0 00 8B --- The Michigan Daily - ipoff '98 -- Thursday, November 12, 1998 Siz maT syNvtters but sm aler is etter Nobody picks on these little guys 0 0 0 I Ila I I, Who's the premiere college bas- ketball team in the Metro Detroit area? Michigan, right? Maybe not. Try Detroit-Mercy. The Titans are coming off one of their best seasons ever, which includ- ed a tie for the Mid-Continent Conference regular-season title, an NCAA Tournament berth and an upset victory over St. Johns in that tournament. And, even though Detroit is losing four key players from that team, the Titans look to be better this go- round. Guards Jermaine Jackson and Rashad Phillips, who combined for 22.1 points and 8.1 assists per game last season, form the MCC's best backcourt. Jackson is a playmaker, a favorite to win the conference's play- er of the year title. "Our team starts with Jermaine," Detroit coach Perry Watson said. "Hie's really been entrusted with run- ning the show and getting all of our players on the same page." The frontcourt isn't as strong, but should still be solid. Senior forward Bacari Alexander gives the Titans an experienced inside game. "Bacari gives us a tremendous presence inside and on the boards," Watson said. "And he'll contribute to us in more ways this year." But Detroit's best asset just might be its coach. "Perry's done an unbelievable job at Detroit," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said of the former Michigan assistant. "He's a competitive guy, so his teams will be competitive. They're not going to be in awe of anyone." Ellerbe is also a little worried about the Titans' size. Not that they're too big, but too small. 'It causes matchup problems," Ellerbe said. "It's hard for big guys to chase around someone who's 6- DETROIT-MERCY Coach: Perry Watson 1997-98 Record(:12-2 Mid- Continent Conference, 25-6 overall Player to watch: lermaine Jackson won't play second fiddle to anyone, not even Tito Returning starters: G Jackson (6-4, 198/Sr.), F Bacari Alexander, (6-5, 230/Sr.) Look Out for: By season's end, Dick Vitale's former Titans could be Prime time performers, baby foot-5." The Titans will have to play the season without one of their top fresh- man. Terrell Riggs, a 6-6 forward that many prognosticators picked to be the MCC freshman of the year, was declared academically ineligi- ble. Riggs was rated one of the top 65 players in the country last season by the Basketball Times and led Detroit Finney High School to the state Class A semis. - .Josh Kleinbauni Floor might be Closest Eagles get to Dance Most teams that go to the Final Four come away with T-shirts, hats and other memorabilia. And even though Eastern Michigan lost in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament, the Eagles still have a pretty impressive memento from San Antonio. The floor. The hardwood that was used in last year's Final Four now resides in the Eagles' brand new basketball arena, the Convocation Center. In order to the have floor laid by the building's opening date in mid- November, the university had to order one that was already made. They decided to get a floor with a story behind it. The floor was re-sanded and painted with the Eagles' colors, and is now ready for the season. The same, however, cannot be said of the Eagles. Eastern must be hoping that some of the talent from the floor's previous What OU EAsTERN MICHIGAN' Coach:Milt Barnes 199 7-98 Record: 13-5 MAC West, 20-10 overall Player to watch: Um m... guard Avin Howard, the only Eagle to play more than 15 minutes last season Returning Starters: none Look out for: A lot of empty seats at the new Convocation Center players will rub off on the team, because there isn't much optimism in Ypsilanti. The Eagles lost all five of their starters, including star point guard Earl Boykins. Coach Milt Barnes will be look- ing to a host of junior college trans- fers to fill the gap. And Barnes is refreshingly realis- tic about his team's slight chances. "Anytime you lose that much pro- duction, it's got the potential to be a long year." - Ant/v Luawk OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR RESPONSIBIL MON4TH for XXX FILM TARS I Can ,: ; 'Get back' could hold back Broncos Last season, Western Michigan enjoyed one of the most successful sea- sons in the history of its program. During the regular season, the Broncos upset Michigan, UNC-Charlotte and Eastern Michigan twice, on their way to the NCAA Tournament. The fun didn't stop there for the Broncos, who went on to upend sixth- seeded Clemson in the first round of the tournament. In fact, last season was such a crowning success for the pro- gram that its athletic department can't seem to let it go. This year's ticket pro- motion of "Let's Get Back to The Dance" might just focus too much on last year's success, as opposed to this y'ear's team. Which invites the question: Can vou blame them? After losing seniors Aaron Toothman, Rashod Johnson, Jason Kimbrough and Saddi Washington, Western Michigan's- cupboard is bare. Washington and Johnson, the Broncos' top two scorers from last season, will be missed the most. In the Broncos' upset of Michigan, Washington poured in 33 points while Johnson added another 20. While the Broncos still have players who saw action in last year's tourna- ment such as forward Shaun Jackson and guards Kylo Jones and Isaac U N IT EDSTUDENT SPECIALS A UT:011-Oil Changes *Tune Ups AND -Winterizations F L E E T :Complete Auto Repair -Foreign and Domestics R E PA IR Serviced Bullock, the best of the bunch seemn to be gone. Nevertheless, coach Bob Donewald feels his recruiting efforts shored up an otherwise bleak roster for the Broncos. -Our recruiting tried to touch all of the bases - replacing the perimeter people we lost and also trying to estab- lish an inside game built around natural inside players," Donewald said. While the effect of his recruiting remains to be seen, one thing is certain for Donewald - getting "Back to The Dance" is going to be a lot more diffi- cult than getting there the first time. - Pranav Reddv WESTERN MICHIGAN Coach: Bob Donewald 1997-98 Record: 14-4 Mid- American Conference, 21-8 overall Player to watch: C/F Shaun Jackson, he's the only starter who's back Returning starters: senior guard Jackson, 6-4, 198; senior forward Bacari Alexander, 6-5, 230 Look out for: As John Elway showed, never count the Broncos out Report any dumping or accidental spill It is our responsibility to promptly report any direct discharges or direct dumping to the storm water system. Materials of con- cern include motor vehicle fluids, household hazardous waste, silt, grass clippings, or leaf litter. For more information or to report a problem , On Campus: + The Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health-647-1143 or http://www.umich.edu/~oseh + Department of Public Safety-763-1131 or 911 if after hours or in an emergency Off Cai us: + City of Ann Arbor Water Utilities Department-994-1760 + City of Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station- 971-7400 + Home Toxics Disposal recording-971-7356 + Recycle Ann Arbor-662-6288 e City of Ann Arbor, Solid Waste Department-994-2 807 Wash your car the friendly way Car washing can generate significant contaminated runoff such as detergents, grease, and sediment. Wash your car at a commercial car wash where the water is fun- neled into the sanitary sewers and processed at the Waste Water Treatment Plant If the car is covered with mud, wash it on a grassy area to prevent the sediment from washing into the river. Use only mild deter- gents or plain water. Dispose of hazardous household wastes properly Take these items to the Washtenaw County Home Toxics Center at 4101 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor or call 971-7365: + Aerosols, Cleaners, and Polishes, Flammables such as Gasoline or Oil, Paint Thinners, Solvents, Pesticides Put out for curbside pick-up or take these items to the City of Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station at 2950 Ellsworth Road (at Platt Road) or call 971-7400: + Household and nickel cadmium recharge- able batteries (no fee, curbside in plastic bags) + Car batteries + Used motor oil (5 gallon limit/no fee) in milk jugs with screw-on lids + Antifreeze ($1 per gallon/no curbside) + Transmission and brake fluid ($1 per gal- lon, no curbside) Use cleaning solutions that save you money and are good for the river Apply fertilizer and pesticides properly Store fertilizer and pesticides in leak- proof tub or bucket containers to contain any spills or leaks. Mix pesticides and fertilizer away from storm drains and follow the directions exact- ly. Avoid applying pesticides and fertilizer to sidewalks, streets, and driveways where they can be washed into storm drains. Before applying fertilizer, have the soil tested to determine what nutrients are need- ed. Residential soil-testing can be done through the Washtenaw County Cooperative Extension Service (971-0079). Choose a "pest-specific" pesticide that will lose half its toxicity in three weeks. Information on this breakdown, called the pesticide's half life is on the label. When containers are empty, rinse them three times and add the solution to the spray tank. Crush or puncture the container so it cannot be used again and dispose of it in the trash. Immediately wipe up any spills and NEVER wash spilled materials down a storm water drain or sanitary sewer or allow them to evaporate. Dui Keep Mik The storm' connect to the Anything that flows over our leaves, grass, I antifreeze, pet river. Storm d sources such a ing. Pollutantc problems rang ers causing flo aquatic weeds, fish and other The Huron drink; if we al into it, we will reducing pollu water drains tc river clean. The storm, to prevent floc water to the ri from our dorn houses is purii water treatmei drains flows d The University Ann Arbor ha and an ethical ronment by m ers operate in Storm-wat( environmental by people. W ulty, or staff nr citizen of our to Use fewer chemicals 2321 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor 48103 (734) 665-7130 J 0 0 0 TOWING Instead of insecticides on plants, use a mix of 2 1/2 tablespoons liquid soap and two teaspoons cooking oil, in 1 allon of water. Instead of chlorine bleach, use Borax with your detergent. Instead of a disinfec- tant, use 1/4 cup of Borax in 1/2 gallon of water. Reduce fertilizers, pesticides, and water- ing by mowing high (at least 2 1/2 inches). Return the clippings and their nutrients to the soil. Native plants require less mainte- nance and little or no pesticides and/or fer- tilizers. A 2-3-inch layer of mulch around flowers and bushes. To learn more contaminatior Web site at: http://www.ur THE DEPART SAFETY AN HEALTH OF MICHIGAN. NATURAL R ENVIRONM OF MICHIG/ AAA Contractors WE DO NOT IMPOUND 2321 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (734) 761-4343