MEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL (18) Charleston 74, E. TENNESSEE ST. 55 (10) St. John's 104, Providence 70 NBA BASKETBALL NEW YORK 78, Detroit 69 MIAMI 95, New Jersey 72 Phoenix 115, DENVER 106 UTAH 120, Sacremento 112 PORTLAND 99, Dallas 84 GOLDEN STATE 101, Minnesota 99 AUieĀ£d~uTil Read the Daily tomorrow for the beginning of our coverage of the men's and women's swimming team* as they prepare for the Big Ten championships this weekend. Tuesday February 16, 1999 1OA PART 4 OF THE ffo% froFos-[E3Rfs Future is now for impatient Kipping, fellow freshmen By Geoff Gagnon Daily Sports Writer The bag of ice beneath the wrap that braced her knee stood out almost as much as her gritty performance two nights earlier. And as Ruth Kipping and Michigan coach Sue Guevara waited outside a conference room to address the media after rout- ing Northwestern, in Evanston last month, Kipping thought she'd better come clean. "Coach, my knee is so sore that I probably shouldn't have played," Kipping said. "That's why we have a team, when things like that happen other people can pick it up,"' Guevara said later. But for Kipping, eager to play after her heroics muscled Michigan past Iowa two days earlier, leaving things to others has never been an option. And maybe it's that eagerness to play, even in defiance of injury, that's made the Quincy, Ill. native into one of the most promising young post players in the Big Ten. Without the patience to develop slowly, Kipping has shown she's determined to help make this season one to remember. In averaging nearly eight points a game, Kipping's emergence as a feared force in the paint couldn't have come at a better time. Michigan is currently battling to make a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. "The future looks good," Guevara said. "The future is playing, we're getting some real good contribu- tions." The forward finds herself part of a talented recruiting class that includes three other freshmen who've all seen extensive playing time this season and are being touted as the cornerstone of a program that will be able to contend for a Big Ten title. But this season, it's seemed as if that cornerstone has been able to offer more than mere visions of what a promising tomorrow might hold they've shown that the moment now for Michigan. And in a season of highs and lows, Guevara says that her freshmen have gallantly grown with their ability to responded to adversity. "Adversity builds character and after what we've gone through, I have some good characters," Guevara said. "I think that my freshmen aren't freshmen, they're sophomores." That transition came for Kippin* midway through the season as injuries nudged her from the bench and into the starting lineup - and Kipping answered the call. "I talked to coach and she told me that with several players out my role had changed," Kipping said earlier this season. "She told me that I need to step up and rebound more and try to score a little more, and that's what I've tried to do." See KIPPING, Page 120 injuries to starters earlier In the season forced Kipping into the starting lineup,a where she hasf averaged nearly eight points ax gamet. LOUIS BROWN/Dail Okenwa hurt, will run anyway By David Mon Daily Sports Writer Michigan freshman runner Ike Okenwa, a Nigerian native who has quickly established himself as a pre- mier Big Ten sprinter, injured his foot in practice yesterday. "I almost rolled it," Okenwa said last night. "I had a bad situation. I put too much pressure on it trying to change lanes." Okenwa said the injury will not keep him from running in-the Big Ten Championships this weekend. "It's not even a thought," Okenwa said. "You've got to suck it up for a race like this. "I'm at about 80 percent right now, but once the adrenalin gets going, it goes up. I'm icing it, and I'm doped up on medication right now" This isn't Okenwa's first injury of the season. Already hampered by a hamstring injury, Okenwa slipped on the icy ground while walking to class, injuring his ankle. The pain forced Okenwa to miss the Meyo Classic, in Notre Dame The fol- lowing week, Okenwa looked forward to competing with other premier sprinters in Colorado. But, snow storms prevented Michigan from mak- ing the trip. "I am very disappointed not to go to Colorado," Okenwa said. "But things happen you just have to deal with." Okenwa was relegated to competing in the Wolverine Open, a far less glam- orous competition. Rather