Wednesday, July 23, 1997 - The Michigan Daily - 15
The Sporting Views:
Allegations may be bad, but backcourt might be worse
By Chris Farah
Daily Sports Editor
Did any money change hands? What
about the cars? What about the birthday
cakes? What about the boosters?
So many technical questions are being
tossed around about possible ethical
improprieties of Steve Fisher and his
program that one basic issue - in fact,
the central issue - often seems to be
forgotten.
Basketball.
College basketball - the simple love
of the game itself - is, of course, whatq
all this is really about. Or at least what
it's suppsed to be about.
There is, however, one problem with
this obvious assumption: Even if Fisher
and the Michigan men's basketball team
weather the storm of controversy, there
won't be much of a team remaining
when the new season rolls around.
Sanctions or no sanctions, the
Michigan men's basketball team is not in
a position to thrive next year.
Michigan's starting five seems decep-
tively promising at first glance. A front-
court featuring Robert Traylor and
Maceo Baston, and a backcourt consist-
ing of Louis Bullock and Travis Conlan
is nothing to be ashamed of.
Then there's Jerod Ward. We just
won't dwell on that.
But aside from the starters, Michigan is
in trouble. Particularly in the backcourt.
The dismissal of Brndun Hughes not
only leaves a lack of reliable backcourt
substitutes, but it also effectively nulli-
fies one of Michigan's surprisingly suc-
cessful tactics of last year - the three-
guard lineup.,
Who will take his place in the three-
guard lineup, and who will come in for
Bullock or Conlan when they inevitably
tire? Ron Oliver?
Oliver proved he could handle the
rock - and increased minutes - com-
petently last year, but he didn't prove
much else. Often, he appeared timid
with the ball, deferring to Bullock,
Conlan or Hughes - which, as a walk-
on, is exactly what he should have done.
A leadership role, however, seems well
beyond Oliver's current level of skill.
One possible development involves a
former Brigham Young guard. It is
rumored that Robbie Reid could transfer
to Michigan this year.
Reid will still have two years of colle-
giate eligibility remaining - but don't
expect the problems of another Brandun
Hughes. Reid is transferring from
Brigham Young, not for disciplinary rea-
sons, but because his father, Roger, was
fired last year as the Brigham Young
men's basketball coach.
Reid would be a welcome addition to
the Wolverines, but he's not a lock yet.
Illinois is also recruiting him, Illinois
men's basketball coach Lon Kruger said.
Without the addition of Reid - and
with the shallow bench Michigan will
undoubtedly possess-good basketball,
and not NCAA allegations, could quick-
ly become Fisher's biggest worry.
MichIgan guard
Travis Conlan will
have to deal with
a lot of responsi-
bility next year. A
shallow back-
court should
keep Conlan on
1 the floor for
longer stretches
of time.
SARA STILLMAN /Daily
momm
No matter how it's spelled, Michigan
spikers get no respect from Big Ten
By Shara* Raju
Daily Sports Editor
The preseason volleyball polls are in,
and someone isn't altogether pleased -
namely, Michigan coach Greg
Giovanazzi.
The Big Ten coaches voted on where
teams will finish after the upcoming
volleyball season. Their choice: Penn
tate in first ... and Michigan in sev-
th place.
"I think we'll finish higher than that"
Giovanazzi said. "I think we'll go to the
NCAA tournament this year. I would be
surprised if we're not in the top four in
the conference this year."
Although he might have a somewhat
biased opinion, Giovanazzi does have
reason to believe that his team can per-
form better than expected.
"We have a good veteran group and
we only lost one starter," Giovanazzi
said. "I think we'll surprise some peo-
ple."
The Wolverines lost outside hitters
Shareen Luze and Kristen Rushiensky
to graduation, but their departure
shouldn't hurt the team too much.
The backbone of the team - middle
blocker Sarah Jackson and setter
Linnea Mendoza - still remains.
Jackson, a senior, was selected by
coaches to the preseason all-Big Ten
team.
"She's just a really consistent attack-
er," Giovanazzi said. "She just plays the
whole game very well. I think her con-
sistency is what defines her.
y J
Jeanine
{ ~Szczesniak (left)
and Sarah
Jackson (right)
will try to lead
leyball team high-
er than Its sev-
enth-place pre-
season predic-
tion. Jackson was
voted a presea-
son all-Big Ten
selection by the
coaches.
JOE WEsTRATEr/aly
"But she'd be the first to tell you that
she'd be nowhere without Linnea."
Which leads to the other aspect of the
preseason picks that Giovanazzi didn't
care for too much ...
"I think (Mendoza's omission) is
glaring, to tell you the truth,"
Giovanazzi said. "She's one of the two
premier setters in the conference."
Last season Mendoza became the all-
time Michigan assists leader, and she
shows no signs of slowing down.
"That battery of Linnea and Sarah is
something we're really relying on for
this upcoming season," Giovanazzi
said.
The campaign to disprove the polls
begins Aug. 29 at the Washington
Husky tournament.
INTRAMURAL
r SPORTS
PROGRAM
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
GOLF Entries Taken: until Weds 7/30 2:00pm IMSB (Main Office)
Entry Fee: $15.00 per team (excluding Course Fee)
Tee Times: 11:00am - 1:00pm [Two-person team scramble]
Tournament Date: Friday August 1 at U of M Golf Course
FALL TERM IM ACTIVITIES
It is not too early to start planning for the
1997 Fall Term activities offered by
the INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM!
Soccer Softball Ice Hockey Team Tennis 3-on-3 Basketball
Track & Field Golf - Two Person Scramble
Tennis - Sgls & Dbls Pre-Season Flag Football Flag Football
Walleyball Cross Country Run Wrestling
Pre-Season Broomball Pre-Season Basketball
OFFICIATING OPPORTUNITIES
Officials will be needed throughout the Fall and Winter terms.
If you are interested in sports and would like to earn some extra
spending money, attend the clinics and become an IM Official!
FALL TERM IM OFFICIATED SPORTS
Soccer Softball Ice Hockey Pre-Season Flag Football
Flag Football Pre-Season Broomball Pre-Season Basketball
For Additional Information Contact:
Intramural Sports Program IMSB 606 E. Hoover 763-3562
http:/Awww.recsports.umich.edu
s
> . g
;.: ?.