0 0 0 w W U be lairigau ait FACEOFF! BigTen Continued from Page 12 "Our best player is a junior, Steve Smith at 6'7"," Heathcote said. "Our second best player is a sophomore, Ken Redfield at 6'7". Our third best player is a sophomore, Matt Steigenga at 6'7". "The key to our team is prhi-. our fourth, fifth, or sixth player, Mike Peplowski 6'10", 280 pounds, and fi position we haven't had in a 1 time. If he cannot play we have a doughnut - that means no center." Senior guard Kirk Manns was the Big Ten's best three point shooter a year ago. T - H - E! UNIVERSITY OHIO STATE "We don't have any seniors so we've got to get leadership out of our three juniors Perry Carter, Treg Lee, and Jimmy Bradley, " new Buckeye coach Randy Ayers said. The Buckeyes lost three key players, Jay Burson, Jerry Francis and Grady Mateen. After a neck injury felled Burson last season, the Buckeyes lost their last seven leagueples. Weiad a fellow sit out last year in Mark Baker, who we feel can step in and fill Burson's shoes," Ayers said. "He has the physical capabilities." Jimmy Jackson, the preseason Rookie of the Year favorite, should provide the Buckeyes with .outstanding play at small forward. See Big 10, Page 15 Sr VTsV tP 3 - v «2 (7y a ...t "r' 1s 44 o 0peP *o ~\q1. k\ 1 V 4 TES .Ur OF( 0 I t orL , 663-6 Have you ev young a I I - i 11 1 own debate the merits of a Big Ten tournament API Park Avenue Del icatessen 21 S SATE S 665,1535 FRE ELIVERy DA FRIAY 7' SATgRDAg SUNODAwrk Big Ten coaches are debating whether they should shorten the conference schedule to enable the debut of a post-season tournament. As it currently stands, the Big Ten title is awarded to the team with the most conference wins during the regular season 18 game, double round-robin schedule. The Big Ten is the only conference, besides the Ivy League, that still determines its champ in this manner. The proposed tournament would make a team's conference record practically irrelevant, as final standings would only determine the tournament pairings. This would benefit teams that, under the current system, start the Big Ten season slowly and, despite a strong finish, are unable to regain the lost ground. While there is strong opinion on the part of the dissenters, most of the Big Ten coaches are in favor of the proposed tournament for various reasons. Increased revenue that a tournament would generate, as well as the giving of all players an opportunity to participate in a post-season tournament are the biggest arguments in favor of the proposal. Purdue coach Gene Keady, whose team finished seventh in the division last season after winning it the year before, said, "Five years ago, I was totally against it (the tournament). Now, the Big Ten has tremendously improved, and it would increase enthusiasm for lower division schools. "Probably the biggest reason I would like to see a post-season tournament would be because of the financial problems I think most of our programs are going through right now. We (the Big Ten) could use the income from that post-season tournament." Minnesota coach Clem Haskins, whose team advanced to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA tournament despite a fifth-place finish in the conference, said, "The tournament would provide a post-season tournament for those who never make it to the NCAA, and give the kids a chance to get a championship ring." Illinois coach Lou Henson would like to see the tourney played at a location that would be accessible to most Big Ten fans. This would, of course, be advantageous to the centrally located Illini and Hoosiers while hindering such geographic outliers as Minnesota or Wisconsin, whose fans would have much farther to travel. Despite the seeming advantages to having a post- season tournament, arguments against the tournament remain. The Big Ten schedule would be shortened, probably to 14 games, in order to accommodate a tournament at the end of the season. Thus, some teams would have easier schedules and better seedings for the tournament. Along with that, playing in a conference tournament right before the NCAA tournament would be very hectic for the coaches and players. I would like to see us end the season and prepare for the national tournament play.' -Bobby Knight "I remain unconvinced that a post-season Big Ten tournament is the way to go," said Indiana coach Bobby Knight whose Hoosiers finished first in the Big Ten last season. "The competitive approach that basketball has always had in the league isn't going to diminish regardless of the post-season aspect of play, but I've always felt, and still remain totally unconvinced, that a post-season tournament benefits the league or teams in the league, particularly as it pertains to those teams that have received invitations to play in the NCAA tournament. "I would like to see us end the season and prepare for the national tournament play.". Michigan coach Steve Fisher is also against the tournament. "I don't want to get away from the double round- robin but Ithink it's going to happen sooner or later," Fisher said. The Perfect Gift for U-M Fans ON SALE Tickets are $10 and $7; Student SE at the League Ticket Office. Reg. $17.95 Sale $14.36 1-: 1205 S. University * Uor76 1-7177 Mon-Sat 9:30-7:00 Fri 9:30-9:00 book sore Sun 12-5:00 LA BOI x Page 8 Weekend/November 17,1989 Weekend/November 11989