WRN'S NCAA BASKETBALL FLORIDA 75, (5) Kentucky 68 WASHINGTON 90, (1O) Arizona 84 CtEMSON 78, (12) North Carolina 63 (f3) UCLA 79, Oregon 77 (18) PURDUE 90, (14) Iowa 75 WOMEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL (1) TENNESSEE 96, Mississippi 58 (2) Purdue 96, PROVIDENCE 67 (5) Colorado State 67, RICE 50 OREGON 106, (7) UCLA 79 (9) Duke 66, (16) VIRGINIA 56 (19) Auburn 68, KENTUCKY 67 (25) Florida Inter. 72, SOUTH ALABAMA 49 SPO*RTSp It~ Tracking 'M' teams The Michigan women's gymnastics team will host the State of Michigan Classic tomorrow at Cliff Keen Arena, starting at 4 p.m. Friday February 5, 1999 11, Center stage DANA LINNANE/Daily TOiIchigan women's basketball team will face Minnesota tonight, which it lost to earlier in the season, and No. 2 Purdue on Sunday. Blue women out for revene on Gophers BRhua Borkin Daily Sports Writer There is no time to rest once the Big Ten season starts. The Michigan women's basketball team knows this all too well. Michigan dug an early hole for itself by losing six straight games, but as T of late it has been play-TON ing like the team every- , expected it to be. Who. Michigan has won Michigan four of their last five, Minnesota and their last win came Where: against No. 19 Ohio Sports Pav State. Minneapo The win was "proba- When:p; bly 'the biggest in the history of the pro- The Lat gram," guard Anne Michigan T ius said. avenge an Lt the Big Ten sea- to the Gor son doesn't allow for much relaxation. Today, Michigan will travel to the Twin Cities to face Minnesota and then make its way south to Purdue to face the No. 2 Boilermakers on Northwestern wreaks havoc on Wolverines By Rick Freeman Daily Sports Writer EVANSTON - One rising, one falling. Two teams headed in different directions passed each other last night. Michigan hasn't missed the postseason since the 1983 season. Northwestern has made it twice, in 1983 and 1994, both times going to the NIT. The two passed like escalators in a department store, and the Wildcats rose above rapidly-descending Michigan, 58-34, on their way to a near-certain postseason appearance and what could be their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. "We're at a point where we could do some good things if we knuckle down and play NORmwEsrERN 58 well," Northwestern coach MICHIGAN 34 Kevin O'Neill said. And last night Michigan (3-7 Big Ten, 9-14 overall) gave the Wildcats plenty of help. The Wolverines didn't score a field goal during the final 10:12 of the game. And their offensive output, including just a dozen points in the second half, was their lowest offensive output since 1951. "We were very, very bad on the offensive end," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. Louis Bullock scored eight points, and failed to score a 3-pointer for the first time in 45 games. Robbie Reid scored six. Brandon Smith was Michigan's leading scorer with 10 points, and he reached double digits by scoring Michigan's final field goal of the game, with 10:12 left. And as if that weren't enough, Michigan had to deal with Northwestern's sixth-year senior center, Evan Eschmeyer, who carried his team further than he usu- ally does. "We've beaten them two times out of the last 31," Eschmeyer said. "I was lucky enough to be around for both." His 29 points accounted for exactly half of Northwestern's scoring, but his impact was biggest when he didn't have the ball in his hands. Eschmeyer hauled in 15 rebounds, nine in the first half. He wore Michigan's frontcourt players like tall, sweaty straitjackets, causing Peter Vignier and Josh Asselin to foul out. He also drew all four of forward Chris Young's first-half fouls. Once again on the road, the Wolverines made their way to the free-throw line less often than their oppo- nent. Northwestern went 18-of-23 from the line, Michigan only attempted 15, and made 10. Also familiar to Michigan was the end of the first half. The Wolverines struggled, as they have often this season, to close out the first half. In the final 1:40 of the half, a pair of 3-pointers by Northwestern guards Sean Wink and Steve Lepore seemed to have a larger effect on the Wolverines than the six points they pro- duced. But still, not much loomed larger than Eschmeyer did. The 6-11, 255-pounder outscored Michigan's entire frontcourt, 29-8. Fifteen of those points came at the line. Michigan forward Chris Young fouled Eschmeyer four times trying to defend him in the first half. See BLOWOUT, Page 12 us vlis wi u ,ph, "We faced Minnesota earlier this season and that night did not turn out as we expected. As far as Purdue, they are a very solid team." Minnesota and Michigan meet for the second time this year after a Jan. 10 contest in Ann Arbor. ____ After playing fifth- G HT ranked Louisiana3Tech - now No. 3-- Michigan turned around 24 hours later to take on the Gophers. Minnesota capitalized on Michigan's weari- ness, claiming a 54-47 victory. The loss ended Michigan's five-game p.m. winning streak over the st: Gophers, dating back to ill try to January of 1996. pset loss "The Minnesota pers. game was the biggest ers.