The madness begins

Basketball hoping it's 'deja vu all over again'

ATLANTA - The similarities are eerie.

In 1989, interim coach Steve Fisher's Michigan team started the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed in Atlanta. The Wolverines would go on to win six straight games in a magical tournament run that culminated in the school's first and only basketball national championship.

Tonight, interim coach Brian Ellerbe's Michigan team is scheduled to begin play in the 1998 NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed in Atlanta's Georgia Dome against No. 14 seed Davidson at 7:40 p.m.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan guard Louis Bullock and forward Brandun Smith laugh as they beat their teammates during a 3-point

This is Michigan's first trip to the NCAAs in two years. Last year, the Wolverines weren't offered a bid but won the less prestigious NIT. Even though they're excited to be back in the hunt for an NCAA title, the Wolverines no doubt hope the results of this tournament are more like 1989, rather than their past two trips to the Big Dance.

In 1995, the ninth-seeded Wolverines were knocked out in the first round by No. 8 seed Western Kentucky. In 1996, despite going in as a No. 7 seed, Michigan was eliminated in the first round once again, this time by Texas, the No. 10 seed.

Senior forward Maceo Baston would like nothing more than to erase the memories of his two previous NCAA Tournament appearances.

"The first time I went, my freshman year, it was a bad experience - we lost to Western Kentucky," said Baston, a native of Dallas, Texas. "My sophomore year I had a pretty good game, but we still lost to my rival back home, Texas. I had to go home to a lot of lip-talking."

But this year should be different. At least that's what the team and its fans hope.

For starters, Michigan (11-5 Big Ten, 24-8 overall) is on a roll coming into the tournament, having won its past six games. And thanks to their recent surge, which included winning last weekend's Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines have made their job tonight a little bit easier.

Thought by many to be on their way to a No. 4 or 5 seed, the Wolverines improved their standing with the NCAA selection committee with their recent push. As a result, Michigan, now ranked No. 12 in the country, earned a higher seed and a first-round date with Southern Conference's Davidson (13-2, 20-9).

Although the Wolverines are confident, they know upsets are not uncommon when it comes to March Madness.

"We know we have to come out and play hard for 40 minutes, or it could be our last game," co-captain Robert Traylor said. "And I know I don't want it to end this fast."

Davidson actually leads the series history with Michigan, 3-2. The Wolverines won in their last meeting, 82-70 on Dec. 30, 1995. Those Wildcats who remember beating Michigan three years ago said they hope to benefit from the experience.

"It kind of helps take away the mystique factor because you're familiar with the personnel," senior guard Mark Donnelly said.

Like Michigan, the Wildcats are also streaking into the tournament, having won 12 games in a row and 14 of their last 15, including the Southern Conference Tournament title and their third-straight regular-season conference championship.

Davidson likes to play a fast-paced game orchestrated by junior guard Ali Ton, who leads the team in assists, and by Donnelly, the team's leading scorer. On the inside, the Wildcats will counter the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Traylor with a big man of their own - 6-foot-8, 240-pound center Stephen Marshall.

"They like to push the ball up. They're very fundamentally sound offensively and defensively," said Michigan guard Travis Conlan, whose assignment will be to contain Donnelly. "We just got to play our style of basketball and try to get into them and play Michigan's tempo, running our half-court offense and pounding it inside."

Baston remembers the trouble Davidson caused the Wolverines the last time they met.

"They ran us off the court for most of the game," Baston said. "I'm sure they're going to be playing hard, up-and-down, in this game, too."

Ellerbe is not taking his counterpart, Davidson coach Bob McKillop, lightly either.

"He's an excellent coach," Ellerbe said. "I think very soon, if he hasn't already gotten his name involved in jobs all over the country, he will definitely be considered one of the better coaches in the country."

Should the Wolverines get past Davidson, they would be scheduled to face the winner of tonight's late game, UCLA-Miami, on Sunday at 4:56 p.m. A victory on Sunday would earn the Wolverines a spot in the Sweet 16 and a trip to St. Petersburg, Fla. next weekend, where they could face perennial powers Kentucky and Duke.

If everything goes like it did in 1989, Michigan could end up in San Antonio, Texas, the following weekend for the Final Four. And Baston said he would be the happiest Wolverine of them all.

"It's my goal, I'd be in Texas - back home," Baston said. "It'd be the best ending I could have in my career here."

03-13-98