A' U i . *f 'YCF{1.. I b%.I y CYG..Wi. Rt! i157ltJ I tF i I1.. %, AJI IIL A1. . fI lli. U a e5 nr sacquisitonc Ild ctnoorr ichga gard1a Jiy Kings Tharsday ___ lying tim wth theRaptoThrsda October 19, 1995 Hp e n*zgs eternal at basketball tryouts ew of us hoped to make the team. Fewer thought they had a chance. Still less really did have a chance. But it doesn't matter. Despite our lack of Division I basketball skills, 50 players showed up at walk-on tryouts for the Michigan men's basketball team Monday evening. Coach Brian Dutcher, assistant to Steve Fisher and talent scout extraordinaire, ran us through the usual drills: lay- ups, jumpshots, the weave, a little scrimmaging. In two hours, Dutcher had to determine whether there were any future Freddie Hunters in the motley group. Hunter was a walk-on who eventually captained the Wolverines. Dutcher had to hope there would be a Hunter there, a gem among loose gravel. Trust me: there wasn't. Most of the wannabe Wolverines came for fun, Brent for the chance to play in Crisler Arena. We McIntosh wanted to pretend there was a packed house Mc Intosh screaming from the seats - not just the three Classics sorority girls who showed up and promptly left when there were no future stars among the pack. We wanted to be the Wolverines we've watched, to have Dutcher and Jay Smith evaluate our games, if only for a while. "It's fun," said Jason Cutler, a hopeful who was back for another tryout. "The coach gives you a little pep talk, then you get to play." True, a few harbored some small hope of making the team. Maybe they had called Dutcher last week: "Hey, coach, I averaged 13.7 points and 9.8 boards at BigCity DeadPresident High. I think I can make it." Maybe they really were high schools standouts whose coaches told them they had a chance to play at mighty Michigan. Maybe they really did have a chance, and maybe one of them will be captain someday. Most, however, have no chance. Most were junior varsity shooting guards and 6-foot-2 power forwards, too small for their skills and too unskilled for their height. That was me: just not tall or talented enough. You can be a spectacular high school player (I wasn't, not by a long shot), and not be even close to Division I caliber. The guys on the See TRYOUTS, page 8A Ryan DeKulper (3), Albert White and Maceo Baston (back) struggle for a loose bail at Mooniam 195 Saturday night. DeKuiper is a non-scholarship player who practices with the basketball team. Run for the Roses beg to heat u 3y Jim Rose )aily Sports Writer This weekend in the Big Ten could prove to be a ivotal one in the Rose Bowl chase. After some early psets, the conference season is just beginning to get nteresting. Michigan returns to action after taking some extra ime off to recover from the Northwestern loss (when vas the last time that happened?), Michigan State ooks for its second consecutive Big Ten win (when vas the last time that happened?), and the weekend's est game could be -get ready for this - Northwest- in vs. Wisconsin (has that ever happened?). Wisconsin (1-1 Big Ten, 2-2-1 overall) at North- vestern (3-0, 5-1) Northwestern is in first place in the Big Ten. There asn't been this much excitement in Evanston since he last batch of LSAT scores arrived. The Wildcats are looking like legitimate Rose Bowl rospects, especially since they conveniently don't layOhio State this year. Still, they're listed as under- ogs to Wisconsin. No respect! The Badgers are reeling after falling apart in the ourth quarteragainst Ohio State last week, and North- rester couldn't catch them at a better time. With a win, the Wildcats clinch their first winning eason since Richard Nixon was president. Wisconsin Las a penchant for giving away games they should win, sually in the form of critical turnovers. This game rill be no exception. In a nailbiter: Northwestern 17, Wisconsin 13 Minnesota(1-1,3-2) at Michigan State 1-1-1, 3-2-1) Aroun After blowing what should've been a :ure win against Purdue earlier this season, ichigan State was so disappointed, you'd 5 hink a new batch of LSAT scores had just rrived. But Scott Greene (26 points on his 1 wn) came to the rescue last week, and the partans won, 27-21. For Minnesota, quarterback Cory Sauter s coming off a career game in which he assed for 303 yards, completing 29 of 50 attempts. unning Back Chris Darkins was also impressive, olling up 169 yards and three touchdowns. Michigan State coach Nick Saban is still uncer- in whether Tony Banks will be healthy enough to The women's cross country team competes in the Eastern Michigan University Classic tomorrow. Michigan will bench its top runners. Haniers face fial test before