Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday - March 4,1991

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i

Jeff
Sheran
Sheran My Thoughts
ABC loses on
boring game
Luckily for ABC, sweeps week is over.
Ten minutes after Michigan concluded its 68-60
victory over Minnesota, a network technician began
dismantling the equipment for ABC's broadcast of the
game. As if his menial task provided an exciting
diversion, he said, "That game was so dull."
On a day when CBS was televising NCAA
Tournament previews like Georgetown/Syracuse and
Duke/North Carolina, ABC showcased the best the
Big Ten had to offer.
Then they showed the Michigan game.
After No. 2 Ohio State edged Michigan State in
the early game, announcers Brent Musberger and Jim
Valvano sifted through the fouls and travelling calls
to present the Wolverine victory.
They couldn't complain - they were fortunate to
be employed at all. But even the slap-happy Valvano
revealed the malaise that hovered over Crisler Arena.
"Certainly this game does not have the national
impact of some of the other games," he said with his
tongue firmly implanted in his cheek.
So while fans elsewhere geared up for March
Madness, the passion for college basketball that
consumes the nation each spring, a sparse Michigan
crowd sunk into March Mediocrity.
Those who watched on TV may have done better
to switch to ESPN, where they at least could catch
the finals of the Celebrity Skeet Shoot. A.C. Green
is scheduled to meet Gil Gerard any day now.
The level of play reached its lowest point at 10:52
when Gopher guard Rob Metcalf rebounded an errant
Demetrius Calip three-point attempt. Metcalf fumbled
the board and tipped the ball in the basket. The
officials credited Freddie Hunter, the closest Wolver-
ine to the glass, with the field goal.
"They didn't give me the board," Hunter joked. "I
thought they give you those on tip-ins."
One could only imagine the relief Metcalf felt
when his next tip-in,.three minutes later, counted for
Minnesota.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher helped put the
game's excitement in perspective.
"It may not have been pretty where you were
sitting," he said with a degree of understatement
topped only by Valvano's. "But it was pretty from
where I was sitting because the end result was what
we needed."
That end result came not a moment too soon.
ABC probably should have waived its final TV-
timeout to end the game faster.
NIT BOUND: Yesterday's victory assures the 14-
13 Wolverines of a .500 record for the season, and
virtually guarantees their bid to the National
Invitational Tournament.
Michigan's absence in the NCAA Tournament
will not be surprising, but it will place the team in a
peculiar position. While the underdog Wolverines
won the national title in 1989, and upsets are the
norm in the Tournament, it's not likely Michigan
would have advanced very far into this year's pool.
In addition, the Wolverines' chances of winning
the NIT, as they did in 1984, are highly realistic.
Does that make an NIT bid more attractive?
"No," Michigan guard Kirk Taylor replied. "You
don't know what can happen in the NCAAs. I'd still
rather be there."
Hunter agreed. "No matter what, it's better to go
to the Tournament."

BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Errant foul shooting
keeps score closer
by Theodore Cox
and Andrew Gottesman
Daily Basketball Writers
Michigan forward James Voskuil, whom coach Steve Fisher hails as
one of the team's top shooters, lacked his usual precision yesterday.
Voskuil scored the Wolverines' first points with a three-pointer, as ho
has done in several games thus far this season.
However, the 6-foot-7 junior took only five shots in the game, two of
which he buried. And in seven appearances at the free throw line,
Voskuil converted twice.
As a whole, Michigan shot .607 from the line, failing to capitalize on
Minnesota's rough play. The Gophers recorded 13 fouls in each half vs.
Michigan's game total of 17.
"We didn't make free throws," Fisher said. "If we made our free
throws, we might have been ahead by 17 or 18 points."
EASY POINTS: Michigan center Eric Riley has focused lately on his
post-up game. Against Illinois, the results were apparent as tho
sophomore had a career first half, scoring 13 points.
Many of his shots were from offensive rebounds, as he had six in the
first half. During the second half, the Fighting Illini double-teamed him
preventing the center from duplicating his feat. Riley finished with 15
rebounds, a career high.
MSU STARTING TIME SET: Michigan's home game against Michi-
gan State will start at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.
EVERYONE'S A STARTER: The Wolverines have used 10 different
starting lineups this year as 10 players have at some time during the
year been penciled into the the starting rotation by Fisher.
SCORING FROM AFAR: Michigan guard Demetrius Calip is 67-17
in three-pointers this season. Glen Rice holds the Wolverine single-
season record for three-pointers (99) and attempts (192).
WEBBER WATCH: Last Monday, the Detroit News printed a story
quoting an unidentified source confirming that Detroit Country Day
superstar Chris Webber, the nation's top high school prospect, would
indeed commit to Michigan. Webber denied the report, claiming the
source could have been a three-year old.
Last Thursday, the News quoted Webber as saying he has narrowed
his choices to Michigan, Michigan State, and the University of Detroit.
He said he will not announce his decision until after his season is over..
CRISLER WOES: Minnesota is now 1-22 in Crisler Arena, with its
only victory coming in 1982. Including games played at Yost
Fieldhouse, Minnesota is 1-24 in its last 25 trips to Ann Arbor.
FOUL SHOOTING: Minnesota has been outscored at the foul line,
566-335, or 22-12.8 points per game. In Big Ten games, they are behind
from the stripe, 396-179 (25.3-10.9).
Big Ten Through Mar. 3,1991
Men's Basketball Standings
Conference Games All Games
TEAM W L PCT. W L PCT.
Ohio State 15 1 .933 25 1 .962
Indiana 13 3 .813 25 4 .862
Illinois 11 5 .688 21 8 .724
Michigan State 10 7 .625 17 10 .630
Iowa 7 9 .438 18 10 .643
Purdue 7 9 .438 15 11 .577
Wisconsin 7 9 .438 13 13 .500
Michigan 7 10 .412 14 13 .519
Minnesota 4 12 .250 11 15 .423
Northwestern 0 16 .000 5 21 .192
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KENNETH SMOLLER/Daily
Eric Riley fights for position against two Illinois players during the second half of
Michigan's 68-65 loss to the Illini last Thursday.
Michigan heads South in
standings over break
by Theodore Cox
Daily Basketball Writer

BLOOMINGTON - This was probably
the toughest spring break the Wolverines
have faced in six years, as the team's
chances to make the NCAA tournament for
the seventh straight year all but vanished.
The pain started when Indiana
slaughtered Michigan, 112-79. It was the
worst loss for the team since last year's 149-
115 tournament defeat by Loyola Mary-
mount. The Wolverines played better in
Champaign last Thursday, but in the final
final few seconds Michigan literally turned
the victory over to Illinois, 68-65.
Against Indiana, the Wolverines forgot
how to play defense, as the the Hoosiers,
back-cut and screened for several open
shots. Leading the charge was junior center
Eric Anderson and sophomore forward
Calbert Cheaney. Cheaney had 17 first half
points as Michigan's smaller forwards
couldn't stop him.
Anderson burned the Wolverines from the
outside as he was left wide open by Michi-
gan center Eric Riley. Riley explained after
the game that he simply didn't "think he

(Anderson) could shoot it that well."
The second half turned into a sprinting
match, as the Wolverines' passing game
vanished.
Losing at Illinois was tougher for
Michigan to swallow as the Wolverines had
several opportunities to win. With 6.4
seconds to go, guard Demetrius Calip had a
chance to tie the game with two free throws.
But he missed the first. Illinois then took a
timeout, allowing Michigan coach Steve
Fisher to plot his strategy.
"We wanted to make it and try to steal it
on the inbounds," Fisher said. "And if we
didn't, foul them immediately."
The Wolverines resorted to the second
option, pulling Michigan to within one. With
5.4 seconds Illinois forward Andy Kaufmann
was fouled and sent to the charity strip. He
made the first, and uncharacteristically
missed the second. Riley grabbed the
rebound, but his pass to Calip sailed out-of-
bounds along with Michigan's chances.
- Kenneth Smoller contributed to this
story.

