Men's Basketball vs. Purdue Sunday, 2 p.m. (Ch. 7) Crisler Arena S Hockey vs. Bowling Green Tonight, 7 p.m. Bowling Green Title on the line against Purdue 'M' could raise Big Ten banner with win over Boilermakers By CHAD A. SAFRAN DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER It has been eight seasons since the Michigan men's basketball team has had the distinction of being able to hoist a Big Ten Champions banner toward the Crisler Arena rafters. Although the Wolverines have gar- nered a national championship and two Final Four appearances in that time, the conference title has eluded them. That all could change Sunday (CrislerArena, 2p.m., Raycom) when No. 3 Michigan (12-3 Big Ten, 20-5 overall) can clinch at least a tie for the Big Ten title with a win over No. 9 Purdue (124, 24-4). "The Purdue game will be a big game, a huge game for both teams, no doubt," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. "We want to be ready to come out and play hard." The season's initial meeting was indeedahard-fought, memorablegame, it least for the Wolverines. Overcom- ing a second-half, double-digit deficit, Michigan came away victorious, 63- 62, when Juwan Howard hit a short jumper with 21 seconds left. The Boil- ermakers had several opportunities to regain the lead but failed, as Glenn lobinsonleftalay-upshortasthebuzzer sounded. Unlike in the previous encounter with Gene Keady's club, the Wolver- ines are coming off a loss, entering their biggest game of the season. Michigan's nine-game winning streak came to a shrieking halt as Wisconsin crushed the Maize and Blue, 71-58, Wednesday. It was Michigan's first defeat since succumbing to Minne- sota and the chicken pox, Jan. 20. "We didn't do things we character- istically have done as late, such as play- ing good defense," Fisher said of his club, which allowed the Badgers to shoot 54 percent from the field. Going into that game, the Wolverines led the conference in field goal defense. And the task of shutting down an opposing offense does not become any easier when facing the Boilermakers. Most of that has to do with a 6-foot-8 forward from Gary, Ind. who answers to the name of Glenn Robinson. The junior All-American leads not only the conference in scoring but the nation as well, averaging over 29 points per game. Robinson, a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards, grabs over 10 rebounds per game, which tops all others in Big Ten play. If he leads the conference in both categories at the end of the sea- son, he will become the first player to do so since Minnesota's Mychal Th- ompson in 1978. When Purdue and Michigan met Feb.1 in West Lafayette, Robinson totalled 36 points, one of 13 30-plus point efforts this season. However, he launched 29 shots, making 13, and could only connect on a measly 50 percent of his attempts from the free throw line (7-for-14). Although he did register a high point total, only 13 of those came in the second half because of Fisher's decision to have Jalen Rose, instead of Howard, defend Robinson for the final 15 minutes of the game. Yet Fisher said that he plans to open the game with Howard on Robinson, but Rose "could guard him some." "(Robinson's) going to get his shots," Fisher said. "You've got to make sure you do a good job on the others, even though no one knows who they are." While Robinson may be the big- gest reason for Purdue's success,those "others" have contributed mightily to the Boilermakers' bid for their first conference crown since the 1987-88 season. Junior Cuonzo Martin is sec- ond on the team in scoring (16 ppg) and leads the club in three-point shoot- ing percentage. Guard Matt Waddell also provides additional outside scoring punch (11.1 ppg) while connecting on 48 percent of his treys for the season. Yet when all is said and done, the game will come down to rebounding and defense. "We blistered them the first time on the boards (52-40)," Fishersaid. "We've got to be ferocious on the glass. They're physical and aggressive." And either of them could be Big Ten champions. Robinson Michigan's Jalen Rose stares down Purdue's "Big Dog," Glenn Robinson. Cagers face best hope for first conference win By SCOTT BURTON OAILY BASKETBALL WRITER The Michigan women's basket- ball team (0-14 Big Ten, 3-20 overall) is not battling for the Big Ten title or a playoff spot. But the Wolverines are fighting for something just as pre- 4ious - their first conference win. :With only four Big Ten games remaining on its schedule, Michigan tnay have its best shot for victory No. i in this weekend's road trip to Illi- nois. The Wolverines face the un- spectacular