Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Sports Tuesday- January 21,1992
WOLVERINES BATTLE INEXPERIENCE
* FU LL COURT
PRESS
it doesn't3geteasier
for women cagers
by Adam Miller
Daily Basketball Writer
It's easy to get carried away, isn't it? For a while, it looked like the
Michigan women's basketball team was on the verge of, making a real
turnaround. The Wolverines defeated Boston College Dec. 1 (ching), Notre
Dame Dec. 13 (chching), Indiana St. Dec. 21 (ch-ching), and topped it off
Dec. 28 with a victory over No. 11 Western Kentucky, 77-73, at the Seattle-
Times Husky Classic (CH-CHING!).
Everyone went wild. The toppling of the Toppers was called the biggest
upset in Michigan women's basketball history, which it was, technically.
The Wolverines had never beaten a team ranked so high before..
A new electricity captivated many, and it looked like there was good
reason to be excited. Players injured early in the campaign, such as
sophomore LaTara Jones and junior Jen Nuanes, were coming back. Senior
Char Durand was still flying from making "the biggest free throws of my
career" to beat the Hilltoppers. Even coach Bud VanDeWege had come
around from earlier frustrations and spoke of how proud he was of the
team.
Anticipation filled the air as the beginning of the Big Ten season
approached, and elated Michiganders laughed at the Wolverines preseason
predicted ninth-place Big Ten finish. Ninth place? Hah! It seemed that the
Wolverines were ready to take the conference by storm.
Then the conference schedule began, and Michigan lost to Purdue, 85-68.
And then to Illinois, 71-56.
And those games were at Crisler.
The Wolverines dropped two more this weekend, at Northwestern, 83-
57, and at Wisconsin, 93-66.
Hold on. CH;CHANGE everything. How good a team is one that is
winless away from home? You read it right - Michigan is winless on the
road this season.
No, wait, I still don't think I've emphasized that enough: MICHIGAN
IS WINLESS ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON. The Wolverines were 0-3
on the road against non-conference foes, and are now 0-5 in enemy teiritory.
This is a serious problem.
Because if you only win some of your home games, and none (or very
few) of your road games, you do not have a very good season. Sorry, but one
upset, at a neutral site, does not make a season.
The Wolverines are 0-4 in the Big Ten, 4-9 overall. Where do they go
from here? Do you really want to know?
Their next game is Friday, home against Minnesota. Okay, they win one.
1-4. But Sunday against nationally-ranked Iowa, on Sportschannel Chicago?
Nope. 1-5.
At Ollio St., Indiana, and Michigan St. You must be kidding. 1-8.
Home against Wisconsin Feb. 14. Happy Valentine's Day, the
You
by Ryan Herrington
Daily Basketball Writer
Entering the 1991-92 women's
basketball season, Michigan coach
Bud VanDeWege was pleased with
the hand he was dealt. With a squad
of talented players, there was but
one concern for the eight-year head
coach - inexperience.
"The key is we have good players
in a solid program who are some-
what unproven and unknown in
basketball circles," VanDeWege
said.
. Michigan returns 10 letter-
winners, losing only one starter
from a squad that finished ninth in
the Big Ten, with a 11-17 overall
record, a year ago.
With only two seniors on this
year's team, the Wolverines find
themselves in a transition period.
New performers must rise and take
hold of the challenge of playing in
the Big Ten. VanDeWege put it best
by saying, "This is a year where no-
names must become real names."
One of those who has begun to
make a name for herself is junior
center Trish Andrew. An all-Big
Ten conference honorable mention
performer last season, Andrew has*
taken the role as Michigan's go to
player. Averaging 19.7 points per
game, Andrew has become the
nucleus of the Wolverine offense.
"I don't think you can say'
enough about Trish Andrew,"
Wisconsin coach Mary Murphy said.
"She's the best center in the Big
Ten."
In addition to her offensive
ability, Andrew is one of the
premier shot blockers in the nation.
Midway into her third season, An-
drew is already the Wolverines' all-
time leader in blocked shots and is
leading the nation with 4.63 blocks
per game. She also leads the team in
rebounds with an 11.8 average.
Behind Andrew at the center
position are sophomores Michelle
Hall and Rhonda Jokisch. Hall is
coming off a promising rookie
season in which she played in 26 of
Michigan's 28 contests. While cur-
rently out with an early-season foot
injury, her return will add another
dimension to the Wolverine half-
court game. She will play in tandem
with Andrew, taking the low post,
uns ai
while Andrew plays out high. .
