The Collegian Thursday, March 30
Sports
NCAA Tourney
The Final Four
by Michael A. Cifelli
Collegian Staff Writer
Final Four (at Seattle's Kingdome)
Michigan (28-7) vs. Illinois (31-4)
The Big 10 show arrives in Seattle. Both squads have a
wealth of weapons to put on the floor. The Fighting Minis'
coach Lou Henson has his team at their peak, while interim
coach Steve Fisher has rejuvenated the Wolverines. Fisher has
undoubtedly made a serious bid for the Michigan coaching job.
His players are on a shooting tear currently, led by the
extremely accurate Glen Rice. Rumeal Robinson is the
backcourt threat, while Loy Vaught, Sean Higgins, Demetrius
Calip and Terry Mills provide plenty of muscle and scoring
punch. Rice and co. are marksman from three-point land, and
have a never-say-die - attitude which should challenge a tough
Minidefense.
The Illini are in the fab four for the first time in 37 years.
Coach Henson's acrobatic crew like to play above the rim,
which they demonstrate often with an abundance of dazzling
dunks. Talehted guard Kendall Gill is the mainstay of the-
Mini, who are 23-0-with Gill in the line-up. Gill will most
likely be assigned to Robinson, a key backcourt matchup. Gill
is a proven ,defensiye specialist, holding. Sherman Douglas of
Syracti. to'one field goarin - thals6condlialf of thitir Midwest
regional, matchup last weekend. He is -also the Illinis' best
outside shoter. Gill
. has a superb supporting cast with
workhorse Kenny Battle, leading scorer Nick Anderson, and
intelligdra playmaker Stephen Bardo. Marcus Liberty, Lowell
Hamilton and Larry Smith provide depth. The look-alike
players may not be the
,only thing that has opponents
flustered; they have a pesty pressure defense that forces
numerous turnovers. Illinois won both conference matchups
against Michigan, but with a new. coach the Wolves have been
a-new - team. This Biglo Final Four loser goes home - winner
stays at the Dome. The game should go to-the wire if both
squads have the hot shot.
Duke (28-7) vs. Seton Hall (30-6)
Will a man named Danny lead the way once again? Mike
Krzyzewski seems to hope so. Danny Ferry's all around game
has carried the Blue Devils to their third Final Four appearance
in four years. Duke is coming off a big east regional victory
over top seed Georgetown which saw the Blue Devils play
textbook basketball. They have a young center on the rise in
Christian Laetner, who is beginning to take charge in the
paint. Phil Henderson and Robert Brickey are offensive
standouts, while guard Quin Snyder provides defense. Playing ,
confident tournament ball, Coach K's Devils look dangerous.
The Pirates of P.J. Carlesimo have been dabbed the
surprise team of the final four, but maybe not hat surprising.
The Big East runnerups have proven to be one of the toughest
squads to face in the final five minutes of play. The Hall has
had the, strongest kick down the stretch, with the poise to shut
down opponents and pull away. They conihine outside
shooting with muscle underneath, which they made look easy
against a solid UNLV squad in the regionals. The international -
•
connection of Puerto Rican Ramon Rams and Australian'
Andiew.Gaze lead the charge. Ramos, who returned from an
•
early round concussion, must rebound and score inside-for the •
nrates to succeed. Gaze is their sharpshooter-outside, a
'ciMsttuit three-point threat. The Hall also relies on -the.
' , :fol4yinaltirtg• of forwards Michael Cooper and John Mortetri:',
should the:key. inatchO•undezrneath: •.;. •
ike will i;*:' , fine•§se- - V47The urt*ga*st' the Haul's)4usck::: : •:• : :'
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Morris New Sox Skipper
Leaves for Beantown April 1
by Jim and Rick
Two Collegian Fools
• Dr. Greg Morris, former
assistant professor of English,
has been named the new Manager
of the Boston Red Sox. The
position became available when
their previous manager Joe
Morgan left the club to take a
full time snow plowing job in
the Yukon.
Morris was offered the job
after his name was brought up in
the Wade Boggs palimony suit.
"I was in this bar in
Pennsylvania waiting for Margo
when this guy came in to pick up
an order or chicken wings." the
All-star third baseman confessed.
"His wings weren't ready yet so
he turned to me and said, 'Hey,
aren't you Wade Boggs, that guy
who is an even better ball player
than Allan Trammell? ' of course
I agreed with him and new right
away that he would make a good
manager."
When questioned about his
newly appointed position, Morris
displayed excitement. "This
teaching stuff was always just a
temporary thing, in fact, I don't
even like Faulkner. I always
knew that I'd make it to the bigs
someday. "
Crack sports' journalist Todd
J. Irwin asked Morris about the
pressures involved with
managing in the ever volatile
American League East. "I can't
wait to be at the helm of such a
great ball club. I've have always
been a devoted fan of the Sox and
I can't wait to see the Tigers lose
up close and personal."
A student doing a bad
Page
impersonation of David
Letterman doing a bad
impersonation of Tiger's skipper
Sparky Anderson said, "That
wimpy English guy will never
make it. He may know
Hemingway and all that other
literary stuff, but he don't know
ball!"
Morris is rumored to be
taking Collegian editors Jim
Martin and Rick Cain to Boston
with him. "Both guys are out of
shape and probably won't see
much action, but Rick's from the
area and knows where all of the
good pizza places are and Jim -
well you can always use a good
towel boy."
There is also another rumour
that Morris is working on a deal
that would send Roger Clemens
to the Buffalo Bisons in exchange
for a lifetime supply of wings.
Clemens could not be reached for
comment.
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