The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 11, 2001-11 tate loses Kichardson, Randolph may be next SAGINAW (AP) - Michigan State sOphomore Jason Richardson, the lead- ing scorer on the team that went to its third consecutive Final Four this year, is leaving the Spartans for the NBA. "I'm going to forgo my junior and senior season at Michigan State and rsue my career in the NBA," 'Kchardson said at a news conference yesterday. Richardson is the first Michigan State player to turn pro as an under- classman since Magic Johnson left fltr his sophomore year in 1979. Richardson, who averaged 14.7 points per game, is expected to be a top-10 pick. He averaged 5.9 rebounds and shot 50.3 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3-point range. W4eanwhile, freshman Zach Ran- dotph, a key player who led the Spar- tans to their third consecutive Final Four, called a news conference for today, when he is expected to make himself eligible for the NBA draft. Randolph, a former Indiana high school All-Star at Marion, would not confirm his intention to leave. If Randolph joins Richardson, *chigan State would lose six of its top nine players from last season, including seniors Andre Hutson, Char- lie Bell, David Thomas and Mike Chappell. Murphy entering draft, but may stay in NCAA SOUTH BEND (AP) - Two-time All-America forward Troy Murphy has cided to decide later. Officially, Murphy announced in a statement released yesterday by Notre Dame that he was putting his name in for the NBA Draft, but still might return to school for his senior season. "This is something that I've thought a great deal about since the season ended. I feel that I owe it to myself to pursue this option," Murphy said in a tement. "I've discussed my future ith some agents, and although I haven't signed with one, I feel that it is best to take advantage of this opportu- nity." Murphy said he would work out for several teams, but would not attend pre-draft camps. Coach Mike Brey said Murphy did not attend the news conference announcing his decision in part ause he may yet decide to return to k rsh. Wanna be like Mario: Jordan could return WASHINGTON (AP) - One Wash- ington Wizards owner thinks Michael Jordan is preparing for a comeback. Another Wizards owner thinks it just 'at so. "Opinions on a possible Jordan return were everywhere in the nation's capital ;yesterday. The rumor that has circulated for weeks gained new credibility Mon- day night when Wizards primary owner Abe Pollin went on television to reveal his "gut feeling" that "the odds are that he's going to come back" and play for Washington next season. "I didn't think he'd come back when I first heard the talk," Pollin then told kWashington Post. "But when Mario L'mieux came back to the Penguins, it stirred something in Michael." A Jordan comeback would mirror that of Lemieux, one of the owners of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, who ended a three-and-a-half-year retirement in December. Lemieux said yesterday he has talked to Jordan this month and expects him to *ke a comeback. "I think it's great for basketball and, obviously, I'm very excited about it," Lemieux said of reports of a Jordan comeback. "He's going to give it a shot and he's working very hard. He's taking his time, he's taking a few months to get ready, but I'm sure when he gets back, he'll be the best player again." Pollin's words were stunning, given the business relationship between him d Jordan. As the team's president of ketball operations, Jordan is answer- able only to Pollin. Jordan also owns a small piece of the Wizards, and he would have to divest his ownership under NBA rules before returning to the court. Odom leaves Wake for South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Dave Odom, who coached Wake Forest for 12 seasons, was hired as coach at South Carolina yesterday after the school's top two choices turned down the Gamecocks' offers. The schon1 schedied a news con- EAGLES Continued from Page 10 Eagles catcher Chris Coon. In the third, the Eagles were threat- ening with two runners and two outs. A hard-hit ball by Garcia was making its way out of the infield between first and second when it struck Soliz, en route to second, in the foot. Not only was the interference the third out of the inning, but it kept a sprinting Cogswell from scoring from second. Michigan escaped the third inning still down only 2-0. From there the Wolverines' bats took over. In the bottom of the third, senior captain Scott Tousa cracked an offering from Eagles pitcher Derrick Peterson to right field for a homerun - his first of the year. Two batters later, thirdbase- man Brock Koman hit a solo homerun to give the Wolverines a two run lead. Junior Nate Wright, who was last week's Big Ten player of the week, added the fifth RBI in the eighth. Zahn was pleased to see consistent produc- tion out of Wright, Koman and Tousa. "We're starting to develop a charac- ter of this team - guys you can rely on, guys believe in themselves, and we believe in each other," Zahn said. "Tousa's a senior, and he got the big hit for us Sunday too. He's been a great leader for us, and it's something I expect of him." Michigan will try to make it eight straight today against Western Michi- gan in Kalamazoo at 3 p.m. Tennis back from dead in Big Tens Streaking and Centr By David Roth Daily Sports Writer It doesn't take a physics major to understand that Michigan's game today against Central Michigan will put Isaac Newton's three laws of motion to the test. First, objects in motion stay in motion unless an external force is applied. Both the Wolverines and Chippewas are on a