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 ID)) NA) SU)