Sports Monday Trivia What is the only NCAA Division I men's sport without a postseason tournament? (For the answer, turn to the bottom of page 2) Inside Sports Monday Sports Calendar 2 Ice hockey coverage 2-3 Men's basketball coverage 4 Women's basketball coverage 5 A look at Rumeal Robinson 6 Wrestling coverage 7 Men's swimming coverage 7 Sprteu27wwwmc Sd ec The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday- March 12, 1 *Men go west for attempt *to repeat by Taylor Lincoln Daily Basketball Writer Before Steve Fisher was hired for the permanent coaching job at Michigan, he had eyes on the coaching opening at his alma matar -Illinois State. Now, one national championship later, Illinois State will make a bid to end Fisher's first full season. The -See Page 9 of the News section for tournament bracketing. third-seeded Wolverines will play the fourteenth-seeded Redbirds Friday in Women earn first NCAA invite by Theodore Cox and Phil Green Daily Basketball Writers El Hockey awaits NCAA decision by David Hyman Daily Hockey Writer The Michigan hockey team moved a step closer to gaining its first bid to the NCAA Championships since 1977 with a 5- 4 victory over Bowling Green in yesterday's CCHA consolation playoff game. "We hope that winning this will give us the opportunity to continue," Wolverine coach Red Berenson said. "It was a big step for our program and another step would be just deserved," he added referring Fisher: Faces alma matar first-round action in the West regional. "I'm out to get them because they didn't retire my number," Fisher said, who scored a total 64 points in his career at Illinois State. He could not recall what his number wore. See Men, Page 8 For the first time ever, the Michigan women's basketball team received a bid to the NCAA tournament and the team has graciously accepted. The 10th seed Wolverines will play 7th seed Oklahoma State Wednesday night in Stillwater, Ok. in the Midwest re- gionals. The team had just arrived at Metro airport returning from its 80- 69 regular-season ending victory in Minnesota when they found out the VanlJeWege: Oklahoma St. next news from coach Bud VanDeWege who had just called Michigan's sports information department. First-year center Trish Andrew described the scene: "We had been waiting forever for our luggage at the airport. We finally had all gotten on the bus and he (VanDeWege) said, 'While we're waiting I have See WOMEN, Page 8 i Michigan rolls over Berenson: Bid forthcoming? to Michigan's first-ever entrance into the CCHA Final Four and probable NCAA berth. Bids will behawarded around 10:30 p.m. tonight. In order to be considered in the bidding process, the Wolverines needed to finish ahead of Bowling Green. This is due to the fact that it See HOCKEY, Page 8 Iowa Blue wins easy, 127-96 by Taylor Lincoln Daily Basketball Writer It was too late to win the Big Ten title, but soon enough to salvage third place as the Wolverines turned in one of their most lop-sided victories of the season, 127-96, over Iowa. The win, coupled with Minn- esota's loss to Ohio State, gave Michigan sole possession of third place. Michigan also set a Crisler Arena record for points scored. Starting with seven straight points by Demetrius Calip, who scored a career-high 22, Michigan (22-7 overall, 12-6 Big Ten) led from the start and expanded its lead throughout the first half. The first half high-point was a 27 point lead with just under two minutes left. Iowa (12-16, 4-14) mounted several mini-comebacks in the second twenty minutes but never got closer than 17. "I kept thinking we'd make a run," Iowa coach Tom Davis said. "We'd get it down to 20 and I thought maybe we could get it in the teens and make them sweat a little, but they'd jump back on us." Michigan coach Steve Fisher was See IOWA, page 5 JOS EJUAIE4UafIy Michigan celebrates a goal in yesterday's CCHA playoff consolation game against Bowling Green. The Wolverines defeated the Falcons 5-4 to gain third place. Ieers rebound Win over Falcons lends consolation for OT loss by Peter Zellen Daily Hockey Writer In beating Bowling Green 5-4 in the consolation game yesterday, the Michigan hockey team (24-12- 6) could return to the 12-team NCAA tournament for the first time since 1977. A weekend earlier Michigan swept past Western Michigan for its first ever opening-round victory in the CCHA playoffs. Then, the Wolverines had to face top-ranked Michigan State on Saturday, a tough, emotional game in which the Spartans won in overtime 4-3. "We played a solid game and overall it was a very even game, either team could have won it," coach Red Berenson said. Michigan State scored two power play goals in the first period- and-a-half and led 2-1 going into the third period with the only Wolverine score coming from Mike Moes at 1:37 in the second period. Then at 7:12 into the third, Moes scored again as he shot past a sliding Steve Beadle to tie the game at two goals apiece. Four minutes later Denny Felsner passed to Alex Roberts shot scored from almost mid-ice to give Michigan a 3-2 lead with 8:51 remaining. Unfortunately, the emotions weren't enough as Spartan Peter White took passes from Bryan Smolinski and Shawn Heaphy to tie the game at 3-3 with five minutes to go. At 4:23 in the overtime the hopes of a CCHA championship ended for Michigan as Smolinski took the puck down the ice with White behind him. Defenseman Mark Sorensen was all alone and dropped to block Smolinski's shot but that allowed White to take a clear shot and put the puck past goalie Warren Sharples for the game winner. "That overtime goal was pinched by the defenseman not having a forward with him," Berenson said. "He made a good play but he slid into Sharples. It comes down to that you can't give up two-on-ones on overtime." After that loss to Michigan State, the Wolverines had one last1 chance to prove themselves to the NCAA selection committee, the consolation game against Bowling Green who lost to Lake Superior State. Michigan needed to rebound both physically and mentally to prove that they were deserving of a See GILL, Page 4 Michigan center Terry Mills slams in two of his 24 points in Saturday's 127-96 victory over Iowa. Wrestlers fini s sixth 1in Bi~g Ten's by Matt Rennie Daily Sports Writer EVANSTON- While many people have spent time searching for the fountain of youth, Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr could have used something to tack on a few years to his team. With six of their ten wrestlers competing for the first time in the conference championships, the Wolverines finished a distant sixth at the Big Ten tournament behind champion Iowa. Women split last 4 games by Theodore Cox and John Niyo Daily Basketball Writers There was a note posted on the Michigan locker room blackboard, 'Be ready for a battle tonight.' The note forecasted the final four Big Ten games for the Wolverines. Michigan emerged with a draw - two wins and two losses - finishing the season with a record of 19-9 overall, 11-7 in the Big Ten. Michigan started the series with an easy 76-62 win over Illinois in a game that was done by halftime. The Wolverines rolled off 13 straight points in the last three minutes to n to- the 1-nker rnnim tn 41-22_ i I v n it ,*..,* ." . *...*."*,. . ,,.AENNE-lmm "..":