4- The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, February 28, 1994
Technically, Michigan
holds off Minnesota
"
RACHEL BACHMAN
Bach's Score
By CHAD A. SAFRAN
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
Going into its contest with Minne-
sota, the Michigan men's basketball
team was holding its Big Ten oppo-
nents to 44 percent field goal shoot-
ing -tied with Purdue for the confer-
ence lead in that category. The Wol-
verines' effort against the Golden
Gophers proved that statistics don't
lie very often.
In front of 13,548 at Crisler Arena,
No. 7 Michigan (11-2 Big Ten, 19-4
overall) forced No. 20 Minnesota (8-
5, 18-8) into a 38 percent shooting
performance - a measly 33 percent
in the first half - on its way to a 72-
65 victory, Feb. 19.
Jalen Rose once again led the Wol-
verines with a game-high 25 points.
Center Juwan Howard chipped in 19
points as Michigan vanquished its
eighth consecutive opponent, the
team's longest win streak under coach
Steve Fisher.
While the Gophers were frigid
from the outside, the Wolverines were
as warm as Ann Arbor's early thaw.
Michigan connected on 51 percent of
its field goal attempts. However, de-
fense was the calling card in this game.
"We might not always have the
recognition (for defense), but that's
what's been the key for us," said
Michigan's Jimmy King, who tallied
11 points.
"I was very frustrated," said
Minnesota's Randy Carter, who was
held to 11 points. "It's frustrating
when you have three guys in your
face. There was nothing I could do
but pass the ball."
Pressure was the key in Michigan's
18-2 first half run that brought the Maize
and Blue from seven points down to
nine points ahead in a span of 4:30.
Michigan guard Dugan Fife's three-
pointer--his only bucket of the day-
came at 7:34 and put the Wolverines
ahead for good, 19-18.
Michigan needed the run, as it fell
behind early, 16-7. Minnesota did not
allow the Wolverines to get their
vaunted transition game going.
"(Michigan) just started picking
up the pace," Gopher guard Ariel
McDonald said. "They got transition
buckets. We knew that they could
come back."
McDonald's trey with just under
three minutes remaining shrank
Michigan's lead to four, 65-61, and
Minnesota could thank Wolverine big
man Makhtar Ndiaye for some help in
Minnesota's comeback attempt.
The 6-foot-8 freshman was called
for two technical fouls following per-
sonal fouls for unsportsmanlike con-
duct. Ndiaye often raises his hand
after the officials whistle him for a
foul. This time he got in trouble for it.
"I just put my hand up," Ndiaye
said. "They may not have liked it.
One referee said I cussed. I don't
think I did."
The only players cursing through-
out the contest, however, were the
Gophers, as they committed 21 turn-
overs, including six by reserve guard
Townsend Orr in 16 minutes.
Carter described Michigan's per-
formance on the day best.
"Michigan's the type of team that
you can compare to the (Los Angeles)
Lakers of the '80s and the (New York)
Knicks of the '90s."
In basketball, skating,
image equals dollars
i S d
EVAN PETRIE/Daily
Wolverine Juwan Howard avoids the Minnesota pressure at Crisler Arena.
MINNESOTA (65)
FO FT RED
MIN M-A UMA O-T A F PTS
Carter 35 4-8 3-6 1-7 0 1 11
Walton 27 2-5 3-4 3-9 1 2 7
NzigamasabolO 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
Lenard 33 5-11 5-6 0-3 3 5 18
McDonald 31 5-10 2-3 14 3 1 14
Kolander 17 1-3 5-6 1-3 2 2 7
Orr 21 1-3 0-0 01 01 3
Grim 21 1-6 2-2 0-0 2 4 5
Thomas 6 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 0 0
Wolf 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 01 0
Totals 200 19-50 20-27 12-32 1117 "5
FG%:.380. FT%: .741. Three-point goals: 7-20,
.350 (Lenard 3-7, Grimm 1-5, McDonald 2-3, Orr
1-3, Carter 0-1, Wolf 0-1). Blocks: 0. Tuovers:
21 (Orr 6, McDonald 5, Carter 3, Kolander 2.
Walton 2, Lenard, Thomas). Steals: 5 (Grim 3,
Lenard 2). Technical Fouls: none.