Fighting Illini (3-11, 8- 15) tomorrow night at Assembly Hall, and an underachieving Northwestern team (6-8,14-9) at Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday. "We're feeling good about this road trip, more than any other road trip," Michigan coach Trish Roberts said. "With Amy Johnson and Jenni- fer Kiefer from the state of Illinois, we're hoping that they are going to have their best game." Although the Illini soundly beat Michigan, Feb. 4 at Crisler Arena, 77- 62, nobody confuses them with the conference elite. Other than junior Kris Dupps (17.0 points per game) and senior Mandy Cunningham (16.6 ppg), Illinois does not have many other offensive options. "They were two people who hurt us when they played us here, and their offense is geared toward those two players," Roberts said. "If our guards See BASKETBALL, Page 12 JONATHAN LURIEDaily Michigan defenseman Chris Frescoln battles Miami's Enrico Blasi for a loose puck at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines will try to win their first contest since beating the Redskins, 4-3, Feb. 18. 'M' tries to slam it In reverse Team hopes to change ways against Ferris, BGSU Harriers ride emotional track toward . Campionships By TOM SEELEY DAILY SPORTS WRITER When the Michigan men's indoor track and field team takes to the start- ing blocks this weekend at the Silverston Invitational, it might feel a little strange. Michigan is in a position that isn't so familiar to them. Tomorrow at noon when they enter the Track and Tennis Building, the Wolverines carry the title - Big Ten champions. The team lays claim to this title after capturing the conference crown last weekend for the first time since. 1982. However, while the euphoria of.* the victory might still be pretty strong, the squad must now shift its focus to the NCAA Indoor Championships, a week from now in Indianapolis. Tomorrow's meet - named after Michigan's longtime head timer Harold Silverston - will be the last opportunity for those who are not yet eligible for nationals to get a qualify-. ing mark under their belts. With most of the team not having an opportunity to go to nationals, a Big Ten title" was its main goal. And with that goal now in hand, Wolver- ine assistant coach Ron Warhurst said See TRACK, Page 1 m - - -- UM M' Aloha Entertainment State Theatre On State Street at liberty Adults $5.00: Students $3.00 24 hr INFO LINE - 994-4024 i By PAUL BARGER DAILY HOCKEY WRITER The Michigan hockey team is go- ing in the wrong direction at the wrong time. With only two games remaining before the start of the CCHA play- offs, the Wolverines are on a three- game losing streak. The squad has the opportunity to get back on track tonight when it heads to Bowling Green to face the Falcons. Tomorrow, Michigan (23- 4-1 CCHA, 28-5-1 overall) meets FerrisState(l1-16-1,12-21-1)atYost in its final regular season game of the season. Bowling Green (15-11-2, 17-14- 2) has played Michigan extremely well this season. The first meeting, Oct. 29, marked the beginning of the CCHA season and the teams played to a 5-5 tie. The second matchup, Jan. 25, brought the Wolverines a 2-1 vic- tory in a game that could have ended the other way. "It's a pretty good matchup," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They've been scoring more lately. The teams are similar in that they have both had good contributions from their freshmen. The only difference is that our goalie is a senior and their goalie is a freshman." That difference was rather evident in the team's second meeting of the year. Michigan goaltender Steve Shields had one of his best perfor- mances of the season, stopping 36 of 37 Bowling Green shots. "It is difficult to score goals on Shields," Bowling Green coach Jerry York said. "He is so quick and big that he can cover the net. He is our first and foremost problem." See HOCKEY, Page 12 Fri and Sat Late Shows 11:30 pm - Only $3.00 WAR 0 I qkt~HAIR & MW NAIL weave SALON braid relaxers haircuts spiral perms full nail service wave nouveau custom hairstyling 312 Thompson St. (near corner of Liberty) 995-5733 The Medical School Information Fair Saturday, March 5 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Michigan Union kana KOREAN CUISINE gA T-SHIRT PRINTING HIGH QUALITY OW VPRICES (313) 662-93033 - "'' 113 E. Huron Ann ArborI MOUTH-WATERING .BARGAINS. Information Fair Pendleton Room Admissions Deans' Panel Anderson Room 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Noon-1:00 PM Meet with yourJostens representative for full details. See our complete ring selection on display atyour college bookstore. 9 ~- 0 _ _I i