Page 4-The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - February 8, 1993
King proves he can reign on the court
24-point effort against Purdue shows flashes of high school dominance
B ASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Howard receives a
by Ken Sugiura
Daily Basketball Writer
It started simply enough. A Jimmy
King putback off a miss by Ray Jack-
son. And then it kept going. And going.
And going.
"The way King played today, I think
that shows the individual and the size of
his heart," forward Chris Webber said.
"The last time I felt this good was
probably high school," King said.
When the day was done, King had
indeed hung numbers worthy of his all-
American prep days. Against Purdue,
the King line read 10 baskets on 11
shots, 3-for-3 from the line, six rebounds,
three blocks and three steals.
So what gives, Jimmy?
"It just happened that way. We were
on the break a lot, I got a lot of baskets
off the break," he said. "My teammates
were looking for me, and I just hap-
pened to be open, and I had a lot of
layups."
.,His 24 points bettered his previous
career high by four points - set earlier
this season atDuke-and far surpassed
his season average of 11.2 points per
game. With the outburst, King ledMichi-
gan in scoring - only the fourth time in
his career he has done so.
"It was a good game, probably one
of the best of my career," King said. "I
can do a lot of things, a lot of different
things. I was just showing people that I
could score also."
Itis only fitting thatin his career day,
defense was the catalyst which trig-
gered the scoring deluge.
"Our defense is good," said King,
Michigan's defensive stopper. "(De-
fense) is what keys our break and if we
can continue to play good defense, good
things are going to happen."
Michigan'sdefense forced turnovers
and a host of bad Purdue shots - the
Boilermakers shot 33 percent in the first
half - allowing the Wolverines to get
all kinds of fast break opportunities. Of
King's 10 baskets, half came off transi-
tion.
"In practice, we've been working on
the fast break and getting up the court,"
he said. "That's what we did in this
game - getting up the court real fast
and trying to beat them down the floor
MICHELLE GUY/Daily
Jimmy King guards Purdue guard Matt Painter during yesterday's game.
and making this into a 94-foot game."
For King, Sunday's game repre-
sented a chance to assert himself in
Fisher's game plan.
"It just came that way. I was looking
more to shoot this game than in previ-
ous games,"hesaid. "Inpreviousgames,
I've been passing up my shot and I
haven't been able to get into the rhythm
offensively, and I think that hurts the
team when I do that, because then they
can sag off me and double team down
low."
In the eight previous conference
games, King's 65 shots were the lowest
among those who had started each con-
test, despite having a higher shooting
percentage than both Juwan Howard
and JalenRose. Prior toSunday,Webber
led with 107 shots, followed by Rose
and Howard.
After King took four shots last Tues-
day at Michigan State for a season-low
five points, Fisher and his staff appar-
ently were of like mind to get the Plano,
Texas, native more shots.
"They told me to take my time and
hit the open shots, and when it's there,
don't even think twice, Just shoot it,"
King said.
Coming toMichigan, like every other
Wolverine, King has learned to share
the basketball with his equally-talented
teammates.
"It's been difficult," he said, "but it's
just something thatI feel that right now,
that's what's best for the team- for me
to step back and let the number one,
two, three, four options go ahead and do
their thing and I can contribute in other
ways."
"I'm probably the fourth or fifth
option, but I can't worry about that," he
said. "There are other things, like get-
MILLER
Continued from page 1
I ought to know. As a writer with
many permanent disabilities, I have
faced - and continue to face - many
situations that are difficult, or challeng-
ing, or less than ideal, or however you
want to say it.
My hearing's impaired, so I use a
hearing aid. My balance is wobbly-at
best, so I try not to put myself in danger-
ous situations, such as getting to and
from the press table atCrisler- with no
railings on the stairs-more than Ihave
to.
I could complain, and I often feel
like to doing so, but that wouldn't help.
As much as I complained, I'd still have
to manage my problems. Because if I
didn't wear my hearing aid, or walk
carefully, I'd be in trouble.
So I do what's necessary to function
asta writer. Yes, it takes perseverance.
Yes, it takes accepting situations I don't
like.
No, it does not take a'heroic effort.'
Instead, like Webber said, it takes a
lot of "heart."
One of the worst stereotypes of per-
sons with disabilities is that of the "su-
per-overachiever" or "hero" who "over-
comes the odds" to rise to greatness.
Don't be foolish. These people are
just trying to live their lives in some
meaningful way.
They have the heart to do so.
On a different scale - let us not
trivialize either the daily struggles of
the students or the game-by-game battles
of the players by equating them directly
- the injured players are just trying to
stay in the game.
