Spring break updates Don't forget to check the Daily Sports Website over break for online updates of Michigan sports. Get out of the snow. Stay in the know michigandaily.com/sports ft fe ichidgxDdk poierTs S3. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2000 8A" v 'M'-Purdue matchup hinges on Crawford's return TONIGHT CRISLER ARENA Who: Michigan (4-8$Big Ten,13-10 overall) vs Purdue(10,19-7) When: 7 p.m. Absenc: Jamal Crawfrd? TV: ESPN Radio: WTKA 1050 AM, WJR 760 AM The latest: With a six-game winning streak, No. 21 Purdue has climbed tosecond-place in the menacing Big Ten History book A closer look at the last three Michigan-Purdue-matchups in Ann Arbor: JAN. 29, 1998. PURDUE 89, MICHIGAN 82: Michigan had leads of up to eight points in the first half, but couldn't hang on in a shootout at Crisler. JAI,. 16, 1997. MICHIGAN 89, PURDUE 65: The Wolverines took a tight 38-33 lead into halftime, but came out on fire in the second half, hitting a string of. threes that put Purdue out of commission. JAN. 31, 1996. PuRDUE 80, MIMGAN 59: Following two double-digit road losses, Purdue helped extend Michigan's skid with a blowout in Ann Arbor By Jacob Wheeler Daily Sports Editor Which one of these scores mean more for tonight's Michigan-Purdue basketball game? Is it 88 to 86, as in the Wolverines' double overtime road victory on Jan. 8, or 6-0, as in the NCAA's score up on exiled freshman Jamal Crawford since what should have been Michigan's most important game of the season - a Feb. 1 debacle against Michigan State. These young Wolverines turned doubters into believers with an improbable victory in West Lafayette, proving that even green freshmen sometimes have the stamina to hang tough and beat a veteran Big Ten team down the stretch. LaVell Blanchard's game-securing tip-in in the second extra frame gave Michigan its first Big Ten victory, and it began a three-game con- ference winning streak. But 6-0 has dominated Crisler Arena's coffee talk lately. When they aren't adjusting their Crawford- esque headbands for more forehead circulation, the Maize Rage fans are talking about tonight's game, when Michigan's crowned prince of the courts is supposed to return from the crusades. Crawford served a six-game suspension imposed by the NCAA because he accepted improper gifts from a family friend during his high school years in Seattle. The gift-giver's name, Barry Henthorn, has become as infa- mous in Ann Arbor as Ed Martin. And meanwhile, the lanky shooting guard's hands have grown cobwebs since he last played. But his Timberland boots, which he has worn on the bench, have seen plenty of use. This was supposed to be the game when a heroic Crawford would brush off the cobwebs and lead his forgotten Michigan team to victory over No. 21 Purdue (10-3 Big Ten, 19-7 over- all), rejuvenating faith in this basketball season. Theoretically, the Wolverines could win their last four games, finish with a .500 record in the conference and qualify for the Big Dance. But Crawford may not return to the court against Purdue. As of last night, Michigan still had not received a confirmation from the NCAA that its leading scorer was clear to resume his college career. "We are still in discussions with the NCAA,' university spokesperson Julie Peterson said yes- terday. "We are expecting to make an announce- ment sometime today." And if the 20-point loss to the rival Spartans was any indication, Crawford shouldn't expect much from the NCAA with another tipoff only hours away. Crawford was told only 45 minutes before the once-most important game of the season that he would watch it from the bench, and a tailspin ensued. Michigan finally ended its seven-game losing streak last Saturday against Penn State. In some eyes, the possibility of the leading scorer's looming return makes tonight's matchup the most important game of the season for the Wolverines. They're in desperate need of a victory against a team in the Big Ten's upper echelon, to gain national respect and the shot at a berth in a March tournament. Purdue is a team that Michigan has already beaten - with Crawford - holding the Boilermakers to 36 percent shooting and hang- ing tough through 50 minutes on the road. But without Crawford's long arms hindering Purdue in the backcourt, the Wolverines will be hardpressed to beat a red-hot team which has won its last six games in the conference. It all hinges on the NCAA's decision regard- ing Crawford's