than mop- ping, he made his return from injury a memorable one. He captured both the 60-meter and the 200, the first time this season he has pulled off the double. "I didn't run as well as I wanted to, but considering the injury, I'm satis- fied," Okenwa said. All season long, he has displayed remarkable maturity in handling his success. "I still need to work on certain parts of my running," said Okenwa. "I need to improve my start in the 200. The first 100 meters are the key." With the indoor season winding down, Okenwa now faces his biggest test - running in the Big Ten cham- pionship while injured. Okenwa will face competition the likes of which he has not encountered all year. But he refuses to be intimidat- ed and looks forward to the experi- ence. "Just being in the Big Ten champi- onships will be really exciting for me," Okenwa said. "This is what we've trained for all year and there is no turn- ing back." No Wolverine enters the Big Ten championships carrying more momen- tum on his side than Okenwa, who has a streak of four consecutive competi- tions with a victory. Continuing this streak would appear to be a tall order, considering the See OKENWA, Page 12A McGregor, the defending0 national champion in the 3,000-meters, will run in her final Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend. WARREN ZINN/Daily McGregor wraps up solid career REC SPORTS I %.P AL M The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM WHAT'S HAPPENING INTRAMURALS PRE-SEASON VOLLEYBALL VOLLEYBALL By Arun Gopal For the Daily The Michigan women's track and field team has had a number of solid per- formers over the years. Names like Tania Longe, Mindy Rowand and Molly McClimon bring to mind multiple all- America honors, individual champi- onships, and team championships. When her career at Michigan is over, senior Katie McGregor will likely be remembered alongside the names men- tioned above. In her four years in Ann Arbor, McGregor has gone from being a good runner to being one of the top in the country. "She's one of the best distance runners ever here at Michigan," Michigan coach James Henry said. "She's a good athlete, and she was a good runner when she stepped on campus, but she has devel- oped tremendously over the last four years." McGregor has had a decorated career. A four-time track and field all-America, she is the defending indoor national champion at 3,000 meters. In addition, McGregor was the runner-up in the 5,000 at the NCAA outdoor Championships in Buffalo last year. She has also won a national title in cross- country. There has been more to this success than natural ability. In the past four years, McGregor has become known for her toughness as much as her talent. "I think her greatest asset as a runner is that she is very gutsy," Henry said. "She epitomizes this year's team - she's a hard worker, she's determined and she's very confident. Like the whole team, she has used setbacks to energize her even more." McGregor's combination of skill and grit has made her a natural leader for her teammates, underclassmen as well a4) upperclassmen. "The best indication of what kind of leader she has been is that she was named a tri-captain of this team by the coaches, along with Nicole Forrester and Nikki Keith," Henry said. "After our per- formance in Indianapolis, we felt like we See MCGREGOR Page 12A v ENTRIES TAKEN: Mon 2/15 to Weds '2/17 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM ENTRY FEE: $35 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 2/18, 6:00 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT DATES: Sat & Sun 2/20 & 2/21, IMSB i / ENTRIES TAKEN: Monday 2/22 ONLY 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $70 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Weds 2/24, 6:00 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: MONDA Y.3/8 IMSB -- - Il I. , I I' INNER TUBE WATER POLO ENTRIES TAKEN: Monday 2/22 ONLY 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $45 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Weds 2/24, 7:00 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: MONDA Y 3/8, r- 4 0f 00 / RELAYS MEET ENTRIES DUE: Tues 2/23, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team MEET DATE: Weds 2/24 U of M Track Building EVENTS: 1/2 Mile (each runs 1 lap) 3/4 Mile (2 = 1 lap; 2 = 2 laps) 1 Mile (each runs 2 laps) 2 Mile (4 =2 laps; 2 = 4 laps) .. v z arIwu.er n u~w lW r"tK r7[' AI& I ' LA -A C'')^ MA o'i ,rI~wnA Vj 110 I