I4- The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 10, 1993
The long wait begins for 'M' fans
THE MATCHUPS
By CHAD A. SAFRAN
By RACHEL BACHMAN
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
While much of the campus is rub-
bing its eyes from studying at the UGLi
or waiting in line for a computer, sev-
eral students -one whohad an appen-
dectomy just aweek ago -have spent
the past day and a half outside in the
cold. The reason?
"'Cause it's Duke. 'Nuff said,"
Michigan student Matt Vanderpoel
said.
Although the Michigan-Duke
men's basketball game does not begin
until 1 p.m. tomorrow, over two dozen
students were camped outside Crisler
Arena last night in order to get good
seats for the game.
A makeshift village was erected,
made up of two tents, a dozen sleeping
bags and anything else needed to keep
warm. Students spent multiple-hour
shifts in line, then rotated so the other
members of their groups could go to
class.
The first one to set up camp was
senior Asher Stoller, who arrived at
7:25 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Stoller, who shaved his sideburns
so he wouldn't look like Duke center
Cherokee Parks, said he was waiting in
line to prove that Wolverine fans were
as dedicated as any other school's.
"(ESPN's Dick) Vitale said we
don't have any good fans at Michigan,"
Stoller said.
Bryan Sinche, who came with a
group of about eight people, said that
despite the timing of the game -just
days before final exams-it was worth
it to wait in line.
"You get to take eight sets of finals,
but Duke only comes here twice,"
Sinche said.
Vanderpoel, who also comes early
for Michigan football games to sit in
the front row, cited reasons other than
good seating why he was waiting at
Crisler.
"There's alot of bonding involved,"
Vanderpoel said, "(and) we want to get
on national TV."
Some fans had sentimental reasons,
saying it was their last chance to see
Duke at Michigan. Tony Lake from
Austin, Texas came to see a player
from his home state.
"I'd do anything to sit by Ray (Jack-
son)," Lake said.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher, who
has been known to buy pizza for wait-
ing fans, had not been out to see the
students as of last night, but appreci-
ated their dedication and planned to
visit them soon.
Despite the fact that the student
section has not been full thus far this
season, "The fans who've come have
been terrific," Fisher said. "It'll be
packed to the gills on Saturday."
Most of the students were content,
passing the time sleeping on the con-
crete sidewalk, talking to a security
guard and just trying to stay warm.
What would make their two-day
stay more pleasant?
"A port-a-potty," they answered in
unison.
BASKETBALL
Continued from page 11
have four days off, following the Dec.
20 game against Central Michigan,
before they leave for Arizona. A spe-
cial concern will be having to stop All-
Southeastern Conference forward
Wesley Person, the brother of Minne-
sota Timberwolves' forward Chuck
Person.
One player really anticipating to
visiting the Grand Canyon State is
Olivier Saint-Jean, who will be getting
to see more of the United States on this
trip.
"I heard it was a nice place," said
the native of Versailles, France. "I'm
looking forward to it ... because it's
getting cold."
The Wolverines will return to their
natural climate Jan. 3 foracontest with
Boston University.
Although Michigan may not be considered a
deep team overall, its depth and versatility
in the backcourt is unquestioned and may
be the nation's best. Jalen Rose has been
playing his best basketball since arriving in
Ann Arbor two season ago. He leads the
team in scoring through four games this
season, while shooting over 50 percent.
Rose's athleticism will cause defensive
problems for Duke's slower guards. Jimmy
King regained his scoring touch against
Detroit-Mercy. Dugan Fife has been very
solid thus far but is susceptible to quicker;
guards.
Ray Jackson must score inside and take
the ball at the taller Blue Devils to get
them in foul trouble. At the line, Jackson
needs to shoot like he did against
Tennessee-Chattanooga (9-for-1i). Rose
will play in the frontcourt at times, but will:
not be able to post up easily. The Wolver-
ines cannot match Duke's height or depth
at this position. They must use their
quickness. Olivier Saint-Jean will be called
upon to play big minutes, as will Leon
Derricks if Jackson gets in foul trouble.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher cannot afford
that.
When it comes time for the big rebound or
key hoop, Juwan Howard is there. Besides
his skills, Howard is strong on the low post
and must make himself physical for 40
minutes. He can simply push past the
double-teams. Yet, he has a soft touch and
his head and shoulder fakes are first-rate.
Howard has the ability to pass the ball out
of the post for open outside Michigan
jumpers. If he gets in foul trouble, which
happens to a lot of Duke opponents, the
Wolverines are in trouble. Derricks will
spell Howard at times but cannot provide
the inside game his teammate does.
This is the weak spot in the Wolverine
attack. The subs have been inconsistent at
best. However, the bench has shown some
spark in recent games. Bobby Crawford
has been able to give the Wolverines a big
lift, especially defensively so far, and will
need to do so tomorrow. His outside
jumper has been shaky. Derricks filled in
admirably in Howard's absence against
Detroit-Mercy. He must continue to grow
from that success. Should any of the other
bench players see time, the Wolverines will
be either up a bunch or begging for mercy.
