The Michigan Daily - TIPOFF " 8-.b TMJpiigan Daily.- TIWF F 1096 -*Thuria, Nqvppkber 16 , 99 4, N4 W, . I - 11-1 11 , I 1 11 . i I I Brent Michael Spartans to begin Izzo era First-year coach faces difficult task of replacing Heathcote and one of nation's finest backcourts* By Paul Barger Michigan AU-Big Ten Team Kiwane Garris, Illinois Kiwane Garris, Illinois KIWANE GARRIS, ILLINOIS Kiwane Garris, Illinois (Player of the Year in ALL CAPS) Maurice Taylor, Michigan MAURICE TAYLOR, MICHIGAN Maurice Taylor, Michigan Maurice Taylor, Michigan BRIAN EVANS, INDIANA Quinton Brooks, Michigan State Jess Settles, Iowa JESS SETTLES, IOWA Jess Settles, Iowa Jess Settles, Iowa Brian Evans, Indiana Brian Evans, Indiana Chris Kingsbury, Iowa Brian Evans, Indiana Chris Kingsbury, Iowa Andre Woolridge Iowa Big Ten Champion All-American Team (Player of the Year in ALL CAPS) Indiana Irndiana Iowa Iowa I TIM DUNCAN, WAKE FOREST Kerry Kitties, Villanova Erik Dampier, Miss. State Marcus Camby, Massachusetts Allen Iverson, Georgetown Tim Duncan, Wake Forest MARCUS CAMBY, MASS. Kerry Kitties, Villanova Ryan Minor, Oklahoma RAY ALLEN, CONNECTICUT Tim Duncan, Wake Forest Kerry Kittles, Villanova Walter McCarty, Kentucky Jacque Vaughn, Kansas Jerod Haase, Kansas Brevin Knight, Stanford Tim Duncan, Wake Forest KERRY KITTLES, VILLANOVA Tony Delk, Kentucky Ryan Minor, Oklahoma Iowa Villanova Stanford KENTUCKY All eyes are on East Lansing this year as life without Jud Heathcote begins. Longtime assistant Tom Izzo has been handed the reigns, after being groomed for several years to replace the legendary Heathcote. The Spartans lost their tremendous backcourt to the NBA and the two holes will be difficult for Izzo to fill. Many observers felt that the combi- nation of Shawn Respert (25.6 points per game) and Eric Snow (10.8 points per game, 7.8 assists per game) made Michi- gan State's backcourt the nation's finest a year ago. "In the same day, I talked to Respert, Snow and Heathcote," Izzo said. "I sure wish I had two of those three back. I'm sure you can figure out which ones." Ray Weathers will play the point for Izzo after getting some much needed ex- perience with the Big Ten All-Star team last summer. He averaged 3.5 ppg in a limited role in 1994-95. The other guard spot will likely be filled by sophomore Thomas Kelley. Kelley missed most of his freshman campaign with a stress fracture in his foot. Much of the guard play will be by committee, with Steve Nicodemus, An- thony Mull, Mike Respert and David challenge in the league. The 6-9 Feick averaged 9.9 rebounds per game and 10.0 ppg last season. However, it is junior Jon Garavaglia who may hold the key to Izzo's first season. Garavaglia was highly recruited out of Southgate Aquinas High School, but has yet to live up to the hype. In his second sea- son, he did manage 7.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. Izzo hopes that this year, the forward will pick up his game and become a leader for the Spartans. "Garavaglia is a kid who I think could be the next great player," Izzo said. The top newcomer for Michigan State is 6-8 Antonio Smith from Flint. Smith is listed as a forward, but the Spar- tan coaching staff thinks he can lend a hand to the depleted backcourt. Izzo will have a difficult initiation into the ranks of head coaches. Michigan State's nonconference schedule is brutal, including games with North Carolina, Arkansas and Louisville. This should help the team in preparation for the up- coming Big Ten wars. The Spartans missed their chance for a conference title last season, but may still contend in the league if their guard play comes around. 