U~t~ ~IEIJ4U Pxd~Big Ten Men's Basketball Last night's scores 1linois 93, Northwestern 62 niaa 72, Penni State 54 a V e ota 64 I h nState 6 , 2Q t F b ua y 1'u ? February 5,1996 .J With the last 10 Big Ten championship trophies sitting securely i its trophy case, the Michigan men's swimming team is searchingfor ... 7 Real race may be for 2nd v . - : , Event Schedule Thursday' NoonF- Prelims 500 Free 200 IM 50 Free 7 pim. - Finals 200 Free Relay 500 Free ~200lIM 50 Free 1.-Meter .Diving 400 Medley Relay Friday Norn -Prelims 400 IM ,100 Fly 200 Free 100 Breast 100 Back 7 p.m. -- Finals 200 Medley. Relay 400 IM 100 Fly 200 Free 100 Breast 100 Back 3-Meter Diving 800 Free Relay Saturday Noon - Prelims 200 Back 100 Free 200 Breast 200 Fly 1650 Free 7 p.m.F- Finals 1650 Free 200 Back 100 Free 200 Breast 200 Fly 10Meter Platform Diving 400 Free Relay By Susan Dann Daily Sports Writer We are told from childhood that no question is a stupid question. The only stupid question is the one not asked. You may ask, then, who has the best chance of winning this year's Big Ten Conference Champi- onships, held today through Saturday at Canham Natatorium? Stupid question. Ask anyone in the Big Ten and you'll get the same answer., "I really don't think it's even a question that Michigan will walk away with the Big Ten title," Minnesota coach Dennis Dale said. "The question will be the battle for second." What is questionable this year is the full concen- tration of all of the Big Ten squads on the conference title. With the upcoming Olym- pic Trials, many swimmers are focused on trimming their times to qualify for the national team. Olympic hopefuls will be swimming unshaven, as they focus on tapering for the trials, March 6-12. Shaven athletes who have tapered for Big Tens will have an edge this weekend. This puts a big question mark on the psyches of many athletes. "(It may be a little discouraging to lose) because (anyone trying for the Olympics is) racing against people who are shaven," said Wolverine Olympic hopeful John Piersma. "The difference in Big Tens this year is that a lot of guys are focusing on the Olympic trials and now we have to change our focus for the time being." Despite the split focus of the squads, Big Ten competition this year should not suffer. The Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Five Big Ten schools have consistently placed in the College Swimming Coaches Associa- tion top 25 poll. Michigan has maintained its No. 1 ranking since claiming last year's NCAA National Champion- ship. Other Big Ten squads joining the Wolverines in the Feb. 6 poll are No. 9 Minnesota, No. 16 Iowa, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 22 Indiana. Minnesota is expected to show well in the sprint events. Martin Zielinski and Derek Williams make the Golden Gophers favorites in the butterfly events. Williams looks to better his Big Ten second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. Bernie Zeruhn and Manolis Lentaris add to the Gophers' roster in the freestyle events. "Minnesota is the most well-balanced team we will face," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said."They are strong in the relays, diving - they really have no weaknesses.,, After a decade of dominance in the breaststroke in which Michigan featured world-class swimmers Mike Barrowman and Eric Wunderlich, the team currently finds itself depleted in that stroke. "After 10 years of dominating the breast- stroke in the NCAAs, (because of the lost standouts) we may not even compete well in the event in the Big Tens," Urbanchek said. "This is where our most noticeable gap is." This void in Michigan's roster will give the other Big Ten squads a chance to claim points from an otherwise strong Wolverine roster. Purdue's Vilmos Kovacs should take the breaststroke events. "Willy has already qualified for his national team, so he is really focused and should dominate the breaststroke," Urbanchek said. Minnesota is anticipating a boost as backstroker Duane Dobko returns to the pool. Dobko is recover- ing from mononucleosis and a back injury, which has kept him from training in his premier event. Michigan State's Ian Mull has ahome-pool advan- tage, which should translate into comfort in Canham. Mull has been training for the Olympic Trials in Michigan's Olympic-size facility. This familiarity should give Mull an advantage in the individual medley. Minnesota is a strong favorite in the diving compe- titions. P.J. Bogart took first in the one-meter and three-meter springboard events as well as the 10- meter platform at last year's Big Tens. He carried his form into the NCAA Championships, taking first in the one-meter. "Bogart is definitely the favorite," said Michigan diving coach Dick Kimball. "Aside from him, I think Ohio State and Iowa are strong squads. Iowa has two kids from Spain who havebeen diving well forthem." Without question, the Big Ten Championships will illustrate the conference's strength in the water. "There will really be some fierce competition, especially for second place," Dale said. "(Minnesota) was fortunate to finish second last year. Other teams are really threatening us. They are looking to get through us to get a shot at Michigan. "(Aside from Michigan's dominance) it will be a Wolverines* are looking past Big Texi By Doug Stevens Daily Sports Writer All season long, the Michigan iieiZ's swimming and diving team has play down the significance of each met which it has competed. Coach Jon Urbanchek sought tomin- mize the importance of the regular sea- son by claiming that it is crucial that his team stay focused on the bigger goals of the Olympic trials and the NCAA Cham- pionships. He consistently emphasized the fact that it is pertinent that everyone remain patient and keep the road "to glory in perspective. Well, Urbanchek is pretty seri about remaining focused on the bf prize because starting today his Wol- verines are hosting the Big Ten Coufer- ence Championships, and h is downplaying its significance. Although the coach has tapered down his top swimmers' intense practice schedule for this meet and has drawn up a detailed itinerary for the weekendo sizable numberofWolverines will com- pete in the conference championshO unshaven. This is because many Michigan swim mers will be competing in the US. Olympic Trials on March 6-12 aid Urbanchek doesn't want them peaking too soon. The Wolverines, who are the Stop- ranked team in the nation, are huge favorites to win their 11th straight'con- ference crown. However, the meethas the potential to be closer than expet* due to the fact that many of Michigar s top point-getters are neither peaking nor shaven forthis weekend, while aiy of its foes are. Given this fact, Urbanchek wants his potentially Atlanta-bound athletes' to keep this meet in perspective. "(Individually), they may gain more from losing at this point," Urbanchek said. "The only thing on the line is pride." Despite the significant talent of.a Michigan team that finished the regular season 5-0 in the conference, 11-1 over- all -its only loss came against the U..? National Team - the Wolverines ar not taking their foes lightly because the field is undoubtedly going to be pumped up. "It is discouraging because we are racing against people who are shaven, said John Piersma, the defending B Ten champion in the 500 freestyle. " goals (of our shaven opponents) will be to beat the guys who are unshaven." Although there is some concern o the part of Piersma, and some of th4 other Michigan swimmers who are fo cusing on Olympic Trials, the general consensus is that if anything is gained from this meet on an emotional level, i should be the opportunity to determine their development to this point. "I have rested for a week," Piers said. "This meet is a chance to see See SWIMMERS, Page 10A After winning their 10th consecutive Big Ten championship last year en route to an NCAA title, the Michigan men's swimming team has its work cut out for it if the Wolverines want to top last year's performance. They are currently ranked No.1. nationally. WA LKER VANDYKE/ Daily ':si~>,e J~y~i lIr z' *' :k close meet with a great showing by Ohio State, Indianaand Iowa." This viewpoint is not limited to the coaches. "Each team has a few swim- mers that can really compete," Michigan swimmer Tom Malchow said. "We have the numbers - but who knows?" Good question. 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