Men's Basketball Men's Swimming vs. George Washington at NCAA Championships Tonight, 8:05 p.m. (CBS) Today and Tomorrow Seattle Indianapolis hMichi rdy Mr 2P1 Hockey seeks revenge at NCAAs 'M' looks to atone forthis season's loss to Miami, last year's loss to Badgers by Brett Forrest Daily Hockey Writer Like sand through an hourglass, time is getting short for the Michi- gan hockey team. For the second straight weekend the team must wait and see who it will play in a post-season tourna- ment at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Last weekend the Wolverines waited for Friday's winner between Lake Superior and Bowling Green only to lose to the Lakers Saturday. This time, though, it awaits a shot at re- demption. Michigan, the second seed in the West region, must now wait to face the winner of Friday's Miami-Wis- consin matchup. The quarterfinal game takes place 5 p.m. Saturday at the Joe. Either way it turns out, there will be some history Michigan hopes to rewrite. Miami and Michigan split their season series, 1-1-1. But the Red- skins won the CCHA regular season championship by one point over the Wolverines on the strength of a dis- puted 4-3 overtime victory in Oxford Feb. 6. Michigan also yearns to exact re- venge on the Badgers. Wisconsin sent the Wolverines golfing last sea- son, winning the NCAA semifinal game over them, 4-2, in Albany's Knickerbocker Arena. "We owe them both," Michigan right wing David Oliver said. Friday's contest pits a team that is making its first appearance in the big show against a weakened perennial powerhouse. The Redskins enjoyed their best season ever this year. They were disappointed in get- ting the third seed in the West even though they finished higher than Michigan in both the regular and post seasons. The Badgers are one of the most successful programs in college hockey. They have five NCAA championship banners - second only to Michigan's seven - and won their last title at Joe Louis in 1990. Wisconsin will be without the services of wings Jason Zent and Blaine Moore and coach Jeff Sauer for the Miami contest. The three were suspended by the NCAA for their first 1993 tournament game following an altercation with the officials after last season's championship game against Lake Superior. Even though the Wolverines probably want to face both of the red-and-white-clad teams, many say it does not really matter who they play. The memories of Saturday's loss and last year's defeat at the hands of the Badgers are fresh on their minds. "After the loss last Saturday night, we said we felt sorry for who- ever we play this weekend," Michi- gan captain David Harlock said. "We're going to use them as a punching bag to vent our frustrations from last weekend." "There's going to be a certain bite in our game no matter who we play," Michigan coach Red Beren- son said. Berenson is switching the line combinations for the weekend. He is moving junior center Brian Wise- man to the line with Oliver and Cam Stewart and placing freshman center Kevin Hilton back with wingers Mike Knuble and Ryan Sittler. The "Boss Line" - B(rian)- O(liver)-S(tewart) - played to- gether earlier in the season until Wiseman's back forced him to miss the first game of his career. "It's a good time, a good place where one or two subtle changes can make the difference," Berenson said. Michigan hockey has improved every year since 1987. Two years ago, the Wolverines beat Cornell in the opening round of the NCAAs then lost to BU in the second round. Last year, they got to the semifinal round. That leaves this year, and if you believe in the schedule ... "All six of us (the senior class)' want to win this thing," Michigan senior David Roberts said. "It was so disappointing to lose Saturday. I don't think the team would let that happen again. We always bounce back from a loss. All six of us will- do whatever is in our power not to let that happen again." Michigan junior goaltender Steve Shields stops rubber during the CCHA semifinal game. The hockey team begins the road to Milwaukee Saturday. Baseball looks to hit 'dome run' at Minnesota SPORTING VIEWS l by Paul Barger Daily Baseball Writer The Michigan baseball team is going "dome" for the weekend, as it heads to Minnesota for a four game set against the Golden Go- phers. The venue for the contests will be the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome which in 1991-1992 was the site of the Final Four, the World Series and the Super Bowl. This is a far cry from the friendly confines of Ray Fisher Stadium. While Fisher Stadium has a ca- pacity of 4,000, the Metrodome can handle about 65,000 fans. Although the dome will not even come close to filling up, it could still be an in- timidating site for some awe- stricken Wolverines. No current Michigan player has ever started in a dome. "It's obviously a bigger park then were used to playing on," Michigan coach Bill Freehan said. "Minnesota has an advantage be- cause they have already played six games there." With the winter lasting an ex- tended period of time the Wolverines (5-13) have gotten used to playing indoors, using the indoor football building as a practice facil- ity. The weather caused a scheduled March 23 home game against Saginaw Valley to be postponed. "We're able to practice in the building so the surface of the Metrodome will be about the same," Freehan said. "We haven't been practicing outside so we're used to playing under a ceiling structure, but it will still take an adjustment." This game marks the beginning of the Big Ten season. The squad should be well prepared for the Gophers as Freehan's team has seen one of the nation's most diffi- cult schedule. The season has al- ready included games against Louisiana State, Miami and Florida. The Wolverines will be thrown right into the fire because Minnesota (9-6) is considered one of the favorites to take the confer- ence title. The Golden Gophers are coming off an 18-10 season that placed them second in the Big Ten during the regular season and first in the playoffs. "Michigan's record is very de- ceiving," Minnesota assistant Rob Fornasiere said. "They have done remarkably well with such a diffi- cult schedule. On top of that they Ul Here's why hockey is the best -from A to