The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, January 31, 1994 - 7

TIM RARDIN
ry Rardin to Go
Do you remember those old commercials, where that little Simon-
looking kid wanders around the forest with a Tootsie Pop, asking the
animals, "How many licks does it take to get to the center?"
Well, one might have asked the same thing after Saturday's game between
Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Wolverines, with their usual sagging defensive strategy, never let the
Badgers get to the middle, but in the process, gave their opposition too many
tasty licks from the outside.
Almost enough, in fact, for Wisconsin to steal a victory at Crisler Arena.
"We did a great job of defending (Rashard) Griffith in the post,"Michigan
coach Steve Fisher said."We did an okay job defending on the perimeter."
That's a bit generous.
Wisconsin kept itself in the game from the perimeter after Griffith - the
6-foot-11, 265-pound mammoth freshman --got his second personal at the
14:26 mark of the first half, and his third just four minutes into the second.
Led by seven triples from Michael Finley, the Badgers converted 7-of-15
shots from behind the arc through the first stanza, and 13-of-28 for the game.
"We really went into the game thinking we had to make (perimeter) shots
to win, especially after they shut off our inside offense," Wisconsin coach Stu
Jackson said.
The problem for Michigan is that they almost did make enough to win.
Admittedly, The Wolverines have little choice in the matter.
Without an intimidating shot blocker, and without much size or depth
along the frontline, the Wolverines have a vulnerable inside game. Soft and
chewy, if you will, to extend the metaphor.
They have to double down in the low post area to force the ball back out.
Said Jalen Rose, "We have to keep Juwan out of foul trouble. We need
him in the game."
In that sense, the strategy worked. Howard had only three fouls, which
allowed him to register 22 points and eight boards.
Also to its credit, Michigan was able to create several turnovers as a result
of its tenacious inside trapping.
Griffith, in particular, appeared flustered when double-teamed-throwing
the ball away on a couple of occasions and not getting more than a couple of
good looks at the basket. He had seven points in 20 minutes of action.
Still, the success of the interior 'D' resulted in a depleted perimeter
defense. Low-post double teams forced Michigan's players inside, too often
leaving its outer shell fully exposed.
"Anytime you double down inside and they swing it around, they're going
to get some open jumpers," Rose said."We'd rather have them shoot all
threes than all layups."
True, but if they are to be successful, the Wolverines can't afford to give
their opponents so many uncontested jumpers. At the very least, they must
get a hand in the shooter's face.
Especially against a team that set a Big Ten record for three-point field
goals and attempts last year. With the Badgers' NBA, up-tempo style offense,
an open three-pointer is often considered just as good as a layup.
Atone point in the second half, for example, Wisconsin guard Tracy
Webster penetrated the right side of the lane and dribbled underneath the
basket. Michigan defenders collapsed, and instead of taking an ill-advised
layup, Webster found Finley wide open outside the three-point line.
Finley - who totaled 30 points for the game - promptly nailed it to cut
the Wolverine lead to 65-63 at the 8:30 mark.
"We try to pack it in and then run out to the perimeter," Jimmy King said.

Too many open Badger
looks almost lick Blue

ELIZABETH LIPPMAN/Daily
Jalen Rose celebrates after scoring two of his team-high 23 points and lets
Wisconsin's Michael Finley know his feelings after the play.
AKETAL NTBOOK
Despite loss, Wisconsin
program is thiVing
By RACHEL BACHMAN
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
Its losstoMichigan notwithstanding, the Badger basketballprogram is on the
rise. Spariked by junior Michael Finley, who led all scorers with 30 points
Saturday, the Badgers jumped out to an 11-0 season start. That is its best record
since the 191546 team went 15-0.
The turnaround coincided with the arrival of coach Stu Jackson, now in his
secondyea.
"He's dane a lot," senior guard Tracy Webster said. "Everything's been
positive with coach Jackson. He's helped everyone's confidence by just letting
them know that things could be done around here.
"Last year when we had an average year, people started believing that we
really could do it," Webster said.
BeforeJackson's arrival, Wisconsin had postedjust three winning seasons in
the 1 1 , alt"r' r . WArn . Saa4Fb^x w;a .+ry, y b y"i c.°T-3
is 13-f .
"They're a lot more experienced (than they were my freshman year)," said
' ichigan's Jimmy King of the club. "I respect them a lot."
ON, WISCONSIN H: Because of the team's long dry spell, school records are
ripe for the breaking. Saturday, two Badgers did just that.
Tracy Webster broke Trent Jackson's career steals rec9rd (151) when he
tallied three to bring his total to 152. Against Penn State, Webster also set a
Wisconsin record for career assists. His 10 yesterday raised his total to 425.
Finley, the sixth-highest scorer in the Big Ten, made seven three-point shots
to tie the Wisconsin record for most in a game. Five former Badgers share the
honor with Fitley.
Two yearsiago, thejuniorphenom also set a Badgerrecord formost points by
*first-year player (30),in a game.
MICHIGAN STILL NOT AT FULL STRENGTH: Saturday's gaihe marked the third in
which a Michigan player sat out due to illness or injury.
Juwan Howard and King were quarantined to their apartments during the
Minnesota game because of the chicken pox. Howard returned for the game at
Illinois but the still-ailing King sat out a second game.
Saturday, Bobby Crawford watched from the sidelines, his fractured right
hand in acast from an injury sustained in last Wednesday's practice. His status
is day-to-day, but if he can get into a regulation soft cast, he could play against
Purdue tomorrow.
A YF AR AGO T ,DAY ..: At this time last year- seyen.games, into the Big Ten
season -Michigan's national runner-up team had just two losses in league play.
This year's team posts the same conference record thus far.
While the Wolverines lost to Iowa in Iowa City last year, they beat the
Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 1994. However, Michigan failed this
season to repeat its winning performance from a year ago at Minnesota.
Michigan's nemeses remain 1993 Big Ten Champion Indiana, who have
stymied the Wolverines the last contests betweent the two teams. They'll get
one more crack at the Hoosiers Feb. 8, this time in the friendly confines of
Crisler Arena.
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ELIZABETH LIPPMAN/Dail
Freshman Makhtar Ndiaye (3) has added much-needed height to the
Wolverine attacx and strengthened Michigan's interior defense.
"That gives them a lot of time to get the shot off and they were just drilling
them."
That's why opponents have been shooting 37 percent from three-point
land against the Wolverines, who are next to last in the Big Ten at defending
the three. Wisconsin knocked in an impressive 46 percent of its attemptsr
So, while the Badgers left Crisler without the sweet taste of victory
Saturday, one question still remains for teams facing Michigan's 'Tootsie
Pop' defense.
Just how many licks does it take to get a 'W'?

