SportsMonday -- February 14, 2000 - The Michigan Daily - 5B
Quote of the weekend
"It's totally demoralizing. It's real hard just to
look people in the face."
- Michigan sophomore Chris Young, on the
Wolverines'six-game skid. Young earned his first
career start yesterday scoring a career-high 12
points in the 86-65 loss to Indiana.
* Indiana 86
Player of the game
Indiana guard AJ. Guyton
Despite being held scoreless through the major-
ity of the first ha/f Guyton wasn't going to be
denied by the Wolverines. The senior guard fin-
ished with 23 points in his last regular-season
encounter with Michigan.
NMichigan
65
i
First start for hard-working
Young a bright spot for M'
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Editor
"Work hard in practice and you'll get minutes" -- the
classic promise made to second-stringers by their basket-
ball coaches for as long as can be remembered.
Problem is, coaches aren't usually willing to keep their
part of the bargain. Effort and attitude are often reduced to
being a small part of the playing-time equation, taking a
backseat to raw-and-sometimes-unharnessed talent.
In a season that has hit a rocky patch as of late, seeing
the number 45 appear on the Michigan side of the overhead
scoreboard before yesterday's game against Indiana was
enough to bring a collective smile to the Crisler Arena
crowd.
It meant that 6-foot-11 Chris Young, for the first time in
his two-year career at Michigan, would be introduced by
public address announcer Jimmy Barrett as a member of
the starting lineup.
Young was the last of Michigan's five starters to be
announced, replacing Josh Asselin while drawing a roar of
approval from Wolverines fans -- and a murmur of sur-
prise by those who hadn't yet noticed the scoreboard bear-
.ing his number.
Even Young's unwavering team-first attitude couldn't
hide his excitement as he spoke to the media after the
game. Young is the team-player type of guy who could
score 50 points and leave the arena truly disappointed if his
team lost. But on a very special day, Young let the cat out
of the bag a little.
"We were sitting there, we were doing our little rock
before the game, and then I knew my name was about to be
called."Young said. "The feeling was unbelievable - I just
couldn't control myself."
While by no means impeccable, Young's play gave the
Wolverines exactly what it always does - all-out hustle
and effort, an overriding desire to win, and game-wise,
enough of an offensive threat to cause opponents some
problems. A career-high 12 points gave Young his initial
just due, but images of Young standing tall in the paint
against Indiana strongman Kirk Haston and of the sopho-
more flippingin a baby hook for two points show how far
he has come.
"Chris just competes. He's a battler, he's a fighter,"
Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "Obviously, he's not
the most skilled or most talented, but he's going to bang
and give you everything he's got. He's going to leave it out
on the floor, and that's what you want out of your guys."
From nearby Plymouth, Young grew up within 15 min-
utes of the epicenter of Michigan basketball. He described
his scholarship offer to Michigan as "a dream." And now,
as just a sophomore, Young had the honor of hearing his
name, trotting out to center court to slap hands with his
opponent, and finally being on the court for a jump ball.
Young is a living, breathing basketball stereotype - the
lanky center that supposedly can't move very well, the guy
who only plays because of his height. Young has done
everything he can to prove this wrong over the past two
years. His first career start was just a culmination of those
efforts.
Maybe after yesterday, even some of Young's stodgiest
critics will finally applaud him for a job well done.
INDIANA (8)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A O-T A F PTS
Fife 26 3-4 0-1 0-3 2 4 6
Newton 29 2-6 1-2 2-9 2 2. 5
Hlaston 27 6-13 :7-9: 3-6 2 3. 19
Lewis 39 5-7 4-4 05 7 1 15
Guyton 34 . 6-12 8-9 0-1 2 2 23
Coverdale 1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
Jimenez 12 1-2 0-0 00 0 0 3
Homsby 5 0-0 0-0 0- 0 0 0
Rhardson 8 1-2 0-0 1-2 2 0 2
Odle 2 0-1 0.0 0-0 00 '0
Washington 16 4-6 5-6 1-7 0 1 13
Geyer 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 200 28-53 25-31 8-38 17 13 86
FG%: .528. Fr% .806. 3-point FG: 5-10, .500 (Guyton
3-6, Lewis 1-2, Jimenez 1-1, Fife 0-i). Blocks: 3.