Jackson's shoulder separated in the
North Carolina game. He needed time
to recover. He came back when he,
admittedly, was still not completely
healed or free from pain. But the season
was continuing, andhe returned as soon
as he physically could.
Voskuil and Webber face a similar
situation, though the nature of their
injuries allows them to play while they
heal.
All could complain. "What rotten
luck, how uncomfortable, whatamess."
They could say all these things, and
they'd be right every time.
But if Jackson didn't rest when his
arm stiffened up, and if Voskuil and
Webber didn't don their masks, they
wouldn't be effective outon the court.It
certainly is not the circumstance they
wished for, and it does add difficulties
to an already rigorous season, but it is
reality.
And it is a reality that can be man-
aged. All are successfully dealing with
the difficulties.
Consider yesterday's statistics.
Webber finished 6-for-8 with 14 points
in 29 minutes. And Jackson scored six
points in 10 first-half minutes: he rested
in the second stanza.
"I'm just doing what I expect my-
self to do," Jackson said. "There's no
special thing in that at all."
When asked if he would handle his
ting offensive rebounds andputting th
back, or getting a couple of stealso
getting on the break and getting
points that way."
But while you can iake the boy aw
from the scoring, you can't take
scoring away from the boy.
"I always feel like I should be nu
ber one," he said, smiling.
But King has channeled his dr
into the defensive end of the floor, wh
he has been a dervish. His three bloi
lifted his season total to 12, third on1
team and tops among the guards.I
three steals gave him 32 on the ye
most among the Wolverines and ft
better than his total from last season
"I love to play defense. Growing
my father told me that, 'No matter wt
you can always play defense, the{
fense will come,' so I live by that," K
related.
situation any differently, Voskuil
plied, "Not at all."
Hundreds of students on this ca
pus deal with disabilities every d
Unlike the injuredWolverines, youpr
ably don't know their names.
Nonetheless, they "have heart"
continue here despite their probler
All are persistent. All are dedicated.,
are doing what's necessary to funct
each day..
Let us not forget that one of th
students plays women's basketb
Tannisha Stevens - still finishing1
recovery -has already announced t
regardless of whether she recovers
sight in her right eye, she will return
the team.
Nonetheless, many people consi
the Wolverines heroes - it's even
'The Victors,' "Hail to the conquer
heroes." That's fine. If you wish, y
may still consider them heroes for w
they do on the court.
You just don't have to do the sa
for what they did to get there.
great birthday gift
by Ryan Herrington
and Andy De Korte
Daily Basketball Writers _
Usually people expect to receive presents on their birthday. Michigan center
Juwan Howard on the other hand spent his 20th birthday in a giving mood.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds,
helping give the Wolverines a84-76 victory over Purdue. Howard shota blistering
70 percent from the floor on a birthday that he is sure to remember.
"I'm no longer a teenager," Howard said. "Now I'm aht to hit that 'man'
stage."
The sellout Crisler crowd helped Howard celebrate, serenading him with a
rendition of "Happy Birthday" while he was taking free throw shots at the end of
the game. Peppered throughout the stands were various signs congratulating
Howard on his big day. Howard was somewhat embarrassed but appreciative of
the crowd's accolades.
"I don't really like playing on my birthday," Howard said. "All the guys like
teasing me and stuff like that. They tried to get the crowd all involved.
"These people here at Michigan are really good to me. There was a whole
bunch of signs saying happy birthday to me and I'd like to thank everyone who
wished me a happy birthday. That was a lot of fun."
While the 18 points and the victory were nice presents for Howard, there is one
wish that went unfulfilled.
"I just wish today my grandma was alive to see me turn 20," Howard said. "She
wished she was alive to see me turn 21 and she didn't get a chance to do that. But
I know she's proud of me. She's always on my mind."
Howard's grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, passed away two years ago
em when Juwan was a senior in high school.
and IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOO: Howard is not the only birthday boy for the
my Wolverines. Tomorrow, Jimmy King celebrates his 20th birthday. However,
King is not positive that the extra year will make that much of a difference.
vay "We're still the same basketball players, just a little wiser," King said.
the INJURY UPDATE: In what's become an all-too-familiar scene for the Wolver-
ines, Ray Jackson was again sitting on the sidelines due to an injury. After making
rm- his second start since recovering from a separated shoulder that forced him to miss
seven contests earlier this season, Jackson turned his left ankle on afastbreak drive
ive to the basket with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half.
ere Jackson did not return to the lineup in the second half and was diagnosed as
cks having a sprained ankle. While he will be examined again today, Jackson is nottoo
the worried about missing any more action.
