Midwest conferences wide open Michigan could be upset winner
By Mike Nadel The Associated Press
Though four fairly fabulous fellows remain in Ann Arbor, Mich., Chris Webber's early departure to the NBA should let other programs challenge Michigan for the unofficial title of Best in the Midwest.
Upstarts such as Minnesota and Wisconsin of the Big Ten, Marquette of the Great Midwest and Oklahoma State of the Big Eight could emerge as the class of the nation's heartland.
But don't crv for Steve Fisher and the Wolverines.
With juniors Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson left from the Fab Five, Michigan still has a shot at its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA championship game.
"Our last year's strengths are this year's liabilities," Fisher said. "We don't have the size. I'm not saying we're not going to have a pretty good team: I think we will. But we are far from a team that should be a prohibitive favorite."
Michigan will get pushed in the Big Ten by two schools that haven't won titles in years.
Minnesota, coming off an impressive run to the 1993 NIT title, has set its sights on its first conference championship since 1982. Voshon Lenard leads the Gophers, who return their entire starting lineup.
"I feel confident that we have the potential to be a Top-20 club," coach Clem Haskins said. "We have a chance to not only get into postseason play but also a chance to advance."
Wisconsin, with Michael Finley and Tracy Webster being joined by 6-foot-10 freshman Rashard Griffith, one of the nation's top recruits, is looking for its first Big Ten crown and NCAA tournament appearance since 1947.
Finley "is entering a different phase of his career," said
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Badgers coach Stu Jackson.
"He's going to be very much a marked man," Jackson said. "This year we'll be a little deeper and perhaps a little more talented, and that will relieve some of the pressure. But our freshmen are going to have to grow up quickly."
Though Indiana lost Calbert Cheaney and Greg Graham off its 31-4 team, it is never wise to count out a team coached by Bob Knight.
Several other Big Ten teams may be able to ride their top players into the NCAA tournament.
The brightest star is Purdue's 6-8 Glenn Robinson, already projected as the No.1 NBA draft pick if he leaves school after this season.
"When you have a player with Robinson's size who can play the perimeter, it's really hard to match up," Illinois coach Lou Henson said.
Henson has his own outstanding forward in Deon Thomas. Michigan State's Shawn Respert and Ohio State's Lawrence Funderburke also excel.
Marquette, in a constant rebuilding phase since Al McGuire retired after winning the 1977 NCAA title, looks like the best of the Great Midwest, one of the nation's emerging conferences.
Coach Kevin O'Neill has five of his top six players back from last season's 20-8 team, including 7-1 shot-blocker Jim McIlvaine, forward Damon Key and playmaker Tony Miller.
"It's nice to have more than one senior who's going to contribute." O'Neill said. "It's our deepest team."
Cincinnati, a 1992 Final Four team that almost derailed North Carolina's championship bid last season, should be good again. Memphis State lost Anfernee Hardaway to the
pros but gets outstanding forward David Vaughn back after his knee surgery.
DePaul has an outside chance at the title.
The biggest force in the Big Eight figures to be Oklahoma State and 7-footer Bryant Reeves. "Big Country" was the league's player of the year as a sophomore last season, averaging 19.5 points and 10 rebounds a game.
"I'm not sure he can improve at the rate that we've seen, but I think he has a chance to be better," said coach Eddie Sutton, who has three other starters returning from the 20-9 team. "On paper, we should be picked No. 1."
Two-time defending champions Kansas and Missouri will challenge in the Big Eight. Kansas must replace four starters. Missouri, with four starters back, can return to postseason play after a one-year ban because of NCAA sanctions.
Under Pete Gillen, who has coached Xavier to a 180-67 record in eight seasons, the Musketeers should continue to dominate the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.
Illinois State tries to defend its Missouri Valley Conference crown in what should be a wide-open race.
After losing the last two Mid-Continent Conference title games, Illinois-Chicago may be ready to take the next step.
Miami, Western Michigan, Ohio and Ball State are top contenders in the Mid-American Conference.
Texas was seventh in the Southwest Conference last season, and Tom Penders will rely on transfers Tremaine Wingfield and Rich McLver to get back to the top of the league.
Northeast Louisiana lost four starters, but there is still enough left for the Indians to have a good run at their fifth straight Southland Conference title.
A preview of the western conferences by The Associated Press was not available in time to be included in this issue.
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November 17, 1993 University Daily Kansan • COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
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