The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 29, 2004 - 3B
Pool, Walker lead
Blue to upset win
A
2
winter breeds
game room bliss
By Matt Venegoni
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan women's basketball
coach Cheryl Burnett has often said
that she will not use her team's inex-
perience as an excuse for its short-
comings on the court. But after the
Wolverines' stunning 57-51 road
win over UC-Santa Barbara on Fri-
day, Burnett may not have to field
as many questions about her team's
lack of experience.
With less than a minute left in
the second half and the game on the
line, Michigan controlled the ball.
The Wolverines (2-1) could either
bleed the clock down to less than
30 seconds or put the game out of
reach. Senior forward Tabitha Pool
did both. She hit a 3-pointer with the
Michigan (57)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Pool 34 7-10 2-3 1-10 0 3 19
Waker 32 9-12 2-4 1-4 1 2 22
Flippin 27 1-4 0-0 0-2 6 3 3
Helvey 33 2-7 2-3 0-4 1 1 6
Cooper 33 1-6 0-3 1-4 1 3 2
Starling 6 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 3
Clement 21 1-5 0-0 0-1 2 0 2
Dierdorf 5 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 3
McPhilamy 9 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
TEAM: 1-6
Totals 200 22-496-134-331115 57
UC-SANTA BARBARA (51)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Bauman 9 0-1 0-2 0-1 0 2 0
Richardson30 3-6 3-4 2-9 0 2 9
Mann 35 5-15 3-6 1-8 1 2 14
Fisher 24 2-6 0-0 0-2 2 0 4
Bonds 21 3-7 0-2 2-4 3 0 8
Wilson 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
O'Bryan 15 0-5 0-0 0-2 1 1 0
Onaindia 20 2-6 0-0 0-0 1 1 6
Taylor-James 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Green 25 5-6 0-1 2-5 0 2 10
Nichols 11 0-1 0-0 1-3 1 1 0
Suderman 2 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
TEAM 2-2
Totals 200 23-538-1510-3710 1251
Michigan .......... 26 31 - 57
UC Santa Barbara...24 27 - 51
At: Thunderdome, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Attendance: 1,838
shot clock expiring to put Michigan
up 57-51 with 23 seconds left in the
game, essentially sealing the game.
"Tabitha had an amazing perfor-
mance," Burnett said. "We run our
whole offense through her, and she's
done such a great job of taking shots
and of giving up shots to get other
players the basketball. She just did it
all this game."
Pool's 19 points and 10 rebounds
were extremely important, but just
as significant was her tenacious
defense on All-America candidate
Kristin Mann. Mann shot just 5-
of-15 from the field and was held
to 14 points. On the defensive end,
Mann was trying to keep up with the
quicker Pool all night long.
Going into the game, the Michi-
gan coaching staff knew that its
team could not bang down low with
the Gauchos' bigger post players -
6-foot-6 Kate Bauman and 6-foot-4
Jenna Green.
But the staff also knew that UC-
Santa Barbara's bigger post players
could not guard Pool or freshman
Ta'Shia Walker on the perimeter.
That proved to be true as Walker
finished with 22 points, including
two 3-pointers.
"We knew when she was com-
ing into our program that she is so
multi-dimensional and that she is
a go-to player," Burnett said. "We
wanted to make sure that we got
both Tabitha and Ta'Shia outside the
post and take advantage of what they
can do on the outside."
Michigan took the early lead off
3-pointers from Pool and freshman
point guard Becky Flippin. The Wol-
verines' hot shooting and swarming
defense helped them to a 20-11 lead
at the 8:03 mark.
But Michigan's outside shoot-
ing stalled, and the Gauchos (1-1)
responded with a 13-0 run to take
the lead 24-20 at the 2:12 mark in
the first half.
Michigan could have gotten frus-
trated and intimidated by the Thun-
derdome crowd and lost its lead, but
the Wolverines showed maturity and
COURTESY OF JESSE SOLL/Brooks Institute Of Photography
Michigan sophomore Kelly Helvey steps in front of UC-Santa Barbara's Brandy
Richardson during the Wolverines' 57-51 upset of the Gauchos on Friday night.
went on a 6-0 run to take the lead at
half, 26-24. Walker scored the last
three buckets to spur the effort.
