+ 11- 9 4 . _ x UNLV claims preseason top spot LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada- Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian finally received some good news Monday. UNLV starts the preseason where they began last season: No. 1 in the college basketball poll. - Michigan received 16 points, which placed the Wolverines No. 47 in the nation. A panel of 65 sports writers and broadcasters picked UNLV No. 1, followed by Arkansas, Arizona, Michigan State and North Carolina. Rounding out the Top 10 in the preseason poll were Duke, Alabama, Indiana, Georgetown and Ohio State. The poll's Second Ten starts with UCLA, followed by Pittsburgh, Syracuse, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Connecticut, Virginia, Temple and Missouri. MICHIGAN The Best in Sports Deserves the Best in Sportswear GEAR AP Top 25 Preseason Poll Team (No. 1 Votes) Last Season Points' 1. UNLV (50) 35-5 1,601 2. Arkansas (5) 30-4 1,506 3. Arizona (5) 25-7 1,488 4. Michigan St. 28-6 1,302 5. North Carolina 21-13 1,282 6. Duke{2) 29-9 1,162 7. Alabama 26-9 1,110 8. Indiana 18-11 1,089 9. Georgetown (2) 24-7 1,054 10. Ohio St. 17-13 887 11. UCLA 22-11 874 12. Pittsburgh 12-17 812 13. Syracuse 26-7 791 14. LSU 23-9 726 15. Oklahoma 27-5 670 16. Georgia Tech 28-7 640 17. Connecticut 31-6 630 18. Virginia 20-12 540 19. Temple 20-11 300 20. Missouri 26-6 282 21. Georgia 20-9 280 22. Texas 24-9 254 23. Louisville 27-8 252 24. Southern Miss. 20-12 238. 25. St.John's 24-10 213 Last season, anything short of a national championship repeat was a disappointment for the Michigan basketball team. It's a good thing this year's squad doesn't have to live up to impossible expectations like that. But now, as Wolverine fans descend back to reality, they insist on sinking to the other end of the preseason totem pole. Before Michigan has taken its first NCAA tipoff this season, everyone is questioning why it should even take the court at all. It seems like there should be some happy medium between the two, and not simply because loyal fanship warrants it. It's because the team warrants it. After Michigan State and Purdue scurried to the top of the standings last year, fans learned one of many things: that preseason rankings are about as accurate as a cheap tabloid cover story. "We're going to have an effective team this year, sophomore guard Michael Talley said. "You have to make the chance for yourselves." But people must give them a chance to excel as well. The likelihood of Michigan turning its fan's collective head is great, with three major variables deciding the team's fate: the Wolverines are surfing waves of maybe and probably in a sea of uncertainties. Uncertainty: Who will play the low post? Eric Riley stands as Michigan's only proven big man, and even that is debatable. At 6- foot-11, 205 pounds, Riley has the height, but not the size. According to coach Steve Fisher, other Big Ten centers have the size, but not the speed. That could be a rationalization, but it could also be true given Michigan's new fast-paced attack. FormerJ Wolverine power forward Loy Sheran Vaught, for whom Riley provided an occasional breather last season, asserts that Fisher may have a valid point. "I think speed can make up for T size in Eric's case," Vaught said. "A lot of people don't realize how good Easy-E can be. I'm going on the record and saying that Eric Riley will be an NBA player." But the question as to who else can wipe the glass still remains. The possible answers are: Chip Armer? The Florida juco transfer is here for that reason - defensive rebounding. He's 6-foot- 11 also, with a 20-pound advantage over Riley. Rich McIver? At 6-foot-9, McIver is an attractive prospect for power forward. But Fisher told reporters one sunny afternoon, "the only good thing for Rich right now is the weather." He'll come around, but don't expect any qoick fixes. Chris Seter? He's also 6-foot-9, and Fisher