- 4, _.__.._- -- - _.. 1 V ___.. ..

WISCONSIN (75)
FQ FT REB
MIN *A NAA 0-T A F PFM
Finley 35 10-17 3-3 2-4 4 3 30
Kelley 22 1-3 0-0 2-6 1 4 2
Griffith 20 2-4 3-4 2-3 0 4 7
Webster 33 3-10 0-0 0-0 10 2 8
Kilbride 30 4-9 0-0 0-2 2 4 10
Petersen 12 5.6 1-1 0-0 0 0 11
Johnson 13 0-0 0-0 0-2 1 2 0
Johnsen 10 0-1 0-0 0-2 0 1 0
Hoskins 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 2 0
Roberts .18 2-4 1-2 0-2 2 3 7
Totals 200 27-54 840 622 2225 75_
IFG%: t:_ . It.0.Three-po"ntgoals: 13-
28..464 (Finley 7-12, Kilbrde 2-7, Roberts 2-3,
Webster 2-5, Johnsen 0-1). Blocks: 4 (Petersen
2, Finley, Griffith). Turnovers: 17 (Webster 4,
Griffith 3, Keiley 3, Kilbride 3, Hoskins 2, Finley,
Roberts). Steals: 7 (Webster 3, Finley 2, Griffith,
Johnsen). Technical Fouls: Bench.
MICHIGAN (79)
FQ FT REB
MIN M-A M-A O-T A F PTS
Jackson 33 2-5 5-8 1-6 2 2 10
King 34 3-5 2-2 2-5 2 3 9
Howard 37 9-17 4-5 4-8 1 3 22
Fife 35 2-5 2-6 0-3 2 1 7
Rose 37 7-16 7-10 4-7 2 2 23
Ndiaye 8 1-1 0-0 1-2 0-1 2
Saint-Jean 12 2-3 1-4 1-2 2 1 6
Derricks 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Bossard 2 0-0 0-0 0-000 0
Totals 200 26-52 21-35 15-36 1113 79
FG%::500. FT%: .600. Three-poInt goals:6-13,
.462 (Rose 2-5, King 1-1, Jackson 1-2, Saint-Jean
1-2, Fife 1-3 ). Blocks: 2 (Howard, King).
Turnovers: 21 (King 5, Fife 4, Howard3, Jackson
3, Rose 3, Saint-Jean 3). Steals: 8 (Howard 2,
King 2, Saint-Jean 2, Derricks, Jacson).
Technical Fouls: none.
Wisconsin......... 36 39 - 75
Mlchglan.......... 37 42 - 79
At: Crisler Arena; A: 13, 548
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BASKETBALL
Continued from page 1
"I just told him he couldn't guard
me," said Rose, in an attempt to keep
their conversation private.
With 1:40 remaining inthecontest,
Michigan held a nine-poirftadvantage,

77-68.Onceagain,though, missed Wol-
verine free throws (Michigan his'only
60% of its attempts from the line on.the
day) and errant passes led to a Badger
comeback. Wisconsin had the ball and
a chance to win, down 78-75, withjust
less than nine ticks left on the clock.
Jackson used Finley, who
inbounded the -ball, as a decoy nd

Andy Kilbride set up for the poten-
tially-tying three-pointer. He missed
from the top ofthe arc. Howard grabbed
the rebound and the game, following 1-
of-2 free throws.
"I wish I had had the opportunity to
take (the last shot)," Finley said. "This
is a game weMlp'.sso dbg,:

I

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