18B* fie V ichigan Dairy -= Tipoff='9- Thursday, Novemb er 12 1998 0 0 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.~