His "It's not that bad," Jackson said. "I could have played in the second half but it's
ear, better to be safe than sorry."
our In addition to the loss of Jackson, Michigan was without the services of senior
n. forward James Voskuil, who is still recovering from his collision with Iowa's
up, Russ M illad a week ago. Voskuil fractured his nose and injured his hip going for
hat, a rebound with Millard in the Iowa game. Voskuil ran into Millard's elbow and
of- then crashed to the ground. Voskuil wore aprotective mask for his nose and played
ing two days later against Michigan State.
In zhe game against the Spartans, Voskuil re-aggravated the hip injury,
preventing him from participating against the Boilermakers.
DOMINATING DEFENSE...: Although Purdue could only manage a.482 field
re- goal percentage against the Wolverines, the Boilermakers should consider them-
selves lucky. Only Indiana has been able to crack the 50-percent line against
mn- Michigan.
ay. The Boilermakers' shooting percentage was helped by the second-half defen-
ob- sive letdown. When the Wolverines were staking themselves to a 37-25 lead in the
first half, Purdue was limited to .333 shooting.
to The poor performance among Wolverine opponents has spread like an
ms. epidemic. Six of the last 11 teams to face Michigan have shot under 40 percent.
All ....LEADS TO BIG LEADS: After the eight-point victory yesterday, the Wolver-
ion ines had an 11.1-point average margin of victory.
The rebounding edge is a key component of these leads. Michigan has out-
ese rebounded its opponent 17 times in this season's 21 games. In those 17 games,
all. Michigan is 15-2.
her Also of note, those leads are usually cementedby halftime. Seventeen halftime
hat, leads have been transformed into 17 victories.
the SOMETHING TO SHOOT FOR: Michigan was victorious in both contests
a to against Purdue this season - yesterday and Jan. 7, in an 80-70 win. Despite the
two-game sweep, the Boilermakers still hold a 63-49 edge over the Wolverines in
der series play.
in In fact, Purdue holds an edge over every Big Ten team. Illinois is closest at 70-
ing 71, and have a 669-483 lifetime Big Ten record. The Boilermakers are tied with
you Indiana at 18 for most Big Ten basketball titles.
hat
me
*I
0
PURDUE
Continued from page 1
neon green signs with olde-style zeroes
appeared appear to faze Robinson and
his teammates, the general volume did
seem to disturb the Boilermakers.
"They just did a great job for us,"
Howard, who was celebrating his 20th
birthday, said. "They were just in the
game the whole time, and that's what
we like. We need that type of enthusi-
asm."
"I think our kids like to play at
home," Dutcher said. "You've just got
to learn that the home court's not an
advantage unless you play hard."
The Wolverines did play hard in all
facets, especially on the boards. Michi-
gan out-rebounded Purdue, 38-15 and
scored 16 second chance points to
Purdue's six. The Wolverines shot at a
.579 rate and held the Boilermakers to a
.482 clip.
"I thought Purdue played a great
game, and I thought we played excep-
tional," Dutcher said. "I thought we
played really well."
Although the Boilermakers could
even in losing," Dutcher said. "So they
played a great game, and I'm sure
they've got to be happy with their effort.
I think they played a whale of a game."
Despite Michigan's solid play, the
club still felt there was room for im-
provement.
"We want to vet back to that team it
was in Hawaii (where they won the
Rainbow Classic)," Howard said. "We
were playing great defensively and of-
fensively. We were playing our best
ball,, id we just want to get back to that
fast i and carry it on so we can get a
Bib itle and take it into the NCAA
tourna ent."
The Wolverines host Wisconsin
Wednesday night before travelling to
Bloomington to take on Big Ten leader
Indiana.
10
MICHELLE GUY/Daily
The class of 1995's number-two recruit, Purdue's Glenn Robinson, moves in
for position on the number-one recruit, Chris Webber, on the free throw line
yesterday. The much-touted rivalry turned out to be a sideshow.
PURDUE (76)
FG FT Rob.
Mi. M-A WA O-T A F Pts.
Robinson 38 10-17 6-8 1-5 2 3 31
Martin 32 10-15 2-3 3-5 2 1 22
Stanback 21 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 1 0
Waddell 20 0-4 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
Painter 27 2.9 0-0 0-1 3 1 5
Dove 8 1-1 0-0 1.1 0 0 2
Williams 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Roberts 14 1-3 4-4 0-1 3 5 7
Darner 17 3-4 0-0 0-0 2 1 9
McNary 17 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
Jenni2s 4 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 0 0
Totals 200 27-56 12-16 8-20 12 15 76
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