has been impressed with Seter's uncharacteristic toughness this season. Fisher added that Seter has a good feel for complementing Riley both offensively and defensively. Sam Mitchell? Riley was impressed with Mitchell's offensive moves. The 6-foot-9 forward envisions himself as a perimeter player. But when forced to play inside, Mitchell will adjust and be a big asset, no pun intended. The Wolverines made their mark on Mitchell as well. "I was underestimating the talent at this school when I thought I'd be a starter right away," Mitchell conceded. "There's a great deal of talent here, and I have to work my way in." Maybe: Fisher, whether or not by choice, will implement the three-guard offense. He used the lineup sparingly last season, and it yielded fairly effective results. But in Fisher's own words, "we have different guards than last year." Actually, Steve, you're only missing one guard from last year - but we get the point. Michigan will need to control the tempo and hit its shots if its smaller, swifter players are to contend with their opponents. But they can do that; marksmen like Demetrius Calip, Jason Bossard, Rob Pelinka, and James Voskuil can supposedly hit the nets better than bad tennis players. Probably: What the Wolverines then need is a point guard who can run the floor Give this team a chance intellige: basketba team; as] Deme could pe last year. point to a scorer, someone The o Granted, position didn't w Basketba "Tall and I like "He's th day. He' guard's n some mi from lac Just a in place and those compens team, no the squa doesn't e young. "With enthusia reasoned excited1 So an ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE MAINSTREET PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS.. T(W - ltfr -41)Ti by Lanford Wilson Directed by Anne Kolaczkowski Magee Thursdays through Saturdays, November 1417, 1990-8 p.m. Tickets $6-Thurs. two-for-one Anni Arbor Civic Theatre, 1035 S. Main St. Ticket information, call 662.7282 OFOO ; %i% ~ I RUSSEIZL 'i 1 GO BLUE!!! from all of us at DASCOLA STYLISTS Opposite Jacobson's 668-9329 I Available at MICHIGAN UNION BOOKSTORE 7 ,tMICHIGAN A * ZZ . bri74ge I RECORDS 1140 South University Above Good Time Charley's AnnArbor, M1 48104 Ph: (313) 663-5800 Hours: Mon-Sat: 9 am-1O pmn Sun: 11 am-8 pm QUIZ: WHO WAS AT THE FIRST THANKSGIVING? Nomads . Indians Saints Girls Girls Girls ale indigo girls.9 Hammer And A NaU Watersedon Welcome Ma, 12 World as casst cassette S1199 n9 C CD MICHGAN VS'rI MICHIGAN - OSU GAME PACKAGE $69 Plus Tax - Saturday, November 24* $99 Plus Tax - Friday, November 23 Saturday, November 24* Package Includes: " King Sofa Room - Friday Night Pep Rally in Lounge - Transportation to and from OSU Stadium on Game Day " Box Lunch for Two During your stay enjoy our indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, excercise room, two restaurants and complimentary airport shuttle. *Subject to Availablity FOR RESERVATIONS WORLDWIDE 800-333.3333 (Radisson. ARPORT HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER 1375 N. Cassady Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43219 (614) 475-7551 23 S to 270 East to 62 West to Cassady Avenue ST IDENE ARE lANG You live in rooms the size of shoe hexes. So at Traci Bar your sty Eat pizza for break- ' good fo fast. Ruin your besid posture by Her hauling heavyt books around campus. And < throw jello 2 t at the ones Jh i you love. But it's okay with be us. We love students. And be Because students love music. WhyPay "NORMAL" Prices! Gooddfopo$$50FF Any 2Cassettesor CompactDiscs (Except thoSealIreda "tiDECEMI TRACKS AN yaARBOR L. University Galleria Open 7 Days a Week on the Ground Floor of the Michigan Union 995-8877 M ASA *,1 ELVIS COSTELLO GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS An Elvis (,ouell,, Rrtrosteclive. Song selection and inei nolos by Elvis. Over 150 minutes of music. ~'~% ( i,. - - .as 14 WEEKEND November 16,