Big Tens Babcock's questionable status raises stakes for eighth and ninth runners By Brian Sklar Daily Sports Writer In its last meet before next week's Big Ten Conference Championship, the Michigan women's cross country team will compete in the Eastern Michigan University Classic tomorrow at the Huron Golf Club. The No. 14 Wolverines plan to use this meet to see who will be the eighth and possibly ninth runners at the conference championship, which will be held in Minneapolis. The team will sit out runners Katy Holbacher, Jen Barber, Michelle Slater, Katie McGregor, Elaine Fleck, Jen Stuht, Courtney Babcock and Pauline Arnill. Benching the runners will give all of them a chance to rest up for next week's tournament. It is still undetermined whether Babcock will even compete in the conference championship. She is still recovering from an injury suffered at a meet at Boston College September 16. The EMU Classic will help the Wolverines determine who will betheir ninth runner. Coach Mike Maguire will makethat runneravailable forthe Big Ten tournament if Babcock is still hampered by her injury. Even though Michigan is resting its top eight runners, this week's meet still holds importance for the team. "The meet will have some "We hant run bearing," McGuire said. "We'll be deciding on the ourb s eam eighth and ninth runners. It will also be good for the Siame D ston younger-athletes toget experi- ence." ee utIf e The Wolverines have been running hard practices this We're sta ti gto week in preparation for the competition. However, the things practices will lighten up as the EMU Classic and Big Tens together. approach. - Mike Maguire When asked about the pos- sibility of further injuries to Michigan women's cross his team due to the inconsis- country coach tent weather, McGuire did not seem worried. "We've tried to adapt to the weather," he said. "You can't conduct practice in fear. Injuries are a fact of life." "We have to roll with the punches and do what we can to minimize the chance of injuries. We knock on wood and keep our fingers crossed." The Wolverines No. 14 ranking is their lowest in four years. The team has had some troubles dealing with Babcock's injury. However, Michi- gan is hopeful that it will regain the form that has made it a perennial top- ranked team. "We haven't run our best team since Boston College," said McGuire. "But I feel we're starting to piece things back together." Ngrthwestem is In the run for the Rose Bowl. The Wildcats face off against Wiscolauin this Saturday. II start at quarterback, or if Todd Schultz will get the call again in his place. Regardless of who takes the snaps, the Spartans won't put the ball in the air much anyway. When the dust clears, the Greene machine will emerge victorious. Michigan State 24, Minnesota 13 Penn State (1-2, 4-2) at Iowa (2-0, 5-0) In Not-So-Happy Valley, Penn State is d the off to an uncharacteristically slow start. Meanwhile, Iowa has been fattening up on cupcake opponents, in anticipation of this crucial matchup. Last week's win over Purdue kept the " Nittany Lions from losing three straight for the first time since 1988, and now the frustrated Penn State squad is ready to erupt. The quarterback-receiver tandem of Wally Richardson and Bobby Engram is finally get- ting in sync, after hooking up nine times for203 yards and a touchdown last Saturday. Iowa has the conference's leading rusher, Sedrick Shaw, who racks up 158 yards per game. Linebacker Bobby Diaco is coming off an amazing 26-tackle performance that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Don't let the records of these two teams fool you. Joe Paterno will have his troops ready to expose the Hawkeyes as the pretenders they are. Penn State 41, Iowa 20 Purdue (0-2-1, 2-3-1) at Ohio State (2-0, 6-0) At first glance, this one looks like a no-brainer. But consider: Purdue has an outstanding running back in Mike Alstott, and ... OK, so maybe it is a no-brainer. The Buckeyes are simply too talented for the Boil- ermakers. If the Big Ten's top-rated signal-caller, Bobby Hoying, isn't throwing to the Big Ten's lead- ing receiver, Terry Glenn, he's handing off to two- time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Eddie George. The entire city of Columbus is in a frenzy. Barring injuries, this team could be on its way to a national title. This game could get ugly. Ohio State 49, Purdue 14 aI 0 m m n. x N' /I'S TOOEARLYIN THE YEAR TO THINK ABOUT MY RESUME. LET'S GRABA COSMIC PIZZA... AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE THINKING OF YOUR FUTURE! yn~) FOOTBALL CLEAT SALEM O!THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST '"" ' a .....