MICHIGAN (72)
FO FT REB
MIN U-A U-A 4T A F PTS
Jackson 32 4-8 1-2 1-7 2 5 10
King 33 4-10 2-2 3-5 4 3 11
Howard 39 9-13 1-2 3-7 1 3 19
Fife 32 1-3 0-0 1-3 4 3 3
Rose 38 7-14 7-10 1-3 3 1 25
Saint-Jean 14 0-2 1-2 0-0 0 3 1
Derricks 6 0-0 1-2 0-2 0 0 1
Ndiaye 6 1-1 0-0 0-2 0 5 2
Totals 200 26-51 13-20 10.23 1423 72
FG%:.510. FT%: .650. Three-point goals: 7-18,
.389 (Rose 4-8, Jackson 1-4, Fife 1-3, King 1-3)
Blocks: 1(Howard) Turnovers: 16 (Rose 4, King
3, Derricks 2, Fife 2, Howard 2, Saint-Jean 2,
Jackson). Steals: 6 (Howard 3, King 2, Fife).
Technical Fouls: Howard, Ndiaye 2.
Minnesota......... 25 40 - 65
Michigan............30 42 - 72
At: Crisler Arena; A: 13,548
ILLNOIS (70)
F9 FTYREB
MIN M -A UA TA F PTS
Thomas 33 5-7 6-7 2-7 2 3 16
Wheeler 32 7-11 0-0 1-2 2 1 16
Clark 25 3-8 3-4 5-7 0 4 9
Garris 32 3.9 2-3 0.2 2 2 8
Keene 30 4-10 0-0 1-5 3 2 10
Hester 25 4.9 0-0 2-5 3 1 9
Bennett 8 0-1 0-0 00 01 0
Gandy 12 1-1 00 0-1 1 2 2
Michael 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Cross 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 00 0
Totals 200 27.57 11-1.4 11.33 1316 70
FG%: .474. FT%:.786. Three mint goals: 5-15,
.333 (Keene 2-5, Wheeler 2-5, Hester 1-2, Garis
0-2, Michael 0-1). Blocks: 1 (Thomas).
Turnovers: 9 (Wheeler 3, Gais 2, Thomas 2,
Clark, Keen). Steals: 3 (Garris 2, Wheeler).
Technical Fouls: none.
MICHIGAN (79)
F6 PT REB
MIN U-A U-A 0TA F PTS
Jackson 28 3-8 2-2 1.6 3 3 8
King 33 &15 0-0 2-4 5 1 18
Howard 32 6-13 9-10 4-8 4 4 21
Fife 25 0-2 0-0 0-0 13 0
Rose 40 817 6-7 2-8 2 2 24
Ndiaye 21 2-2 0-0 2-4 12 4
Saint-Jean 8 1-4 0-0 1-2 10 0 2
Derricks 10 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Crawford 3 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
Totals 200 296417-19 1334 1617 78
FG%: .453. FT%: .895. Threeogoint goals: 4.14,
.286 (King 2-6, Rose 2-5, Fife 0-2, Jackson 0-1).
Blocks: 4 (Howard, King, Ndiaye, Rose).
Turnovers: 5 (King 2, Fife, Rose, Saint-Jean).
Steals: 3 (Howard 2, Fife). Technical Fouls: none.
Illinois ......... 29 41 - 70
Michigan...........36 43 - 79
At: Criser Arena; A:13,548
The Michigan basketball team
and Nancy Kerrigan have
more in common than you
think.
They both finished second in their
sports' respective championships (the
1993 NCAA tournament and the 1994
Winter Olympics). They both can beat
Tonya Harding in one-on-one contests.
But the true connecting thread-or
sequin, in Kerrigan's case - between
these two unlikely partners is their
marketability.
To see the evidence of Kerrigan's
monetary success, one need only turn
on the TV. There she's seen spinning,
smiling, even checking hockey players
in commercials for everything from
Campbell's Soup to Reebok.
The knee-bashing episode, covered
with the thoroughness of a presidential
campaign by the media, helped
Kerrigan's career along. Overnight, she
became everyone's favorite martyr.
The result of such attention was not
a gold medal but a contract with Disney
for promotional work, reportedly worth
$2 million.
