12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 1, 2000 I AF 0 The presidential election might be in contention down the street, but Michigan will be campaigning in the most supreme of courts this weekend as it attempts to build a Big Dance resume. Michigan vs. No. 13 Maryland l A Tomorrow, 1 p.m. MCI Center Washington, D.C. RAP PHOTO After the primaries ... If Michigan beats Maryland, it will play in the final at Sp.m on Sunday. If it falls to the Terrapins, Michigan will play in the 3 p.m. consolation game. No. 19 St. John's No. 19 St. John's could be one of the few opponents Michigan faces this year where youth is not a disadvantage. Just like the Wolverines, the Red Storm (4-1) has three freshmen in its starting lineup and just one senior who receives significant minutes. Guard Omar Cook (14.8 points per game) and forwards Willie Shaw (12.8) and Kyle Kuffe (11.8) are St. John's second, third and fourth leading scorers, respectively. Along with centers Mohamed Diakite and Curtis Johnson, the five make up what many believe to be the top freshman class in America. Also similar to the Wolverines and sopho- more LaVell Blanchard, the Red Storm is led by a talented -scoring'wingman in junior Antho- ny Glover, who averages 17.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In the first round of the tournament, St. John's coach Mike Jarvis will face George Washington for the first time since leaving the Colonials three years ago to join the Red Storm. -Michael Kern George Washington Led by a pair of talented guards, George Washington is averaging more than 90 points a game to start the season. Averaging 23 and 22.5 points per game respectively, sopho- mores Chris Monroe and SirValiant Brown make up one of the top scoring duos in the nation. The Colonials (4-1) return all five starters and four of their top five scorers from last year's team. Last year, George Washington failed to make it to the postseason, finishing 15-15. Along with Monroe and Brown, senior guard Mike King (15.5 points per game) brings a three-guard rotation that could give Michigan's young guards fits on defense. As host of the BB&T, George Washington has won two of the last three titles. In last season's tournament, George Washington beat Seton Hall and upset Maryland en route to the tournament championship. Brown was named the tournament MVP, averaging 25 points per game. --Michael Kern Reversal of fortunes - this time Michigan plays the underdog By Raphael Goodstein Daily Sports Writer It was only six-and-a-half years ago that Michigan was the national title con- tender and Maryland was the up-and- coming team led by a budding star. The Wolverines were coming off of back-to-back NCAA finals' appear- ances and were led by All-Americas Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose. The sev- enth-seeded Terrapins were led by Joe Smith, the nation's freshman of the year, when the two teams squared off in the Sweet Sixteen of 1994's NCAA Tourna- ment. Michigan ultimately won the game before losing in the Elite Eight. After the season, Howard and Rose bolted for the NBA and Michigan hasn't returned to the Sweet Sixteen since. The Wolver- ines missed the tournament altogether in 1997, 1999 and last season. Meanwhile, the Terrapins have been invited to every NCAA Tournament since and have become the national power that the Wolverines once were. Led by Juan Dixon, Terrence Morris and Lonny Baxter - each All-America candidates - No. 13 Maryland was a popular preseason pick to win the national title this season. The Terrapins have stumbled out of the starting gate this season, losing three of their first four games. But Smith, a newly signed Detroit Piston, said he thinks Maryland will find its winning way this weekend in Washing- ton, D.C. "Maryland is going to win," Smith said. "I saw a couple of their games in (the Maui Invitational) and they had a couple of disappointing losses." A loss for the 2-2 Wolverines might be enough to end any NCAA Tourna- ment dreams they have before the Big Ten season even starts. "This right here can possibly make or break our season," freshman forward Bernard Robinson said. "Everybody knows these are big-time games right here." Michigan will either play No. 19 St. John's or George Washington on Sun- day. After this weekend, Michigan has the week off until next Saturday, when it plays at Duke. "Now's an opportunity for us to come out and show that we're a team to be contended with," sophomore shooting guard Gavin Groninger said. Six-and-a-half years ago, Smith and the Terrapins did just that. 01 Pint guardi Avery Queen vs. Steve Blake Blake has had a slow start, but a year of experience in the ACC clearly gives him an advantage over the green Queen. Mvantag:M Wyand Shooting guard: Bernard Robinson vs. Juan Dixon Dixon is an All-America candidate. Robinson has All-America talent but has yet to consistently establish himself. Small forward: LaVe lkiniani v& Da yMIer MichiP' beats Terps in NCAA Sweet 16 F ยข That would just mess up the team's plan." Robinson gave Michigan 'fans a glimpse of the future in the first exhibition against the Grand Rapids Hoops when he cored 28 points. The >uthpaw looked proficient and polished as he frustrat- ed the pro team with a mix of slashing and outside 01 By Chad A. Safrin Daily Basketball Writer DALLAS, Friday, March 24, 1994 - As usual the Michigan men's basketball team provided its assortment of thrills and chills against Maryland in Fri- During that portion of the game that Fisher spoke of, the Wolverines broke open a close game with a 9-0 run over a span of 3:47 with all the points com- ing from Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose. Howard, who had nine points at ha.lftimez. hit fn~r 15 in the~ ,I and I