SportsMonday - January 31, 2000 - The Michigan Daily - 5B
rpping finished with Michigan
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Writer
Even though sophomore Ruth
Kipping is transferring from Michigan,
she has visited her former teammates
and coaches since leaving the team.
Kipping's visit to- the lockerroom after
W ctice may have lessened some of her
a osity towards the program, but
don't expect Michigan coach Sue
Guevara to re-instate Kipping soon.
"I think it's for the best interest of the
program and Ruth that she not be a part
of the program,"
Guevara said. "She BASKETBALL
told me she doesn't Notebook
miss (playing)."
Although there
are rumors of animosity between the
t Guevara plans on helping Kipping
fV a new school.
"She's going to look to transfer,"
Guevara said. "I told her, 'Let me know
what schools you're thinking about
transferring to, and I'll help you.'
Guevara said it looks like Kipping
will leave the Big Ten. Missouri and No.
6 Iowa State are the two schools that
Kipping - who was described to
Guevara as "homesick and not happy"
oiced an interest in transferring to.
Missouri is approximately a three-
hour drive from Quincy, Ill. - Kipping's
hometown, and Iowa State is close to a
six-hour drive. Ann Arbor is nearly 10
hours-away from Quincy.
"She approached me earlier because
she was homesick and wanted to be clos-
er to home" Guevara said. "The team
misses her, but (it) doesn't miss some
things she was doing." Guevara would
not specifv what those things were.
Kipping averaged II minutes per
game in 17 games this season.
BIEs SHINES: With 12 minutes left in
the first half of Sunday's game and
Michigan ahead of Minnesota, 15-4,
freshman center LeeAnn Bies found her-
self open from behind the 3-point line.
Bies quickly squared up, and fired a
line drive that appeared destined for the
front of the rim - until the ball cleared
it and swished through the hoop.
On her way back down the floor, Bies
made a 'why not?' gesture to the fans.
Then, with eight minutes left in the
half, Bies found herself open from
behind the 3-point line, and without any
hesitation, buried another 3-pointer.
During the press conference, when
Guevara described Bies as the team's
"new 3-point shooter;" Bies quipped,
"I've been making those my whole life."
The two shots marked the first 3-
pointer of Bies' Michigan career. Bies
has attempted only one other 3-point
shot this season.
NCAA TOURNAMENT BOUND?: Last
year, the Wolverines lost to Minnesota at
home and some Michigan observers,
including Guevara, believed the loss pre-
vented Michigan from going to the
NCAA Tournament.
But this year, the more experienced
Wolverines appear to be waltzing into
the Big Dance.
Heading into Sunday's win, Michigan
was ranked No. 25 in the Ratings
Percentage Index, the ranking that the
Tournament committee considers to
make up the 64-team tournament.
Many observers think the Wolverines
will have to win four- more games to
make the tournament -a task Michigan
MICHIGAN (73)
FG FT RE8
MIN M-A M-A MOT A F PTS
Thomas 38 6-14 0-0 3-6 2 2 14
Goodlow 24 4-8 2-2 2-8 0 3 it
Miller 18 3-4 0-0 03 1 3 6
Thodus 35 4-8 2-2 0-5 7 1 12
Ingram 26 3-11 4-6 0-4 3 2 10
Jara 2 0-1 1-2 1-1 0 0 11
Walker 18 0.0 0-0 1-3 2 1 0{
Oesterie 14 2-3 0-0 1-1 3 0 4
Robinson 5 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
[ykhouse S 0-0 0-0 0-3 0 2 0
Bes 23 3-6 5-6 2-3 1 1 13
Totals 200 26-56 14-1813-44 19 17 73
FG%: .464 FT%: .778 3-point FG: 7-16, .438 (Bies 2-2,
Thorius 2-3, Thomas 2-6, Goodlow i1-1, Oesterle 0-i,
Ingram 0-3). Blocks: 1 (Walker) Steals: 5 (Thomas,
Miller, Thorius, Ingram, Oesterle), Turnovers: 15
(Thomas 2, Miller 2, Thoius 2, Walker 2, Robinson 2,
Dykhouse 2, Ingram, Jara, Bies). Technical Fouls: none.
