0 Read Jim Poniewozik Every W AF THE BIG- TEN THE BIG TEN i Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana look r nszh Michioen in the men's division Expect a dogfight in the women s division from Purdue, Iowa, and OSU I../ FL4011J1 V 11V1 by Steven Cohen Daily Basketball Writer At last month's Big Ten Conference Media Day, all ten conference coaches proclaimed at one time or another that they belonged to the nation's premier v . conference. It is hard to disagree with them. The conference has three coaches who have won national titles and last season two of it's teams were in the Final Four. It's teams had a 74.3 percent winning percentage against non-conference foes. Minnesota, which made it to the final 16 last season and returns all five starters, is picked by many to finish fourth. Wisconsin, which didn't even receive an NCAA bid, beat both Illinois and Michigan at ^' p home last season. "I think there's a great balance in the league from top to bottom," Ohio State assistant Paul Brazeau said. "Four or five losses may win --------___---_the conference." Here's a look at all of Michigan's conference opponents. 1118,lJ1LXI l~J'L. W1L 1 1 V %.41 V LV 1 V 1 1 Faculty and Stud4 Do you need Con Laser Printing, We or Fax? country. We feel that in Melvin Newbern and Kevin Lynch we have two guards who can play with anyone in the country." Said Newbern: "Four years ago we were getting beat by 20, 25 points a game. We're not going to try and blow anyone out, but it's payback time." THEUNIVERSITY OF )Illinois ILLINOIS Not many teams would be expected to do much after losing their entire front line (Nick Anderson, Kenny Battle, and Lowell Hamilton) and a point guard (Larry Smith). But the presence of what many are calling the nation's best backcourt in seniors'Steve Bardo and Kendall Gill, as well as forward Marcus Liberty have prompted many to pick the Illini to contend for the conference title. The Illini, who have won 22 straight games at home, will be bolstered by the addition of two 6'8" junior college All-Americans (Rodney Jones and Andy Kpedi) and 6'9" first-year phenom Deon Thomas. INDIANA By now, most prognosticators have learned that a Bobby Knight- coached team should never be counted out. Last year, most publications picked the Hoosiers to finish in the second-division. Instead, Knight earned national Coach of the Year honors by leading Indiana to a 27-6 and 15-3 conference record. Gone are starters Joe Hillman, Jay Edwards and Todd Jadlow. Five other Knight's ninth championship team well. members of Big Ten have left as Yet Indiana is again expected to do well due to their stellar recruiting class, easily the nation's best. The Hoosiers seven first-year players are led by Lawrence Funderburke, a 6'8" forward and Pat Graham, a 6'5" forward. Returning starters Eric Anderson and Lyndon Jones will anchor the team. WISCONSIN Last season, Wisconsin (18-11, 8-10) received it's first post-season tournament invitation in 42 years with an NIT bid. This year, coach Steve Yoder seeks a more prestigious invite in the form of a NCAA tournament bid. The Badgers, who return nine players, are led by the league's leading returning scorer, 6'6" forward Danny Jones. Jones, who has scored double figures in 42 of 44 games, averaged 20.9 points a game last season. 6'11" center Kurt Portmann is being counted on heavily as well. :O! E 00ft'b( N...7 TA by John Niyo1 and Ryan Schreiberc Daily Basketball Writers' INDIANAPOLIS - There's only room for one at the top, but don't1 tell that to the women's basketball teams of the Big Ten conference. At1 Wednesday's Big Ten Tip-Offc Luncheon in Indianapolis, theF conversation centered around the league's parity and its ever in-t creasing national recognition.1 Last year, Purdue established it- self as a force to be reckoned with when it joined the perennial con- ference elite, Ohio State and Iowa, at the top. "They've (Purdue) given rise to Big Ten basketball on a national level so no longer are they (only) talking about Iowa and Ohio State," Iowa coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "Purdue being here as the favorite has to help all of us." The conference's teams, as we see them: PURDUE Lin Dunn hasn't had any trouble winning games at Purdue. She has won 45 games in her two years as head coach, though the league title has eluded her grasp. This year, the Boilermakers have been pegged by most to finally wear that crown. "This is a special time for our program, because I don't think I've ever been picked to be number one," Dunn said. "So we're going to enjoy the moment though we're not going to get carried away." Dunn, last season's Big Ten Coach of the Year, welcomes back three starters from a team that ad- vanced to the NCAA's second round last March. Junior Joy Holmes, a first-team All Big-Ten performer at forward last season, along with MaChelle Joseph, the conference'sareturning Freshman of the Year and leading scorer, will help Dunn in her quest. IOWA The Hawkeyes sport a powerful team led by pre-season All Big-Ten seniors Jolette Law and Franthea Price. Price, favored by many to win the Big Ten Player of the Year, averaged 14.4 points per game last season, and pulled down 