Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday- February 26, 1990 Higgins returns - but will he start? Lory Knapp From theKnappSack Wildcats and Cubs --..-M by Taylor Lincoln Daily Basketball Writer The debate is not settled as to whether his absence necessarly hurt the team - but he's back. With Saturday's game firmly in hand, coach Steve Fisher gave Sean Higgins his first playing time since he suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot, January 31 against Purdue. "(Assistant coach Brian) Dutcher suggested we ease him in so he doesn't go in cold turkey against Michigan State," Fisher said. Higgins injury came just as the Wolverines reached its season's nadir. The injury was confirmed the day after the Wolverines were humiliated by Purdue, falling three games out of first place. Since then, Michigan has burrowed its way back into title contention, winning five of six games. One of the keys has been their increasing effectiveness at getting the ball inside. Fisher has made it clear that Higgins outside shooting will take a smaller role in the offense when he returns. There has also been speculation about what the starting line-up will be. "Everybody keeps telling me that I'm not going to start (Mike) Griffin, but I don't know. He's been playing so well," Fisher said. "Knowing that we have an extra body - that extra competition will be good for everyone, including Sean."- Fisher added that Higgins probably won't start in Thursday's Michigan State game. Many players have risen in prominence during Higgins absence. Among them has been Demetrius Calip, who filled in as a starter. Though he says that Fisher has not discussed with him what his role will be, Calip is not too concerned with whether or not he'll stay in the starting line-up. "I never get caught up in that. I think it's all just a mental state," Calip said. "If you're coming off the bench you come off the bench and play as well as you can. If you're a starter you just try to provide a spark earlier in the game." The increased playing time was helpful for Calip just because it gave him experience. "With me being in a starting role with each game, my confidence builds and that comes from experience and playing a lot. I'm just happy to be providing the spark that I am in the starting role." Higgins injury forced Michigan to become deeper. Aside from Calip's increased role, Tony Tolbert and Chris Seter also were given greater contributing roles. Par- ticulary in the Indiana victory, they played a decisive role. Seter scored five points while Tolbert scored eight, including several at the end which staved off a late Indiana run. Higgins said that he has trained in the swimming pool, stationary bicycle, stair machine, and with weights to stay in shape. "I'm definitely ready and I haven't lost a step," Higgins said. "I'm ready to roll, I'm ready to roll. I never lost my touch - I've shot 150 shots a day." PASS IT AROUND! gain fans, not victories JULIE HOLLMAN/Dail Michigan rookie guard Tony Tolbert tries to fake out Wildcat guars David Holmes in Saturday's 94-69 Wolverine victory. Tolbert finished with one rebound and two assists in nine minutes of action. WILDCATS Continued from page 1 He's big but he's quick," Michigan forward Loy Vaught said. "He can shoot outside, he can put the ball on the floor." Vaught was one the main reasons that Lambiotte's efforts didn't threaten Michigan. He scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and pulled seven of his game-high 10 rebounds. Rumeal Robinson, who scored 23 points, stretching his "over 20" streak to four games, refused to accept that the large margin of victory was a by-product of Northwestern not playing well. "We made them play bad because we played especially good," he said. "We controlled the tempo and we forced them into mistakes. We pressured them into taking them out of their offense, forcing them into turnovers, forcing them into hurrying their shots. Northwestern is a very good basketball team." Things ended well as Sean Higgins saw his first action in nearly a month. He came off of the bench with three minutes remaining and hit a three pointer in his only field goal attempt. . "This sends us into the Michigan State game on a high note," Vaught said. "We're feeling well towards each other again. The overall feeling of the team is very positive." If the Wolverines can win their last four games, they are assured of at least a tie for the conference championship. "We have to take care of ourselves now," Terry Mills said. "In the past, we've had chances and other teams have helped us out, like Illinois. This is time for us to take care of business." Mills was referring to Illinois upset of Purdue