___disappointment of my career," Guevara said. "This will be a very emotional game for us, and we are very excited to play in their arena and hopefully come out with a big win." Minnesota sits in the cellar of the Big Ten. The Gophers are just 2-9 in conference play and 7-14 overall. The Wolverines will have to deal with Minnesota's bench, which has been a source of strength this season, outscoring its opponents in 17 of 21 games. See REVENGE, Page 13 BRIA' KERSEY/The Daily Northwestern Northwestern's Evan Eschmeyer wasn't standing around watching much yesterday night, as ne played an active role in the Wildcats' 58-34 victory over Michigan, contributing 29 points and 15 rebounds. Eschmeyer's 29 points just one o is contributions By Chris Metinko Daily Sports Writer EVANSTON - Remember when Michigan had dominant big men, such as Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor or even Chris Webber back in the Fab Five days? Northwestern doesn't have to think back that far. The Wildcats have one right now, and his name is Evan Eschmeyer. Eschmeyer dominated both the offensive and defensive ends of the court last night while disposing of Michigan's three-headed monster in the middle - Josh Asselin, Pete Vignier and Chris Young - by causing the trio to fall into early foul trouble. "He's real good," Asselin said. "He's real good physically. He's real strong in the low post." Good may not be the correct adjective. Eschmeyer finished a game-high 29 points, 15 rebounds and even added two blocks. But the stats don't even begin to tell the story of his game. "We didn't defend him at all. He's a lot stronger than I am. I was trying to play him tough, but it just wasn't working," Young said, with obvious bewilderment in his voice. Eschmeyer physically frustrated Michigan. At the 10-minute mark, with Michigan trail- ing by just 13 after forward Brandon Smith's layup, Vignier pulled down one of his three defensive rebounds only to have the ball ripped from his grasp by Eschmeyer. Vignier had no choice but to foul him and pick up his third personal. It was the last thing Michigan needed at that point, especially with Asselin and Young already burdened by four fouls apiece. Four minutes later, in perhaps the most telling moment of the game, Eschmeyer went up strong on Vignier, scored a layup and caused the junior center to pick up his fifth and final foul. While Eschmeyer strolled confidently toward the line to collect his 29th point, See ESCHMEYER, Page 12 Sunday. Oddly enough, Michigan may actually be looking forward to two road games, having fared better on the road than at home. Michigan is 8- @ay from Ann Arbor while posting a 5-4 record in Crisler Arena. "It's going to be quite a weekend," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. 'M' hockey hopes home ice is the answer By V. Barka Sports Editor ost is where the heart is. After three games on the road against top CCHA contenders Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame, the Michigan hockey team returns home to Yost Ice Arena this weekendto face Lake Superior and the Buckeyes. A/hile road trips allow t Wolverines to watch classic movies such as Dirty Harry on the team bus, they don't make up for the up-tempo atmos- phere that Yost Ice Arena provides. After two weeks away from Yost, the TO N I Who: Michigan vs Superior Where: Yost Ice Arer When: 7i TV/Radio broadcasts b 88.3 FM (W and 1050 A (WTKA). Co Network wil the contest have the best fans in the world." Those fans will see a Michigan team that couldn't return home soon enough. After a winless three- G H T game road swing - in which they tied the Buckeyes and Spartans and lost to the Fighting Lake Irish - the second-place Wolverines need to use the home-ice advantage na to stay within range of first-place Michigan State. y: Radio To do that, the y both Wolverines will have to 1CBN) get by a physical Lake M Superior team tonight. mcast Although the Lakers are 1 televise stuck in ninth place, Michigan isn't taking tonight's contest lightly. "They've moved up the last couple of weeks," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They are very physical and always play their best against us." The Lakers are best when they are physical -- like Oct. 11, when they tried to bullykthe Wolverines in the teams' first meeting. Michigan won 2-0, but caught some bruises in the process. But the Wolverines feel they are more than prepared for Lake Superior's next punch. "Our team is a lot more physical now then we were," Rominski said. "We are playing a more disclipined game now." Michigan is hoping the increase of discipline will help them defeat the Buckeyes tomorrow night. Ohio State is the only CCHA team that the Wolverines haven't beaten yet, as the Buckeyes have beaten and tied Michigan in the previous two meetings. Despite the lack of victories against Ohio State, the Wolverines feel confi- dent about their chances tomorrow night. Michigan has held the Buckeyes to a total of only two goals this season. "In the last game we tried to take out their main scoring line," Michigan defenseman Jeff Jillson said. "We'll let their other guys try to beat us." Ohio State's success against the Wolverines hasn't come from any of the offensive players. Instead, Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund has spearheaded the success, only allowing one Michigan goal in the two games. "We have to be able to bury our chances;' Jillson said. "Right now the puck isn't bouncing the right way for us. The Wolverines are hoping that the Yost atmosphere will help the puck bounce in a more positive way. Also, this is Ohio State's first visit to Yost this year, and the Wolverines hope the envi- ronment helps them get a win over the Buckeyes. "It always feels good to be back home," Jillson said. "We don't have to take any long. bus rides." IF you've evei wondeied whaT anyone oT ouT OF cbuch .. . Campus Cha pet CRC ExploPATlons in FaiTb and Reason NoRTh oF SouTh U. and FoesT Sund~ay Sei~nce 10:30AM Open Discussion: Wet). 9PM PURSUING A CAREER IN ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION? Wolverines are looking forward to some Se cooking this weekend. 'It's good to come back and have the home-ice advantage;' Michigan assis- tant captain Dale Rominski said. "We Pr~ otng Attlektcs Mk~goau 4 4 *1 TI +r- in I - - I i __. V .r~ ., 1~±t r( 1.i - - - - - I ~.