MINNESOTA (55)
FG FT RES3
MIN M-A M-A O- A F PTS
Bowden 27 415 5-6 2-4 0 2 13
Pickens 36 2-7 1-3 4-10 0 4 5
Olson 38 3-11 6-6 1-4 3 2 13
VanderHeyden 28 4-13 2-2 0-3 1 3 12
ieser 23 3-9 0-0 1-3 0 2 8
Harris 8 0-0 0-0 2-3 1 3 0
Prince 3 00 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Tate 23 1-3 0-0 2-4 2 1 2
Bell 14 1-4 0-0 1-1 1 0 2
Totals 200 18-62 14-1715-35 8 17 55
FG%: .290 FT%:.824 3-point FG: 5-19, .263 (Lieser 2-
7, Vander~eden 2-9, Olson 1-2, Tate 0.1). Blocks: 2
(Olson 2). Steals: 6 (Lieser 2, VanderHeyden 2, Olson,
Bell). Turnovers: 14 (Pickens 3, Olson 3, VanderHeyden
3, Harris 2, Lieser, Tate, Bell).
Technical Fouls: none.
PHYSICAL
Continued from Page 11B
Everytime Minnesota ran the shot-clock
down to the last second and made the
"air-ball" a prominent feature of the
game, Michigan picked up one of its 23
first-half rebounds and went the other
way - ready to expand the lead.
But low and behold, something unfor-
tunate - foul, a traveling call or just a
bump to the elbow of the shooter -
forced the Wolverines to play with high-
er intensity than they're used to.
Still, after holding the Gophers to only
six points in the first 10 minutes,
Michigan left the half with a comfortable
12-point lead.
And then it happened.
Perhaps it came from Ingram when
she said "We want to punish them:'
Perhaps it was to avenge Michigan's loss
to Minnesota last year at Crisler. Perhaps
it was to make up for the statistically
meager first half. Or perhaps it was to
simply make a statement.
"Everybody's dangerous (in the Big
Ten),' Michigan coach Sue Guevara
said. "We wanted to come out with some
intensity and set the tone right away -
the first five minutes of the second half
are critical. That's when you're going to
make the run or that's where you're
going to bury them."
And as the Gophers descended into
the hole they'd dug for themselves,
Michigan went on to shoot 58.3-percent
from the floor in the second half.
The Wolverines went into the second
half the same way they wanted to go into
the second half of the Big Ten season -
with the intensity to beat the teams
they're supposed to beat, and demoralize
those that think that they're better.
"We can beat every team that we play,"
Ingram said. "It's important that we end
the Big Ten with a bang."
Michigan-... . 32
Minnesota.-,...20
41 -73
35 -s55
At: Criser Arena
Attendance: 2,758
is more than capable of accomplishing,
with seven regular-season games and the
Big Ten Tournament still to be played.
But amid the "how-many-more-wins-
will-it-take" game, sophomore guard
Alavne Ingram is still thinking about the
Big Ten title.
"We can beat every team that we play
(for the resf of the season)," Ingram said,
envisioning a 7-0 finish. "It's important
that we end the Big Ten with a bang."
DANA UNNANE/Daiy
LeeAnn Bies soars above the Gophers In Michigan's 73-55 victory yesterday. Bies
scored 13 points and nailed the first two 3-pointers of her career.
Here comes
Arlk -MAMIL
0 WW
I4SCL
State
m
Spartans ready for Michigan after Illinois blowout
By Jacob Wheeler
Daily Sports Editor
EAST LANSING - Look out Big
Ten, look out world. Mateen Cleaves
and the Spartans are racing at full speed.
After sneaking through a less-than-
stellar non-conference performance,
No. 8 Michigan State (6-1 Big Ten, 15-
5 overall) remained atop the conference
standings with Ohio State, with an 87-
53 victory over Illinois yesterday.
The contest was never close, as the
rejuvenated Spartans jumped out to a
10-point lead less than seven minutes
into the first half. Michigan State led by
19 at the half, and opened the second on
an 18-1 run that sealed the victory.
"That first half was as good as we've
played in a long time,:" Spartan coach
Tom Izzo said. "This is the first time
I've seen Mateen's skills completely re-
emerge this season, the way he's seeing
the court and passing the ball around."
