'M' looks to make up for Johns' injury

For Michigan women's basketball coach Sue Guevara, it's a simple math equation.

If you subtract 20 points and 10 rebounds from one part of your lineup, those same stats must re-appear somewhere else - otherwise, you're in trouble.

Thus, with leading scorer and rebounder Pollyanna Johns out with torn cartilage in her knee and doubtful to play tomorrow against No. 17 Wisconsin, Michigan (5-3 Big Ten, 13-5 overall) hopes the rest of its players can pick up the slack.

The Wolverines had no problem doing so in last Sunday's victory over Michigan State, but the versatile Badgers could pose more of a threat. Despite struggling in the early portion of the conference season, Wisconsin (2-5, 13-6) presents a balanced attack with three players among the conference's scoring leaders.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Ann Lemire and the rest of the Wolverines will have a tough test tomorrow against Wisconsin at the brand new Kohl Center. Michigan must shoulder the scoring and rebounding burden usually assumed by Pollyanna Johns, who is not expected to play.

When Johns went down against Michigan State, Michigan's guards were able to shoulder the scoring and rebounding loads. In that game, Ann Lemire and Stacey Thomas combined for 39 points and 15 rebounds.

Against Wisconsin, Guevara will be looking more to forwards Kenisha Walker and Tiffany Willard, as well as center Katie Dykhouse.

"I'm not saying (to Walker, Willard and Dykhouse): 'You have to get 20 points and 10 rebounds by yourself,'" Guevara said. "We need to spread it around. If they each get eight or 10 points and six or seven rebounds, we'll be OK."

Despite their mediocre Big Ten record, the Badgers remain in the top 25 on the strength of their non-conference performances.

In the last three weeks, they handed No. 18 Georgia a loss in Athens, and defeated No. 16 Western Kentucky at home. They also notched a victory over No. 13 Stanford earlier in the season.

Senior point guard Katie Voigt and freshman forward LaTonya Sims lead the Badgers with 17.7 and 12.7 points per game, respectively.

"They're a pretty good team; I don't think their Big Ten record is indicative of their talent," Guevara said. "Sims is very athletic, and a candidate for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Voigt is strong from the outside."

Wisconsin will be playing in the newly-completed Kohl Center for just the second time ever. A Big Ten-record 16,296 showed up to witness the Badgers' 66-63 loss to Iowa on Tuesday.

"Wisconsin always has a nice crowd, and I think it'll be a good experience for our players," Guevara said. "There's nothing like a big crowd booing you."

There will be few boos directed at the Wolverines on Sunday when they return home to face Iowa (5-1, 8-7). Just the opposite of the Badgers, the Hawkeyes struggled in their non-conference slate, but have torn through the Big Ten, losing only to No. 23 Purdue.

Last year's Big Ten tournament champion, the Hawkeyes advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual quarterfinalist Connecticut.

Iowa presents an imposing frontline, with 6-foot-4 towers Tangela Smith and Amy Hering among the top 10 rebounders in the Big Ten.

Although she remains focused on Wisconsin, Guevara concedes that she will respect Iowa's size, forcing the Hawkeyes to prove that they can win the game from the perimeter.

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