'Izzo I Final Four (National Champion in ALL CAPS) Kansas Villanova GEORGETOWN Virginia Kansas KENTUCKY Massachusetts Georgetown KANSAS Kentucky Connecticut Georgetown S'&ris RECORDS Michigan against ... Illnois: 64-64 Ball State: 7-0 Indiana: 47-79 Cleveland State: 5-0 Iowa:70-45 Davidson: 1-3 LSU: 0-0 DePaul: 0-0 Michigan State: 83-56 Deroit: 17-4 Minnesota: 67-51 Duke: 4-12 Northwestern: 84-47 Ohio State: 62-74 Penn State: 4-2 Purdue: 51-65 St. Francis: 0-0 UNLV: 0-1 Washington: 2-3 Wisconsin: 80-44 Michigan toycarhy trio of walk-ons DeKuiper, Oliver and Szyndlar make the cut * By Brent McIntosh Hart all expected to see some action. Unfortunately for Izzo, the six guards combined for less than eight points per game last year. "We do not have that go-to guy that we are famous for," Izzo said. "The problem with losing both guards is that they were not only our best players, they were our best kids, our best leaders. We lost the whole package.". Izzo is letting his hopes ride on his frontcourt. Forward Quinton Brooks, the team's top returning scorer, and center Jamie Feick, last season's top rebounder, must have big years if the Spartans are to s: <' 0075 74P1: - 9Sp U z L 3o3 T~rRairy (W 1 74t"s Hw 9IPIQ... F, ?ie Np it.joeu Ghs2n A *E e $A~ S p' It's every gym rat's dream. Every day you lace up the shoes and go head-to-head with the big names. You shoot the trey over Jerod Ward. - You steal the rock from Maurice Taylor. You take it up against Robert Traylor. Of course, more than half the time it gets smacked into the mezzanine or quashed back in your face. The life of a walk-on. Michigan has three this year. Two are freshmen; the other is a senior. They have taken very different paths to the Michigan roster. South Alabama and Miami (Fla.) both offered Ron Oliver scholarships, but the 6-0 freshman guard from Little Rock, Ark., had other ideas. As he scored 18 points per game his senior year, he was also talking to Michigan's coaches. Once in Ann Arbor, he tried out and earned himself a uni- form. thing different about being a college player. "The first time on the court is un- real," he said after his debut against Sibe- rian of Cheremhkovo. The third walk-on is Ryan DeKuiper, a 6-2 senior guard who spent two years as a manager for the Wolverines. The Fremont native spent his freshman year as captain of the Hope College junior varsity. The transition from being a Flying Dutchman to a manager to a Wolverine hasn't been lost on DeKuiper. "Obviously the level of competition here is a lot higher, and some of the places you to go and some of the people you get to meet are of the celebrity vari- ety at this level - but it's still just play- ing," he said. "Playing basketball at Hope or playing here, it's still just play- ing. "Obviously there's a lot more glam- our here, but less playing time." Unlike former Michigan walk-on and eventual captain Freddie Hunter, most walk-ons harbor little hope of influ- encing games. All the same, they'd like to get a few minutes. "I don't plan to just sit there for four years," Oliver said. "I hope I do some- thing, contribute a little bit." Oliver's fellow rookie, 6-7 forward Eric Szyndlar, averaged 14.3 points and nine rebounds as a senior at Belleville, but he said there's some- ":s { . SERVICE Detroit Metro Airport Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti 971-2573 ..Ask about our 3" Windsor Casino $ 3.00/person shutt one way with coupon No expiration date. Reservation equired. Ann Arbor y Detroit Metro ( as t. VO a"n 1Jn g n oi @rA& 320OSouth StateSt.-Ann Arbor WXAWEABOVE DE$O DM 4 . s 44 a . r r , _ j cs r - _: V .*'*'* *4 * 4