Z by Brett Forrest Daily Hockey Writer Minnesota's Metrodome, site of the Final Four, Super Bowl and World Series in 1991-92, hosts Michigan baseball's Big Ten opener Saturday. have played all those games on the road. We expect them to have com- petitive pitching, timely hitting and solid defense." Coach Freehan said he agrees with the idea that the Wolverines took on a grueling schedule, but disagrees with the Minnesota assis- tant's statement that Michigan has a competitive pitching staff. "Pitching has been our biggest problem and we need to improve it," he said. "We don't have enough depth, especially in relief." Minnesota's weakness comes by way of its pitching staff as well. Eight out of ten pitchers are fresh- men or sophomores. Overall, the Golden Gophers' strengths lie up the middle with good hitting and fielding at catcher, second, short and in center field. "When we've pitched well we've looked good," Fornasiere said. "We don't know much about the pitchers except that they have been unable to achieve consistency. We know much more about our position players." This game will allow both clubs to gage their talents and weaknesses heading into the Big Ten season. Freehan will be able to see if the early season scheduling has been as beneficial as he had hoped. When the Wolverines invade the Metrodome this Sunday they won't be playing in the World Series, but they will be engaged in their most important battle to date. Hockey is the greatest sport in the world - period. Certainly, other pas- times do have their merits, but nothing features the combination of enter- tainment, history, ritual and personality of the game played on the pond. Do you doubt what I say? Well, then read my 26 reasons why hockey is the greatest show on Earth. A - Accessibility. Hockey competitors are the most unassuming of any players in the four major leagues. Whether the game was a huge win or a crushing defeat, NHL players will almost always have time for a post-game autograph, interview or photograph. Certainly there are players in other sports who can match these feats of selflessness, but compared to NHL players, they are the exceptions in their sports.- B - Hobey Baker. The Princeton hockey and football star of the 1900s was arguably the greatest American athlete of all time. Baker also extolled the virtues of good sportsmanship and amateurism and was an opponent of publicity. As legend has it, although he lived in the upstairs of a rooming house while at Princeton, his feet never touched the stairs. Baker transported him- self up and down with his hands on the railings. He is remembered today through the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the most outstanding U.S. college hockey player. C - The Canada Cup. This international professional hockey tourna- ment is unmatched by any other sporting tournament. It provides high-cal- iber competition between the top hockey nations of the world. Players are motivated to win for their country. Unlike in an Olympic format, these athletes are the best in the world of the sport. D - Dynasties. The NHL is the one major sports league which has al- ways housed dynasties. The same team has won the Super Bowl in successive years only five times in the 27-year history of the event. Three times during the 1970s a team won back-to-back World Series. Since 1978, no team has won back-to- back titles. Three NBA teams have repeated as champions in the past six years. However, from 1969 to 1987 -no repeat champs. The same team has won The Cup in consecutive years 19 times. The same team won it three years or more in a row on six occasions and the Pittsburgh Penguins owned the championship the past two seasons. E - Edmonton Oilers. The dominant team of the mid-1980s, the Oilers were possibly the most exciting team in the history of sport. With players such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurrii Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson and Andy Moog, the Oilers were practically See HOCKEY, Page 13 Women netters experience a tale of two universities ).y Dave Kraft treacherous potholes. Rather, the State before being dismantled last "Simone had a good pra 1Eaily Sports Writer difference in caliber between the week by the Wolverines, 8-1. De- terday," Ritt said. "It's just ctice yes- a matter Tomorrow, after the Michigan women's tennis team competes against Ohio State in Columbus, it will embark on a 214-mile journey to Bloomington to face Indiana in a Sunday morning contest. While the trip from Columbus to Bloomington only takes about three- 'and-a-half hours, by the time the Wolverines (1-1 Big Ten, 5-5 over- ll) face the Hoosiers, they may feel s if they just traveled to Timbuktu and back. It is not that the roads between 0 Columbus and Bloomington are "known for their long traffic jams or 'I Buckeyes and Hoosiers may make Michigan believe there is something more than 214 miles separating the two Big Ten foes. Ohio State (0-3, 4-4) enters Sat- urday's contest in the Big Ten cellar while six-time defending Big Ten champion Indiana (2-0, 8-2) heads into Sunday's match looking to capi- talize on a No. 11 Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association (ITCA) ranking. One common opponent for the Wolverines and Buckeyes is West- ern Michigan. The Broncos squeaked out a 5-4 victory over Ohio spite an apparent advantage, Michi- gan coach Bitsy Ritt said she does not think the Buckeyes will be a pushover. "Based on their results, we would be the favorite. At the same time, we have to be ready," Ritt said. "Ohio State is sick of being at the bottom of the Big Ten." The only uncertainty in the Wolverine lineup at this point is Si- mote Lacher who is battling an Achilles problem in her right foot and a sprained left ankle. of how ready she'll be." Lacher's status will not be the only obstacle Michigan faces in its match against Indiana. Coach Lin Loring's Hoosiers hold a 12-2 series advantage over the Wolverines and easily defeated South Florida earlier this year, 7-2. When Michigan faced the Bulls in Tampa a month ago, the Wolverines came up short, 5-1. I, -V:; A4 Ni U.p Ti IN 1 y3 Ni .a Y U rn Located in the Colonial Lanes Plaza on S. 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