eligibility today. LOUIS BROWN/Daily Michigan beat Purdue once this season, in a double-overtime thriller in West Lafayette. But that was with No. 1. Round 2: Women hungry for Lions Second fiddle The Michigan women's basketball team has secured second place for the Big Ten tournament. Here are a few other famous No. 2's: By Raphael Goodstein Daily Sports Writer Four weeks ago, the Michigan women's basketball team suffered one of its worst losses of the year, a 72-69 heartbreaker at Wisconsin. Three days later the Wolverines came home to play Iowa, a team with lower expectations than Michigan. While Iowa was hoping to "play two good halves of basketball," Michigan needed the win badly, with a trip to No. 6. Penn State looming. But Michigan came out sluggish, was down by five at halftime. and struggled all game to. put the Hawkeyes away. With only 10 seconds left and Michigan clinging to a slim three- point lead, freshman center LeeAnn Bies passed the ball to junior Anne Thorius, who was also standing out of bounds. Thorius then fired a full- court baseball pass to a streaking Stacey Thomas for a lay-up. Thomas made the lay-up, drew a foul, and sank the free throw -- along with Iowa's upset hopes. The play could have sent Michigan into a tailspin, had it failed. But it worked. The Wolverines haven't looked back since, winning six of its next seven games, and the Hawkeyes lost three of their next four. Michigan coach Sue Guevara described the game as "the good, the bad, and the ugly," while Thomas' game awed Iowa's coach Angie Lee. Lee described Thomas as a "legiti- mate Big Ten Player of the Year can- didate." Thomas finished the game with 32 points, eight rebounds and one of the top highlights of Michigan's season Tonight, the Hawkeyes look to redeem themselves. While Iowa is playing for revenge, Michigan is playing to improve its NCAA Tournament seed. Michigan has solidified the No. 2 seed for the Big Ten tournament and could possibly meet Iowa a third time in the Big Ten tournament's sec- ond round. As it presently stands, Iowa will be the seventh seed in. the tournament and play 3-12 Northwestern in the first round. The winner would play against Michigan, which will enjoy a first- round bye. ! Buzz Aldrin 2 Trotsky * The Buffalo Bills S Art Garfunkel * Odie R The Buffalo Bills k ' ' >- F B Mindy, of Mork and Mindy fame ® Charles Woodson (by jersey only) P The Buffalo Bills The hare DAVID KATZ/Daily Michigan forward Stacey Thomas erupted for 32 points the last time the Wolverines faced Penn State -- the Big Ten's best team. Records could fall as Blue hosts Big Ten Championship Michigan runners seek redemption at Big Tens By Brian Galvin Daily Sports Writer By the fateful hand of the Big.Ten Conference's scheduling department, the Michigan men's swim- ming and diving team has already achieved its top goal for this season. "Bring it back" is the official slogan for the sev- enth-ranked Wolverines this year, referring to the Big Ten Championship trophy they lost to Penn State last season. The trophy is back in T Ann Arbor this weekend - it will be given CANH to the winner of the Big Ten Championships at Canham Natatorium. What But the Wolverines want more. chai Tehnically the trophy is back, but they'll Whew have to beat four top 25 teams if it is going Frila, to stay. And as Michigan coach Jon Lates Urbanchek knows, the trophy he covets is regain up for grabs. lost to "Last year 25 points separated Michigan, Penn State and Minnesota," Urbanchek said of the small margin for error Michigan faces. We've seen this scenario before - it happened just four years ago: In an Olympic year, a highly- ranked Michigan team featuring several Olympic hopefuls hosted the Big Ten Championship. Interestingly, Michigan lost the conference meet to Minnesota. With the Big Ten meet coming just three weeks. before the Olympic Trials, Urbanchek didn't have the luxury of resting his swimmers for the smaller-by-comparison Big Ten meet. Consequently, Michigan basically conceded the trophy to the Gophers. "Twelve kids didn't rest or shave for that meet," Urbanchek said. "Luckily, this year there's no con- flict." With the Olympic Trials scheduled for August, Urbanchek will taper and shave all but two swim- mers for this weekend's championships. Those two swimmers are defending Big Ten swimmer of the year Chris Thompson and Tim Siciliano, last year's Big Ten co-freshman of the year (along with teammate Jeff MORROW Hopwood). "They should be able to win iM NATATORIUM their events (regardless)," ig Ten Men's Urbanchek said. "They're heads O HA : B ming and Diving npio ships gi Noon/7 ppm.