(Newton 2, Haston) Steals: 9 aston 3, Guyton 2,
Lewis 2, Fife, Newton). Turnovers: 14 (Lewis 3,
Washington 3, Guyton 2, Haston 2, Richardson 2, Fife,
Newt on). Technical Fouls: none.
MICHIGAN (65)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A O-T A F PTS
Blanchard 37 10-18 1-1 4-12 1 4 23
Smith 24 4-7 0-0 2-2 0 4 8
Young 21 4-7 4-5 4-6. 0 3 12
Jones 30 1-8 2-2 1-3 ,1 5
Gaines 35 0-15 0-0 0-1 7 4 0
Groninger 24 2-5 0-0 0-0 0 2 6
Asselin 11 1-1 1-2 0-4 0 3-3
Anderson 3 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Vignier 15 4-4 0-1 1-4 0 2 8
Totals 200 26-65 8-11 12-32 9 23 65
FGb: A400. FTo: .727. 3-point FG: 5-20.,.250
(Blanchard 2-5, Groninger 2-4, Jones 1-4, Gaines0-6,
Smith 0-1). Blocks: 6 (Youn 2,Asselin, Blanchard,
Jones, Smith) Steals: 4 (Asslin, Gaines, Groninger,
Young). Turnovers: 18 (Smith 6, Blanchard 3. Jones 3,
Gaines 2, Groninger 2, Vgnier, Young). Technical
Fouls: none..
Indiana. ......
Michigan .............28
42 -86
37: - 65
At:criser Arena
Attendance: 13,562
B GEreSTANDINGS
Conference Overall
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Oaiy
Sophomore center Chris Young wrestles a rebound away from Indiana's Kirk
Haston. Young finished with a career high 12 points in his first career start.
Spartans have no problem with defenseless Wisconsin
Ctate rebounds with 61-44 trouncing
Team
Ohio State
Michigan State
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois
Penn State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Northwestern
W
Si
8
8
7
4
4-
4
4
3
,0
L
7
2
3:
3"
4
6
7
7
7
7
10
17;
18
18
17
i5
12.
121
12
5
L
4
4
7
9,
9
11
12
18
MADISON (AP) - A focus on the boards
helped Michigan State rebound from its loss to
Purdue.
Morris Peterson had 18 points and 10 rebounds
as the No. 6 Spartans kept a share of the Big Ten
lead with a 61-44 victory over Wisconsin on
Saturday night.
After the Boilermakers surprised Michigan
State 70-67 on Tuesday night,, the Spartans (18-6,
*2 Big Ten) came back with dominant perfor-
mances in rebounding and on defense.
Michigan State averages an NCAA-best 13.6.
more rebounds than its opponents, and the
Spartans' 50-23 rebounding advantage was the
difference against Wisconsin.
"I think it was our rebounding and then mak-
ing shots when we needed to," Mateen Cleaves
said. "It was an ugly game, but that's how it's
going to be against Wisconsin, and we just
ocused on the boards."
WResiliency has been a trademark of coach Tom
Izzo's teams in recent years. Michigan State has-
n't lost back-to-back games since December
1998, and the Spartans' average margin of victo-
ry in games after a loss is 22 points this year.
"We put a lot of preparation into this game,"
Izzo said. "I thought our defense got tougher
tonight."
Michigan State never trailed and wasn't threat-
ened by the Badgers, who lost for the third time
in four games. Wisconsin admitted to being
lightly in awe of the Spartans, who they'll visit
r a rematch next Saturday night.
"They're everything you want in a basketball
team," Wisconsin's Andy Kowske said. "They're
bigger than us, they're quicker than us, and it
showed. ... They're better than us in probably
every category."
Michigan State exacted revenge for its 66-51
loss at Wisconsin last season, the Spartans' only
conference defeat in the 1998-99 campaign.
Michigan State's win and Ohio State's 88-75
ctory over Penn State set up a showdown for.
the Big Ten lead Tuesday night when the No. 5
Buckeyes visit the Spartans in East Lansing.