CAGERS
Continued from page 1
to get a National Invitational
Tournament bid by ensuring itself
a .500 overall record. The
Wolverines finish the season next
Saturday against state-rival
Michigan State.
"After we lost to Illinois, we
had the NIT on our mind,"
Michigan's Eric Riley said. "We
knew then there was no hope for
the NCAAs."
"We had to concentrate on the
mental aspect," Calip said. "We
need to play one game at a time.
"(The NIT) is kind of a
consolation for all the hard games
we've played this year. We'll feel
good about going to a post-season
,'tournament."
Calip exploded during the first
half for 17 points, including four
three-pointers. Calip's triples and
Michigan's gradual lengthening of
its lead helped the Wolverines
build their 39-27 halftime bulge.
After the teams traded baskets
over the first six minutes of the-
game, including all five of the
game's lead changes, Calip hit his
first three-pointer to give Michigan
an 8-7 lead. The Wolverines never
fell behind again.
That basket began a nine-point
spurt for the Wolverines, which in-
cluded a Calip three-point miss
* that was tipped-in by Minnesota's
Rob Metcalf and credited to
Michigan's Freddie Hunter.
The Golden Gophers brought

MICHIGAN (68)
Player TFG FT R A PF TP
Hunter 3-6 0-0 6 1 3 6
Voskuil 2-5 2-7 4 1 3 7
Riley 3-8 3-5 12 1 5 9
Calip 8-17 8-10 6 1 1 29
Talley 1-4 2-2 2 1 0 4
Taylor 3-6 2-4 1 5 2 8
Mitchell 1-4 04 1 0 2 2
Pelinka 1-2 0-0 0 0 1 3
Totals 22-52 17-28 35 10 17 68
3-pt. goals: 7-18 (Calip 5-9, Voskuil 1-3, Pelinka
1-1, Talley 0-2, Taylor 0-3). FG%- .423 3-pt.
FG%- .389, FT%- .607. Blocks: 6 (Riley 4,
Voskuil 1, Hunter 1). Turnovers: 14 (Calip 5,
Voskuil 4, Riley 2, Hunter 1, Talley 1, Taylor 1).
Steals: 5 (Talley 1, Taylor 1, Voskuil 1, Calip 1,
Mitchell 1).
MINNESOTA(60)
Player TFG FT R A PF TP
Jackson 6-8 2-5 5 1 5 14
Carter 2-7 1-2 10 1 5 5
Nzigamasabo 4-9 3-4 6 1 3 11
Lynch 4-15 2-2 2 1 2 11
McDonald 1-8 0-0 2 3 2 2
Tubbs 2-5 0-2 2 0 1 4
Metcalf 2-4 5-5 3 0 2 9
Martin 1-2 2-2 5 2 4 4
Gren 0-1 0-0 2 0 2 0
Totals 22-59 15-22 41 9 26 60
3-pt. goals: 1-6 (Lynch 1-4, McDonald 1, Tubbs
1). FG%- .373; 3-pt. FG%- .167, FT%- .682.
Blocks: 1 (Nzigamasabo). Turnovers: 15 (Jackson
4, McDonald 3, Carter 2, Martin 2, Tubbs 1,
Metcalf, Lynch 1, Nzigamasabo 1). Steals: 2
(Lynch).
really challenged after the
intermission. Although Calip
slowed down, Riley picked up the
slack and Minnesota continued its
shooting woes. The Golden
Gophers got within six points only
once, when Metcalf hit three free
throws to cut the Michigan lead to
62-56 with 1:54 left in the game.
However, the Wolverines scored
the next six points before
Minnesota closed out the scoring.
Riley followed Calip in the

