Sports Monday Trivia Who was the only NHL player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and then the following * year win the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year? (For the answer, turn to the bottom of page 2) Inside Sports Monday 'M' Sports Calendar 2 APTop20 2 'M' swimming coverage 2 Get Rich Quickg3 Q&A 3 'M' men's basketball coverage 4 'M' ice hockey coverage 5 Griddes 6 'M' track coverage 6 The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday- February 5, 1990 SHARP! There is more to Warren Sharp les than ust hockey ' Icers' unbeaten streak reaches six by David Hyman Daily Hockey Writer Michigan goalie Warren Sharples gets upset when he sees other students go through four years of just partying. "When I see a student not taking advantage of what's here, whether it be student government, sports or an academic club, it hurts me," he said. "What a waste not to get involved in something. Why not make the most of it." Sharples has been making the most of his opportunity since being named Red Berenson's starting goalie four years ago. Gradually improving his record and goals- against average each season, the Calgary, Alberta native presently. boasts a 15-8-4 record and 3.51 average for the season. With 60 career victories, Sharples is just three wins shy of tying the Michigan all-time mark set by John "Black Jack" McDonald. "It's only on my mind when others bring it up like you do," he said jokingly. "I don't focus on it and I try to keep it out of my mind. "It's not that I'm some great goalie, but the wins along with the losses accumulate after starting for four years. But it's a nice feeling and I'd love to get it." But if not for an NCAA ruling in May 1986 prohibiting the transfer of agoaltender from See SHARPLES, page 7 by David Hyman Daily Hockey Writer The Michigan ice hockey team moved a step closer to clinching a home-ice advantage for the first round of the CCHA playoffs with a sweep over Western Michigan this weekend. The Wolverines, who have not lost in their last six contests, won both games, 7-2, to move fourth place Michigan (18-10-4 overall, 14- 10-4 CCHA) nine points ahead of the Broncos (13-18-1, 11-14-1). "But as much as last night's win was important," Michigan coach Red Berenson said about Friday's victory, "everything came down to tonight's game and then to the third period." As the teams took the ice for the final 20 minutes Saturday, Michigan held a slim 3-2 lead and Western coach Bill Wilkinson liked his team's position. "Going in 3-2, that's where you want to be in the third on the road," he said. However, the Wolverines broke open the game with four unanswered goals in 6:18 to seal the sweep. "It wouldn't have been a successful weekend without a sweep," Mich- igan junior center Jim Ballantine said. "(A sweep) was our goal this weekend and (Western) just didn't want it as much as we did." At the 11:06 mark, Michigan junior left winger Don Stone took a Mike Moes pass at the blue line and skated in alone towards WMU goalie Mike Power. Stone put the puck into the back of the net for his 16th goal and a 4-2 Wolverine lead. Sophomore right winger Denny Felsner added his 19th goal at 15:37 to increase Michigan's advantage. It was Felsner's second goal in three games since returning to the lineup after missing a month due to a See WESTERN, page 5 JULIE HOLLMAN/Daily Senior goaltender Warren Sharples upped his career win total to 60 with two victories over Western Michigan this weekend. Ailing Blue rout Wisconsin, 77-63 Different 'M' Taylor Lincoln ew blood may spark Wolverines MADISON - When you walk into the Michigan locker room, it feels more like you are in an NBA locker room than in a college team's. After a victory, even a big one, like against Michigan State, the mood is calm. Not exactly flat, but hardly overflowing with emotion. And after a *defeat, the players are professional and poised as they face the queries of the press. Ina way, it is good. This is not a team which will lose itself in a big mid-season win. And it will bounce back well from losses. It is not surprising that the Michigan locker room has an NBA air to it. Four of the Wolverines' starters - Rumeal Robinson, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills, and Sean Higgins - are slated as probable NBA first round picks. All of the starters are relatively old for college players. Higgins, at 21, is the youngest. In February, Vaught will join Robinson at 23. Many college teams are largely made up of 18 and 19 year olds. Because of their exceptionally high billing out of high school, coupled * with last year's national championship, Michigan's players may have a higher profile around the nation than many professionals. Can you name four players from the Sacramento Kings? Or from the nearby Indiana Pacers? Every coach who prepares for the Wolverines says about the same thing: "They don't have any weaknesses." Butdsomewhere in this seemingly inexhaustible