The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 10, 1995 - 13
Penn State and Purdue top
coaches' poll; Michigan Is last
By James Goldstein
and Dan Stillman
Daily Sports Writers
INDIANAPOLIS - After finishing
tied for first place in the conference the
last two years, Penn State and Purdue
were picked first and second, respec-
tively, in the Big Ten preseason coaches
poll released yesterday in Indianapolis.
Coaches gathered to answer questions
from the media ranging from the upcom-
ing seasonto the current state ofthe game.
The majority of the coaches agreed
upon two things. One, these are excit-
ing times for women's basketball, and
two, though improved, Michigan will
find it tough to rise in the conference.
The Wolverines are in last in the poll.
Michigan's placement in the polls
reflects last year's 3-13 conference
record. But the fact that the Wolverines
were hindered by several injuries last
year cannot be ignored. At one point
last season, Michigan's roster was de-
pleted to seven players.
"Michigan had run on some hard
luck with injuries," Iowa coach Angie
Lee said. "If they stay healthy, they are
going to surprise some people."
For the first time in her four years at
Michigan, coach Trish Roberts begins
this season with a completely healthy
squad. She is most impressed with the
team's improvement in running theball.
An up-tempo pace is expectedtoplay
a major role for all of the conference's
teams this season.
"If we're going to run and keep pres-
sure on defense, keeping fresh troops is
essential," Purdue coach Lin Dunn said.
"Everyone has a good first five, but six,
seven, eight and nine can be a real key
in the Big Ten."
The Boilermakers are not the only
team looking to challenge Penn State
for first place in the conference. Wis-
consin and Iowa, picked third and fourth
in the poll, also have the talent to com-
pete for the top spot.
Badgers center Barb Franke and
Hawkeye forward Tiffany Gooden were
both selected to the preseason All-Big
Ten team.
Ohio State will also look to make a
run for the top behind All-America for-
ward Katie Smith. She led the confer-
ence in scoring last season with 21.3
points per game.
"She's a complete player and has
great natural ability in terms of speed
and explosiveness," Ohio State coach
Nancy Darsch said. "She's the stron-
gest player in the weight room and
fastest player on the track."
According to Darsch, Smith is one of
the best players to have ever played in
the conference.
Another major theme at the luncheon
centered around the rising interest in
the sport. Forexample, last year's cham-
pionship game sold out quickly and
received high television ratings. For
this season, SportsChannel-Chicago
will cover some games. The Wolver-
ines will be featured in their game
against Iowa Feb. 1 8th on
SportsChannel-Chicago. E
One reason for the increased expo-
sure is the public's new-found interest
in the sport.
"As the public embraced the game,
so did the media," Minnesota coach
Linda Hill-MacDonald said. "There's
money to be made on the women's
game."
Preseason Big Ten
Women's Basketball
Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Team Points
1. Penn St. (8) 116
2. Purdue{l2) 109
3. Wisconsin (1) 102
4. Iowa 84
5. Ohio St. 76
6. Indiana
7. Northwestern
8. Michigan St.
9. Minnesota
10. Illinois
11. Michigan
60
54
46
33
23
21
Taylor will be the k to Blue's nse orfall
This year, Taylor will need to be even
better. He is the only returning
Wolverine who scored in double
figures last season, when he averaged
12.5 points per game. Taylor will
need to score in the high double-
figures consistently for Michigan to
have a chance at its first Big Ten title
since 1985-86.
"He adds excitement and emotion
to the team," said forward Maceo
Baston. "When he dunks, it gets
everyone pumped up."
Michigan coach Steve Fisher keeps
talking about how he likes this team.
He sees nine highly talented players,
eight of whom can play multiple
positions. (The other one is Robert
Traylor, who has "center" written on
his birth certificate.) But all that
talent isn't worth two rubles without a
guy to build around. And that has to
be Taylor.
"If Mo shows the energy he had
tonight, moving his feet and having
an active body, he'll have a good
season," Fisher said.
No other Wolverine has shown an
ability to take charge offensively.
