14A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 12, 1998 Michigan tumblers look for first victory against Gophers By Jason Emeott For the Daily No victories, four losses and ranked No. 10 in the country? Sounds a little far-fetched, but that's where the Michigan men's gymnastics team finds itself. Michigan's highest team score this sea- son, 223.80, ranks as the nation's 10th best, pommel-horse unit, but the overall strength of the Wolverines could overwhelm the Gophers. "Consistency is the key," Golder said. "He who makes the fewest mistakes will win. I feel we hold a slight advantage, but if we make mistakes, they'll get by us." A week-long layoff has the Wolverines feeling confident that they will minimize mistakes this weekend against the Gophers. yet the Wolverines haven't been out a team victory this season. A quick glance at Michigan's schedule offers an obvious explanation: The Wolverines have faced the top teams in the nation in No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 Penn State (twice) and No. 4 Illinois. The Michigan tumblers hope to pick up a little gift from St. Valentine this Saturday when they take on Minnesota in Cliff Keen Arena. No, it's not cards, candy or roses that the Wolverines Valentine's Day - their hearts first win of the season. able to pull Saturday's match Who: Michigan vs. Minnesota Where: Cliff Keen Arena When:2:30 p.m., Saturhiy Notable: The Golden Gophers will he the Wolverines' fifth ranked opponent this season. After last weekend's meet at No. 6 Ohio State was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict, Michigan has concentrated on preparing for the meet with Minnesota. Golder said that the layoff gave the team some time to experiment with a few new skills. The biggest addition to the team's overall performance will be a new vault by freshman Tim Dehr. Golder said that Dehr's "Consistency is the key. He who makes the fewest mistakes will win." - Kurt Golder Michigan men's gymnastics coach Kenny Keener and Kevin Roulston are both experiencing outstanding inaugural sea- sons. Keener has dominated the still rings this season, including a victory in the event two weeks ago at Illinois. Roulston has also been on a tear, record- ing several personal bests in addition to winning a few events of his own. The Wolverines will need top notch per- formances from everyone, including sopho- more captain Jose "Lalo" Haro, who has struggled a bit of late. But if the Wolverines are to pick up their first victory of the season, they will have to do it without sophomore Bryan Pascoe. Pascoe is still recovering from a dislocat- ed finger and will only see action in half of his usual six events. Nevertheless, the Michigan gymnasts are ready to go. "The guys feel confident that we can win," Golder said. "They're physched, I'm ready. I can't wait. I wish we had it tomor- row." want for desire the "The guys believe in themselves," Michigan coach Kurt Golder.said. "They're pumped." The Wolverines' quest for grabbing vic- tory No. I won't be easy, however. Minnesota currently holds the nation's No. 17 ranking. Golder said that Michigan has a slight advantage over the visiting Golden Gophers. Minnesota has a strong vault could make a huge impact on the team's overall point total. Several other similar routine refinements could help the Wolverines pick up a tenth of a point here and there and possibly lead to an increase in the overall team score. As always, Michigan will look to senior captain Ed Ledgard and Tim DeGraw for the leadership necessary to grab the sea- son's elusive first victory. But some of the responsibility now lies on the young shoulders of two freshman. MARGARET MYERS/Daily Despite a No. 10 national ranking, the Michigan men's gymnastics team is still looking for its first win of the season against Minnesota tonight Huskies upset by East nva MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Senior guard Greg Jones, making the first start of his career, scored 18 points to lead No. 16 West Virginia to an 80-62 victory over No. 6 Connecticut yesterday. The victory puts West Virginia (10-4, 204 overall) back in the chase for first place in the Big East 6. The Mountaineers are tied with St. John's, one-half game behind Connecticut (10- 3, 21-4): The winners of each of the Big East's two divisions and the second- place team with the best winning per- centage receive first-round byes in the conference tournament. It was the Mountaineers' first victory over