cornucopia, something has been missing. It's really difficult to say what, but you know something's wrong when a team flirts with losing leads as often as this one lis. And after Purdue came into Crisler and thoroughly took Michigan out of the game, you had to shake your head and wonder. * Purdue played brilliantly, there's no question about that. But it's hard to accept that they could ever be 17 points better than Michigan - especially at Crisler. After the game, people questioned the team's character for the first time. They said that they were listless. Everybody noticed as they failed to make it See LINCOLN, page 4 beats Badgers by Lory Knapp Daily Basketball Writer MADISON - It was different, but it was a win. Fourth-ranked Michigan's 77-63 victory over last place Wisconsin (11-11 overall, 2-8 in the Big Ten) had a slightly different ring to it as the Wolverines (16-4, 6- 3) were without starter Sean Higgins and reserve guard Michael Talley. Higgins, who will be out three to four weeks with a stress fracture in his ankle, made the roadtrip. But Talley, who is laid-up with strep throat, did not travel. As a result, senior Mike Griffin moved over to the vacant forward position and junior Demetrius Calip, in his first Big Ten start, assumed the other guard spot. Calip played point, freeing up Rumeal Robinson to play shooting guard. Michigan spurted out in the first half and, after a 13 point run, led the Badgers 28-8 with nine minutes gone in the first half. At times it seemed as if Wisconsin would never hit double figures. And though the Badgers responded with a 13 point run of their own, they were never really back in the game. "Michigan obviously got off to a great start, the kind of start you have to get off to on the road," Wisconsin coach Steve Yoder said. "Any team that gets off to that kind of start is going to play pretty well." Michiganwas also sparked by a different bench - forward Chris Seter and reserve guard Tony Tolbert. Seter was the first off the bench, replacing Griffin just six minutes into the game. His quick cuts to the basket resulted in Wisconsin fouls and Seter free throws. Tolbert, controlling himself and the ball much better than in the past, hit a three-pointer halfway through the first half to give Michigan the 28-8 bulge. "Seter and Tolbert gave us good solid play when we EZ/Daily needed it," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. See WISCONSIN, page 4 Spartans edge out Blue tumblers by Albert Lin Daily Sports Writer Michigan guard Rumeal Robinson drives to the basket against Wisconsin Saturday. Women cagers split a pair j by Theodore Cox b ,Daily Basketball Writer b CHAMPAIGN - The goal of the Michigan women's basketball team at the beginning of the season was to finish in the Big Ten's upper division. This weekend, the Wol- verines (12-7 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) moved one step closer to achieving that goal by picking up a conference victory in Illinois. Michigan will overtake Michigan State for fifth place as the Spartans lost both weekend games, while Michigan went 1-1. The Wolverines lost to Purdue Friday night, 75-51, in West Lafayette, before beating the Fightin' Illini yesterday, 71-62. Michigan jumped all over Illinois right from the beginning, quickly building a 6-0 lead. Val Hall caused the Fightin' Illini problems early, as * she easily worked the ball under- neath. As the Illinois defense co- Illinois to move into 5th place points and shot 2-for-10 for the game. "We had some quickness guarding her in Tanya (Powell) and Leslie," Michigan coach Bud VanDeWege said after the game. "Leslie is just a tremendous defensive player. She just bothered her (Sharp) and didn't let her get her rhythm going." Illinois coach Laura Golden plac- ed some of the blame on her own team's performance: "If we would ior forward came alive. Powell, who notched a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, scored five straight unassisted points. She first grabbed a loose ball on the defensive end and drove all the way to the bucket for the basket. Then she stole the ball, went coast to coast once again and scored while being fouled. The free throw was good to complete the three point play. "I've said this from day one, 'Tanya Powell is one of the finest players in the Big Ten,"' Van- DeWege said. "Fine players come through in situations where you need them on the road; that's senior leadership." Powell's play sparked a barrage of fast breaks by Michigan that put the Wolverines up at halftime, 38- 32. Illinois came out of the locker room after the first period with a Close doesn't count, except in horseshoes and hand grenades. And in gymnastics. While the Michigan men's gymnastics team did not score a victory over Michigan State Friday night, they did come away with an impressive performance. The Wolverines' score of 269.50 fell short of the Spartans' 272.15, but it marked a season high by almost four points. i ,I