Knight looks for questions after loss

People are still talking about the close-to-perfection performance the Michigan basketball team showcased Sunday against Indiana - and about Indiana coach Bobby Knight's entertaining-as-usual post-game comments on the disaster.

Knight's entrance to the press conference room Sunday was announced three times - and three times he didn't appear.

A roomful of anxious media waited patiently for the General following his team's bewildering 112-64 loss to No. 21 Michigan.

And his entrance didn't disappoint.

Entering through an auxiliary door unused by every other person in the room, Knight, who had suffered his second-worst defeat of his 33-year career as Indiana coach, requested that "somebody come up with a really good question."

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Jerod Ward and the rest of the Wolverines had a record-setting outing against Indiana on Sunday. Michigan finished with a school-record 15 3-pointers.

All the while, Knight remained standing, much to the chagrin of a television reporter who asked him to sit for the cameras.

Michigan's clear domination of the Hoosiers left Knight reluctant to talk to the media, but a Detroit reporter took a chance asking how Michigan played Sunday.

Knight responded in kind.

"How do you think they played?" Knight asked.

The reporter said Michigan was "awesome."

That was enough fuel for Knight to make a sarcastic response.

"Well, I know a hell of a lot more than you do, so you could imagine how I thought they played," Knight said.

The clamps also came down on the Indiana players after the game. Repeated attempts to speak with the Hoosiers were denied, as the defeated Hoosiers hurried to their bus soon after dressing.

But it appeared that they were just following their coach's lead.

Louis Bullock's attempt to shake Knight's hand after the game was ignored.

Quick Healer: Two weeks after injuring his foot at Minnesota, Maceo Baston appears primed for a return. Last week proved beneficial to his recovery process. Last Wednesday, his foot was examined, and his cast was removed two days later.

After a workout yesterday, Baston walked out of the Michigan lockerroom with no crutches, and no obvious limp.

"It's not really sore," Baston said. "I'm just making sure I don't reinjure it."

Baston said he has been exercising on a stairmaster, doing light bench presses

and using the exercise bike in his workouts, but he's no longer hopping around on crutches.

Even though Michigan trainer Steve Stricker said last week that a return for this Saturday's Wisconsin game would be a "long shot," Baston said he's itching to play against the Badgers in his final game at Crisler Arena.

"I just want to get the opportunity to thank the fans for their support in my four years here," said Baston, referring to Senior Day, when the seniors usually walk out on the court with their parents.

Playing in the Big Ten Tournament, which is to be held in Chicago's United Center from March 5-8, is important to Baston. Michigan's first-round opponent will likely be Indiana, and if the Wolverines win that game, then Michigan State could be next in line.

"Playing Indiana and possibly Michigan State in the (Big Ten) Tournament would make up for the two games I missed against them," Baston said.

Quick Change: Two months after squaring off for the first time, the pendulum has swung in Michigan's direction.

When Michigan faced Indiana in Bloomington on Jan. 6, the Hoosiers dominated. After racing out to an early lead, the Hoosiers fought off Michigan behind 33 points from forwards Andrae Patterson and William Gladness.

But on Sunday, the duo was insignificant, contributing a mere six points in 35 minutes.

Patterson did not score, while Gladness pulled down half as many rebounds as he had in the first meeting.

Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe attributed the defensive shutdown to Michigan's adjustments.

"Defensively, we're more conducive guarding them without Maceo (Baston)," Ellerbe said. "They don't have a low post player in the program."

But with Maceo, "that matchup is difficult for us."

Quick Gunners: After a full season of bombing away from beyond the 3-point arc, the results were plentiful for Michigan on Sunday.

With three players - Bullock, Robbie Reid and Jerod Ward - nailing four triples apiece, Michigan finished with a school record 15 3-pointers.

The total was one short of the Big Ten single-game record set by Purdue on Feb. 7.

Entering the game, Michigan was averaging seven 3-pointers per game and shooting at a 40-percent clip for the season.

Sunday, the Wolverines finished 15-of-25 from beyond the arc.

02-24-98