I November 30, 1998 - SportsMonday - The Michigan Daily - 3E Men's basketball returns from Maui Invitational with questions answered JIM ROSE By Rick Freeman DAy Sports Writer Zgesides the side benefits of a Thanksgiving break trip to Hawai'i (read: Ingrid Ellerbe's Thanksgiving feast), the Michigan men's basketball team learned a little something on their trip. First, the Wolverines learned that November in Hawaii is a touch more mild than November in Michigan. But from a bas-- k e t b a l Hoe again point of view, they What: Michigan vs. learned that Towson State they might When: 7:30 p.m. not be as Where: Crisler Arena bad as Notable: Last season, everyone the Wolverines needed thought. a Robbie Reid 3-pointer But they in the final minute to a 1 s o seal the victory over learned that the Tigers. they've got a lot of work to do if they want to keep playing basketball in March. And a good test will be tonight's game against defen- sively tough Towson. "We've answered some questions about what we could and couldn't do,' Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "We answered some questions about our- selves." -One of those questions was 'Why aren't these guys playing a zone defense?' One of the best answers for that, and one the Wolverines would probably rather have left undiscovered, was Utah's Jeremy Killion. On Wednesday, He chowed down on Michigan's zone as if it were stuffing and mashed potatoes. "One thing about a zone;" Michigan guard Louis Bullock said, "if you play it for the course of a game, you'll give up open shots." Killion sank six of those shots, all 3- pointers, and his 18 points helped the Utes sink Michigan, 71-56. "That guy did a great job," Bullock said. Bullock said that of Killion, but he could have said it about Michigan's Leon Jones. The freshman guard's 33 points in the tournament answered any questions about his play this season. The Wolverines also answered ques- tions as to their ability to play on the same level as top-25 teams. After beating No. 22 Clemson, Michigan stayed with No. 19 Syracuse and No. 18 Utah before succumbing in the closing minutes of each. And while they were losses, the games showed that Michigan is not the tomato can it seemed to be after losing to Ball State and Florida International. But playing a zone defense, and play- ing it for three games in three days, is tir- ing. And when only about seven players are logging serious minutes, any team would be hard-pressed to hang with top- notch opponents. "Defensive fatigue caught up with us," Ellerbe said. And so did Utah and Syracuse. Michigan held a seven-point lead on the Utes, and found themselves within four of the Orangemen at one point. But down the stretch, the Wolverines found themselves outplayed. "Our offense helped their defense," Ellerbe said. Towson's defense might not need the help tonight. MARGARET MYERS/Daily The Michigan frontcourt wasn't productive over the three-game Maul invitational last week, as the guards were called upon to provide much of the scoring. Blue storms Mexico wIth two victories e e Rdose Parade konorsfinest of Mio an falL ~ports teams HONOLULU - In the past week, I've been faced with some agonizing decisions: swimming pool vs. ocean, towel dry vs. air dry, Coppertone vs. baby oil. But chaise longues, I've discovered, are conducive to thinking. Because there are just a couple weeks left in the fall semester, and because most of the traditional - and even the not-so-traditional - fall sports have finished their seasons, it's a good time to step back, survey the landscape, and look at the big picture. The time is right, then, to hand out some awards. This is not an exhaustive list, mind you. Some people win Oscars, some win ESPYs. But in Ann Arbor, fall-semester athletes are now eligible for a very elite SOt of awards designed specifically for them - Roses. That's right. I'm giving out Roses (appropriate, don't you think'?). They're decid ed in good-old, undemocratic, I-get-to-decide fashion, and there are very few rules about who is or is not eligible. In many cases, a Rose can be awarded for superior athletic achievement; other times, the requirements are less strenuous. Without fur- ther ado, here it is: The fall '98 edition of The Rose Parade. Best Performance By a WoundedAthlete: Rob Billington, Michigan table tennis team. Billington not only took second place in two separate flights at the Davision November Open (a U.S.A. Table Tennis-sanctioned event) he "played better than ever," team