"This team has a tremendous
amount of character and competi-
tive spirit," Burnett said. "This is
a group that becomes more deter-
mined, and they did a great job of
rallying around each other."
Michigan took a 29-24 lead early
in the second half. But that lead
proved to be a short one as the Gau-
chos used their size advantage on
the offensive glass to score eight
straight. UC-Santa Barbara seemed
to be taking control of the game
after gaining the lead 30-29 with
15:32 left in the game.
"We thought we could wear down
the opponent at the end of the game,"
Burnett said. "It's what we talked
about going into the game and dur-
ing the game, that physically we are
in great condition."
Pool and Walker paced Michigan,
as they answered every time UC-
Santa Barbara tried to pull away.
Pool hit a 3-pointer, and Walker
scored down low to even the score
at 45-45.
The teams traded hoops before
freshman Krista Clement came up
with a big steal and found Walker in
the post for a layup and a foul to put
Michigan up 54-51. That would be
as close as the Gauchos would get,
as Pool preserved the victory for the
Wolverines.
Despite benching, Henson still on track
GENNARo FILICE
The SportsMonday Column
n Thanksgiving eve, Ann.
Arbor got its first true taste
of winter. And to many folks,
the initial snowfall means much more
than just a change in season.
Frigid temperatures and harsh
walking conditions breed full-scale
lethargy among the Michigan student
body. The intense, four-days-a-week
workout programs that were so preva-
lent in the fall become a thing of the
past. And that most novel of goals
- actually attending the costly classes
that force parents to delay retirement a
few years - is lost.
Due to an acute wind chill that
feeds on any human failing to don at
least three layers of clothes, most Ann
Arborites have trouble even walking
through their front door. The harsh
Michigan winter imprisons students in
their campus abodes.
So, what the hell does anyone do
from December through March?
In terms of the ladies, I'm abso-
lutely bewildered at how the better
half survives these next four months.
"The OC" is only on once a week, and
thefacebook.com has to lose its luster
after a few days.
But I've got a pretty good gauge
on how the male side of the student
body endures a tough winter - and it
has nothing to do with "Uncle Jack"
or even a case of Natty Lights. Ann
Arbor's male scholars enjoy taking
sporting escapades in virtual reality.
Call us childish or foolish, but we
truly immerse ourselves in the pseu-
do-realities of sports video games.
True, video games are a year-
round activity. But during the winter,
involvement noticeably increases, as
Xbox and PS2 controllers seem to
mold to the human hand for days at
a time.
Although many people look down
on these thumb calisthenics, I'm per-
fectly satisfied vicariously living my
life through the virtual versions of
Aaron Rodgers (sorry, Cal QB #8) and
Kevin Garnett. Truth be told, I prefer
the somewhat tranquil, unperturbed
video game venue to the loud and
obnoxious scene in the basement that
is Rick's.
I know that many of you can relate
to me because in almost every male-
dominated house across campus, the
setting and characters remain the
same ...
THE SETTING: Epic battles in the
virtual sports arena hardly ever take
place in the most glamorous part of
the house. In fact, the game room is
isolated. While some people aren't
comfortable keeping the system in
a high-traffic room, others are just
embarrassed by their virtual pas-
sion. So, gamers are quarantined into
a room that's either upstairs or at
the end of the hall; many times, the
room belongs to the guy who stays
up the latest (or the guy who sleeps
the deepest). With a slew of couches
and chairs, the game room is about
as roomy as a hobbit hole. The game
area is seldom cleaned; therefore, at
least one of the following items can
be found on the floor: a receipt from
Pizza House that is at least two weeks
old, a smooth coat of Funyun dust
or a stack of dampened and ripped
paper towel. The floor also plays host
to a ball of cords far nastier than any
Five Cross Sailor's Knot. In special
circumstances, when somebody feels
extraordinarily ambitious, gameplay
will move to the house's main room.
But this is a rare occurrence.
THE CHARACTERS: This is what
really makes the sports video game .
experience. With a host of personali-
ties at the helm, the game room takes
on a poker-table feeling. Although
everyone has his own unique
approach, most people can closely
identify with one of the following five
descriptions. These characteristics
become extremely definitive in any
game's Dynasty Mode - in which
players man the same team for mul-
tiple sessions.
