Wrestling valley T'hi weekend, Penn State hosts the prestigious wrestling National Duals In-vitational. Michigan is seeded sixth in the field. Go online for the rest of the seeds. michigandaity.com /sports tudhian atg ;POR)iTS THURSDAY JANUARY 18, 2001 8 MARK FRANCESCUTTI PitIo sface at Cnsler unmasks fans' disgust Rocky road Another must wn i for cagers f By Dan Williams1 1)aiily Sports Wnter ast week, Michigan upset Indiana 70-64 in its Big Ten home opener, ut the score wasn't the SportsCenter highlight. Instead, ESPN's cameras portrayed dozens of Crisler Arena fans (the ones that still come to basketball games) wearing paper Rick Pitio, masks. Fans have transported the gigantic gold halo from Michigan Stadium to Pitino, who recently vacated his head coaching position with the Boston Celtics. Pitino's college success includes returning the KentucKv program to national prominence in only four years and then a national title in 1996. Analvsts call him the most coveted coaching candidate out there. And Michigan fans want him, badly. While the Wolverines beat Indiana for their first Big Ten victory, Michigan is far from tlie program its fans want it to be. At 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten, the outlook for even an NIT bid is doubtful. So the Crisler fans decided to show their disgust with the current program and tellhe Athletic Department and the University exactly whom they want. The head coaching plaque may still have "Brian Ellerbe" engraved on it, but the fans that wore Pitino faces were making a plea for help, not looking to slap Ellerbe's face. Letne tell you why. Despite what academic advisors may say the job of the Michigan basketball program is to succeed on the court and to prevent off-the-court problems. Victories build Michigan's national image;- the most important asset to the lniversitv. NCAA violations, acade- mic di fficulties and criminal problems decinate the image tenfold. Whether or not it's Ellerbe's fault, the program has suffered on the court, while numerous off-the court scandals have tarnished the Michigan name. Across the country. Michigan basket- ball is regarded as a program in the dumpster. ESPN barely shows its high- lights anymore. If athletics director Bill Martin won't correct the problem, the University com- munity has every right to question the program. Michigan students, alumni and faculty can vent in two ways. First, with their pocketbooks. Already this season, regular atten- dance is down as much as 2,000 per game. At S 15-20 a pop, that's around S30,000 each contest. And over a 15- game schedule, the department could take a 5450,000 hit (not including all the lost concession revenue). Student ticket sales dropped to their lowest level in more than a decade (598 ticket packages were sold -- a far cry from the 1,600 for hockey and the 22,000 for football). Second, fans can start publicly ques- tioning the program, as they did at the Indiana game. The "masked Pitinos" want Martin to know that they are suf- fering - they feel Michigan's pain. The University community, especially alumni, can significantly affect adminis- trative decisions. Sometimes the decision makers at the top need a little nudge. When a program suffers like Michigan's, the fans look to the coach. The coach should be the stable force. Players leave, coaches stay. One thinks of Dean Smith, not Michael Jordan, when talking about North Carolina basketball. Fans look around the country and identify Pitino as currently available. As a result, they portray Pitino as their "SOS" sign. Ellerbe may indeed take the fall for some problems he had little control over. But at the same time, it's his responsi- bility - good luck or bad luck - to make sure Michigan basketball doesn't fall into the doldrums of the Big Ten. Everyone knows this program needs changes. And if the athletic department officials don't know that vet, the fans will continue to remind them. At Briarwood mall, you can buy Bobby Knight masks. - Mark Francescutti can be reached at m1ftances(cumich.elu Nine days ago, Michigan sophomore Gavin Groninger candidly dubbed Michigan's game with Indiana a must win. The Wolverines went on to pick up their first victory worth hanging a hat on, 70-64 - temporarily appeasing the team's followers. But Michigan slipped back into its self-defeating funk last Saturday, succumbing to Illinois on the road 80-51. With Michigan's record slipping to 1-2 in the Big Ten (7-7 overall), and the team remaining winless outside of Crisler, Groninger again called tonight's game at Ohio State is a "must win." "We have to get this one on the road," Groninger said. "We know that. Hopefully we'll come out and play like we did against Indiana." Beating the Buckeyes (2-2, 11-5) poses a difficult task for Michigan. Ohio State not only valiantly defends Value City Arena (39-5 all-time record), but the Buckeyes have also looked surprisingly strong this season in