EN'S NCAA
ASKETBALL
(13) Michigan State 86,
E. TENNESSEE ST. 53
ST. JOSEPH'S (PA.) 55,
(25) Tennessee 53
WOMEN'S NCAA
BASKETBALL
(6) GEORGIA 101,
Georgia Southern 52
(23) PENN STATE 79,
Maryland 44
(16)Florida 77,
(8) ALABAMA 71
NHL
HOCKEY
Boston 3,
CAROUNA 2
New Jersey 5.
PHILADELPHIA 4 (OT)
San Jose at
NASHVILLE, Inc.
mJxj 3tfi~m Dtg
Duke's (gulp)
A lemon? At least
'Earplugs' might
be best defense
By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer
As the undisputed leader of the Michigan men's basket-
ball team, Louis Bullock has a responsibility. He has been a
starter since arriving at Michigan and, on a team full of
youngsters, is looked at for guidance. And while the soft-
spoken senior captain often leads by example, he's always
around to offer advice.
As Bullock and forward Brandon Smith sat at a press con-
ference after Wednesday's victory over Eastern Michigan,
Bullock imparted some of this sage advice to the sophomore
sitting by his side.
The Wolverines were lively after the convincing win over
the Eagles, but a hush fell over the room when talk turned to
Michigan's game against Duke tomorrow.
Bullock was asked what advice he would give Smith for
surviving the trip down to Tobacco Road.
He paused for a second, then turned to his understudy.
"Bring earplugs," he said, breaking into a wry smile.
Laughter erupted in the room, because Bullock's state-
ment was funny, but - unfortunately for the Wolverines -
also because it was true.
As Michigan (5-5 overall) meets No. 3 Duke (8-1) tomor-
row, the Blue Devils will have a sixth man as good as any in
the country. Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke's home court is the toughest place to play in college
basketball, and Michigan knows it.
Only some Wolverines know it better than others. Bullock
is the only current Michigan player to have set foot on the
floor of Cameron, as a sophomore starter two years ago
when Michigan played Duke in Durham.
In that game, Michigan escaped with a 62-61 victory
behind a last-second jam from Robert Traylor. It would be a
rare home loss for Duke, cur- .
rently an astounding 117-2 Tomorws ge
against nonconference oppo- Who: Michigan vs. Duke
nents in the storied hall. Where: Durham, N.C.
In addition to Bullock, cen- we:9 pm.
ter Peter Vignier and a few Notables:How will the
other reserves were on the Wolverines hold up in
bench for that game. But none Cameron Indoor Stadim?
of Michigan's other current
starters have ever witnessed Duke's rabid fans - the infa-
mous "Cameron Crazies"
Smith and most ofthe Wolverines were still in high school
the last time Michigan played in Cameron.
"I really don't know what to expect going into Cameron,"
Smith said. "Lou and other guys that have played there have
told me that there's no place like it that you'll ever play in.
I'm really anxious to see it."
But while Smith and the rest of the young Wolverines may
not know what to expect, the Duke players do.
"Nothing compares to Cameron," Duke forward Shane
Battier said. "As a freshman last year. I couldn't imagine
coming in and trying to play in front of the most raucous
crowd in college basketball."
But that's just what the inexperienced Wolverines have to
do. And coach Brian Ellerbe knows that the crowd won't be
a factor unless Michigan allows it to be.
"We have to execute and control the tempo on the offen-
sive end," Ellerbe said. "The noise doesn't have a whole lot
to do with what you do with the ball"
At the same time, Ellerbe used to be an assistant coach at
Virginia, which meant a trip to Cameron every year. So the
coach knows how the Crazics can fuel a Duke run.
"The crowd makes a big difference," Ellerbe said. "These
guys aren't professionals. Adrenaline and excitement make
a big difference."
Such a difference that Battier is glad he isn't in Michigan's
shoes tomorrow.
"I wouldn't want to play against the Cameron Crazies on
any day," he said.
And you thought Michigan was playing Duke tomorrow.
MARGARET MYERS/Daly
Robbie Reid and the Wolverines shocked Duke and Steve Wojciechowski last season in Crisler Arena.
Cameron Indoor Stadium will likely be a different type of atmosphere when the teams play tomorrow.
Grown-up Battier ready
to erase poor showing
By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer
Duke forward Shane Battier had last season's
game with Michigan circled on his calendar for
quite some time.
After starring at nearby Detroit Country Day
and then leaving home to play basketball for the
Blue Devils, the freshman was anxious to show
the people back home what he could do.
And as top-ranked Duke rolled into Ann Arbor,
the Michigan fans turned out in full force, anxious
for their first look at the man that they once hoped
would become a Wolverine.
But Battier's homecoming would turn bitter-
sweet. Plagued by foul trouble throughout the
game, Battier managed just two points as
Michigan pulled off the 81-73 upset before an
unusually rowdy Crisler crowd.
"That was tough," Battier remembers of his
first collegiate game in the state where he was
crowned Mr. Basketball in 1997. "I had dreamed
all my life about playing Michigan and going into
Crisler Arena. When it happened, we didn't play
well."
Battier, in particular, didn't play well, much to
the delight of the crowd. And while his foul trou-
ble had plenty to do with that, the McDonald's
All-American was also struggling to adjust to the
pressures of being a student athlete at a place
where either one is a full-time job.
"Last year at this time, the whole grind of col-
lege really got to me," Battier said. "With acade-
III II I I I IIII R II P _.___- - _-- --
Uuevara,
team one
win from
tecord
Daily Sports Wrie
Winter break for most is seen as a
welcome hiatus, a joyous opportunity to
TPE
So2C
i5 N'OW AIi2MJ6!
c-Le KS--Take orders for advertising services and balloons.
ZivE26--Drive one of those cool little university trucks!
GeAUic APriSr--Design diag boards and banners.
Contact sundholm@umich.edu for more information!
These are student positions. Deadline is December 21.
Thank You
for the
Honor of Being
Voted Best Shoe Store*
forget about
school and
enjoy a brief
#rruption.
But coach
Sue Guevara
and the women
basketball team
are hoping that
nothing will
intr.., tnt *Lw
Tomorrow's game
Who Michigan vs.
Illinois State
Where: Normna Ill.
14e1m: 2 P.M.
Notables: The
Wolverines have won
seven games in a row -
one more would be a~
1 + / /Y r
T T 0-1 1 _ C .
I1 '900.q TI Irnirrcriy at- I hitrrch 4r
_ I ~