Cleaves, the senior point guard and
unquestionable team leader, missed the
season's first 13 games due to a stress
fracture in his right foot. Meanwhile the
Spartans limped along without him, as
inexperienced swingman David
Thomas filled in. The team, which
reached the Final Four last season and
the Sweet Sixteen two years ago, lost its
No. 2 pre-season ranking and briefly
Jiil out of the top ten as cleaves slowly
retu rnd to tip-top form.
Ile looked like the best point guard in
the country yesterday.
(eaes plaxed 30 minutes more
than any other Spartan -- dishing out
12 assists and picking off four steals
while forcing countless turnove-s. The
All-American also scored 13 points,
though that's not his main job.
Michigan State's primary finishers,
Morris Peterson, Andre Hutson and
Charlie Bell, scored 52 of the team's 91
points. Peterson hit five-of-seven 3-
pointers and Bell connected on three-
of-four long range bombs.
"I couldn't say that my defense is
completely back,' said Cleaves, who
has gradually improved his play since
returning. "But I feel better.
"I think this is the best game we've
played since I've been back. Credit that
to team defense."
Michigan State's backcourt held
Illinois sharpshooter Corey Bradford,
who has carried the team on his shoul-
ders at times this season, to a mortal 13
points. He converted only one-of-five 3-
point attempts.
. "We limited Bradford's shots because
we have a good defender in Charlie
Bell."Izzo said, in praise of his shooting
guard. "We did a good job of trailing
him off the ball and stepping up"
Feared most for their rebounding
prowess in the past three years, the
Spartans grabbed 41 boards yesterday,
compared to 16 for Illinois. In fact,
Michigan State grabbed 17 rebounds on
the offensive end alone. Those second
chances fueled the 25-point blowout.
The Spartans scored 25 points after
offensive rebounds, compared to only
eight for the Illini. Credit forward Andre
Hutson for much of the disparage.
Hutson pulled down II boards -
five of them offensive -and scored 14
points, as the Michigan State guards
found little adversity lobbing passes
into the low post toward him.
"Mentally, more than physically, it
was important for Hutson to get the
brace off," said Izzo, referring to nag-
ging injuries which his big man has
faced. "I told him 'you're going to have
to play banged up."'
Yesterday's victory was lopsided, but
it could have been worse for Illinois.
The Spartans actually led by 36 points
with II minutes remaining in the game,
before Izzo inserted his bench players.
Yet he was quick to note that the lop-
sided victory didn't guarantee anything
tomorrow - when Michigan State
faces archrival Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"You (reporters),talk about (the past
three years) being a dynasty for
Michigan State," Izzo said. "But this
was only one good game.
"It was one of those days for Illinois.
I wouldn't read into it too much"
AP PHOTO
Michigan State guard Charlie Bell scored 20 points as lIlinois' marquee player
Corey Bradford helplessly looks on. The Spartans held Bradford to 13 points.
Conference OveraNl
Team WL WL
Michigan State 6 1 15 5
hio State 5 1 14 3
diana 5 2 15 3
Penn State 4 3 12 6
Purdue 4 3 13 7
Michigan 3 3 12 5
Illinois 3 4 11 7
Minnesota 3 5 11 7
Wisconsin 3 5 11 9
Iowa 3 5 9 10
Northwestern 0 7 4 15
terd' resu/s
MICHIGAN STATE 91, Illinois 66
Saturday's results:I
OHIOSTATE 68, Purdue 59
Friday's results:
MICHIGAN STATE 59, Northwestern 29
Tomorow' oaes:
Michigan State at Indiana, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Tomorrow
Michigan nMichigan
State. Cfster Arena, 7
p.m.
Coming off a bruising, 35-point loss at
Indiana last week, the Wolverines badly
need to play a quality game against their
hated rivals from up 1-96. But the
Spartans are playing their best basketball
off the season, after manhandling Illinois
- a team that almost beat Michigan in
Ann Arbor.
Sunday, Feb. 6
Michigan vs Ohio State, Cris/er Arena, 1
p.m. (CBS)
A two-game homestand in the midst of
the Big Ten season, sound pretty good
right? No. As soon as Mateen Cleaves
and Charlie Bell leave town, in come a
couple of different, yet equally-dangerous
guards from Columbus: Scoonie Penn
and Michael Redd. Ohio State currently
sits atop the Big Ten standings with
Michigan State.