Jerod Ward may eventually be a big-
time scorer, but he has yet to prove he
can score consistently. Willie
Mitchell needs to improve his shot
selection (as well as his shot,
although both seem to be coming
along.) Baston's only consistent
outside shot is the long dunk.
Everyone else is either a freshman or
a point guard.
That leaves Taylor. He bulked up
over the summer, gaining almost 15
pounds. He also worked on his
outside shot with the hope that he can
play small forward.
Taylor is 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds.
He has already shown that he can
score in the post. If he can play small
forward, Fisher will need an auto-
matic weapon permit just to carry
Taylor on the roster.
Taylor scored 20 points last night.
He will have to do that against the
Indianas and Iowas of the world if
Michigan is to contend in the Big
Ten.
"I feel I am going to be called upon
to score on the clutch," Taylor said.
There is no doubt about that.
SIBERIA (65)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Ochtchetko 7 1-2 1-1 0-2 0 0 3
Janouchko 13 013 0.2 1-2 1 2 0
Tikhonenko 22 0-2 0-0 2-5 0 4 0
Strebkov 28 10-15 0-0 0-1 3 0 25
Salovarov 28 3-7 2-2 02 3 2 10
Ovtchinnikovl5 0-2 2-2 2-3 0 5 2
Serykii 22 0-3 2-4 1-2 0 2 2
Burakov 12 0-4 0-0 0-4 1 1 0
Drojanov 27 57 01 2-3 2 1 11
Kovalev 5 1-5 0-0 0-0 1 0 2
Martchenko 14 3-4 2-4 3-4 1 0 8
Karetine 7 1-5 00 02 0 0 2
FG%: .407. FT%:.563. Three-point goals: 8-23,
.348 (Strebkov 5-9, Salovarov 2-4 ,Droja nov 1-2,
Ochtchetko 0-1, Ovtchinnikov 0-1, Burakov 0-3,
IKovalev 0-1, Karetine 0-2). Blocks: 1(Drojanov).
Turnovers: 27 (Salovarov 6, Strebkov 4, v
Burakov 4, Ovtchinnikov 3, Ochtchetk2,
-Janouchko 2. Martchenko 2, Drojanov 1,
Kovalev 1, Serykii 1, Tikhonenko 1). Steals: 5
(Strebkov 2. Tikhonenko 1, Ovtchinnikov 1,
Drojanov 1). Technical Fouls: none.
MICHIGAN (89)
MIN MA A M-A OT A F PTS
White 17 4-7 0-0 1-5 5 1 9
Baston 18 3-4 7-10 0-6 0 3 13
Traylor 22 0-0 1-2 3-6 4 2 7
Bullock 26 5-10 0-0 1-7 2 3 11
Conlan 23 1-5 0-0 0-1 3 0 3
Fife 21 0-3 1-2 5-7 2 1 1
Taylor 24 9-13 2-2 2-4 1 2 20
Mitchell 22 7-16 1-1 5.7 1 0 15
Ward 19 4-9 2-2 3-4 1 3 10
Morton 5 0.1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Oliver 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 01 0
ndlar 1 0-0 0-0 0-0
emuper 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 200 36.75 14.19 22-50 1917 89
FG%: .480. FT%: .737. Three-point goals: 3-16,
.188 (White 1-1, Bullock 1-5. Conlan 1-4,
Mitchell 0-3, Ward 0-2, Morton 0-1).Blocks: 2
(Traylor 1, Ward 1).Turnovers: 17 (Ward 3,
Taylor 3, Mitchell 2, Fife 2, Bullock 2, Traylor 2,
White 1. Baston 12Conlan 1. Steals: 14 (White
4, Baston 2, Conlan 2, Taylor 2, Morton 1, Fife
1, Traylor 1, Bullock 1). Technical Fouls: none.
Siberia..............33 32- 65,
Michigan r.......52 37- 89
At:: Crisler Arena; A: 10,128. -
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Baston and Willie Mitchell celebrate during Michigan's win yesterday.
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Ann Arbor Theater
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