88- The Michigan Iy -9Tip6ff' - Thurs November 14, 1996 9 BluewarmshuptfouNON-CONFERENCE Blue warms up with four Midwestern cupcakes S BIG TEN The chigan Daily - Tipoff '9 a State still looking up By Danelle Rumore The Michigan men's basketball team will face non-conference opponents Ball State, Cleveland State, Bradley and Detroit in a span of a week and a half.t And probably the most excitement generated from the games will come from watching former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino mess his hair and dance around the sidelines for his cur- rent club, Cleveland State. The Wolverines, for the most part, easily disposed of their nonconference schedule last season, going 11-3 before the start of conference play. They should have another relatively easy time with this early bunch this season. With the exception of Cleveland State, the other three teams are all legitimate forces in their respec- tive conferences, but they will probably have trouble stacking up with Michigan's muscle. The Wolverines face Ball State in their first non-exhibition game. Bonzi Wells is Ball State's shining star, an offensive giant and go-to guy who con- trolled much of the scoring and rebounding last season. The junior for- ward led the Mid-American Conference with a 25.6 scoring average. The Cardinals lost guards Marcus Norris and LaSalle Thompson, leaving a big hole at the off-guard spot. The losses mean the do-it-all Wells will need to do a little more. Bradley went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history last year. But the Braves lost four starters from last year's 22-8 team. Most notably, the departure of Chad Kleine, Dwayne Funches and Deon Jackson leaves the frontcourt gasping for air. The trio combined for 29 points and 13y rebounds per game. Junior Adebayo Akinkunle is the only returning experienced post player, but he averaged a mere 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. The Braves rely heavilyon senior guard Anthony Parker, one of the best backcourt players in the nation. "(Parker) will be the best player in the Missouri Valley," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. Parker averaged 18.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, becoming Bradley's best all-around player since Hersey Hawkins. Bradley will rely upon Parker to avoid sinking in the Missouri Valley. Former :assistant:::coach .Perry..:Watson:.:: :::;::......:>.......;:....TE and eonDerricks are part of the ..... departed Michigan family that jumped r:~ ~ ~ E R I ship for Detroit.:...:........ "We'll be (Detroit's) No. 1 game,"'U.SAT j AL;CEL D.TA V is Fisher said. Io~ esnagis thgn: Tissso n aganst Michigan. The Titans return four starters from 1 J2 '9 CrI$"e"A"'n~ 7:30 p.m. 11./30/96 Cleveland, 7 p.m. last year's 18-11 team. Derricks and Brian Alexander shore up the paint and 095.96 MAC record: 11-7, 4th place 1995.96 MCC record: 3413, 9th place Jermaine Jackson and Carl Pickett take 995-90 record: 16412 1995.96 record: 5-21 care of the backcourt. Postseason: None Postseason: None Watson taught the Titans how to play defense, which should help them make Cow;h Ray McCallum (Ball State, '751 Coach: Rol lie Massiminio(Vermont, '56)1 a run at the Midwestern Collegiate RecordI at BalilSt.: 51-35 (3 seasons)' Record at Cleveland St,: First season Conference title. .:Career record: 5135 (3 seasons) Career record: 427-278 (23 seasons) Cleveland State is the only team out of the four that is not at or near the top BRADLEY VITALS: DETRoIT VIT~s: of its respective conference. This season against Michigan* This season against.Michilgan:~ Massimino inherits the Vikings, who 12/2/96 Crisler Arena, 7.30 p.m 12/5/96 Crisler Arena, 7:30 p.m. finished 5-21 last season. Senior Eric Nichelson is the best ±9998MYtC record: 1.53, 1.st place ±995-96 MCC ecord: 8-8, 4th place returner of the bunch and one of 1995* - 1995-98 reco:d 18-1 Cleveland State's only legitimate front- !ts snNOA firet round Postseason: None line players. He averaged 11.5 points, and 4.7 rebounds last season. And " ac' ..... Motlliriart I:(Il etyn.'77) c:FPerry.Watswi (E. Michigan, '72) Massimino's enthusiasm might help e~at&de 365sastis .ord at etro:473(3sans) give the Vikings a few more victories. Crreod12 2(7sasoh aerrcr: 73 3saos 'M'says Aloha' to Classic field Two sides to Lions' coin By John Leroi Beating Michigan in basketball is so important in East Lansing, professors actually cancel class so students can attend the game. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo thinks he's landed a freshmen class that can help him top the Wolverines. Six-foot-one point guard Mateen Cleaves is anprized recruit from Flint. Michigan wanted him, but Cleaves, rated the third-best prep pointguard in the nation, wanted immediate playing time. He'll probably get it. Not because he's ready - he's been hampered by back injuries and managed just three points in the Spartans' Green-White game - but because Izzo has no where else to turn. Michigan State lost the Big Ten's lead- ing rebounder, Jaime Feick, to gradua- tion and the conference's most accurate shooter, forward Quentin Brooks. For the Spartans to have any success, they'll need a huge season from 6-foot-3 guard Ray Weathers. The senior aver- aged under 10 points per game last year but has looked much better this season. Weathers, a natural shooting guard, won't have to play the point this year, with Cleaves and junior Thomas Kelley doing most of the ball-handling. "Thomas had an up-and-down year but picked up a lot of experience;' Izzo said. "With Cleaves coming in, hopeful- ly the point-guard position will be solid." State lost all three frontcourt starters but returns 6-foot-9 Jon Garvaglia, who has a decent outside shot to compleme a powerful inside game. But on the mind of most Michiga State fans is the freshman class, heade by Cleaves and 6-foot-9 forward A. Granger, one of the best prep forwardsi the Midwest. Toss in 6-7 swingma David Thomas, 6-1.0 center Ken Mille and redshirt freshman