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 ~