Russians set to invade Crisler today

If Michigan had trouble preparing for Athletes In Action, a team that travels throughout the United States playing whomever it can, imagine the problems the Wolverines will have getting ready for tonight's opponent - it comes from the other side of the world.

The Russian Select Team invades Crisler Arena at 7:30 p.m. for Michigan's second and final exhibition game - one last tune-up before the start of the regular season on Saturday against Western Michigan.

Michigan lost its first preseason contest one week ago, 95-93, to AIA. But more important, the Wolverines lost their backcourt leader and surest ball-handler during the game. Travis Conlan fractured his wrist diving to the floor and will be sideline

SARA STILLMAN/Daily Maceo Baston and the Michigan men's basketball team will face a foe from the other side of the planet. The Russian Select team arrives at Crisler Arena today.

d for 3-5 weeks.

His absence means Robbie Reid's presence takes on additional importance - the transfer guard will have to handle the vast majority of the point guard duties without Conlan's help. Although Reid did much of the quarterbacking against AIA, Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said that the ball would have been in Conlan's hands down the stretch. Michigan blew a 15-point second half lead in the loss.

"I know that I'm gonna be there and I'm gonna play, and that I've got to come up with maybe some increased output offensively, or defensively, or whatever," Reid said. "But I'm able to take that challenge and feel good about that.

"And it's tough to see a guy like Travis, who's worked so hard in the offseason, it's his senior year and he comes out and he breaks his wrist. For something like that to happen to him is too bad."

Also affected by Conlan's absence will probably be reserve guard Ron Oliver, who likely will see additional playing time to spell Reid and Louis Bullock in the backcourt. Oliver, a former walk-on who was granted a scholarship last year, did not play at all against AIA.

After the top three and Oliver, however, the Wolverines are thin in the backcourt. Forwards Jerod Ward and Brandon Smith can handle the ball, but neither has played serious minutes anywhere other than forward. In fact, Smith has never played serious minutes anywhere at all - the 6-foot-7 freshman's first action in a Michigan uniform was in the loss to AIA.

All of this makes the eventual decision of football wide receiver Tai Streets even more interesting. Last year, Streets played guard for the basketball team after the football season ended, but he has not yet announced whether he will play again this year.

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