the Huskies since joining the Big East three years ago and was their first over a Top 10 team since beating No. 8 Temple in Morgantown in 1994. Jones, inserted in the starting lineup after scoring 23 points in a loss to St. John's on Saturday, provided an early spark with 11 points in the first half. Jones hit his first five shots, including two 3-pointers, as West Virginia built a 20-13 lead with 12:07 left in the half. Richard Hamilton scored eight straight points for Connecticut as the Huskies took a 30-26 lead with 5:20 left. There were six lead changes before halftime. Damian Owens hit a three at the buzzer to give West Virginia a 43-37 lead. After Connecticut closed the deficit to 57-51, Adrian Pledger scored five con- secutive points and Jones hit an off-bal- ance 3-pointer to build the Mountaineers' lead back to 67-52. The Huskies would not get within 10 points again. Hamilton led Connecticut with 19 points. Freshman guard Khalid El- Amin, who scored 29 points in the Huskies' win over West Virginia in December, was held to seven points last Judge's ruling allows Martin to use cart in PGA Tour events EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -A judge ruled yesterday that Casey Martin can use a golf cart on the pro tour, a landmark victory in the first case invoking federal disabilities laws to compete in a major sport. When U.S. Magistrate Thomas Coffin announced his rul- ing, Martin smiled slightly, nodded his head while looking at his parents, then turned to his lawyers and said: "We won." Martin's lawsuit sought to use the Americans With Disabilities Act to force the PGA Tour to accommodate his rare circulatory disorder that makes it painful and even dan- gerous to walk. His doctors say too much stress on his with- ered right leg could cause it to break, and may force amputa- tion. Coffin, who deliberated just three hours, faulted the tour for failing to consider Martin's individual medical condition. Instead, it emphasized principles of competition, arguing a cart would give Martin an advantage and remove the funda- mental of athleticism and stamina that walking gives the game at its highest levels. The judge acknowledged that the walking-only rule was "substantive" but said the PGA Tour failed to prove that waiv- ing the rule for Martin would fundamentally alter competition. As for the argument that walking the course is a test of sta- mina, Coffin said walking 18 holes over a period of five hours is "not significantly taxing." "The fatigue level from his condition is easily greater than of an able-bodied person walking the same course," Coffin said. PGA Tour spokesman Bob Combs sail the tour disagreed with the ruling and would appeal, but would obey the judge. "Now we have the obligation to furnish Casey Martin a golf cart, and we will." Martin's case generated a national debate over the rights of the disabled to compete in professional sports, and an out, pouring of support for him. He was featured in a Nike "I Can" campaign and won the support of former presidential candi date Bob Dole. "It's so important to so many people," said Martin's lawyer, Martha Walters. "The ruling sets a legal precedent as the ADA applies to sports. I would hope the PGA would see this dog n't cause them a problem." Walters told the judge in her closing argument that Martin doesn't want special treatment, just a chance to compete. "Casey Martin would not be here if it meant he would be asking for anything - anything - like sympathy," Walters said. Pointing to Martin's atrophied, stick of a leg, Walters said. "You cannot look at that leg and believe for one instant that Casey Martin would have a competitive advantage." In the PGA Tour's summation, its lawyer warned Coffin against allowing the strong public sympathy for Martin, cloud his judgment. "I know, your honor, there is a substantial amount of publid sympathy for Mr. Martin," lawyer William Maledon said. "I sympathize with Mr. Martin as well. "That is not what this case is about," he said. "The right thing to do would be to decide this case based on the applica- ble law, not in accordance with public opinion." Coffin has already ruled twice in Martin's favor, granting a preliminary injunction allowing him to ride a cart in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament last December and denying the PGA Tour's motion to throw out the case last month. Ridin, cart, Martin won the Nike Tour's Lakeland, Fla., event la month. AP PHOTO No. 16 West Virginia