5.6 re- bounds per game. She also led the conference in steals, nabbing 3.3 a game. The Hawkeyes, always tough at home (where they sport a 41 game winning streak), will have to replace leading scorer and rebounder 6-foot-3 center Shanda Berry, and starting guard Robin Christian. "We're going to be a smaller team," Stringer said. "But we really haven't thought about Shanda and we continue to look forward. " T " H . E I OHIO UNIVERSITY OHIO STATE You might think that in losing its top two players, the Buckeyes would be staring a mediocre season in the face. Instead, coach Nancy Darsch is looking to bring home another league title for the Buckeyes. OSU has won seven of eight Big Ten titles and Darsch will also be striving to earn her fifth NCAA bid in five years. "I don't look at this season as a rebuilding year at all," Darsch said. Much of the burden will rest on the shoulders of Nicole Sanchez, as she represents the only returning starter. Sanchez will be helped by an imposing force in the middle, 6- foot-5 senior Mindy Smith. constructed Breslin Center. The 5- foot 8 guard led the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game, and in steals with 43. "Eileen was our MVP last year," Spartan coach Karen Langeland said. "We expect that she will pick up right where she left off last year." MSU will encounter difficulties in replacing the injured Cherie Swarthout, who was expected to re- turn at forward this season. INDIANA The success of Jim Izard's second season as coach of Indiana will be determined by the Hoosier's ability to replace three high-scoring starters from last season. The Hoosiers center their team around 5-foot-11 forwards Pam Owens and Zandrea Jeffries. Owens missed most of last season due to academic ineligibility and Jeffries has had an injury-plagued career. First-year players Jenny Davis, MVP of the national AAU tourn- ament and prep All-American Kourt- ney Cox are expected to contribute heavily. THE UNIVERSITY OF *'Illinois INDEPENDENT PC 1756 Plymouth Rd. 747-7900 FAX 747-8519 MINNESOY + COMPUTER RENTAL ISM, Mac, Laserwriter in pnvate workrooms, with modem & software. + LASER PRINTING Top-quality laser printing, copiers available. Coach Clem Haskins is optimistic and has every reason to be. If the schizophrenic Gophers, 8-1 at home last season, 1-8 on the road, can improve away from Minneapolis, they will contend for the Big Ten title. "We feel that each night out we have a chance to win the ball game," Haskins said. "We have six seniors returning - six starters. Richard Coffey is one of the best rebounders in the league. Willie Burton is one of the premier forwards in the MICHIGAN STATE Spartan coach Jud Heathcote returns 10 letterwinners, including all five starters and his eight leading scorers. Yet he is placing most of his emphasis on a player who has yet to play a collegiate game. See Big 10, Page 13 INSTANT CASH! h 1'i op r EN l N w OF THE MICHIGAN INpe P We're paying up to $6 CASH for single THE ARTS o ? IN pas N tr compact discs. More when traded! PRESENTS LRtDL _ Bring 'em in and we'll give you a quote. also records and tapesJ S, BOUGHT - SOLD - TRADED LBAFYANDWAR ETEENTSEXE RTEN B l~yo ftcor&s 29189 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY 611 S. FOREST 3361/2 S.State SOUTHFIELD. MI 48034 !' ANN ARBOR, MI 48104 Ann Arbor, 761-8686 re33cor ds PHONE (313) 747-6026 MON-FRI 10 am-8 pm SAT 10 am-6 pm SUN 12 noon-6 pm MORE INFO.A662-7282 NORTHWESTERN Three years ago, the Wildcats paid a visit to the NCAA tourn- ament. Last season, they paid a visit to the local hospital. Injuries de- cimated what looked to be a prom- ising squad and the end result was Don Perrelli's first losing season ever. "Luck is going to play a big part of this season," he said. "We're going to have to stay healthy." Four of the five healthy returning starters will take the court hoping to return the Wildcats to the NCAAs. Senior guard Kelly Cole and Mya Whitmore, a 6-foot-3 junior center, will lead the way. MICHIGAN STATE Leading scorer Eileen Shea leads the Spartans into the newly- ILLINOIS With three returning starters, the Illini look to improve on their 6-12 conference record of last season. Coach Laura Golden's Illini are paced by junior Sarah Sharp, a pre- season All-America candidate, who captained the North team to a gold medal in last summer's U.S. Olym- pic Festival. "Sarah had a tremendous ex- perience (at) the Olympic Festival," Golden said. "Right now she is a legitimate All-America candidate." WISCONSIN Badger coach Mary Murphy plans to install a three-guard offense this year as the Badgers look to continue their climb to respectability. "We're much more competitive than we've ever been," coach Murphy'said. "The greatest feeling for me is when I sit on our bench in the fieldhouse and I see the other coaches look a little nervous. They never used to look nervous! " Now YOU car "Home Court A with custom' Champions" b i6 0I FROM POP-A4 Sthe "Original"Basket Evrone wi wnt theia w Baskeba perfect for home office school and fur NBA Chicago Bulls and Basketball Hal S MasterCard accepted. For More Information Tr See Dogfight, Page 14 1 . . - 1377 Page 12 W.~gked/Wovay* 17,1J9W Weekend/November 17,1989