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."