vice president Sungill Kim says, "despite torn ligaments in his ankle." Runner-up: John Mortimer. His entire career, he was one of Michigan's best men's cross country runners. The fact that his final few weeks were slowed by injury is a shame, but it does nothing to diminish his status as one of this fall's best Biggest Fall Flop: Crisler Vision. It seemed like a terrific idea at the time. But then, it seemed like a terrific team at the time, too. Best Athlete: Katie McGregor. An individual national championship served as a fitting finale to the career of the athlete that Michigan women's cross country coach Mike McGuire called the best runner he's ever coached. McGregor was great from the day she came to Ann Arbor, but what ultimately separates her from the pack (pun intended) is the fact that sl- continied to improv year by year. Although she'll tell you the team is always the most important thing, the fact is that she ended her collegiate cross country career with her crowning achievement - a feat often spoken of, but rarely achieved in athletics. Most Passionate Team: Men's crew. (See related categories: Most Likely To Complain, Most Likely To Suffer From A Debilitating Chip On The Shoulder and Most Likely To Start Their Own Newspaper.) In the past couple years, much has been made of the status of rowing as a collegiate sport - on this campus and around the country. Many people, including crew officers and coaches, believe the Michigan crew program suffers unfairly on campus from negative publicity. Others think the men's rowers should give everyone a break and stop getting so angry every time somebody says "Men's soccer." Say what you will. After hearing the arguments of those involved, this much I can say: If there's another group of athletes on this campus more committed to its sport, I haven't seen it. Not only is the men's crew team one of the best in the coun try, but it's also one of the most disadvantaged. Strike One is its club status; Strike Two is the fact that rowing is simply not - despite what team members would have you believe - recognized in the Midwest as a major athletic event. Despite all of this, Michigan's men's crew team is a hard-working, successful and driven group. We all would do well to learn something from their persistence and drive (if not their tactful and unbiased views). Club Sport Still Most Deserving of Varsity Status: Men's soccer. No explanation necessary on this one. Best Performance By a Tournament Team: Women's soccer. In each year of Amber Berendowsky's career, Michigan's program has risen to another level. Think; it's a coincidence? I don't. Best name: Greg Giovanazzi. Michigan's volleyball coach is a clear winner. Tough to compete with this one.n. Best story: The Oppenlander family. Michigan's waterskiing club would be just another waterskiing club were it not for this story. Lauren and Ricci are team members, but that's not what's interesting. The best part is their western Michigan home - their father loves waterskiing so much that he had a waterskiing lake built in his own backyard. Now that's hard to top. Classiest Coach: (tie) Giovanazzi and Marcia Pankratz Michigan's volleyball and field hockey coaches are two truly nice people - win or lose. You can't help but root for their teams. - Jim Rose can be reached via e-mail at jwse@umich.edt U N I T E D STUDENT SPECIALS: A U T O *Oil Changes *Tune Ups AN D Winterizations FLE E T *Complete Auto Repair *Foreign and Domestics R E PA IR Serviced Y~ 5 WARREN ZINN/Daily The Michigan women's basketball team, seen here at Crisler Arena, swept the Tomeo Cancun de Basquetbol this weekend. SCPPIN STATEJ49L RALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM (55) MIN M-A MA OT A F PTS MIN M-A M-A -T A F PS Brooks 30 7-14 3-4 3-10 1 ,17 Thrash 12 1-3 00 0 03 2 Stewart 9 0-4 00 2-3 00 0 Brown 28 4110 1-11 124 Allen 14 2-10 2-2 0.2 1 1 6 carter 6 1-2 0-0 2-2 0 3 2 Ritchie 19 0. 4-8 0.0 1 1 4 F. Jackson 31 5-16 14 2-3 2 2 12 ..Mitchell 36 6-17 1-2 3-6 2 213 Jeter 36 00 000-3 3 30 Jones 16 1-5 00 00 0 2 2 Stallings 8 01 00 00 0 1 0 .Williams 10 1.6 0-0 1-2 0 22 Bailey 4 1-1 0-0 0000 2 ".Dockery 7 0 0-000050 0.Jackson 26 61144 1-61317 S~cott 1302 0-0 1-2 0 12 Holland 32 2-8 00 04 114 Schley 13 0.2 0-01-2 0 00 Robinson 6 0-" 220.1 0 12 y Waugh 16 241-20-0035 Rhodes 10 0 00 1-30 0 0 Nur 9 0.3 0.201 0 10 Brown 1 00 0-0 0-0 02 0 Webb 8 0-2 0-2 1-2 0 4 0 Totals 200 21-57 11-1711-44 8 21 55 Totals 200 19-71 11-221541 5 29 49 FG%: .368. FT%: .647. 