Not bad for a runner-up.
What does the figure skating fiasco
have to do with the Wolverines? Like
Kerrigan, they've made out pretty well,
too.
While the University enjoys receipts
from the sale of Michigan merchandise
- one of the most popular licensed
collegiate names in the country - in-
dividual players have also become
household names.
An informal poll in the cafeteria at
Minneapolis South High School (Key
West was not in this reporter's spring
break itinerary) showed that the team is
indeed loved outside its home state.
When asked what Michigan basket-
ball meant to them, a group of baggy-
jeaned guys paused. Then, their eyes lit
up like they'd just been handed free
copies of "Shaq Diesel."
"Fab Five," said one.
"Blue and gold all the way."
"Jalen Rose," one guy said, as if the
name were a statement in and of itself.
"It's a cockiness like 'We're the
best."'
One heavily sweatshirted boy said
he had a week's worth of Michigan
clothing.
"They got those baggy shorts."
"Jalen Rose."
Most of their responses had noth-
ing to do with the Wolverines' actual
ability.
Considering that there are almost as
many CBS game promos and ESPN
interviews as actual televised games,
this is not surprising.
Today, a team is more than a record.
It's a packaged product.
And, although Michigan players
may not receive the kind of compensa-
tion Kerrigan does for her commercial
spots, their packaging may someday
pay off.
Chris Webber's $74.4 million con-
tract is a testimony to that.
Granted, Kerrigan and the Wolver-
ines are superb athletes in their own
rights. But both are living proof of a
growing trend in sports: an athlete's
total worth is not determined by perfor-
mance alone, but also by her ability to
sell lunchboxes.
Kerrigan's freshly-scrubbed per-
sona was worth more to Disney than a
gold medal, as her contract was not
contingent on her winning anything.
Similarly, the Wolverines' ultra-hip
image is all the convincing the masses
need to buy Michigan clothing.
Nowadays, success is not deter-
mined by your order of finish.
Instead, it's measured in high school
boyswearingyour team's Starterjacket
like the very hair on their heads, cooing
your name over and over like a reli-
gious chant:
"Jalen Rose."
ILLINOIS
Cpntinued from page 1
with eight, and had four assists.
: King turned in a fine game of his
own. The guard scored 18 points,
canned two treys and dished out a
game-high five assists.
The Wolverines ran their winning
streak to nine games on the strength of
interior defense and formidable foul
shooting. Free throws? Michigan?
The Wolverines shot 89.5 percent
(17-of-19) from the line.
"We were concentrating more,"
Rose said. "Free throws are more con-
centration than anything. That's what
we've been doing more of."
The Illini, who are still looking up
at Big Ten leader Michigan, got a
firsthand look at a team on a hot
streak.
"I see them now where they're
definitely going to win the big thing,"
Illinois' T.J.Wheeler said.
Women continue slide against conference foes
By J.L ROSTAM-ABADI
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
When the odds are against them,
the Michigan women's basketball
team seems to pull out all the stops.
The Wolverine squad transforms into
an energized group of basketball play-
ers who appear able to conquer the
world. But the magic doesn't last long.
Such was the story in yesterday's
65-55 loss to Iowa. Michigan (0-14
Big Ten, 3-20 overall) held the No. 14
Hawkeyes (11-4 Big Ten, 18-5 over-
all) close in a fast-paced game at
Crisler Arena.
Who would have guessed that
Michigan could command a lead that
at one time extended 12 points for a
solid eight-and-a-half minutes in the
first half? To the delight of the 912
fans in attendance, Michigan kept up
with the Hawkeyes' pace, finishing
the first half with a mere four-point
deficit.
But then the sparks died. Iowa
pulled away with a 13-point run dur-
ing which Michigan's offense seemed
idle. The run also resulted in numer-
ous shot clock violations.
"Their press really slowed us down
quite a bit," Michigan head coach
Trish Roberts said. "We were taking
10-15 seconds just to get the ball
across half-court and then when we
got across half-court and set up in our
half-court offenses, we had to rush
into it."
