Men's Basketball vs. Duke Saturday, 1 p.m. (CBS) Crisler Arena Sl Hockey vs. Kent State Friday, 7 p.m. Kent HOCKEY NOTEBOOK Wolverines claim league, World Junior honors By ANTOINE PITTS and MICHAEL ROSENBERG DAILY HOCKEY WRITERS Three Michigan hockey players will see extended playing and travel time over the holiday break. Forwards Kevin Hilton and Ryan Sittler, and defenseman Blake Sloan were named to the U.S. World Junior Team that will compete in the World Junior Championships from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4 in Czechoslovakia. This is Sittler's third appearance on the U.S. select squad. He traveled to Sweden with the team for last year's championship. A fourth Wolverine, right wing Jason Botterill, has been invited to tryout for the Canadian team next week in Kitchener, Ont. MORE HONORS: The Wolverines earned their third Player-of-the-Week award this season as Steven Halko was named CCHA Defensive Player-of-the-Week. The sophomore defenseman was part of the Michigan penalty-killing unit that held Western Michigan to 2-for-18 with a man advantage over the weekend. The Michigan penalty-killers on the season have been busy as the Wolverines have given their opponents 106 power-play opportunities in 14 games. Michigan has killed 88 of those chances (83 percent). "A lot of the time we're aggressive on the forechecking, so (the power play unit) doesn't even have a chance to set up," Halko said. "In the zone, we just try to be aggressive and don't let them gain control. If we don't let them set up, that's half the battle." Sittler and Botterill previously took league Player-of-the-Week honors for the ,Wolverines, but Halko is the first to claim defensive honors. CHASING six: Before last Friday's game at Yost, the Wolverines were presented with a commemorative plaque signifying their five straight triumphs at the Great Lakes Invitational. This year's event at Joe Louis Arena takes place Dec. 29 and 30 with Michigan facing Notre Dame and Michigan State facing Michigan Tech in first round action. Only one other team has captured five in a row at the Joe - Michigan Tech from 1976 to 1980. PACKING THEM IN: Friday's crowd of 7,057 was the largest crowd so far this year at Yost Ice Arena. Through four home games, the Wolverines are averaging 6,644 *spectators. Michigan is ahead of last year's record attendance average of 6,290 and has yet to play Michigan State and Lake Superior State, which are usually sellouts. GET YOUR TICKETS: A few seats are left for the Jan. 7 showdown with Lake Superior. Meanwhile, tickets for the Jan.21 game against Michigan State continue to be sold. Today is the last day they will be sold on a priority basis to Michigan students, staff and faculty at the Athletic Ticket Office. LEGG OUT: Freshman right wing Mike Legg will not practice with the team this week and will not travel to Kent State this weekend so he can keep up with his classwork. Although Legg is eligible to play, he met with coach Red Berenson and they decided he should take the week off and concentrate on his studies. "We're giving Legg a week to get caught up in school," Berenson said. "We've been concerned about him. It's not apunishment. It's achance for him to get caught up." To succeed, Derricks must be a force inside EVAN_ F I fliLnuny Sophomore center Leon Derricks had a career high 10 points in Monday's victory over Detroit-Mercy. He was filling in for the injured Juwan Howard. First Teaem Offense Running Backs: Tyrone Wheatley, Michigan; Brent Moss, Wisconsin Quarterback: Darrel! Bevell, Wisconsin Center: Cory Rayrner, Wisconsin Guards: Jason Winrow, Ohio State; Joe Rudolph, Wisconsin Tackles: Joe Panos, Wisconsin; Korey Stringer, Ohio State Tight End: Michael Roan, Wisconsin * Receivers: Joey Galloway, Ohio State; Bobby Engram, Penn State Placekicker: Bill Manolopolous. Indiana Defense Linemen/Outside Linebackers: Dan Wilkinson, Ohio State; Simeon Rice, Illinois, Mike Wels, Iowa; Lamark Shackerford. Wisconsin; Hurvin McCormack, Indiana Linebackers: Dana Howard, Illinois; Lorenzo Styles, Ohio State; John Holocek, IllinoisI Backs: Ty Law, Michigan; Jeff Messenger, Wisconsin; Jimmy Young, Purdue Punter: Jim DiGuilio, Indiana Second Team Offense Running Backs: Raymont Harris, Ohio State; Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State Quarterback: Jim Miller, Michigan State Center: Greg Engel, illinois Guards: Rob Rogers, Minnesota; Joe Marinaro, Michigan Tackles: Shane Hannah, Michigan State; Matt O'Dwyer, Northwestern Tight End: Kyle Brady, Penn State Receivers: Omar Douglas, Minnesota; Lee DeRamus, Wisconsin Placekicker: 'Tim Williams, Ohio State Defense Linemen/Outside Linebackers: Buster Stanley, Michigan; Lou Benfatti, Penn State; Rob Fredrickson, Michigan State; Steve Shine, Northwestern; Jason Simmons, Ohio State Linebackers: Yusef Burgess, Wisconsin; Brian Gelzheiser, Penn State; Charles Beauchamp, Indiana