The Michigan Daily-Thursday, November 1, 1990- Page 9
Tourneys next for rugby.
Four-year jinx in Big Ten's looms over men
by Ryan Herrington clties at the Rio Ten To rnamn t -even team single eliminatio
n
The climax of the Michigan
men's rugby fall season comes
this weekend as the Wolverines
travel .to Columbus for the Big
Ten Tournament. And with the
talent this team possesses,
Michigan is one of the favorites to
take the conference crown.
If the squad is to have a
successful weekend, there are
many things which need to
happen. Most important, accord-
ing to co-captain Tae-Ni Chang
Stroman, is that Michigan comes
together and plays as a unit.
The Wolverines will rely on
strong forward play, especially
from flanker Bryan Williamson
and eight-man Joe Domask.
"If we dominate up front, like
we should, with our back play we
should control the game," co-
captain Jon Lichterman said.
"Possession is critical. We don't
have a big pack, but we do have a
,mobile pack which gets around the
field well.
"We need possession of the
ball in order to win."
Lichterman, a senior playing in
his fourth Big Ten Tournament,
must use his experience to help
this very athletic, but inexper-
ienced team.
"If (Lichterman) plays well, we
will win," Stroman said.
In addition to the play of the
forwards, strong defense from the
backs, notably John Swis and Bret
Peck, will be important this
weekend. Lichterman also noted
that kicker Bill McCarrol needs to
be at the top of his game for
Michigan to win.
Michigan has had its diffi-
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in the past. Last season, four
players went down with injuries
during the tournament, forcing the
team to use less experienced
players as replacements.
While the Wolverines placed a
very respectable second, it marked
the fourth straight season that
Michigan finished with the silver
rather than the gold, a frustrating
fact to all of the returning players.
The toughest opponents the
Wolverines could face in this
.,lG V GII I.~pM.*,0AI g
tournament are defending cham-
pion Minnesota; host Ohio State,
a team which reached the nationals
last season; and Penn State,
playing in its first Big Ten rugby
tournament.
And what about Michigan's
chances?
Lichterman replies, "We don't
necessarily have team cohesive-
ness. However, we're good rugby
players and this will lead to our
success."
Eleven women join area team
for Midwest Subunion games
H E
SPORTING VIEWS
by David Schechter
Daily Sports Writer
The Lakers are Rileyless, the Cleveland Cavs are.
Ferryfull, and the Phoenix Suns are on the move. What
does this all mean? When this year's basketball season
gets underway, you'll find out.
ON THE RISE: Look out Lakers, you've got
company at home. The Los Angeles Clippers are the up
and coming team in the league. The team has a new
leader in 1986-87 Coach of the Year Mike Shuler.
Shuler has unlimited talent to
work with in Ron Harper, Danny
Manning, Bo Kimble, and Michigan
men Gary Grant and Loy Vaught. If
this group of young athletes can
rally around potential All-Star
Harper and stay out of the hospital,
they will finish near the top of the
Pacific Division. Unfortunately, this
seems unlikely as Harper will be out
until at least Christmas recovering
from knee surgery.
In the Eastern Conference, look
to the Indiana Pacers for some
surprises. Last year they played like}
a team for the first time since Rik
Smits was under six feet tall. Reggie Vaug ht
Miller is a dynamite shooter who
can dish out as much abuse as he takes. With late
bloomers Smits and Detlef Schrempf continuing to
improve, the Pacers will be a force in the future.
THE FINAL FOUR: Piston coach Chuck Daly is
back for a reason. He wants his three-peat. He could
have a lucrative color commentary job right now, but
he knows the Pistons have the potetntial for one more
championship season. His three-guard rotation of
Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas can do
it, but this team of egos might explode in Daly's face.
Look for a big trade from the Pistons including John
Salley and Mark Aguirre, who are on the trading block.
Michael Jordan is ready to send Isiash on his merry
Michael meets
Mr. Robinson
way. The Bulls' addition of Dennis Hopson and Cliff
Levingston shouldn't truly threaten anyone, but the
maturity of Scottie Pippen should. Pippen has really
grown in Jordan's presence. If guys like Horace Grant
and Craig Hodges can truly contribute, the Bulls will
have what it takes.
Eastern Conference Champions - Chicago Bulls.
The Suns will most likely face the San Antonio
Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. As a rookie,
David Robinson had all the moves of a veteran.
Unfortunatley, he was not immune
to rookie mistakes. Except for All-
Star veteran Terry Cummings, San
Antonio is shy on experience but
big on talent. With the addition of 7-
foot-1 Dwayne Schintzius out of
Florida, the Spurs can camp out
under the boards.
Although the Lakers will put
together an impressive regular
season, they won't survive the heat
of Kevin Johnson and the Phoenix
Suns in the Pacific division. K.J.,
often refered to as "Little Magic",
has an unmatched will to win. His
supporting cast of Tom Chambers,
Jeff Hornacek, Dan Majerle, and
Mark West are some of the best
individual players in the league. The Suns will
dominate the West for years to come. But not this year.
Western Conference Champions - San Antonio
Spurs.