Each team has two conference losses.
Against the undersized Badgers (12-11, 4-7),
Michigan State built a 35-20 lead with a 13-2 run
in the closing minutes of the first half. Peterson,
who had just five points in the Spartans' loss at
Purdue, had 13 first-half points and scored five
straight shortly after halftime.
"We felt kind of helpless," said Maurice
Linton. who led the Badgers with 10 points. "We
played hard, but their talent was such a factor.
They're loaded."
Jason Richardson dunked an alley-oop pass
from Cleaves that gave Michigan State a 45-28
lead with 12 minutes to play. The lead stretched
to 23 points moments later as the Spartans
cruised to the victory.
A.J. Granger had I1 points and Il rebounds
for Michigan State, which won even though
Cleaves struggled in a 2-of-10 shooting perfor-
mance.
"When we lose a game. we have a different
focus in practice until our next game," Cleaves
said. "Guys don't like losing here."
Mark Vershaw, Wisconsin's leading scorer,
went 1-for-10 from the field. The Badgers could
have used some help from Ron Dayne, who got a
standing ovation when he and his Heisman
Trophy made a halftime appearance at center
court.
A physical game occasionally brought bad
feelings between the teams to the surface.
Cleaves and Vershaw had to be separated after an
argument with three minutes to play, and at least
two minor skirmishes erupted in the stands.
The Wisconsin student section's chants of
"Alcoholic" -- a reference to Cleaves' troubles
with the law over allegedly stealing a bottle of
beer in April -- were nearly drowned out by
chants of "All-American" from the sizable
Michigan State cheering section in the upper
deck of the Kohl Center.
Yesterda y'resuf
Indiana 86, MICHIGAN 65
Sturd y games:
ILUNOIS 78, Iowa 50
OHIO STATE 88, Penn State 75
Michigan State 61, WISCONSIN 44
Purdue 77, NORTHWESTERN 58
Tomorrow's ame-
Ohio State at Michigan State, .7 p.m.
Wednesday's comes:
MICHIGAN at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Iowa at Purdue, 8 p.m.
Northwestern at Penn State, 8 p.m.
Thugfdy's game:
Illinois at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
AP PHOTO
Senior forward Morris Peterson splits the Wisconsin defense on his way for two of his 18 points. "We felt kind
of helpless," Wisconsin's Maurice Linton said. The win kept the Spartans tied with Ohio State.
Wednesday
Michigan at Wisconsin.
KohlCenter; Madison,
8p.m. (ESPN-Plus)
Wisconsin is a wacky team, and one to
be afraid of. The Badgers are barely
.500, but are extremely irritable animals
at home in Madison.
Defensively, Wisconsin is one of the
strongest tearbs in the conference, but
that's at least partially due to its plodding
offense, which slows down games
enough to keep most scores under 60. If
Michigan can score 65 points, chalk this
up as a victory - unless the Wolverines
are haunted by the ghost of Sam Okey.
Saturday
Michigan vs. Penn State, Cnsler Arena,
12:15 p.m. ESPN-Plus)
Those pesky Nittany Lions have pieced
together enough good games to own
sixth place in the conference.
Ferndale native Jarrett Stephens is aver-
aging just under 20 points a game, and
he will provide a matchup problem for
Michigan. Stephens is too big for LaVell
Blanchard, and too quick for Michigan's
three 6-foot-11 post players. Maybe Brian
Ellerbe will call on Leland Anderson for
defensive help.
At least Calvin Booth has finally graduated.
Buckeyes ready for Big Ten tests
COLUMBUS - Dovlan Robinson
was an unlikely hero for Ohio State.
After playing only 21 minutes in the
previous 12 games, Robinson came off
the end of the bench to play solid
defense and score a career-high 10
ints as Ohio State beat Penn State on
Saturdav.
"I didn't know I would get this much
playing time," Robinson said.
Four Buckeyes scored more points,
but it was Robinson's play that received
the most praise after the game.
"He played huge for a guy who does-
n't play a lot," said Michael Redd, who
led the Buckeyes with 25 points.