Morris Peterso and the Spartans have one of the to recruiting classes in the Big Ten. A nn A rbor's Modern Rock Dance Club Billiards 0 Games . Sports * Grille SUN., MON. & TUES. WE.DNESDAY Free billiards. Satellite sports. "I Want My MTV!"dA& videos-all night Food & drink specials. wNJ Chuck Jasman. $1 cover. - ~ A~i : £ 3 m I riwn.'7L7M 1 rrlwn u vr' v" vra m By Alan Goldenbach Cleveland. Columbus. Long Island. Michigan has to deal with some bad road trips this year. But that's the breaks of the schedule. Tough luck. Yeah, tough luck the Wolverines have to spend the last week of December in Honolulu. For the fourth time in seven years, Michigan will make a midseason trip to Hawaii. The Wolverines are part of an eight-team field for the Rainbow Classic, a tournament they won four years ago when they knocked off Nebraska, Kansas and North Carolina in consecutive days. This year, the field isn't quite as competitive. Washington State, Maryland, Memphis, Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Georgia join host Hawaii to round out the tournament. In College Night. 50¢ pitchers 'til 10. Ann Arbor's Biggest & Best No cover w/student ID 21+ Modem Rock Dance Parties 89Do , FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 .. S89XDGiveaways, Beer Specials, Food & Fun ( The best holiday party anywhere , Preparing Vessels of Honor at the Detroit Center of Theological Education Wayne State University Campus fact, it would be a disappointment to Michgan fans if the Wolverines don't come away with the title. The Wolverines draw Memphis as their first-round opponent. The Tigers are scrambling to find someone to plug the gap in the middle created by Lorenzen Wright's decision to bolt to the NBA after his sophomore year. Coach Larry Finch's plan is to go with a combination of junior college transfers, Michael Brittian and Torian Richards. However, neither of these 6-foot-9 centers has the strength to stand up to Michigan's beefy frontline. Memphis will rely on forward Cedric Henderson as its main scoring threat. Henderson averaged 12.6 points per game and connected on 39 percent of his 3-pointers last year. Those numbers should increase as he sees the ball more often this year. Sunday Adebayo, a transfer from Arkansas, won't be eligi- ble until next semester. Maryland poses the strongest threat to the Wolverines. The Terrapins return forward Keith Booth, a preseason All- ACC selection and maybe the confer- ence's most versatile player. However, Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Big savings on newsletters for all clubs, businesses, and organizations. besides Booth, Maryland has very little offensive punch without another player averaging even six points per game Washington State sports one of the Pac-10's top players in guard Isaac Fontaine, who led the conference in three-point shooting last year at an astounding 48.5-percent clip. However, he will be looked upon to shoulder a much heavier load than in the past to compensate for the losses of forward Mark Hendrickson and point guard Donminic Ellison. And that might be too much to ask of him. Georgia is the wild-card team of this field - a wild card because no one knows what to expect from the Bulldogs. They return none of their starters from a squad that reached the Sweet 16 last year. Georgia will rely heavily on a bevy of junior college transfers. The group is led by Lorenzo Hall, Derrick Dukes and Devin Baker, who will probably make up Georgia's starting frontcourt. In the backcourt, point guard Ray Harrison, one of only five returning let- termen, is the only Bulldog with start- ing experience. By Danielle Rumore The best way to look at Penn State's season might be to look at the good news and the bad news. The good news: The Nittany Lions had an outstanding 1995-96 campaign under coach Jerry Dunn. Penn State got off to an 18-2 start and went undefeated in its new arena, the Bryce Jordan Center. The bad news: That was last season. This season, a rash of injuries and the loss of key players to graduation make this squad one big question mark. The good news: Sophomore center Calvin Booth, the league's top shot block- er last year, returns to anchor the front- line. The rail-thin Booth makes up for what he lacks in size with his tremendous wing span - he blocked a school-record 101 shots last season. The bad news: Booth and Williams may not be able to compensate for the loss of starters Matt Gaudio and Glenn Sekunda. The two combined for 26 points and 12 rebounds per game last season. And senior Rahsaan Carlton, who missed last season with an arthritic knee, may not be able to return to his old form. The good news: The Lions might have YELLOW CAB 2050 Commerce. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 663-3355 Largest and newest fleet 4 can share the fare Service to metro airport Night Ride service " 663-3888 24 Hour Taxi Service -v - ' . "-' . . .;^"f Vi.;r :; " K:y a " Y;_i, f;vS; r 1, C!SJt the best backcourt in the Big Ten with seniors Pete Lisicky and Dan Earl. Lisicky set school records for 3-pointers with 89, and Earl led the conference in steals (1.9). The bad news: The backcourt tandem may turn into a solo act. Earl, who has been plagued by lower-back problems since last season, is a big question mark for the season. "I know as of now, he hasn't made a decision (about playing)," Lisicky said. The bottom line: This Penn State team is like a pendulum - it can swing either way. Earl and Carlton are the keys, plain and simple. r '".'{;":^h';Y:i ih'i{"Jisr:v:}ry;${Avi$;?.v.";n' " ii'r ..?hi:'?r{§e.::sfi{r" .$"'}?ik{{';:"y .Stir. x.._ ... ... _.. .i:. xxxJ: -nu::.: {, {rit.. i... I COLORS!. :: N :r h:f::vI i ' Accredited M.A., M. Div., D. Min. " Spiritual Formation " Ministry Management " Pastoral Counseling " Black Church Studies " Missiology " Church Music " Christian Education Annual'Tuition $5,280 Scholarships Available ± ASQ ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 910 Center St. - Ashland, Ohio 44805 - (800) 882-1548