MICHIGAN (65)
Player TFG FT' R A PF TP
Taylor 1-3 3-4 3 1 4 6
Voskuil 4-8 2-4 3 0 5 12
Riley 7-14 3-4 15 0 2 17
Calip 6-17 1-2 5 3 1 16
Talley 3-8 3-6 5 3 5 11
Hunter 0-1 1-2 5 0 3 1
Tolbert 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Mitchell 1-3 0-0 0 0 5 2
Pelinka 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0
Totals 22-54 13-22 38 7 26 65
3-pt. goals: 8-18 (Voskuil 2-5, Calip 3-8, Talley
2-3, Taylor 1-2). FG%- .407 3-pt. FG%- .444,
FT%- .591. Blocks: 11 (Riley 8, Voskuil 2,v
Taylor 1). Turnovers: 18 (Talley 6, Calip 4,
Hunter 4, Mitchell 4, Talley 2, Voskuil 2, Taylor
1, Riley 1). Steals: 3 (Talley 2, Riley 1).
ILLINOIS (68)
Player TFG FT R A PF TP
Thomas 6-19 1-4 11 1 1 13
Kaufmann 5-15 8-14 5 2 1 18
Kpedi 1-2 0-0 5 0 4 2
Clemons 4-7 4-6 6 1 4 14
Smith 6-9 1-4 1 1 5 14
Taylor 2-3 1-2 3 2 1 5
Pierce 1-2 0-0 1 1 3 2
Michael 0-0 0-0 2 0 1 0
Totals 25-57 15-30 39 8 20 68
3-pt. goals: 3-5 (Clemens 2-2, Smith 1-1,
Kaufmann 0-2). FG%- .439, 3-pt. FG%- .600,
FT%- .500. Blocks: 5 (Thomas 2, Kpedi 2, Taylor
1). Turnovers: 15 (Kaufmann 5, Kpedi 2, Smith
2, Michael 2, Thomas 1, Clemons 1, Taylor 1,
Pierce 1). Steals: 6 (Taylor 5. Michael 1).

MICHIGAN (79)
Player TFG FT R A PF TP
Taylor 4-7 0-2 5 1 3 10
Voskuil 2-5 2-2 3 0 5 7
Riley 6.12 3-4 13 2 5 15
Calip 11-22 2-2 5 1 1 28
Talley 4-8 1-3 3 5 3 10
Hunter 1-3 0-0 2 1 4 2
Tolbert 2-8 0-0 6 1 1 4
McIver 0-1 0-0 0 0 3 0
Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Pelinka 0-0 0-0 2 0 4 0
Bossard 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 3
Anner 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 31-69 9-19 40 11 29 29
3-pt. goals: 9-19 (Voskuil 1-2, Calip 4-10,
Talley 1-2, Taylor 2-2, Tolbert 0-1, Bossard 1-2).
FG%- .449 3-pt. FG%- .474, FIT%- .615. Blocks:
2 (Riley 1, McIver 1). Turnovers: 22 (Talley 6,
Calip 3, Riley 3, Voskuil 3, Tolbert 3, McIver 2,
Pelinka 2). Steals: 2 (Riley 1, Hunter 1).
INDIANA (112)
Player TFG FT R A PF TP
G. Graham 2-9 4-9 1 1 2 8
Cheaney 12-17 5-6 5 2 4 3)
Anderson 7-9 1-2 6 1 2 15
Jones 0-1 34 6 6 2 3
Meeks 3-3 2-4 2 3 1 8
Bailey 6-10 2-3 2 5 1 16
Reynolds 3-6 3-4 0 1 0 9
Nover 1-3 3-4 2 0 0 5
P.Graham 4-6 6-7 3 1 0 14
Knight 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 0
Lawson 2-2 0-0 2 0 2 4
Totals 40-67 29-43 35 22 14 112
3-pt. goals: 3-6 (Bailey 2-2, Cheaney 1-3,7Jones
0-1). FG%- .597, 3-pt. FG%- .500, FT%- .674.
Blocks: 4 (Cheaney 1, Bailey 1, Nover 1, P.
Graham 1). Turnovers: 6 (Meeks 2, G. Graham 1,
Cheaney 1, Jones 1, Knight 1). Steals: 8 (Jones
2, Meeks 2, Bailey 1, Reynolds 1, Nover 1, P.
Graham).

OSU clinches tie for first

Associated Press

Jamaal Brown hit the second of
two free throws with one second
left Sunday, giving second-ranked
Ohio State a 65-64 victory over
Michigan State and a share of its
first Big Ten Conference title in 20
years.
The Spartans (17-10, 10-7) had
pulled even at 64 - capping a 7-0
run - on Matt Steigenga's 3-Doint.

Smith as the final horn sounded.
After a discussion at the scorer's
table, one second was put back on
the clock. Brown then missed the
first free throw. But after a timeout,
he hit the second, and a capacity
crowd of 13,276 at St. John Arena
began to celebrate.
At Bloomington, Ind., the No. 5
Hoosiers came back from a 26-23
halftime deficit Saturday to beat


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