The Behrend College collegian. (Erie, Pa.) 1993-1998, March 27, 1997, Image 11

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    ...And then there were Four
Minnesota, Kentucky, Arizona, and North Carolina
Plizga takes Kentucky, offers advice
March Madness is coming to a
close. Each round has produced its
own bit of madness, a trend that
continued in last weekend's play.
Fortunately I don't gamble or I
would have lost some serious cash
on my way to the Final Four.
My upset special team, lowa
State, let me down when they lost
to UCLA in the final 10 seconds of
play on Thursday. A Cameron
Dollar lay-up in the final seconds
kept ISU out of the Elite Eight.
I can't blame the Cyclones
though, they did everything they
had to do to win, except stop
Dollar at the end of the game.
Although it did look like he pushed
off to create the shot.
My predictions were so bad I
didn't even get one of the teams in
MIME GREEN
collegiate consultant on drugs and alcohol
Wednesday, April 2 • 7:oo p.m.
Reed Union Building Lecture Hall
sponsored by the Penn State'Behrend BACCHUS organization
funded by SGA, NCAA, U Northwest Regional Highway Safety
the Elite Eight in the Southeast
Conference.
Providence surprised me by
continuing to play tremendous
basketball and Arizona knocked off
Kansas.
I expected Kansas not only to
advance to the Final Four, but to
win the National Championship.
I did fairly well in the other
regions picking Kentucky and
North Carolina to get to the Final
Four.
All in all I picked two of the
Final Four contestants. For the
whole tournament I lost 15 games
while winning 43.
The battle to reach the
championship game will take place
on March 29 with the national
champion being crowned on
MAKING SMART CHOICES
6 14 % 54V 0t%
\)tkel4s.
"Mike Green's presentation
to our athletes on the abuse
of alcohol and Its consequen-
cm was most effective and
made a positive impression
on our squad." Joe Paterno
Monday March 31. Now for my
Final Four predictions.
North Carolina will reach the
final by over-powering Arizona.
The Tar Heels have gotten great
guard play from Shammond
Williams and Ed Cota to go with
the dominant play of Antwan
Jamison.
Having 7'3" Serge Zwikker
doesn't hurt the Heels chance of
reaching the final either.
Arizona just isn't smart enough to
beat UNC. The Wildcats nearly
lost to Providence after having a
commanding lead because they
didn't get the ball to the right
people.
For Arizona to have a chance at
winning freshman guard Mike
Bibby will need to control his
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teammates and the game.
Arizona's high scoring tandem of
Michael Dickerson and Miles
Simon will also need to improve
their shot selection.
One of the most exciting games
of the tournament could be
Kentucky's match-up with
Minnesota. The Golden Gophers
have come out of nowhere this year
to show that they can play the game
ton.
Both teams have similar styles
and like to use the depth that they
have. The game should be an up
tempo pace with a lot of dunks,
three pointers, and fouls.
Despite both teams depth foul
trouble will be the key to the game.
Kentucky's injuries will make this
even more important for them.
will battle in
The Wildcat's experience under
this type of pressure will help them
defeat the Golden Gophers. ROn
Mercer elevated his game since the
injury to Derek Anderson.
He has risen even more after he
announced his intention to enter the
NBA draft. Mercer will need to
use all of his skills to offset
Minnesota's top guns Bobby
Jackson and Sam Jacobson.
Kentucky will win keeping
Coach Rick Pitirio's back-to-back
NCAA title hopes alive. That puts
the all-time winningest coach Dean
Smith's team against the top young
coach's in the final.
I think Kentucky will prevail.
UNC has an advantage on the front
line but their backcourt can be
inconsistent.
Men's
Netters open season with high hopes
by Lloyd Daubber
Contributing Writer
The men's tennis team, at
Behrend, went through a face-lift
this year.
Four of last year's top six have
moved on to bigger and better
things.
Coach Chuck Keenan was left
with two sophomores and a host of
eager freshman.
Sophomore co-captain Ryan
Meroski is the team's number one
player.
"Ryan's leadership abilities on
and off the court will be a great
asset to the entire team this year,"
commented Keenan.
Freshman sensation Jeff Powell
holds down the number two singles
spot with a forehand that makes his
opponents shake with fear.
Art Faix, sophomore co-captain,
holds his own at third singles.
"Art had a great season last year
at number four (11-5 singles match
record)," said Keenan. His hard
work in the preseason enabled him
to make the jump to third in
singles," vowed Keenan.
Newcomers Wes Miller
(McDowell), Ferroz Raham, and
Phil Defabio round out the final
three singles spots respectively.
Meroski and Faix display the true
meaning of teamwork by playing
first doubles.
Meroski showed excitement at
playing with Faiz by saying, "Art's
style complements mine nicely.
Together we are a force to be dealt
with."
Miller teams his consistancy
with the raw power of Powell at
second doubles. Defabio teams
Sports Quiz
by Larry Duncan
7. Who followed Avery Brundage
1. What do hunters traditionally as International Olympic Committee
call out when sighting a fox? chairman?
2. How many laps make up the 8. How many yards are there from
Indianapolis 500? Ii llf in Canadir
3. What is the most expensive com
petitive sport?
4. Whit team were the Yankees
playing when Dave Winfield's ball
accidentally hit and killed a seagull? - UN Poi *L IN '9 tratioama owl '5
5. Who said, "Nice guys finish !sAef onp3 muomi •t, 9luptu-ups,C
last"? oami •E !cm -z !_oq-,Cusi„. • I
Indianapolis
Mercer will take advantage of the
Carolina defense and solidify
himself as a top three draft pick.
If Kentucky does win I also
wouldn't be surprised if the Boston
Celtics draft Mercer in an attempt
to bring Coach Pitino in as their
savior.
Facing the pressure of
Kentucky's defensive will
neutralize both freshman Ed Cota
and Shammond Williams.
If Kentucky does win the
national championship it will be
one of the biggest surprises of the
year. Despite a series of injuries
to key personel (Derek Anderson,
Allen Edwards, and Jeff
Sheppard) a championship
seemed unlikely for the persistant
`Cats.
Tennis
with Ivan McCracken to complete
the doubles line-up.
The Behrend men's tennis team
started their season with an event
filled trip to South Carolina over
Spring Break.
According to Faix, the fourteen
hour van ride was very important to
the team. "The team really didn't
know each other before this trip,
being togetherin the same place for
such a long time allowed us to gain
team chemistry."
Behrend got off on the right foot
with an eye-opening 8-1 victory
over St. Thomas Moore
(Cincinnati) College. The netters
followed this victory with a tough
loss to Division 111 powerhouse,
Mount Union.
Behrend rounded out the rain
shortened week at 2 7 1 with a 5-4
victory over Bluefield, an extremely
talented NAIA school.
"(The Bluefield victory) shows
the true potential this team
posesses," said Keenan.
Dealing with the cold weather of
Erie, as opposed to the sunshine of
South Carolina has been difficult.
"The team dropped it's next two
matches to Grove City and
Allegheny.
The team sits at 2-3 right now,
but Coach Keenan is very
optimistic about the team's future.
"We have just completed the
hardest part of the season," he said.
"Now we can relax and concentrate
on our main objective, a winning
season."
If this young team can keep it's
play at such a high level, a winning
season is definately in it's future.
The netters are off until next
Wednesday when they face Fredonia
State University here at Behrend.
th JACK NICKLAUS
6. What's the maximum number of
clubs a golfer is allowed to use in a
round?