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Real race may be for 2nd

We are told from childhood that no question is a stupid question. The only stupid question is the one not asked.

You may ask, then, who has the best chance of winning this year's Big Ten Conference Championships, held today through Saturday at Canham Natatorium?

Stupid question. Ask anyone in the Big Ten and you'll get the same answer.

"I really don't think it's even a question that Michigan will walk away with the Big Ten title," Minnesota coach Dennis Dale said. "The question will be the battle for second."

What is questionable this year is the full concentration of all of the Big Ten squads on the conference title. With the upcoming Olympic Trials, many swimmers are focused on trimming their times to qualify for the national team.

Olympic hopefuls will be swimming unshaven, as they focus on tapering for the trials, March 6-12. Shaven athletes who have tapered for Big Tens will have an edge this weekend. This puts a big question mark on the psyches of many athletes.

"(It may be a little discouraging to lose) because (anyone trying for the Olympics is) racing against people who are shaven," said Wolverine Olympic hopeful John Piersma. "The difference in Big Tens this year is that a lot of guys are focusing on the Olympic trials and now we have to change our focus for the time being."

Despite the split focus of the squads, Big Ten competition this year should not suffer.

The Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Five Big Ten schools have consistently placed in the College Swimming Coaches Association top 25 poll.

Michigan has maintained its No. 1 ranking since claiming last year's NCAA National Championship. Other Big Ten squads joining the Wolverines in the Feb. 6 poll are No. 9 Minnesota, No. 16 Iowa, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 22 Indiana.

Minnesota is expected to show well in the sprint events. Martin Zielinski and Derek Williams make the Golden Gophers favorites in the butterfly events. Williams looks to better his Big Ten second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. Bernie Zeruhn and Manolis Lentaris add to the Gophers' roster in the freestyle events.

"Minnesota is the most well-balanced team we will face," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. "They are strong in the relays, diving -- they really have no weaknesses."

After a decade of dominance in the breaststroke in which Michigan featured world-class swimmers Mike Barrowman and Eric Wunderlich, the team currently finds itself depleted in that stroke.

"After 10 years of dominating the breaststroke in the NCAAs, (because of the lost standouts) we may not even compete well in the event in the Big Tens," Urbanchek said. "This is where our most noticeable gap is."

This void in Michigan's roster will give the other Big Ten squads a chance to claim points from an otherwise strong Wolverine roster. Purdue's Vilmos Kovacs should take the breaststroke events.

"Willy has already qualified for his national team, so he is really focused and should dominate the breaststroke," Urbanchek said.

Minnesota is anticipating a boost as backstroker Duane Dobko returns to the pool. Dobko is recovering from mononucleosis and a back injury, which has kept him from training in his premier event.

Michigan State's Ian Mull has a home-pool advantage, which should translate into comfort in Canham. Mull has been training for the Olympic Trials in Michigan's Olympic-size facility. This familiarity should give Mull an advantage in the individual medley.

Minnesota is a strong favorite in the diving competitions. P.J. Bogart took first in the one-meter and three-meter springboard events as well as the 10-meter platform at last year's Big Tens. He carried his form into the NCAA Championships, taking first in the one-meter.

"Bogart is definitely the favorite," said Michigan diving coach Dick Kimball. "Aside from him, I think Ohio State and Iowa are strong squads. Iowa has two kids from Spain who have been diving well for them."

Without question, the Big Ten Championships will illustrate the conference's strength in the water.

"There will really be some fierce competition, especially for second place," Dale said. "(Minnesota) was fortunate to finish second last year. Other teams are really threatening us. They are looking to get through us to get a shot at Michigan.

"(Aside from Michigan's dominance) it will be a close meet with a great showing by Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa."

This viewpoint is not limited to the coaches.

"Each team has a few swimmers that can really compete," Michigan swimmer Tom Malchow said. "We have the numbers -- but who knows?"

Good question.