the post-Micheal Redd and Scoonie Penn era. Ken Johnson is the core of the revamped Ohio State squad offensively as well as defensively this year. The ath- letic 6-foot-I I center fr-om Detroit is averaging 12.4 points-a-game to go along with four blocks-per-game. "He affects the game a good bit," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "You have to account for him. You have to be aware of him, but you can't be afraid of him." Ohio State turns to two slashing guards in junior Brian Brown and sophomore Brent Darby to score when Johnson is defended. ARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily Ohio State is not the team it was last year, but Michigan needs more success than it had against Brian Cook and Illinois in order to pull out a win. But make no mistake, the Buckeyes grind out their wins on defense. Ohio State opponents average just 60 points- a-game on 39-percent shooting. The buzz phrase for Michigan in its trials has been fouls. When Michigan's big men are wallowing in foul trouble, the team's rhythm and confidence are severely handicapped. Against the Fighting Illini, Josh Moore, Josh Asselin and Chris Young all fouled out in the loss. But when Michigan frequents the foul line and converts on its opportuni- ties, the team becomes dangerous. The Wolverines connected on 20-of-26 free throws as they bested the Hoosiers. Michigan is also looking for candi- dates to divert the heat facing LaVell Blanchard, who is circled in red ink on the scouting report of every opponent. Freshman Bernard Robinson, second TONIGHT VALUE CITY ARENA Who: Michigan (1-2 Big Ten, 7-7 Overall) vs. Ohio State (2-2, 11-5) When: 7:00 p.m., ESPN Latest: Ohio State has won the last three meetings in the series. In its last trip to Columbus, M fell to the Buckeyes 7469. only to Blanchard in scoring, has been struggling during the Big Ten season. Turnovers and wild shots have encum- bered the newcomer. "Learning shot selection with him has been evervday," Ellerbe said. Robinson feels his slump is only temporary, and that his game will return to the form he demonstrated in earlier outings. "I don't think I'm asserting myself as much as I can. That's just all on me," Robinson said. Bucks pick' Tressel to replace Cooper COLUMBUS (AP) - Youngstown State's Jim Tressel, a winner of four Division I-AA national championships, will get his chance at the big time as thc 22nd Ohio State head coach. Tressel accepted the job yesterday, said Jack Ral, chairman of the Ohio State Athletic Council. Tressel succeeds John Cooper, fired on Jan. 2 after Ohio State lost 24-7 to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Cooper was 111-43-4, shared three Big. Ten titles and played in bowls in I I of his 13 seasons. But he was 3-8 in those bowl games. and was just 2-10-1 against Ohio State's chief rival, Michigan. Tressel's Youngstown State teams won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997 - the most for a head coach in NCAA Division I-AA history - and had 12. winning seasons. Athletics director Andy Geiger toli The Associated Press the interview process was over but he would not con- finn or deny there was a decision. He said the new coach will be introduced today at 4 p.m. in Ohio Stadium. Tressel, 48, has spent the last 15 sea sons at Youngstown State. Prior to that,. he was an assistant coach at Ohio State under Earle Bruce (1983-86). Tressel, 135-57-2 (.701) with the Penguins, also served as the school's athletics director. He has racked up wins and captured trophies, but has never been a head coach in Division I-A. After Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden joined Oregon's Mike Bellotti in dropping out of contention, Tressel and Minnesota coach Glen Mason appeared to be the finalists. Trese toured the campus Tuesday and Mason followed suit yesterday. Geiger took both men to meetings with Ohio State president William, Kirwan and an advisory committee set, up to screen candidates. Mason said his, meeting with Kirwan went "great." In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Tressel said the pres- sures at a Division I-AA program were different from those at a Big Ten power. -but were pressures nonetheless..0 "At Youngstown State right now, we're supposed to win 15 games in a row and we're supposed to have 20,000 people happy in the seats and a half-a million people in our market happy' he said. "At Ohio State, you're supposed to win 12 straight games and keep 98,000 people happy in the stands and 13 mil- lion people in the state . of Ohio happy. Both are pretty hard." s TRESSELS zr RESUME In his 15 years as Youngstown State's head coach, Jim Tressel compiled a 135-57-2 record and four Division I-AA national championships. Here is his personal timeline: 1Aj- " Injuries mean new roles for women Multicultural Career Fair ..u yu2............... J a n uary 23, 2001 By Benjamin Singer Daily Sports Writer If Raina Goodlow and Stephanie