last week, which put Michigan in control of its own destiny for the conference title. Guard Demetrius Calip believes that having such control is an incentive builder heading into the last four games. The Northwestern Wildcats remind me of the Chicago Cubs. Last baseball season I found myself rooting for the Cubs to clobber the San Francisco Giants, even though the probability of it happening was particularly remote. That's how I feel whenever I watch the Wildcats (9-16 overall, 2- 13 Big Ten), currently residing in the basement of the conference play. I want them to do the highly improbable, almost unthinkable thing-win. The question remains as to why I feel this way. Is it because both teams are from the Chicago area? No, I hate the Bears. Is it because I always root for the underdog? No; I couldn't care less if Iowa or Wisconsin ever wins another game. I think the similarity lies in the attitudes of the players and the coach/manager. The Cubs have Mark Grace, Andre Dawson and my personal favorite, Ryne Sandberg. These guys are classy individuals who are integral parts of a team with a strong work ethic. A team, led by a baseball .mainstay Don Zimmer, that puts every effort into winning, only to continuously come up shy of the big win. Northwestern . is led by two players in their last years of eligibility whose on-court attitudes deserve respect. Senior Walker Lambiotte led all Wildcat scorers against Michigan with 23 points, and averages 16.5 points per game and 4.8 boards. Graduate student Brian Schwabe is leading the team in rebounds and is third in scoring. These players have never played on a winning Northwestern team, yet they continually play every game as if the National Championship were on the line, even when down by 20 points. And then there is guard Rex Walters. Walters, who averaged around two points a game last season, is now being hailed as the Most Improved Player of the conference. His average of just over 19 points puts him among the best in the league. Although only a sophomore, Walters takes on the on-court leadership role the team needs. Like the Cubs, Northwestern is also ledby an accomplished coach, Bill Foster. Foster is in his fourth year with the Wildcats, posting a mediocre 32-77 record with the team. He is a proven winner, however, leading teams at Duke to a 113-64 record and at South Carolina to 92-79. I kept hoping that NU would at least come back and make. the loss a respectable one. And it's not that they don't try; their efforts just keep coming up short. Foster is unaccustomed to losing and the frustration of the team's plight is obvious on his face and in his tone. "We wanted to control the tempo more," said a solemn Foster after being trounced by the Wolverines, 94-69. "Our turnovers and their (Michigan's) defense contributed to their controlling the tempo. (Then) all hell broke loose." The doors of Pandemonium opened wide for Northwestern. Michigan took the lead for good after just five minutes of play and, at one point, led by 29 points. But that didn't change the fact that while watching the Wildcats, I kept hoping that they would at least come back and make the loss a respectable one. And it's not that they don't try; their efforts just keep coming up short. The Cubs have gone over 80 years since last winning a World Series. And, over the past 80 years, Northwestern is last in the league in All-Time Big Ten Standings (.355 won-loss percentage) and All- Time Big Ten Championships, having won only one league title outright. It's no wonder Northwestern reminds me of the Cubs. F STATE COUPON -I FREE DOUBLE PRINTS i I ON MONDAYS I I ON EVERY ROLL OF COLOR FILM I BROUGHT IN FOR DEVELOPINGj "The motivating factor know we can win the championship," Calip; is that we Big Ten said. - i n.. .mmlbL .te r.. It's To Time Pla y! J'' For Exam Preparation Choose to EXCEL! -Learn to Anticipate the Exam -Improve Your Test-Taking Skills -Use Your Study Time More Effectively -Achieve Your Maximum Potential Score 996-1500 Test Preparation 1100 kl UI ,joutn university IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM Mini Soccer Leagues All Campus Instant Scheduling, Monday, March 12 11:00 am-4:30 pm Intramural Sports Building Volleyball Leagues Res. Hall, Frat, Sorority, Women, Ind., Grad/Fac/Staff, Co-Rec Instant Scheduling, Tuesday, March 13 11:00 am-4:30 pm Intramural Sports Building Relays Meet Res. Hall, Fraternity, All Campus Men and Women Sign Up Date: Monday, March 19 at IMSB by 4:30 pm Meet Date: Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm Track and Tennis Building Visit your Intramural or Recreational Sports Department and sign up today!. 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