3-point FG: 2-15, .133 F. FG%: .268. FT%: .500. 3-point FG: 0-12, .000 Jackson 1-5, D. Jackson 1-4, Holland 0-4, Brown 0- (Allen 0.1, Nuir 0.1, Scott 0.1, Mitchell 0.2. Jones 1). Blocks: 6 (D. Jackson 3, Brown 2, F. Jackson). 4 03, Williams 0-4). Blocks: 1 (Stewart). Steals: 6 Steals: 4 (Holland 2, D. Jackson, Brown). -(Dockery 2. Mitchell 2, Jones, Williams). Turnovers: 20 (D- Jackson 4, F. Jackson 3, Brown Turnovers: 32 (Mitchell 5, Scott 5, Jones 4, 3, Thrash 3, Jeter 2, Holland 2, Bailey, Robinson. Ritchie 4, Brooks 3, Williams 3, Allen 2, Dockery Rhodes). Technical Fouls: 0. 2, Waugh 2, Schley, Webb). Technical Fouls: 0. MICHIGAN (7M (1014) FG Fr REB MIN -A M-A 0 A F PTS MIN M-1 -A 0 AT F PTS Thomas 26 715 1-1 2-5 02 15 SWEEP Continued from Page 16 Michigan, which earned the 104-49 victory. Michigan jumped out to an early lead, and led 53-30 at halftime. The Wolverines shot an impressive 56.4 percent from the field in this first half, and started the second half off just as impressively. They began the half with a 12-0 run which put the game virtually out of reach of the Eagles. Five players scored in double dig- its for Michigan, with freshman Raina Goodlow leading all scorers. Goodlow scored a career-high 18 points in just 18 minutes of action. Heather Oesterle and Mandy Stowe also contributed 12 points each, and Ruth Kipping rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. Kipping also had 10 rebounds and recorded her first career double- double. This was Michigan's first 100- point game in just under a year, and ranks third in most points scored in the program's history. RECRUITING BEAT: The Wolverines have already received two letters of intent for the early signing period of the 1999-2000 season. LeeAnn Bies, a 6-3 center from Lakeview, and In'fini Robinson, a 5- 9 guard from Detroit, will be wel- comed additions to the already young Michigan squad. Bies attended Lakeview High School, where she led her basketball team to a 26-1 record and a Class B state quarterfinal appearance. "The best thing about LecAnn is that she's a blue-collar worker," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said in a released statement. "She's a post player who works, works, works, even when she doesn't have the ball. At 6- 3, 180, she gives us the size we need and she's not afraid of contact. With her, Ruth (Kipping) and Raina (Goodlow), that's a good front line." And with play like the Wolverines saw out of Kipping and Goodlow this weekend, there will be a lot expected out of Bies. Robinson was named a USA Today, Street & Smith's and WBCA All-American. She has recorded 24 triple-doubles and 10 quadruple-dou- bles in her career. "Infini is a perimeter player vho can shoot the three from NBA range," Guevara said in the release. "She's quick and she's got decent size for a guard. We're fortunate to have her on our team. She reminds me of Alayne Ingram." Thomas 21 7-12 2-4 5-11 6 3 16 -~Miller 20 2-6 0-0 2-3 0 1 4 Goodlow 18 9-13 0.0 1-2 0 2 18 Thorius 20 1-4 2-2 0.2 3 4 5 Ingram 27 3-7 3-4 0-4 3 2 9 '~Walker 12 4-4 1-2 1-2 2 3 9 Oesterle 21 3-9 5-5 2-4 5 1 12 Lemire 20 3.7 3-4 2-5 3 0 9 Kipping 17 5-10 0-1 2-10 0 2 10 Dykhouse 9 0.2 0.2 1-1 0 1 0 SStowe 15 4,5 4-7 2-7 0 1 12 Totals 200 47-79 20311960 22 20 104 F6%: .519. FT6: .645. 3-ont FG: 2-9,-222. (Thorius 1-3, Oesterle 1-2, Ingram 0-2, Lemire 0.2). Blocks: none. Steals: 17 (Thomas 4, Walker 4, Oesterle 3, Miller 2, Thorius, Ingram, Lemire, Kipping). Turnovers: 24 (Lemire 4, Walker 4$ Ingram 3, Oesterle 3, Thorius 3, Kipping 2, Stowe 2, Thomas 2, Miller). Technical Fouls: 0. Coppin State ...........30 19 -49 m: Michigan ...............53 51- 104 At: Cancun, Mexico Attendance: 103 Miller 24 1-5 5-6 3-6 2 3 7 Good*ow 16 2-4 2-2 3-5 0 3 6 Thorius '37 4-12 4-4 0.5 2 4 13 Ingram 25 4-11 2-2 0-2 1 0 11 Walker 12 0-2 0-0 1-4 0 2 0 Oesterle 13 1-5 0-0 1-3 0 0 2 Lemire 23 5-10 3-4 1-5 0 2 13 Kipping 16 2-6 1-2 1-3 0 2 5 Stowe 8 01 1-2 0-0 0 0 1 Totals 200 26-71 19-2315.44 518 73 FG%: .366. FT%: .826. 3-pint FG: 2-13,-154. (Ingram 1-5, Thorius 1-4,Oesterle 0-2, Miller 0:1, Lemire 0.1). Blocks: 2 (Goodlow, Thomas). Steals: 9 (Miller 3, Thomas 2, Lemire, Oesterle, Stowe, Walker). Turnovers: 9 (Goodlow 2, Kipping 2, Thorius, Thomas, Walker, Ingram, Oesterle). Technical Fouls: 0. Alabama-Birmigham .........29 26 -55 Michigan ...........36 37 - 73 At: Cancun, Mexico Attendance: 138 PRINTING * LOWEST PRICES! HIGHEST QUALITY! FASTESTSERVICE! 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