Backs: Chico Nelson, Ohio State; Derek Bochna, Penn State; Shelly Hammonds, Penn State; Reggie Holt, Wisconsin Punter: Nick Gallery, Iowa By TIM RARDIN DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER When sophomore forward/center Leon Derricks was announced as a starter before Monday's game against Detroit-Mercy, fans must have won- dered why. And certainly, I would have too, had a sports information guy not told me beforehand that starting center Juwan Howard was out with a strained right Achilles tendon. Knowing the injury wasn't serious, and knowing that the setback would make little, if any, difference against the hapless Titans, I realized that Howard's injury was actually a bless- ing in disguise for the Wolverines. The change provided Michigan coach Steve Fisher a premature, risk- free glimpse of what life could be like for the team if and when Howard gets into foul trouble - or worse, if he gets injured more seriously than he was Monday night. In his first-ever start, Derricks nearly reached a triple-double, notch- ing 10 points, 13 rebounds, seven as- sists and one block in his 32 minutes of play. Previously, Derricks barely accu- mulated such numbers in his career. In short, he filled in admirably for Howard. "We always knew that he had it in him," Howard said of his replace- ment. "He's got real good vision out there. He had an all-around game." However, the problem for Michi- gan was that Derricks had an all- around game all around the paint. The 6-9, 215-pounder (a generous figure, for sure) barely set foot inside except when cutting through on his way to the opposite wing spot. "I like facing the basket because I can dribble the ball well and pass the ball well," Derricks said. Sure, Derricks proved he has a knack for the pass and a nice touch from 10 to 15 feet. But if Howard's on ice, Michigan doesn't need Derricks to show off his skills outside. It's not as if the Wolverines have a shortage of perimeter players. Derricks has to play with his back to the basket, especially when Howard is out of the lineup. Against Detroit- Mercy, it doesn't really matter, but against Big Ten teams, it will. In the game of basketball, inside- outside balance is important, if not essential. The effectiveness of one bears heavily on the effectiveness of the other. If teams have to respect you inside, you will be better able to ex- ploit them outside, and vice versa. Case in point - Juwan Howard. Against Tennessee-Chattanooga, for instance, the Moccasins had to re- spect Howard's game inside, thus opening up the outside for the rest of the Wolverines. Michigan shot 51 percent from the field, and nailed I I of 22 three-pointers. When Derricks chooses to spend his time roaming around the perim- eter rather than throwing his lanky frame into the paint, a Howard-less Michigan team quickly finds itself about as balanced as American gym- nast Kim Zmeskal was on the beam during the 1992 Summer Olympics. No, Leon Derricks is not the stron- gest power forward ever to lace 'em up. Nor is he the biggest. But, if Derricks takes his game outside, opposing teams won't have to worry about clogging the lane to protect the middle. And if that's the case, Big Ten 'We always knew that (Derricks) had it in him. He's got real good vision out there. He had an all-around game.' -- Juwan Howard Michigan center defenses will be able to focus on Michigan's perimeter players, which then limits what guys like Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and others are able to do. Monday night, for instance, the' Wolverines took most of their shots: from outside, and ended up shoot- ing a season-low 48 percent from the field, including 45 percent in the second half. Now, that may or may not have been attributable to the lack of inside presence for Michigan. Regardless, Monday's game pointed out a poten- tial sore spot. With Howard very susceptible to foul trouble during the rigorous Big Ten schedule, that success could fall considerably on the frail shoulders of Leon Derricks. No, when Howard is out of the game, Derricks doesn't have to drop his perimeter game altogether, but he does have to be willing to utilize his skills more on the blocks. Hopefully, it won't take a loss in the Big Ten to teach him that lesson. U EVAN PETRIE/Daily Ryan Sittler crosses the blueline in the College Hockey Showcase. " COME ENJOY: 12-inch Pizza w/ 1 Item...$4.89 Pitchers of Coors Light...$3.25 1220 S. University Call 665-7777 for deliveries B YPASS THE BOOK STORE Buy or sell 71 Holida Party Gifts b voted Ann, Gifts shippe S N. Uni COOKIES < y Greetings Specials )y Mail Arbor's Best Cookie Id anywhere in US versity 761-CHIP n %. N.,O' ..... V V ' ... 'J ''° , v Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM JOSTENS Used Textbooks With Other Students from your College. Stop by and see a Jostens representative Dec. Sth * 11 a.m. to 4 v.m. 1994 WINTER TERM i w