out-muscled No. 6 Connecticut last night for an 80-62 upset. The Mountaineers are now just a half game behind the Huskies in the Big East. night on 3-of-8 shooting. Jarrod West and Pledger each scored 15 points for West Virginia, while Owens added 12. Brian Lewin grabbed 16 rebounds for West Virginia, which outre- bounded Connecticut 47-36. No. 7 Kentucky 80, Tennessee 74 Scott Padgett scored Kentucky's first eight points of the second half and drilled a 3-pointer late in the game, sparking the seventh-ranked Wildcats to an 80-74 vic- tory over Tennessee yesterday. Padgett, who was scoreless in the first half, hit two threes and scored on a fast- break layup as Kentucky (10-1 SEC, 22- 3) went on an 8-2 run to open a 41-32 lead with 18:19 remaining in the game. Tennessee (5-6, 15-6) fell behind 56- 43 but went on a 15-8 spurt behind Tony Harris' eight points to slice the margin to 64-58 with 5:35 to go. Padgett, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, then hit a 3-pointer from the left wing following a Tennessee turnover to give the Wildcats a 67-58 lead with 4:13 left. Tennessee was riding a four-game winning streak. MICHIGAN (76) FG FT REB MIN M 2A M-A PT A F PTS Conian 35 1-4 2-2 26 7 4 5 Ward 33 611 22 4-9 1 3 14 Traylor 34 7-14 3-4 28 5 3 1? Reid 34 2-7 00 03 2 0 5 Bullock 34 8-13 1-2 0-0 1 1 23 Assel n 17 1-1 2-4 1.5 0 2 4 Smth 13 3-3 C-0 C11 1 0 8 Totals 200 28-53 10-14 10-35 17 13 76 FG%: 528 FT:.714. 3-polnt FG: 1021. .476,Buock 6i Smith 2-2 Conlan 13. Red 1-6. Wa:o 021. 8locks:3 TrayOr. uock Asselj )Steals: 9 1Travbor 3. Conlan 2. Ward.R Re::. LB k Asselin) Turnovers. 15 Traylor 6. caIan 3 Ward 3..' a.-oCk. Assein)o OHIO STATE (68) FG FT RED MIN M-A M-A O-T A F PTS Singleton 25 4-6 02 1-2 1 2 8 Sanderson 36 59 0-0 -44 5 13 Johnson 28 38 0-0 3-4 0 3 6 Dais 34 2-4 0-0 0-4 4 2 5 Redd 38 820 2-4 2-5 4 2 22 Coeman 28 -9 33 0-1 3 1 12 lumpkir 2 00 c-} 0 -00 0 0 0 Heron 9 11 00 1-1 1 0 2 Totals 200 26.57 5.9 25 17 15 68 FG% 456. FT%: 556 3-point FG: 1122 50 Redd 4-6 Sanderson 3.7. Coemnr37. avis 1 2} Blocks: 3"l -nvo 3:.Steaks: 4 (Sgleton 2. Das Red Turnovers: 13 -ead 4. Sngleton 3. Sanderson 2 Davs 2 Coleman 2 Teciical Fouls: None Oho State:.C....A.. 29 39-68 Mchigan....... 39 37-76 At Cnsler Aena A: 12342 BUCKEYES Continued from Page 11A ing six 3-pointers to lead the Wolverines with 23 points. Michigan will need the same or even better production from Traylor, Bullock and Ward - and Asselin, Reid and Brandon Smith will also have to step up their games another level as long as Baston is out with the injury. Watching Baston on the bench-decked out in a button-down black suit and hold- ing crutches with his foot in a cast - instead of donning a white Michigan jer- sgy and dunking from anywhere near the basket or swatting the ball into the stands -- we must ask one question. Have Crisler Arena fans seen the last of Mace? The Wovlerines have four conference games left - two at home, two on the road. Michigan has until next Tuesday until its next game - a showdown against conference-leading Michigan State at East Lansing. Baston will be in crutches for at least the next two weeks. But who knows? Maybe Baston will discard the fancy suit and be ready for Indiana on Feb. 22 or at Penn State on Feb. 25. Nobody knowg for sure when Baston will return, but Ellerbe says that he's not merely cony cerned about the injury. "I'm more worried about his psyche, how he handles it, that he doesn't get depressed about it," Ellerbe said. "It's not a career-threatening thing, it's n4 major injury.: With or without Baston, Michigan plays its final home game against Wisconsin Feb. 28 or March 1 in what will be Senior Day for Baston, Ward and Travis Conlan. Realistically, it may make sense to -keep Baston out until the Big Ten Tournament so as not to aggra- vate the injury. But Baston has other ideas. "I'm playing in that game," Baston before the game. "I've beer looking forward to that game as a fresh. man, seeing Jimmy (King) and Ray (Jackson) play in that game. I want t walk out with my mother, in my jersey (and receive) a plaque." If that is the case, then fans in their last chance may once again be able zt witness one of Baston's signature dunks Michigan Union Board of Representatives is accepting membership applications from interested students. I . c,1"t p , r 9 ,. ° mss. I p' 1817 Student Publications Board Vacancy 0 Faculty, staff, students and alumni of Student Publications are invited to a ly for upcoming vacan- 0