18B* fie V ichigan Dairy -= Tipoff='9- Thursday, Novemb er 12 1998
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Thursday, November 12
U U
Purdue Pete gets
Soct*
A Boilermaker, if you live outside
West Lafayette, is a shot of liquor, usual-
ly whiskey, downed with a mug of beer.
It's also the official name of Purdue's
sports teams. But Purdue's basketball
team might have another treat best
served cold on its mind when it plays
Michigan - revenge.
Last season, Michigan upset the
Boilermakers to win the inaugural Big
Ten title. Purdue had put together a suc-
cessful season to that point, including a
89-82 victory over the Wolverines last
Jan. 29. The tournament could have been
their chance to grab the glory that elud-
ed them in the regular season.
Instead, it was Robert Traylor who
leapt over the media table and grabbed
his grandmother, Jessie Mae Carter,
when Michigan upset Purdue.
If they beat Purdue again this season,
it will likely be termed another upset.
Either way, they'll be perturbed by
Purdue forward Brian Cardinal.
If he were a character on Saturday
Night Live, he'd be Jon Lovitz's
Annoying Man. He plays like a wet willy
- fun to watch, unless you're on the
business end.
With the loss of guard I
more and more opponents i
look out for him. And tha
right into the Boilermakers
Purdue should be a "tea
season, with no one attract
share of attention. But alrea
Rodney Smith has attracted
"He is impressive," P
Gene Keady said. "He's
kids that if we had a game
probably start based on
practice."
But as practice wears on
son nears, more stars can
Boilermakers. Especiall
would be one at center. Li
Ten teams at the end of
Purdue said goodbye to
pounds of lane-clogging b
form of Brad Miller.
The only center list
Boilermakers this seaso
freshman John Allison.
"We need more big peo
leagues are getting them,"
Michigan is lacking in
Learning to Serve Serving to Learn
Sophomore guard Carson Cunningham will challenge for playing time In a talented
Purdue backcourt. Cunningham played his freshman year at Oregon State, leading
the Beavers in scoring and assists, before transferring to play under Gene Keady.
Winter 1999
PROJECT COMMUNITY
Sociology 389
Education 310
Earn 2-4 Credits-__
MICHIGAN STATE
Coach: Tom Izzo
1997-98 Record: 13-3 Big Ten
(T-1st), 22-8 overall
Player to watch: Sophomore
guard Charlie Bell, who'll make
opponents pay for double-teaming
Mateen Cleaves
Returning starters: G
Cleaves (6-2/Jr.), G Bell (6-3/So.),
F Antonio Smith (6-8/Sr.), F Jason
Klein (6-7/Sr.), F Andre Hutson (6-
8/So.)
Look out for: The sophomore
jinx
Stacked Spartans will be gui
Think back to last year, when Michigan was playing
at Michigan State. It was early in the game, and the
Breslin Center crowd was on the verge of exploding.
The Spartans had jumped out to an early lead over
Michigan, and the conference leaders were in danger of
breaking the game wide open.
Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves hit a
huge three pointer, and then he did it. As he
backpedaled downcourt, the man who had once been
recruited by Michigan made a simple gesture - he
held his fist to his heart and twisted.
You know, the twisting-the-knife routine? The kind
you make when you've just made a play that puts the
other team away?
Only Cleaves and the Spartans hadn't. His first quar-
ter gesture was a ball's length away from coming back
to bite him, as Robbie Reid's tying three pointer
glanced off the rim as time expired.
While Cleaves' gesture may have been a little prema-
ture, it surprised no one. Nothing is shocking anymore
when Michigan and Michigan State take the court.
While state bragging rights are always at stake
between these two teams, the rivalry recently has been
fueled by the fact that the Spartans boast a team of
almost entirely local talent. And what talent it is, as
Michigan State returns all five starters to a team that is
the preseason pick to win the conference again.
All five of the Spartans' starters are from Michigan,
as is the majority of their bench.
Only one Michigan starter hails from the Great Lakes
State - Josh Asselin, from Caro.
Michigan State has built its powerful squad, ranked
in the top five in both major polls, right in its own back-
yard. With Cleaves, fellow guard Charlie Bell, and for-
wards Antonio Smith and Morris Peterson all from
nearby Flint, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has his
share of home-grown players.
Toss in the fact that Michigan - last season's Big
Ten tournament champ - and Michigan State - last
season's regular season conference champ - each have
I.
Small Seminars...
I
Community Service.
.1.1 I
No Prerequisites
---- --
I
II
L
I
For this Indiana team, Randle El is only one
{mwe 4 mwmin it n rn mni n i
For up-to-date information on seminar times,
placement options, room assignments and how to enroll,
please visit our web site:
http: //www.umich.edu/~ocsl
or
Center for Community Service and Learning
1024 Hill Street, 1st Floor
1S . 763-3548
As if fans at other Big Ten schools weren't tor-
mented enough by the sight of Indiana quarterback
Antwaan Randle El greasing his way between huff-
ing mountains of beef in the football season, they'll
have to watch him do it again.
In basketball season.
Randle El's slick handling of the option for coach
Cam Cameron has grabbed attention on the
Bloomington campus normally reserved for more
stimulating activities - such as sitting in a dorm
room, circling the days until the first basketball
game of the year.
And despite playing on the basketball team -
about one-eighth the size of the football team,
Randle El might become an even smaller fish in a
smaller pond when he joins Bob Knight's squad at
the end of the football season.
"That kid has fantastic personality,' Knight said,
citing the frosh phenom's "keen desire to play well."
"It's evident in his play for the football team."
But despite his flash and dash, as well as the
splash he's made for the tackling Hoosiers, he might
not even be the shiniest newcomer for the dribbling
ones, as he'll compete for playing time with Dane
Fife, the younger brother of former Michigan cap-
tain Dugan Fife.
Knight said he wasn't sure exactly which position
Fife - or any other guards - would play.
"We don't split our guards like that" Knight said.
The guards likely to get most of the playing time
are juniors A.J. Guyton, Michael Lewis and Luke
Recker, who's styles differ somewhat from Randle
El's and Fife's.
Guyton, in particular, after two seasons on the
verge of greatness, seems due for a breakout season
like a squeaky door hinge is for oil. As in, 'c'mon
already.'
"It depends on his playing without the ball at both
ends of the floor,' Knight said. "We've seen some
improvement in that regard, he has stamina and
quickness."
But if basketball had tackling, Randle El might
shine in avoiding it the way he does now. And then
he'd do more than just grease the wheels of Knight's
crimson machine.
- Rick Freeman
Indiana coach Bobby Knight will have the luxur
many different options this season for the Hoos
t.~