L
Page
Thurs
November 2,1$
Blue sti thletes in
first exbition game
By Brent McIntosh
Daily Sports Editor
As the Michigan Wolverines tipped
off their 1995-96 basketball season last
night, they confirmed two sneaking
suspicions of Wolverine watchers ev-
erywhere.
Yes, Jerod Ward can actually play
this game.
Yes, Robert Traylor is huge.
Other than that, not much was clear,
mostly because the Wolverines will
need to face a stronger opponentbefore
they can answer the questions that face
them.
The Wolverines out-jumped, out-
muscled and out-shot Athletes in Ac-
tion-whichwastobeexpected-and
prevailed, 101-90. AIA, made up of
former college also-rans, is part of the
sports ministry of the Campus Crusade
for Christ and is a perennial college
exhibition opponent.
There is a reason the athletes of Ath-
letes in Action aren't seeing action in
the NBA. These guys aren't great. The
big name on their team is Rod Foster,
who started for UCLA's national run-
ner-up squad in 1980 and saw some
time in the NBA in the mid-80s.
So it was no wonder that Michigan
had little trouble in dispatching them.
Ward led the Wolverines and looked
much like the player observers had ex-
pected him to be last year after a cel-
ebrated high school career. The sopho-
more swingman had 15 points in the
first half, as the Wolverines seizedcon-
trol of the game from the outset.
Michigan grabbed an 11-4 lead and
"What can you say? He's a horse."
- Scott Highmar
Athletes in Action forward, on Michigan's Robert Trayl
led athalftime, 47-40. AIA managed to
close the gap to three points early in the
second half, but Michigan built its lead
back to a maximum of 14 behind 19 of
31 second-half shooting.
"This is the kind of game I'm hoping
Jerod will deliver with some consis-
tency this year," Michigan coach Steve
Fisher said. "Last year's last year; last
yearisnomore. I like whathe's doing."
Ward hit four of his seven three-
pointers on his way to a 24-point, five-
rebound performance on only fifteen
shots.
"Every time we got it down to seven
or eight, Ward was going to hit the
jumper,"AIA coach Sharm Scheuerman
said. "Then on the boards, (Maceo)
Baston was awfully tough."
Baston's 19 points were overshad-
owed by his domination on the boards.
The sophomore forward hauled down
19 rebounds, eight of them offensive.
However, it was Traylor, the man-
mountain, that many of the fans had
come to see.
The 6-foot-8, 300-pound freshman
center didn't disappoint, scoring 12
points on five dunks and miserable 2-
11 free throw shooting in his debut.
Three of those jams left the backboard
swaying like a drunk in a tornado.
"What can you say?" said forward
Scott Highmark, who led AIA with
points. "He's a horse. He's going to
a force in the Big Ten."
Traylor nearly created a little p
playing time for himself when
blocked a shot in the first hlfJ
landed straddling Baston, who I
drawn a charge on Highmark.,;al
foot either way and the already-t
Baston was a little thinner.
"I was scared," Baston said. ''
scared when he's around me abou
fall. I don't want to get any btol
bones. Threehundredpounds,youJk
Traylor's fellow freshman,:All
White,looked alittle confused at i
but he also showed off the smooth
that brought him accolades last yea
a senior at Inkster. The freshman
five of 10 shots and grabbed six boa
without appearing to break a sweit;
his most spectacular play addednc
ing to his point total. -
With 6:25 to go in the game, WI
broke to the elbow and got an entry;p
from Travis Conlan, which heimin
ately dumped back over his head -
look - to a cutting Traylor, whops
a two-handed dunk that had more
thority than many cabinet position
See CAGERS, Page
Michigan
freshman forward
Albert White
dunks for two of
his 11 points
yesterday against
Athletes in
Action.
JONATHAN LURIE/Daily
GRIDIES1
sc ate pr staer
1, Mich, atMth. St.