Hawkeye scoring was, for the most
part, evenly distributed. Junior for-
ward/guard Antonia Macklin and se-
nior forward Necole Tunsil added 13
and 12 points, respectively. Senior
forward Virgie Dillingham, junior
center/forward Simone Edwards and
senior center Cathy Marx each added
eight.
"I think when you have to manu-
facture things, then you have a more
difficult time," Iowa coach Vivian
Stringer said. "What we tried to do
was move the ball around as quickly
as we could, make sure that we found
the open person and the open person
took the shot."
On the other hand, Michigan's
figures were lopsided. Freshman
guard Amy Johnson tallied 23 points,
while junior forward Shimmy Gray
scored 10.
"If we are to win games, we've got
to have a little bit more productivity
from all of our players, and not just
one player," Roberts said.
Fiesty point guard Arneda
Yarbrough controlled the game for
the Hawkeyes. With five minutes left,
Iowa had garnered a 20-point lead.
"I know my teammates feed off
me," Yarbrough said. "I try to dem-
onstrate (a lot of energy), and hope-
fully they follow. Once I get going I
like to stay in and just keep it going."
Friday night marked the disheart-
ening 88-59 loss to Minnesota. Michi-
See IOWA, Page 8
Smith scores 33 to push Ohio State past Wolverines
By SCOTT BURTON
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
COLUMBUS - If Michigan had
any doubts about the prowess of Ohio
State sophomore Katie Smith, they
were effectively squelched last Sun-
day at St. John Arena.
The All-American candidate, with
33 points in 32 minutes, proved to be
the decisive force in her Buckeyes'
tense 80-73 victory over the Wolver-
ines. Smith scored 19 of her points in
the second half, including seven points
in the last 1:30 to put the game away.
"I was just trying to be more con-
sistent than I've been, distribute the
ball, put good pressure on the ball and
hit the shots that I did," Smith said.
"They did a good job. We would have
liked to have blown them out, but a
win is a win."
It took all of Smith's exploits to
fend off a feisty Wolverine squad,
which demonstrated some of its most
polished offensive play of the season.
Michigan shot a season-high .560 for
the contest (28-for-50), matching the
Buckeyes almost point-for-point
throughout the game.
"I thought they played well," Ohio
State coach Nancy Darsch said. "I
think Michigan has been working very
hard. I think they have been improv-
ing. Any time you're looking at a
team that's winless in the conference,
you're looking at a hungry team."
Wolverine freshman Amy Johnson
was Michigan's main answer to
Smith's production. She played her
best game of the year, commanding
the Wolverine offense with 29 points,
20 coming in the second half.
"The last three games she's been
on a roll," Michigan coach Trish Rob-
See OSU, Page 8
EVAN- rPT
Michigan's Shimmy Gray gets pumped up as her team led by 12 early
against Iowa Sunday.
FULL COURT PRESS:
'Female Larr Bird' S th dazzles
Buckeye faithful, opposingplay.,ers
By BOB ABRAMSON
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
COLUMBUS- Few have garnered more acclaim in a
shorter period of time than Ohio State's Katie Smith.
Only a sophomore, Smith has already achieved leg-
endary status in the basketball arena that overlooks Woody
Hayes Drive.
Droves of kids and teenagers alike line up after every
home game at St. John Arena, yearning for a picture with
the Buckeye star or her autograph.
It is no secret why Smith is such a big attraction in Ohio.
Dubbed the "female Larry Bird," due to her razor-
sharp three-point shooting and her patented double-pump
fake, Smith took the Ohio State campus by storm her
freshman year.
With just under 12 minutes remaining in the second half,
the Wolverines, with their best effort of the season thus far,
were clinging to a 49-47 lead on the shoulders of Johnson.
Johnson, a freshman guard with a lethal jump shot, was
unconscious from the field. She hit from inside. She swished
from outside. She could have nailed her shot from the stands.
But as Johnson was on her way to scoring 21 points in the
second half, Smith was there, matching her shot for shot. '
A Johnson pull-up jumper was countered by a Smith
three-point play on the other end. A made free throw by
Johnson turned into a tip-in by Smith. Smith answered a
made free-throw by Johnson with a scurry of offensive
boards, finally tipping it in on her third try.
Back and forth they went, and with the game down to
its final two minutes. Johnson's two free throws cut Ohio
,y
I