The Champ: This name adheres to
its obvious connotations. Every house
has one dude that just dominates.
The Champ plays a very quiet and
relaxed game because his supremacy
precedes any talk. His hand-eye coor-
dination rivals that of Barry Bonds.
The annoying part about The Champ
is that he doesn't really play all that
much. Unlike his opponents, the game
doesn't completely have a stranglehold
on The Champ's free time. He never
plays games against the computer, but
instead just shows up at gametime and
effectively dismantles any opponent.
It's kind of like that guy in your chem-
istry course that never makes it to class
and fails to turn in a single homework
assignment, but somehow receives an
"A" on the final. He's just a natural.
Mr. Green Thumb: The rookie
- the guy that always watches games
from afar, but sometimes feels a need
to play. The rookie has a knack for
infuriating any serious player with his
annoying antics. On top of requiring
a pregame button breakdown, Green
Thumb constantly compliments his
opponent and laughs his way through
his own mistakes in careless fashion.
The Silent Assassin: This player
possesses the most professional
approach of the bunch. The Silent
Assassin keeps his composure bet-
ter than anyone else - hardly ever
revealing even a hint of emotion, posi-
tive or negative. He also sports a mean
poker face throughout each contest.
But don't mistake his calm demeanor
as a symbol of somebody who doesn't
care - The Silent Assassin always
comes prepared to battle. Besides put-
ting in the most practice time against
the computer, The Silent Assassin
is the only player that sets all of his
audibles, plays and lineups.
Too Coolfor School: His cavalier
attitude defines him. Too Cool For
School is not truly passionate about
the game; he's just looking for some-
thing to pass the time until the babes
and brews enter the equation. Too
Cool For School is a Dynasty Mode
killer because he's hardly ever around
to play his scheduled game. In many
instances, Too Cool For School has a
tendency to play "video game" style,
meaning he'll throw his integrity out
the window and fully exploit the inac-
curacies of the game system. This
is the guy that finds the unstoppable
play and calls it every down and also
the guy that puts in his fastest wide
receiver at quarterback so he can run
peewee football-style sweeps.
The Mouth: The most notorious
game player of them all. The Mouth
is usually a middle-of-the-pack player
that constantly claims he's No. 1.
When he's winning, The Mouth is
loud. But when he's losing, he's louder.
The Mouth complains after every play
that doesn't go his way, and he often
alleges computer favoritism toward
his opponent. The Mouth can never
end the night with a loss and throws
the temper tantrums of a two-year-old
until the winner agrees to run it back.
The Mouth ranks as the most insecure
player of the group. If anyone doubts
his skill, The Mouth quickly resorts
to guaranteeing a win "for any sum
of money." The Mouth bubbles with
more lava than anyone in the room,
and his eruptions cause mass destruc-
tion to the game room.
This motley crew of characters
may seem unattractive to some, but I
can't imagine the college life without
them. Besides quenching my competi-
tive thirst, this setting has provided
me with some of my most memorable
times in college. Although I fulfill
the role of "The Mouth" to a "T," I'm
generally a pretty relaxed guy. I can't
imagine spending my Saturday nights
at a club, and I'm not a huge bar fly. So
the game room is my spot.
Many people claim that college
students waste inordinate amounts
of time. I'd have to agree with this
because, during college, I've thrown
away thousands of hours of my life ...
outside of the game room.
Gennaro Filice can be reached at
gfilice@umich.edu.
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Drew Henson still is the Dal-
las Cowboys' quarterback of the future.
While Bill Parcells was. forced to start Henson on
Thursday, benching him at halftime proved the future
isn't here just yet. In fact, there's no guarantee the former
Michigan quarterback will start again anytime soon.
"I know everybody's been clamoring and fans are
booing and all that," Parcells said. "I really don't care, so
I'm going to do what I think's best."
In the coach's mind, that's trying to win now for the
Cowboys (4-7).
