The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 1, 1993 - Page 9 s 'M' newcomers enjoying the ride to Final Four Forfreshmen Derricks, Fife, walk-on Dobbins , NCAA tournament run 'something you dream of' by Ken Sugiura Daily Basketball Writer A year removed from their status as media darlings, the members of the Michigan basketball team return to the Final Four as weary veterans of NCAA tournament hype. While last year they were going full-bore at their opponents, now the Wolverines struggle to play "forty minutes of Michigan basketball." While press conferences last season were an opportunity to smile, laugh and play "Whose statements can shock the media the most?" this tournament finds Michigan's players sporting facial expressions more blank than Odie's from "Garfield." Even in the media session follow- ing the Temple contest last Sunday, Chris Webber and Juwan Howard looked as though they were in more need of a nap rather than directions to the Superdome. It all points to the fact that for the Wolverines, this is all old hat.. Make that for most of the Michigan squad. For while most of Steve Fisher's club will make return trips to the Fi- nal Four, New Orleans will be a maiden voyage to the national semi- finals for three of Fisher's players. Senior walk-on Sean Dobbins and freshmen Dugan Fife and Leon Derricks are all experiencing the NCAA tournament first-hand for the first time, and well, they can answer for themselves what sort of ex- perience it has been. "It's a good experience, even though I'm not playing," Derricks said. "It's a great experience," Fife said. "It's great basketball, and I feel a part of it." "It's been a great experience so far," Dobbins said. "It's something that you dream of - going to the Final Four." To be accurate, Dobbins actually has been to the Final Four before. The Wilmette, Ill., native, who had played the two years prior to last season (but was left off the traveling squad), was bumped from the roster due to a 16-deep lineup. So last sea- son, when Michigan made its run to Minneapolis, Dobbins was a part of it - sort of. "Iast year this time, I was proba- bly driving to Minneapolis 'cause I went there just to watch," he said. And what of Derricks and Fife? "I had just gotten knocked out of the (Michigan high school Class A) semifinals against Benton Harbor and I was watching them on TV," Derricks said. Ever the gym rat, Fife, whose Clarkston team was eliminated ear- lier by Derricks' Flint Northwestern club, had not quite put away the sneakers, either. "I was playing AAU basketball," he recalled. A year later, each finds himself playing his own role for Michigan. None have played since the Coastal Carolina blowout in the first round, so they have had to find other ways to make themselves useful, as they have most of the season. One way that Fife said he par- ticularly relishes is playing on the scout team which prepares the star- ters by simulating the play of the upcoming opponents. "We end up knowing the other team's plays as well as they do. We go against the first team and we also get to play our games," he said. "Let's say I'm the other team's scorer. I get to shoot just like in high school." In preparation for Kentucky, Fife said he will perform the role of point guard Travis Ford. "I'm gonna like playing Ford, 'cause all he does is shoot threes," Fife said. Dobbins also mentioned his role on the scout team as one of the ways in which he can help the cause. "In practice, just working on Kentucky's press, we'll put six peo- ple, seven people, just so that we're ready for the press," he said. "That's the way I'll contribute. In the games, I'll try to keep everyone enthusiastic and motivated." The Wolverine veterans have not failed to notice the newcomers' re- freshing attitudes. Team sages Rob Pelinka and James Voskuil were freshmen when Fisher led Michigan to the national title in 1989, a situ- ation similar to the experience now. "I think that the excitement that emits from their character flows into the other guys," Pelinka said. "When we see that, we notice it, and it helps us get excited." "They still get fired up for prac- tice, because they're practicing against guys that might be national champs," Voskuil said. "And so, any SPRING TERM MARTHA COOK BUILDING -A private U-M residence for women- Huge yard for sunny relaxation Central location at S. University and Tappan Fresh bed linens weekly Large, carpeted single rooms A private tennis court Microwaves and patio grill available 906 S. University AnnArbor, MI 48109 (313) 763-2084 or 763-2083 ***$470*** little thing they do, you can see themselves getting pumped up and ready to go. Dugan may shoot one, or 'Dobbs' may throw a spin move on somebody to get to the hole, and all of the sudden he's more inspired than anybody for the next week. "I think they get real excited at this time, just like everybody does," he continued. "Maybe more so than the rest of us." But for all of the energy the threesome might inject into their . t team, each is also storing up memo- ries and lessons for years to come. "It helps me learn what I have to do to next year to help the team get back here again," Derricks said. "I'm learning the physical aspect of the game and the mental approach. What to do when I'm on the court, to stay calm and not get hyper." And what has been the highlight for Fife? "Probably the games, and the ex- perience," he said. "Staying in the hotels, seeing places I haven't seen." During his free time in Seattle last weekend, Fife went out in search of the grunge music scene, but he returned home grungeless. "I mean, I was in downtown Seattle, and I couldn't find it," he said, incredulously. For Dobbins, his mental scrap- book has already been filled in Tus- con, Ariz., site of the Coastal Car- olina game. A week after Dobbins' hide-and-seek play was foiled by Northwestern, Fisher sprung it on the Chanticleers. "I would have to say probably scoring in the first tournament game (is my favorite memory)," he said. "Just knowing I'll have scored in the NCAA tournament is something I'l definitely cherish." A year ago, Dobbins was in Min- neapolis, cheering on his past and future teammates. Now, he is part of the Big Dance, on the Superdome floor, practicing and preparing for the Wildcats. "It's a totally different feeling this year," he said. "It's unbeliev- able. It's so good being on the other side." '93 homecoming we are seeking representatives from all student organizations, a lot more students, and maybe even Shakey Jake to make next fall's homecoming.....well.....heyl.....YOU DECIDE! SUNDAY APRIL 4 1 P.M. - 3 p.m. 2105 michigan union and ,hey ,we startAT be there! University Activities Center 1! KRISTOFFER GILLETEIDaily Freshman guard Dugan Fife (right) joins Leon Derricks and Sean Dobbins as Wolverines making their first trip to the Final Four. The threesome will try to contribute to a Michigan victory in Saturday's semifinal against Kentucky.