Redd is accustomed to torturing Penn
tate, having averaged 26.8 points in
his four previous games against the
Nittany Lions. He had not shot better
than 50 percent in ;iine of his previous
10 games, but made 9-of-17 shots and
7-of-10 free throws to match his season
scoring high.
at a better time for the Buckeyes who
assured themselves of having at least a
share of first place in the conference
going into their showdown at No. 6
Michigan State on Wednesday.
Joe Crispin, who matched teammate
Jarrett Stephens with 25 points, had 13
at halftime as the Nittany Lions (4-6,
12-9) held a 35-33 lead after leading by
as many as seven points before
Robinson started guarding Crispin.
PURDUE 77, NORTHwESTERN 58:
Jaraan Cornell and Mike Robinson
scored 17 points each to lead Purdue
over Northwestern on Saturday. Carson
Cunningham added 16 and five assists
for Purdue (8-3, 17-7), which defeated
Northwestern for the 19th time in the
last 21 meetings between the teams.
Ben Johnson scored a career-high 26
points for Northwestern (0-10, 5-18).
Johnson sank a 3-pointer from the
wing and two jumpers in the first 4 1/2
minutes of the second half to help
deficit to seven at 46-39 with 15:41 left
in the game.
The Wildcats got as close as nine in
the last five minutes of the first half,
despite Northwestern coach Kevin
O'Neill's first technical foul of the sea-
son. Two free throws by Cardinal and a
jumper by Cunningham in the final 33
seconds lifted the Boilermakers to a 13-
point halftime lead.
ILLINOIS 78, IOWA 50: Inconsistent
Iowa hit a low patch again on Saturday
in a blowout loss at Illinois.
After beating Ohio State in
Columbus on Wednesday night, the
Hawkeyes (4-7, 11-12) came out flat in
Champaign on Saturday, falling behind
early and often.
Illinois (7-4, 15-7) led 30-17 at the
half The Illini extended their leadpast
20 points early in the second half and,
save a small Iowa run keyed by Rob
Griffin, had no problem keeping the
Hawkeyes at bay the rest of the after-
EM BAR RASS
Continued from Page 1B
Michael Lewis barked floor orders as
the Hoosiers systematically destroyed
Michigan. Lewis finished with 19 points
and seven assists, leaving high-point
honors for A.J. Guyton, who toyed with
the Wolverines for 23 points.
As the clock wound down in the sec-
ond half and Michigan tried to keep it
within 20, the Maize Rage sung "The
Victors" unassisted - although not with
the conviction Louis Elbel surely intend-
ed when he penned the famous march.
In the end, on Michigan's last defensive
effort, two Maize Ragers bounced half-
heartedly with drained pride, their
screams more akin to moans.
Smith, who has established himself as
the team leader and emotional captain,
was self-critical before uttering the most
popular phrase of the day, "I'm trying to
lead this team, but I've got to do a better
job," Smith said. "It's very frustrating."
Despite his team's 21-point victory,
even Indiana coach Bob Knight found
Valiantly, Groninger tried to take a
charge deep into junk time if out of noth-
ing but pride. But - frustratingly - the
freshman guard was called for a block-
ing foul. He laid out on the floor with
arms still above his head, as if to plead
his case, but could only accept the help-
ing hand of Young to find his feet.
"Shit," cursed the native Hoosier
under his breath.
An apt description for an awful after-
noon.
Team
1. Cincinnati
2. Stanford
3. Duke
4. Syracuse
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. Arizona
8. Auburn
9. Tennessee
9. Indiana
11. Florida
Rec.
23-1
21-1
19-3
20-2
18-6
17-4
21-4
19-4
21-3
184
18-5
This weekend's results
Beat DePaul 87-64
Beat Oregon State 82-56
Beat Georgia Tech 84-65
Beat UCLA 71-67
Beat Wisconsin 61-44
Beat Penn State 88-75
Beat Washington State 73-50
Lost to No. 25 LSU 83-68
Beat No. 11 Florida 76-73 (4D
Beat Michigan 86-65
Lost to No. 9 Tenn. 76-73 (OD
R