- ySaturday, Sunday t: Michigan lkxks to the conference title it oPenn State a year ago. and shoulders above the rest." Even though Michigan fea- tures some of the world's best individual swimmers, Urbanchek knows it will take strong performances from all 24 Wolverines entered in the meet to win. "Depth is what wins Big Ten Championships," Urbanchek said. "It's a meet designed for the mass- es. As a result, Urbanchek is looking for break- through swims from its younger and lesser known athletes, such as freshman Tony Kurth. "Tony is swimming four relays and three events," Urbanchek said. "That's 10 swims in three days as hard as he can go." The Wolverines will be inspired by the 30 Big Ten championship banners already hanging above the Canham pool. More importantly, they hope their JOANNA PAINE/Daily Josh Trexter is hungry enough to grab the Big Ten Championship out of the Nittany Lion's mouth. opponents will be intimidated by the Michigan tra- dition. "I hope they'll (soil) their pants," Urbanchek said. "I hope home court is worth 50 points for us." Defending a winning tradition at home is a prior- ity for the Wolverines. With an accomplished field swimming at Canham all weekend, there is a poten- tial for pool records to fall. "We're going to see some good swimming," Urbanchek said. "But I think if any records are bro- ken, it will be Michigan breaking them." By Ron Garber , and David Mosse Daily Sports Writers This weekend in Bloomington, the Michigan men's track and field team can atone for last season's worst defeat. A year ago, the young and inexperi- enced Wolverines struggled to a ninth - place finish in the Big Ten Championships in Madison. In the midst of disappointment, then-assistant coach Ron Warhurst stood next to the track and boldly pro- claimed, "next year we're gonna be one of the teams to beat" One year older and one year wiser, Michigan looks to make good on those predictions. Warhurst, now the team's head coach after replacing the retired Jack Harvey, has instilled that same confidence into his squad this year. "Everybody's real ready and focused," sophomore sprinter Ike Okenwa said. "It's like there's a differ- ent attitude around the track." Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Okenwa has observed this attitude chinge from the sidelines. Eleven days ago at the Michigan Intercollegiate, Okenwa injured his hamstring during the 4 X 400 relay and hasn't run since. His status for this weekend is still up in the air. Okenwa headlines a long list of injured Wolverines, which includes distance runners John Mortimer, Dan Snyder and Mark Pilja. "Not having those guys adds a lot of pressure on the rest of us," senior Steve Lawrence said. "Mike (Wisniewki), Jay (Cantin) and I will have to score a lot of points." Cantin, the defending Big Ten mile champion, has a lofty streak to live to - Michigan has captured the mile crown seven consecutive years. Yet Cantin - who has already qualified for the NCAA championships but is nursing a tender ankle - is not phased. "It doesn't put pressure on me," Cantin said. "If anything, it gives me high hopes." The distance runners aren't the only group dealing with injuries. Triple jump specialist Oded Padan, who his missed all but one meet this year a leg injury, is not at full strength and remains a question mark. "I've been giving it rest just so I can compete at the Big Tens," Padan said. In spite of all the injuries, the Wolverines hope to finish near the top of the conference standings. If it is to do so, Michigan will need a big week- end from its healthy stars. Pole vaulters Charles DeWildt Brent Sheffer have finished 1-2 in c secutive meets and have flirted with the NCAA qualifying height. Furthermore, throwers Patrick Johansson and Nick Rogers are com- ing off of victories in the weight throw and shot put, respectively, and will have to score big to keep Michigan in the meet. While Michigan will need an all- around team performance, the back- bone of the team has been its dista runners. "The Big Ten is full of great distance runners," Cantin said. "We may not be able to dominate but we can still score some points." No CredUi tNo Probleml First Time Buyer Program If you have the followin : At least $1600 verifyable monthly income p,.