81- The Michigan Daily- Tipoff.3 --Thursday, November 18,.4993 0 0 0 'The Mich 8t1 dill Howard returns as center of attention for Blue Lack of size in the middle will force Fisher to resort to smaller, quicker lineup *FULLCORURT* PR ESS Fab Four may be even most celebrated memb With 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior Juwan Howard, a preseason all-Big Ten pick and the only legitimate cen- ter returning to the Michigan lineup, this position is probably the Wolver- ines' weakest link. But that doesn't mean it will be weak. If you don't look at the position in the traditional sense of size and strength, and instead in the way Michi- gan coach Steve Fisher will have to look at it - in terms of quickness - it may have its advantages. Sophomore Leon Derricks (6-9, 215), listed as a forward, is the only other Wolverine with center-type size. However, having played limited min- utes during his freshman campaign, it remains to be seen if he has Big Ten- type strength. Derricks may represent the Wol- verines' strategy down low this sea- son. "At the position I'm going to be playing, the players that are bigger than me are not going to be as quick as me," he said. Fisher certainly hopes so. A year ago, he had depth in the COLLEGE HOOPS PLAYOFF Create your own tourney with the greatest legends of college basketball. Your sweet sixteen includes: Michigan'89, North Carolina'82, Indiana'81, Vegas'91, Kentucky'93, Georgetown'84, Arizona'88. No computer needed. You call the shots against a friend or the System. Superb statistical accuracy and well-paced action. Send $10 check or money order to DOUBLE PLAY GAMES, 34060 Spring Valley, Westland, MI 48185 size category, with 6-foot-9 Chris; Webber and 7-foot Eric Riley, along with Howard, to clog the middle. a Howard, an honorable mention All-America selection last year, is perhaps as talented a post player as anyone in the country. He averaged 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds last sea- son, and promises to be even more impressive this year with Webber and Riley gone. However, because he is Michigan's size this year, he will be vulnerable to foul trouble and double-teaming in-1 side. As a result, Fisher will have to scratch the prototype center spot at times. He has no choice but to use smaller players extensively on the blocks, hoping to capitalize on their quickness, if not their size. "We're going to be smaller, but that will make other things better," Fisher said. "We're hoping to find a way to accent our strengths to camou- flage our weaknesses." Look for Ray Jackson (6-6,225), a little stronger after adding ten pounds of muscle over the summer, and fresh- man Olivier Saint-Jean (6-7, 200) to see plenty of time inside for the Maize and Blue this season. In addition, with an abundance of Wolverine pe- rimeter players, 6-foot-8 Jalen Rose will be called upon to exploit his height advantage over smaller point guards inside. Still, as Fisher well knows, for any advantage the superior quickness may provide Michigan, the biggest question mark has to be rebounding. Webber was all over the glass last season, averaging over 10 boards a game. Many times last year, other players on the team admit they prob- ably relied on Webber too much to get the big board. It worked then, as Michigan was second in the league behind Iowa, in both rebounds per game and rebound margin, but it won't be easy this year. Howard returns as the leading rebounder, but for the team to be suc- cessful, he cannot do it alone. Without a go-to rebounder like Webber, the Wolverines will have to rely on a balanced rebounding attack. "We won'thave the Big Ten's lead- ing rebounder, but hopefully, we'll have four guys with six to eight (per game)," Fisher said. Rose, Jackson and King each av- eragedjust over four rebounds a game last season. "A lot of guys are going to have to help," Howard said. - TimRardin By TIM RARDIN For the last two seasons, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson have all stood - some more than others - in the shadow of former All-American and current NBA player Chris Webber. But just because that shadow is gone now doesn't mean the sun has set for the Michigan basketball team. In fact, though Michigan's illustrious Fab Five is no more, the newly-dubbed Fab Four could well be more. Allow me to elaborate. For the last two seasons, Webber was unquestionably the leader of this basketball team - not only because of his intimidating physical presence on the court, but because of his compelling leadership. "Chris had such a will to win that it was infectious," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said of his star pupil. "We lose the physical and mental strength of our team from last year." Still, anytime you return four starters, and especially four two- year starters, you're going to be good. But many suggest that without Webber, Michigan cannot possibly be as good as it has been the last two seasons. I think they can. In fact, I think they may be better. Why? Because now, the Fab Five Minus One will have more opportunity to showcase its talents. With Webber leading the charge, the other four simply didn't have to do as much. This year, they do. Featuring a smaller, quicker lineup, the Fab Four must lead this team, and each of them must step up their respective games in order for the Wolverines to be as successful, and even more successful, as they were the last two years. No one on the team can replace Webber. There is no question about that. But a collective effort from the Fab Four in particular can do the See FAB FOUR, Page 18 H T he members of the Fab Four will have to step up even more for the [. - --- I rrnmm ..c - -- - --m - - COOKIE Okay. Off'BurtonTower, across through the fishbow4, under the ...NOTHING BUT N inmmmmmmq the Diag,. Arch.., lET.: 3-BALL TEAMI I 51-CHIP , 30 Sat 10-5:30 mntd V.S. (14441 FILE PHOTO Juwan Howard will be the Wolverines' go-to man inside this season. > . GOOD LUCK TO THE 1993 MEN'S B 715 N. University 76 Mon-Thurs 8:30am-9pm Fri 8:30-5:3 'y ship anywhier in the Continc ------m m----- ( "Angelo's is the greatest breakfast place in the Big Ten... Folks curl around the block in an hour-long wait. Adiust to eat toast, hash browns, bacon aneggs that happen to be the best on earth. The folks that run the place are great. Their fresh-baked raisin bread is world renowned." - from Big Ten Country by Bob Wood 1100 E. 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