T HE W INN ER: The networks finally rid
themselves of Detroit's Bad Boys in the finals and add
the king of commercials, their beloved Jordan. On the
flip side, NBC will have to ask for directions to San
Anotonio. David Robinson, of course, will display his
super star abilities, but won't match the will to win of
mighty Michael.
The Bulls win it all.
by Charlie Wolfe
The season is over, but the real
challenge may have just begun.
The Michigan women's rugby
team has just completed one of its
best seasons in memory, com-
piling a 7-2 record, outscoring its
opponents 140-28, and chalking
up six shutouts. But for many of
the team's players, there still
remains a bit of unfinished bus-
iness in Iowa City this weekend.
Eleven Wolverines will be part
of a squad of twenty to represent
the Michigan/Ohio/Indiana Sub-
union Select-Side team in the
Midwest Subunion Tournament
Saturday. The other three teams
taking part in the tourney will be
from the states of Minnesota,
Illinois, and an Iowa/Wisconsin
team.
The Select-Side team will face
Minnesota, the No. 1 ranked
Midwest team, in its first game. It
will then enter either the winner or
loser's bracket to face Illinois or
Iowa/Wisconsin. Michigan coach
Bryn Chivers, also leading the
Select-Side team, admits they have
their work cut out for them.
"The odds are against us, but if
our forwards tighten it up and
move the ball well, we could
surprise them," Chivers said.
His squad finished fourth last
year "but we have a far superior
team this year," he added em-
phatically.
Win or lose, Chivers will be
motivating his players to perform
well individually also. He's
counting on at least seven
members from the squad to make
the Midwest Select-Side team,
which will then tour the different
territories (East, Southwest,
Pacific West) across the nation.
"Seven (players) will probably
make the Midwest team, and we
could have even more," Chivers
said. "I'll be very disappointed if
it's any less than seven."
Ii , I
Swimmers compete in double dip
by Jason Gomberg
Early, rigorous conditioning for
the Michigan women's swimming
team should pay great dividends
come the end of the season,
according to coach Jim Richardson.
"Teams that are happy in March
are the ones that are unhappy in
November," he said.
Richardson characterizes his team
as- willing to sacrifice now to reap
the benefits of late-season success.
The first step towards that goal
-a fifth consecutive Big Ten title
-will be taken Friday evening. The
Wolverines, ranked sixth in the
nation, engage defending NCAA
Division II champion Oakland
University at Canham Natatorium.
Richardson regards this meet as
more of a hard training meet than as
a high-pressure contest.
"It's competition, all right," he
said, "but we're emphasizing more
of the endurance component. Since
it's distance-oriented we won't see
indications of power."
The distances areeroughly twice
.as long in this race as in normal
competition. This should provide a
stiff challenge for Michigan's seven
returning All-American performers
from the 1989-90 season.
For example, a swimmer who
regularly competes in the 200-meter
freestyle will instead hit the water
facing 400 meters. For some, it will
entail racing for longer than they
ever have. Richardson says this
double-distance "parallels the type of
training we've done all year.
"We got the idea (for a double
distance meet) from Stanford last
year, and we asked around to different
schools to try it. Only Oakland was
brave enough to try it with us," he
said.
The Wolverines are not neces-
sarily unhappy about this training
style. They definitely remain
focused, and maybe fatigued, but
they are not miserable. Michigan
doesn't plan on taking anyone for
granted on its schedule this year.
"They're not looking past this
week," Richardson quipped. "The
way they're training, they can't
afford looking past this afternoon's
practice."
THE NWS
ANN ARBOR
Part-time Customer Service drivers needed. Starting pay - $6.00 per hour
plus mileage reimbursement.
Deliver newspapers in Ann ArborNpsilanti area, possibly answer phones one day per
week.
Hours are Thursday and Friday, 2:30- 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 - 12 noon.
Preferred candidates have insured car, good driving record, knowledge of area, excellent
communication skills, and pleasant voice.
Apply in person - Ann Arbor News, 340 E. Huron St., 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
EOE
Premiere Performance of
for choir, soprano and baritone soloists,
harp, organ, handbells and congregation
by Stephen Rush
composer in residence of University of Michigan Dance Department
Friday, November 2, 8:00 p.m.
Commissioned by Campus Chapel in celebration of
fifty years of campus ministry at the University of Michigan
668-7421/662-2402
1236 Washtenaw Ct.
parking in the University of Michigan Church St. parking structure
...but, of course,
there's a catch...
A2's premier arts center
needs a few energetic
art junkies for poster &
flyer distribution
around town. If you're
interested give us a call or
stop by anytime.
rawinim reins
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nomads "indians " saints
Compelling music with a rare, unvarnished
beauty. Featuring "HAMMER AND A NAIL:' "WATERSHED:' and "PUSHING
THE NEEDLE TOO FAR." Produced by Scott Li. ManaementRaue Carter epic
MICHIGAN'S
FIRST PLACE TEAM
Michigan Wolverines vs. Ferris State Bulldogs
Friday, November 2, 1990
"Michigan Hockey Button Night"
Saturday, November 3, 1990
Yost Ice Arena
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