's basket-
ball like the early settlers of Amer-
ican West. Women's basketball is a
new territory where the Big Ten can
prosper.
Schools are expanding recruiting,
bringing in new coaches, and tough-
ening their schedules, all in an at-
tempt to build the next powerhouse
program.
The trailblazers of women's
hoops, Iowa and Ohic State, will
stay at the head of the pack. Four up-
and-coming teams will battle for the
third spot in the conference, one
could earn a berth to the NCAA
tournament.
C. Vivian Stringer sounds almost
like Bo Schembechler when she talks
about her Iowa team. She'll do
whatever she can to convince you
that her team will struggle.
Forward Franthea Price will
compete for the Player-of-the-Year
honors in the conference. Shanda
Berry is the league's top center. So
where will they struggle? The only
rules
problem this club has is guard Jolette
Law. She is suffering from a hand
injury. Law may be the most
important Hawkeye of all, she is
needed to run the team's offense.
Last season, Ohio State forward
Nikita Lowry led the conference in
scoring, but still wasn't the con-
ference's Player-of-the-Year. Lowry
is back, and this year she'll win the
top individual honors. But the Bucks
don't have to depend on her alone.
Shooting guard Lisa Cline is also
an All-Big Ten pick. While Lowry
can beat you inside, Cline can hit
shots from the outside.
Coach Nancy Darsch dispels the
notion that Iowa and OSU won't be
pushed. "Our conference is stronger
this year than it was last. A lot of
teams have the potential of upsetting
us or Iowa."
Don't believe that. If Ohio State
isn't second, they'll be first. Only a
major injury to Lowry or Cline could
stop them.
Michigan's desire to win will
push them ahead of teams with a
little more talent.
in
fror
A 21-10 record should have earned
Purdue a NCAA bid, but the
Boilermakers were ignored and
finished as runners-up in the
women's NIT.
This year, national publications
say that Purdue should be the Big
Ten's next national power. Soph-
omore center Rhonda Mateen is a
potential star. Add first-year phenom
MaChelle Joseph and veteran guard
Anne Kvachkoff and Purdue has
enough talent to play with anyone.
But how long will it take them to
learn to play together?
"At this point, we're not a real
challenger," said Dunn. "Now I may
be wrong, because these young kids
may surprise you."
You're not wrong coach. Your
team should be ready next year.
For 1987 Big Ten Coach-of-the-
Year Karen Langeland to receive the
same kind of accolades for this
season, she will have to move her
Michigan State team into the
ranks of the Big Ten's best.
The key to the Spartans success is
Sue Forsyth. The 6-4 senior will
have to play injury-free this season at
center. That will allow All-Big Ten
hopeful Dawn DeYoung to power
forward.
Langeland calls her guards "the
strength of the team." Junior Carlotta
Taylor surprised fans with her
quickness and defense in the back-
court, she will have to do it again
this season.
Coach Don Perrelli is trying to
mix the new recruits with the
returnees from last year's North-
western team. One veteran who
will continue to make an impact for
this team is forward Carrie Lawless.
Lawless is one of the conference's
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WEEKEND/'JOHN MUNSON
Junior Rumeal Robinson will be expected to anchor the Wolverine backcourt with the departure of
last season's Big Ten Player-of-the-Year Gary Grant.
w
"He has a strong attitude to be
successful," head coach Bill Frieder
said. "He now has to channel it in a
way in which he can lead the
others."
LAST YEAR in the NCAA
tournament, Robinson gave Frieder a
glimpse of the leadership he has to
offer. When Grant left the North
Carolina game with foul trouble, the
Cambridge, Ma. native stepped
forward to take control of Michi-
gan's attack. He scored 29 points and
snatched five rebounds.
The 6-2 Robinson is expected to
continue on his season-ending scor-
ing streak and improve his 9.7
points per game average. With Grant
gone, Robinson should also top his
158 assists of last season.
ABC analyst Dick Vitale
believes this is the year Robinson
will be the type of player everyone
thought he would be as one of the
top five players in the country out of
high school.
Frieder, who ranks Robinson as
one of the top three or four guards in
the Big Ten, also expects great
things from his No. 1 guard. "You
know he's going to be a success," he
said. "Certain people you know by
their character, determination, enthu-
siasm, and attitude that they are
going to make it. And that's Rumeal
Robinson."
SUCCESS has followed Robin-
son onto the basketball court ever
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PAGE 18
WEEKENDINOVEMBER 18, 1988
WEEKEND/NOVEMBER 18, 1988