Gandy are healthy, the question of Michigan's rotation is moot. I Michigan Union I Noon - 4:00pm Discuss full-timeand internship positions with organizations from across the country. Meet with graduate/professional school programs. Visit our homepage for a list of participating organizations and schools. But both are performing day-by-day with sprains - Goodlow's from last week's Ohio State game and Gandy's from the following practice. If the Michigan women's basketball team is missing two starters for tonight's game at Northwestern, what is the Wolverines' new rotation? Usually, coach Sue Guevara feels most comfortable with two of her six-footers in the post. But if Goodlow is absent, rather than asking LeeAnn Bies and_ Jennifer Smith to play 40 minutes, Guevara will let new faces play in the paint. TONI WELsH-RYA Who: Michigan 9-7 Overall) vs. Northwestern (4 When: 8 p.m Latest: With a w Sue Guevara wil Michigan record wins in women's senior Katie Dvkhouse, who averages 2.2 minutes a game, may see more playing time. Even in a small lineup, Guevara is counting on play- ers like 6-foot Oesterle and 5-foot-I I Christie Schumacher to hold their own down low. Michigan will likely have to keep the ball in the high post GHT to allow for passing or dribble penetration N ARENA - an aspect of the game Michigan does 2-4BigTen, not get as much with Goodlow. The Wolverines should feel fortunate 411,0-5) that if they must deal with a plague of injuries, it comes against a Big Ten cellar in, coach dweller. The Wildcats are winless in con- tie the ference play at 0-5. IforBigTen But Michigan is not about to take s basketball. Northwestern lightly. The Wolverines know all too well about the role frustration can play in breaking out of a team slump. "They can hardly wait for Michigan to come in." Guevara said. "I think Northwestern is going to see we have two players that maybe aren't going to be playing and are going to be licking their chops." By the same philosophy, Michigan is in a position where it needs to bounce back after a letdown loss to Ohio State. For the Wolverines, there is a sense of urgency for the team, but also for the individuals. "It's a challenge. Who's going to step up'?" Guevara said. "If you're a kid on this team and you don't see the opportunity ahead of you with other people struggling that now you get that shot, you're blind." . ,. Y . I Preparing for the Job Fair I January 22. 5:10-6:00 Never been to a job fair? Plan to attend this program to leam how to stand outfrom thescrowd and make the most of a job fair. i For information Guevara said small forward Heather Oesterle may slide over to the four-spot. Michigan also practiced with starting point guard Anne Thorius as the power forward. "Anne and Heather play a really nice four," Guevara said. "The problem is that they're small. That, defen- sively, is going to give us some matchup problems.". As long as the Wildcats have both 6-foot-2 starters Tami Sears, the team's leading scorer, and Leslie Dolland, the team's leading rebounder, Michigan will need to find matching height. Guevara said 6-foot-2 t _ 1971-75 Four-year letterwinner at Baldwin-Wallace 1975-79 Defensive backfield coach for Akron State. 1979-80 Quarterback/receiver coach for Miami (Ohio) 1981-82 quarterback/receiver coach for Syracue 1982-85 quarterback/receiver coach for Ohio Stgt.t 1986-00 Youngstown State head coach W Te Uiversityvof Michigan Cater Planning Div ionof Student Affairs Visit CP&P 3200 Student Activities Bldg./1764-7460 Placement Cosponsored with Handleman Company * Intel Corporation Lucent Technologies THIS WEEKEND IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Huntzicker probable for Friday Presented by: : ; , i w e. .r _ By Ryan C. Moloney Daily Sports Wr iter The Michigan hockey team's depleted defensive corps could get a long-anticipated return by one of its stars this weekend. Defenseman Dave Huntzicker has skated in practice every day this week and is probable to dress on Friday night against Western Michigan. "Huntzicker looks good, I would think he would be ready to play on Friday," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "If he looks and feels the way he did today and yesterday, I think Lakes Invitational on Dec. 29. Vancik has practiced with'the team every day this week, but he's stayed cautious in terms of his mobility. "Right now in practice it's a little tentative, but I try toplay the same game I've always played," Vancik said. A Huntzicker return will probably cost senior Bob Gasso or sophomore Brad Fraser his place in the lineup. The tp have alternated between the fifth- and sixth-defenseman spots since the GLI. "We will have to decide who we dress on defense if Huntzicker comes in," Berenson said. "It could be Gassoff or Fraser who comes out - right now I think I t-ri kivt Iht cudn't wnt to sav Somebod #3 Woe'ymatc I' Sat. Jan.20 7pm vs. Ohio State Cliff Keen Arena Fr JrI nn 19 m