"We need to utilize (Hall)
down inside," VanDeWege said.
"She was playing very well before
the injury and, all our players know
what she can do."
Michigan's forward position is
the most unstable part of its lineup.
Junior Nikki Beaudry and redshirt
frosh Shimmy Gray have taken
control of the two starting posit-
ions for the time being. Beaudry has
been the biggest surprise on the
Michigan squad this year. After
breaking into the starting lineup in
mid-December, Beaudry has become
one of Michigan's most viable
offensive threats. Averaging 12.5
points a game, she has impressed the
fans and her coach with her aggress-
ive nature around the basket.
"I've . goi three people who
deserve to start and are giving us a
steady effort and are the backbone,"
VanDeWege said, including Beaudry
among the three. "They're giving us
everything they can. They're giving
us a great effort.".
After sitting out last season
with a dislocated patella, Gray has
come to play with a high level of
intensity. While still somewhat
inexperienced, she has already post-
ed back-to-back eight-rebound per-
formances this season and also aids
the team with her inside play.
Backing up Beaudry and Gray are
sophomore LaTara Jones and
junior Sherell Stanley.
Senior Char Durand and junior
Jen Nuanes have emerged as the
starters at guard for the Wolver-
ines. In a system that does not rely
heavily on a defined point guard,
Nuanes has directed the Wolverine
offense adequately thus far. She
will be called upon to take away
some of the attention Andrew
might receive from an opponent's
defense with her perimeter shoot-
ing. Durand is a gutsy .performer,
willing to take her game inside the
lane.
Off the bench, VanDeWege has
junior Stacie McCall and senior
Leah Wooldridge to spell the
starters. McCall, a catalyst at the
point, offers VanDeWege a more
uptempo style of play. Wooldridge
leads the Big Ten in three-point
shooting with an outstanding 60
n for respect
0
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Point guard Stacie McCall sets Michigan's offense. The junior comes off
the bench to help on the break and give the Wolverines an uptempo attack.
percent mark.
Beside the redshirted Gray,
Michigan adds three first-year
players to the ballclub in Carrie
Stewart, Molly Heikkinen and
Valarie Turner. Stewart's pre-
season play was of such high caliber
that VanDeWege decided to give her
a starting position during the early
going, making her the first frosh in
four years to start her first game at
Michigan. While struggling of late,
Stewart is sure to be an important
role player down the stretch.
"Right now (the rookies) are
feeling the ways," VanDeWege said.
"I would say (their play) has been
inconsistent and that's very
common."
The Wolverines currently run a
two-guard offense which helps
spread the court. While exper-
imenting with both a fast break and
a halfcourt offense, VanDeWege is
still not sure where his team's
strength lies.
"We've had more success when
we have been able to set up
offensively," he said. "It's just
really that I'm going to look at
what we have had the greatest level
of success and go with that. I still
think we need to fast break better
because I think a lot of times,
unfortunately, we're too conser-
vative. I think we have to find a
happy medium."
The Wolverine defense relies
primarily on' a one-three-one zone
which attempts to neutralize Mich-
igan's size -deficiency and force
opponents to attempt low-percent-
.age, perimeter shots.
Big Ten will impact NCAA tournament
by Jeff Williams
Daily Basketball Writer
Last year the Big Ten sent four teams - Iowa, Pur-
due, Northwestern and Michigan State - to the
NCAA Tournament. Those same teams, and possibly
one or two more, will show that they deserve consider-
ation to be included in that contingent.again. Others
will be lucky if they're allowed to watch the tourna-
ment on television.
Iowa finished last year 13-5 in the Big Ten and 20-8
overall. This year the Hawkeyes are the near-unanimous
choice among Big Ten coaches for the conference crown.
Coach Vivian Stringer is slightly more pessimistic.
"We're not very polished at all," she said. "There
are too many things missing, like shooting, consistency
and defense."
Part of the reason for Stringer's concern is the loss
of guard Stephanie Schueler. She averaged 11.7 points a
game and led the team in assists last season.
The Hawkeye's still have a formidable lineup lead
by Junior Toni Foster. Foster was an all-Big Ten selec-
tion last year at forward, averaging 15.8 points a game
and 8.2 rebounds a game.