roll and have won nine of their last ten games. But today, at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field, the external force of a doubleheader will likely put one of these teams at rest. Second, force equals mass times acceleration. The Wolverines' force has been the mass acceleration of Melissa Taylor toward first base and beyond. Taylor is batting .480 and leads the teams with 20 runs. Also, for Central Michigan, pitcher Amber Puchalski (12-6) has been throwing fastballs with great force, and on April 6 the freshman hurled the second per- fect game in Central Michigan history. Newton's final law tells us that there is an equal and opposite force. Both Michigan and Central Michigan started their seasons very slowly and neither had mustered a winning record by mid- March. But now both teams have caught fire and are in the midst of their longest winning streaks of the season. And you don't have to have an apple Michigan ra collide By Albert Kim Daily Sports writer Going into its three-match homestand last week, the Michigan men's tennis team knew that those games would determine its season. And the Wolverines delivered. EAST The big shots fell for the wh,:Michit Wolverines at crunch time, Ten, 9-7 ove and when the bell rang, ganState(: Michigan answered the call. Whm 6 p.r The whole team stepped LatSt t's1 up. It won tight tiebreakers thtwo t and played smart, focused series82-17 tennis to spark a three the last ten match win streak, capped by a 4-3 gut-check thriller against Ohio State. "One thing we don't do is lose to Ohio State," co-captain Henry Beam said. "If everyone on their team broke our legs, we'd still be out there playing in wheelchairs." Two weeks ago, it didn't even look like there'd even be a stretch run for the Wolverines, as they were left for dead after losing seven of eight and going winless in the Big Ten. But faster than a first serve, Michigan is riding high as it travels to East Lansing to take on 'Lj igar .m ithe tear 7 a nmE Michigan State today. At 3-3 in the Big Ten, Michigan is tied for fifth with Northwestern, Purdue and Indiana. Illinois stands atop the conference at 6-0, while the Buckeyes are second. Michigan State rests tied for eighth with Iowa - which Michigan plays ANSING Sunday -at i-5. in (3-3 Big The Wolverines have Il) vs. Mict* beaten Michigan State 10 ,7-13) straight times, including last year's 5-2 win at the 100th time Varsity Tennis Center. n will face And this year feels no dif- nd has won ferent for Beam. eetings. "I would say that we will beat Michigan State, and we will beat Iowa," Beam said. The key to Michigan's recent surge has been mental toughness down the stretch. Earlier in the year, players felt that the team was not winning the big points. But the tables have turned, with the Wolverines pulling out tight match- es as of late. "We did sit down as a team, in a players only meeting," sophomore Chris Rolf said. "Everybody agreed that we need to work harder and be more positive. We've been working a lot harder in practices, and it's been paying off." The doubles game that has bein missing for a while finally showed up- against Ohio State on Sunday, keying the victory by getting a much-needed point. And the doubles play will need to be at a high level for the last four matches of the season, if the Wolverines are to get to the NCAA Tournament. "Our doubles - we're still mixing and matching," Beam said. The Wolverines will need to win at least three of the next four matches to get to the NCAA Tournament - a tough feat - but they're confident that they have what it takes. "Indiana will be tough, and Purdue will be tough," Beam said. "But I think everyone's working hard on what they need to work on." ALUMNI FIELD Who: Michigan (21-11-1) vs. Central Michigan (19,5) When2 p.m. Latest Today is the final home game before Michigan goes on a six-game road trip. fall on your head to discover the emo- tions surrounding today's game. "We are really excited to play Cen- tral," Michigan secondbaseman Kelsey Kollen said. "They beat us last year and they always play tough." Last year in Mount Pleasant, the Chippewas beat Michigan 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. Although the Wolverines came back to eke out a 1-0 contest, Michigan doesn't want to split the series again. "We have been doing extremely well and hope to stay on a roll," Michi- gan pitcher Marissa Young said. "The team is excited not only for another home game, but for the chance to play a quality team." Young leads the team with a 1.20 ERA, which has caught the eye of scouts. "Michigan has outstanding pitching in Marissa Young and hitters who are on fire," Central Michigan coach Margo Jonker said. Playing Michigan "will be a major challenge for us even though we have confidence going up against a good program." Food For Thought Winning & Losing The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong did not believe they could defeat the U.S. militarily, so all of their actions were successfully aimed at inflaming the protest movement. Gary Lillie & Assoc., Realtors www.garylillie.com Jackson Welcome home for the summer Get a head start on next fall Summer classes start May 14 and June 26 Call for a class schedule - (517) 796-8425 JACKSON COMMUNsTY .... COLLEGE wwwjackson cc mi us i I Introducing Ashley's new Spring Grill Our customers have asked for more steaks and grill menu items and we have responded! We have added: I Dragonmeade Beer Tasting uesday April 17th 7-9pm Come meet the brewer and taste a wide selection of the fine Dragonmeade products, A great way to end classes! 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