So with the Chicago Bears blitzing, Henson struggling
and the game tied, Vinny Testaverde - supposedly not
healthy enough to start - took over after halftime. Tes-
taverde went 9-of-14 for 92 yards with an interception
and the go-ahead touchdown in a 21-7 win.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones leaves on-field
decisions to Parcells. But like the fans who booed when
the 41-year-old Testaverde took over, the owner found it
hard to cover his disappointment that Henson didn't fin-
ish the game with fellow rookie Julius Jones, who ran for
150 yards and two touchdowns.
"We cannot let that potential escape," Jones said. "I
would want to see us have a game like that, ideally with
Julius Jones having the night he had with a young quar-
terback in there."
But Henson handing off to Julius Jones on a regular
basis will apparently have to wait.
Parcells has plenty of time to decide who will start a
week from tonight at Seattle. He didn't say who it would
be, but his in-game decision and postgame comments
indicate he'll stick with Testaverde.
"I've got a pretty good idea, but let me just look at the
film, and we'll see what happens," Parcells said after the
game, his last meeting with the media until Monday. "I'll
let you know next week."
Parcells indicated last week he might not play
Henson this season unless forced to use him, which
happened on Nov. 21.
Testaverde left the Baltimore game with a sore shoul-
der after a hard hit in the fourth quarter. Henson took
over, overcoming a fumble on his first snap to complete
all six passes for 47 yards and the only Cowboys touch-
down in a 30-10 loss.
Testaverde was limited during the short week, and
even before the game, because of the shoulder and back
spasms. So Henson got most of the snaps in practice and
started against the Bears.
Seemingly picking up where he left off the game
before, Henson led an opening five-play, 62-yard touch-
down drive against the Bears. But by halftime, with the
game tied 7-7, Henson was 4-of-12 for 31 yards and an
interception, returned 45 yards by R.W. McQuarters for
the lone Bears touchdown.
"I would liked to have had a chance to come back and
win the game, but that wasn't my call," Henson said.
"There were a couple of throws I'd like to have back. Lis-
ten, I've played one half and one drive in the NFL, and I
have confidence in myself that I can play in this game."
Henson's last start at quarterback had been for Michi-
gan in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2001, before he played
three summers of professional baseball.
"I'm glad he got a little live action," Parcells said.
AP PHOTO "Hopefully he'll grow from there. But right now, he
Quarterback Drew Henson hands off to fellow rookie Julius Jones during Dallas's Thanksgiving Day victory over needs a lot of work, That's only a natural thing. The guy
Chicago. Henson was benched at halftime of the contest. hasn't played a lot of football."
NBC chairman survives plane crash
MONTROSE, Colo. (AP) - NBC
Sports chairman Dick Ebersol sur-
vived a charter plane crash that
killed at least two people yester-
day, the network said in a statement
through its Denver affiliate KUSA-
TV. Rescue crews were searching for
one of Ebersol's sons.
Montrose County sheriff's officials
said three survivors, including Eber-
sol, were seriously injured when the
jet crashed through a fence and burst
into flames while taking off from
Montrose Regional Airport, which
serves the Telluride Ski Area.
One of Ebersol's sons, Charles
Ebersol, survived, but another son,
Teddy, was missing, KUSA reported
late yesterday. NBC said the pilot
and co-pilot were killed.
The station said crews searched
shock," he said.
Linda McCool, a nursing supervisor
at Montrose Memorial Hospital, said
three men were brought to the hospital
after the crash, but had all been trans-
ferred to other hospitals by yesterday
afternoon. Dan Prinster, vice presi-
dent of St. Mary's Hospital in Grand
Junction, said two people were moved
there from Montrose Memorial.
Neither McCool nor Prinster
would release any other information
on the survivors. NBC said Ebersol's
wife, actress Susan St. James, was
not on the plane.
The crash occurred in an area cov-
ered with small brush and cedar trees,
sheriff's Communications Supervisor
David Learned said. A large drainage
ditch also is at the site.
A storm hit much of the state over
National Safety Transportation
Board were en route to the airport,
185 miles southwest of Denver.
Ebersol became president of NBC
Sports in 1989 and has turned it
into the Olympic network, buying
the U.S. broadcast rights for every
Summer and Winter Games through
2012. Ebersol also worked as an
NBC entertainment executive, and
in the early '80s, was executive pro-
ducer of "Saturday Night Live."