Forward Nichole Tunsil will add strength off the
boards, and guard LaTonya Tate will provide assistance
for Foster. Tate was second on the team in assists last
year.
Also in contention for the top spot is defending Big
Ten Champion Purdue. Last year the Boilermakers (17-
1, 26-3) were the class of the Big Ten. The loss of three
starters from that squad would not bode well if it
were not for the services of guard MaChelle Joseph and
forward-center Donna Gill.
Joseph is Purdue's all-time leading scorer and one of
only three Big Ten players to score over 2000 points
their career. She averaged 20.3 points a game last year.
Gill will again be a foice off the boards after aver-
aging seven a game.
Michigan State's 96-94 triple-overtime loss to
Oklahoma State in the tournament has been described as
Darsh said.."We have to try and recapture the work
ethic of past Ohio State teams."
The bulk of the work will fall on the shoulders of
junior guard Averill Roberts and junior forward Nikki
Keyton. Roberts led the team last year with 14.9 points
a game. Keyton contributed 10 points and over three
steals a game.
Before the loss of Nancy Kennelly to a knee injury, a
lot of people were looking for Northwestern, to be in
the running for the league championship. The Wildcats
(12-6, 21-9) will still challenge but will not be the
force they were expected to be.
"(Kennelly) is a born leader," coach Don Perrelli
said, "she has been since grammar school."
Kennelly's sister Moira is one of those guards. She
averaged slightly over four points a game last year.
Junior forward Michelle Savage will be the main
scoring threat for Northwestern this season. She has
been the Wildcat's top scorer and rebounder the last
two seasons. She has also lead the Big Ten in field goal
percentage the last two seasons.
Indiana (8-10, 18-13 last year) has three of its
starters returning from last year's NIT runner-up
squad. With the trio of senior guard Tisha Hill, junior
forward Dawn Douglas and .sophomore guard Kris
McGrade returning, the Hoosiers are on the bubble of
first division teams in the Big Ten.
Hill is Indiana's all-time assist leader and averaged
10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds last season. Douglas is the
top returning scorer at 11.5 points a game. McGrade
will add some scoring with 8.5 points a game and con-
tribute on defense where she.made 53 steals last year.
Wisconsin (7-11, 13-15 last year) finished seventh
last year. With the exception of forward Lisa Lawrence
the starting line-up from that less than stellar team re-
turns for another year.
Senior forward Michele Kozelka is the main threat
for the Badgers. She finished third in the Big Ten in re-
bounds last year averaging 9.2 a game.
The outlook for Illinois (6-12,9-19 last year) is
CONFERENCE
Iowa
Michigan S
Wisconsin
Purdue
Indiana
Northwesxe
Illinois
Minnesota,
Ohio St.
Michigan
5t.
W L Pct.
3 0 1.000
3 1 .750
3 1 .750
2 1 .667
2 2 .500
2 2 .500
1 2 .333
1 2 .333
1 3 .250
O 4 .000
ern
IL E D E s
' L C 04 u - - C- n-' -- aI
I
Scoring
Player (teal
Shudlick ( A
Joseph (PL
Roberts (01
Threatt (Wi!
Andrew (A
Rebounds
Player (tear
Andrew (I
Bryant (INC
Babcock (
Foster (IOV
Kayton (OS
IM)
MN)
UJR)
)SU)
!IS)
IM)
GP Pts. 'AVG
10 235 23.5
13 269 22.4
M 11 225 20.5
11 224 20.4
: 11 227 18.7
GP No. AVG
:H 11 130 11.8
12 132 11.0
10 96 9.6
11 99 9.0
11 95 8.6
Wolverines score an upset, then make it two in a row when Northwestern
visits Feb. 16. 3-8.
Next comes anoth.er road trip. Feb. 21 at Iowa. Three in a row? Not if
15;000 Hawkeye fans say anything about it. 3-9. But, surprise! Feb. 23 is at
Minnesota, and Michigan finally wins one away from Crisler, sweeping
the season series. 4-9. .
The Wolverines close out February on the 28th against Indiana at home.
Senior Leah Wooldridge, an Indiana native who had a big game in this sea-
son's win over Indiana State, does it again. 5-9. March 1, the Buckeyes come
t tinum TIt'e rivalrvy and iminr Stacie McCall is from Cn1nmhus .n it's
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