'M' faces 2 toughies

The Michigan basketball team late Monday night waited to take off from the local Peoria, Ill., airport after its 63-58 disappointing loss to Bradley.

The team's plane had to be de-iced, and waited in a line of planes that needed the same wintry procedures. Sitting in a cold bus while this was going on, the Wolverines were delayed from heading back to Ann Arbor, having played their second game in three days during a four-game, eight-day stretch.

But it's the icy shooting of Michigan's Maceo Baston, Jerod Ward and Louis Bullock that needs warming up after their performance against the Braves. Despite Baston's two-of-four shooting, the trio combined to go 8-of-33 from the field.

Bullock and the Michigan guards will have to be on their game tonight when All-America candidate Earl Boykins and Eastern Michigan make the trip down Washtenaw Avenue to Crisler Arena in the 22nd meeting between the schools.

MALLORY S.E. FLOYD/Daily Maceo Baston likes moments such as this, when he asks, "Want Mayo with that?"

Playing only one game in Ypsilanti, the Wolverines (5-2) are a commanding 20-1 against the Eagles (2-3).

This could be Eastern Michigan's best opportunity to win since the two schools have recently played through different schedules. The Eagles should be rested and angry since their last game was Saturday night in their 81-76 loss to Dayton, in which Boykins scored a season-high 33 points. This will be Michigan's third game in a five-day span, starting with a home blowout against UNLV on Saturday afternoon and Monday night's game against Bradley.

After the Eastern Michigan game, the task gets no easier as the Wolverines play No. 1 Duke this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Crisler. The game will be televised on CBS. The Blue Devils look to avenge their 62-60 shocking loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium when Michigan's Robert Traylor slammed in the game-winning shot with seconds remaining, ending Duke's 103-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents.

But first things first. Michigan must concentrate on the Eagles' backcourt of Boykins (25 ppg) and Derrick Dial (14.8 ppg) before facing Duke's talented guard-duo of Steve Wojociechowski and Trajan Langdon.

Boykins, who is listed at 5-foot-5, is one of the quickest point guards in the nation. Last season, he led the 22-10 Eagles in scoring with 19.1 points and 4.6 assists per game.

For the Wolverines to keep up with Boykins, they will need to move quickly. This could be a problem for Bullock.

Bullock has struggled for most of the seven games this season. He is averaging 12.4 points and is shooting just 28.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc.

Part of the problem could be a developing foot injury. Bullock has an infected soft corn between his fourth and fifth toes on his left foot. Bullock saw the doctor today and is being treated with antibiotics. He shouldn't miss tonight's game.

But how's he going to guard the quick-footed Boykins?

"I hope my foot gets better," said Bullock immediately.

Travis Conlan, who says his right wrist is 80 percent, knows many of the Eagles' players, which adds a little extra.

"It's just like when you are playing Detroit or Michigan State," Conlan said. "You know everybody so you just got to go out there and play for those bragging rights so when you play them this summer, they can't talk to you and make fun of you because they beat you."

Eastern Michigan actually upset Duke in the first round of last season's NCAA tournament, but that was before this season's freshman class took the court. The quartet of Chris Burgess, Elton Brand, William Avery and Detroit Country Day's Shane Battier make up arguably the best freshman class in the nation.

12-10-97