Steve Fisher is the most underrated coach
in America. Who can argue with his
success the past four-plus seasons,
winning 100 games faster than any
previous Michigan coach. He has done an
excellent job this season molding experi-
ence with a thin bench. However, he must
keep his players' heads in the game. Too
many mental lapses will doom the
Wolverines.
After four losses in a row to the Blue
Devils, the Wolverines are a bit annoyed.
However, they have been keeping their
mouths shut this year. After a tough first
five games this season, Michigan is ready
to show a national television audience that
it is still a very fine basktetball team. Look
for King and Jackson to step it up a notch.
They always do in the big games.
Duke's backcourt is not nearly as strong
after the departure of All-American Bobby
Hurley, the NCAA's all-time assist leader
and team leader. The role of point guard
has not been assigned to any one Blue
Devil over the team's first four contests as
Duke has had four different starting
lineups. While they may be talented, senior
Marty Clark, sophomore Chris Collins and
junior Kenny Blakney have started a
combined 12 games in their careers.
Collins and Clark can fill it from three-point
range but they lack quickness.
This is the strength of the Blue Devils and
it all begins with Grant Hill (18 ppg last
season, 6.4 rpg and national defensive
player of the year). While he may be able to
explode to the hoop better than anyone in
college basketball, Hill's shooting beyond
15 feet is questionable (44 percent this
season). Antonio Lang has stepped his
game in the early season, shooting 68
percent so far. He hits the offensive
boards with reckless abandon (72 last
season) as does the entire Duke front line.
Erik Meek's lack of foot speed offsets his
6-foot-10, 240-pound frame.
The main man here is Cherokee Parks, the
nation's third best FG shooter (65 percent)
last year. Although he has improved
remarkably since his freshman year, Parks
is strictly a back-to-the basket player.
Howard will bring Parks out of the paint and
look to drive past him. Parks will give up
any part of his body for a rebound. Either of
Duke's freshman forward/centers, Greg
Newton or Joey Beard, will give Parks a
rest. Size in this case doesn't make up for
experience or quickness.
Coach K has plenty of bodies to put in the
game. The question is who will it be and
when. Eight Blue Devils have started at
some point this season, leaving them with
a very capable substitution corps and that
does not include Beard, Newton or Carmen
Wallace, Duke's other freshman and
honorable mention prep All-American.
However, few of these players have played
under big game college pressure. If the
game should be up-tempo, then the Duke
bench will give the Blue Devils fresher
players come the final two minutes.
Not much more can be said about Mike
Krzyzewski that has already been done so.
His coaching record stands on its own,
having won 321games in 13 seasons in
Durham, even with many different types of
teams over the years. His team always
plays smart basketball, but smart
basketball does not always beat athletic
basketball. A great motivator who gets the
most out of all his players.
Two men cannot stop a force of four. After
Hill and Parks, the Duke offense is not
much. Lang is averaging over 14 ppg, but
against inferior opponents. Size usually
beats speed. Unless that speed also has
experience.
F'
I on"
K
Department of Recreational
Sports
INTRAMURAL
SPORTS PROGRAM
.IMmSB Ma ffc
.."x
For Additional Information Contact IMSB 763-3562
ti 1 Fl
STOREWIDE SALE TONIGHT FROM 8:40 P.I.=2:40 A.M.
ALL CD'S, CASSETTES, VIDEOS & LASERDISCS ON SALE!
WHILE YOU'RE
CRAMMIN'
WE'RE
JAMMI N'
r
7.99
EVERYDAY DISCOUNT
PRICE 9.99
COMPACT DISCS
8.99 10.99
EVERYDAY DISCOUNT CLASSICAL 11.99 PER CD
PRICE 11.99 EVERYDAY DISCOUNT
PRIAF 1399G 1499
11.99
EVERYDAY DISCOUNT
PRICE 15.99
r
I
T
r
MMM MM MM 'M
SWMMN INVOUR O( AN
J A ORNS A C Off f SOO SJ
III
z
L
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
10.99 CD 7.99 CS
GREATESTB ITS
DRE AM ON W ALK THIS WAY
SWEET EMOTION COME TOGETHIER
BACK INTHE SADDL E-.
F
L
10.99 CD 7.99 CS
PARLIAMENT
PEAR THE ROOF OFF (9741980)
24.99 2 CD
iA
No Gimmicks
No Come-ons
F
10.99 CD 7.99 CS
T
LIVE BOOTLEG
COME. TOGAf TIN RODEAM ON
WALK TNSWAY LA$' 'ItO
F
GET' YOUR WINGS
SAME Oi AN) DANE
WMAN . C
8.99 CD 5.99 CS
I
I
1
8.99 CD 5.99 CS
8.99 CD 5.99 CS
h2
SPYRO GYRA r' ,
D!reams Beyond Control
I . I'll5
T
tV SfI*T
Miiwd.
1 11111
I
rr rrr i