State's success is a
headache for Ellerbe
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Editor
EAST LANSING ---- Damned if
they did, damned if they didn't.
There are two ways to look at
Michigan State's 91-66 disposal of
Illinois yesterday. Most would say it's
bad news for Michigan, which squares
off against the Spartans tomorrow night
at Crisler Arena, because Michigan
State is hot at just the wrong time.
Or, it's good news for the Wolverines,
since the State train will roll into Ann
Arbor unassuming
and confident, per- BASKETBALL
haps ignoring the Notebook
possibility of a let-_Ntebook _
down. Had the
Spartans lost, they would most likely be
an irritated bunch, and the prospect of
catching them by surprise would be
almost impossible.
Yesterday's end result will be debated
both ways, but the videotape will con-
firm two of Michigan coach Brian
Ellerbe's defensive concerns about the
Spartans - they shoot very well from
the outside (I 0-for-22 from 3-point land
against the Illini yesterday), and they
possess multiple weapons and the role
players necessary to complement them
(four of Michigan State's starters scored
in double figures, in addition to 25
points from the bench).
"I think we're getting a little bit more
in sync, slowly but surely" Michigan
State coach Tom Izzo said. "I thought
we played awfully well, and yet I still
think Illinois is a very good team.
Still, Michigan holds one key card
heading into tomorrow's matchup. For
all the complaining Ellerbe did about
his early Big Ten road schedule -
opening up with four of the first six
conference games on the road includ-
ing the first two away from home - it's
coming back to help him now.
The Wolverines will have had a full
week to recover from their Indiana
learning experience by the time tipoff
rolls around. Michigan State, mean-
while, will be finishing a rough stretch
of three games in six days, albeit that
two of those games were against Big
Ten urinal Northwestern.
"Last year, we had five games in I1I
da'vs. If we get beat (tomorrow), that
won't be the reason," Izzo said. "If you
have fatigue when you're playing
Michigan, you shouldn't be wearing the
uniform. We'll be ready to play"
EN GXUARD: As if the Wolverines did-
n't have enough of a challenge ahead,
they have to deal with a Michigan State
guard tandem that's just come off of
possibly its best game of the season.
Mateen Cleaves and Charlie Bell
combined for 33 points, but it was their
AP PHOTO
Forward Al Anagoyne (right) and Michigan State had a ball, yesterday, against
Illinois. The Spartans blew out the llini, 91-66.
Team
1. Cincinnati
2. Stanford
3. Duke
4. Syracuse
5. Arizona
Connecticut
.Aubumn
8. Ohio State
9. Michigan State
10. Florida
11. Tennessee
12. Kansas
Rec.
17-1
15-1
15-2
15-0
16-3
13-3
16-2
13-3
13-5
14-3
16-2
15-3
This weekend's results
Beat South Florida, 89-72
Beat Washington State, 63-38
Beat Clemson, 93-59
Beat Boston College, 73-65
Lost to LSU, 86-60
Beat Seton Hall, 66-56
Beat Mississippi State 73-57
Beat Purdue, 68-59
Beat Illinois, 91-66
Beat Vanderbilt, 89-63
Beat South Carolina, 73-66
Lost to Iowa State, 74-66
14 total assists (12 by Cleaves) that
opened up the interior game for team-
mates Andre Hutson and Morris
Peterson. The result was quite a few
easy layups and a corresponding open-
ing of the perimeter.
"Mateen looked the best that he's
looked since he's been back," said Bell,
modestly overshadowing his own 20-
point afternoon. "It's just a matter of
getting games under his belt"
Defensively, that's trouble for
Michigan, which currently stands last in
the conference in scoring defense,
allowing 78.6 points per game. Bell said
the Spartans will attack Michigan's
young guards early, and continue to test
them all evening.
"When you're playing against
young guys, you want to go out there
and get physica) with them, let them
know that we're the defending Big
Ten champs," Bell said. "People did
the same thing to me when I was a
Buckeyes hold steady in Big Ten's top spot
,E