2, ll. at Iow
3.Penn St. at N'etr
4. Wis, at Purdue
5. Ohio St. at Minn.
Wildcats could take tumble this weeken
O Ls
Q~-
VrIj 11
Thursday, November 2
Noon - 4:00pm
Michigan Union
Graduate and Professional
School Day
*Meet with representatives or simply pick up packets from schools across the
country.
*Graduate programs represented include: MBA, Liberal Arts, Public Health, Social
Work, International Affairs, Journalism, Industrial Relations, Education, Public
Policy, Psychology and more!
*Uncover admissions requirements, financial aid"-
procedures d& internships.
*Checkoutprogramco*-
Pre-Cc '
Success St s r
Tuesday,C " c11;
ExploringG J0 .
Poliical scie 0
Wednesday, 1
Pychogy o 's s Public Health
Wednesday, No.mber 1.6:10-7:30 pm
Conference Briefing Books
review participating institutions'
October 9 - November 9
By Chaim Nyman
Daily Sports Writer
To say the least, this Big Ten season
is going to be one to remember.
Sure, the Michigan-Ohio State game
will once again determine the confer-
encerepresentativeinPasadenaonNew
Year's Day,butNorthwesternhasjoined
the Wolverines and Buckeyes as con-
tenders.
The Wildcats,
who have not won Aroun
the conference
since 1949, have
made it clear that
they are no longer
content with being
the Big Ten's
punchingbag. With
surprising wins
over Notre Dame "
(wow!), Michigan
(huh?), and Wis-
consin (gee,maybe
these guys reallyI
are good!), North-
western has not
only established itself on top of the
conference standings, but also holds
the No. 6 ranking in each of college
football's various polls.
If the Wildcats can continue their
unbeaten conference streak, only Ohio
State will be able to deny them a berth
in the most prestigious of all bowls, the
Rose (actually, this year it's the Fiesta
Bowl, but around the Big Ten, things
don't change much).
The Buckeyes have also been im-
pressive. After plowing through an ex-
tremely tough schedule, Ohio State is a
nationalchampionshipcontender. How-
ever, the Buckeyes are ranked No.4-
behind every other undefeated team.
This wouldn't be the first time the Big
Ten was robbed of a national champi-
onship.
With three teams in the top ten, this
weekend's Big Ten games will be more
exciting than years past when one or
two teams domi-
id the nated the rest. The
run forthe Rosesis
still wide open!
Penn State (3-2
Big Ten, 6-2 over-
all) at Northwest-
ern (5-0, 7-1)
After facing ev-
ery other Big Ten
powerhouse except
Ohio Stateplaying
a down Penn State
team in. Evanston
probably doesn't
scare the Wildcats
- but it should.
The Nittany Lions have never lost to
Northwestern, even if the rivalry only
covers two games. Joe Paterno is the
most experienced coach in the Big Ten
and arguably the best in the country.
Experience doesn't translate into an-
other fluky upset at the hands of the
Wildcats.
Nittany Lion quarterback Wally
Richardson should have no problem
finding All-American receiver Bobby
Engram and tailback Mike Archie
See BIG TEN, Page 9A
. . ............. ...... ..
For more information inquire at
CP&P's Information Desk
The Usemstoi Midchgan
Career Plannmg Plac4ent
Dion ofStAfa,,
Northwestern running back Darnell Autry gained 171 yards against Penn
last season.
.,, ,
Sunday specia
Wolverines score, You save.
50/0 off EVERY TOUCHDOWN,
f
up to 30/o on all UIVERSITY OF MCH lGfN items.
I
GuatMMlactif 2
ToIlvvSa
Mekiand
Da oar,UaE $
ishuunesh~uri $719
40.umn ud~e anBdfm oitpia t a5B,.i r
Cllt today for elba' woeldwht.destinaf nots
"Votd 19WaaBe TmWisw~~n Aflar,
122,S.UfIve9Il) i#204
8-20"
Michan Book and Supply
S. State Street.
Ann 6rbor, Ml 48104
Corner of State and M. University
ome game hours:
onday-Fd 946
Saturday 30-7
Sunday af - o
Wilid Sunday after game only
I
I
1
i