Cameron, of course, it different. It's full of Crazies.
"They get there way before the game and they're just screamin'," Michigan senior guard Louis Bullock said.
Technically, it's called Cameron Indoor Stadium. And now that Robert Traylor is gone to cool his overiszed heels in the NBA, it might be the structure that most captivates the college basketball world.
"That's just an amazing atmosphere, really what college basketball should be about." Bullock said. "I think they get the most out of their players by being so enthused."
Actually, how could Traylor ever compete? He broke a backboard. Cameron has broken hearts - lots of them.
But never Michigan's since Bullock has been on the team. In fact, it was Traylor who broke the Blue Devils' hearts two seasons ago, slamming home a Michigan victory as time ran out in 1996.
That shut the Crazies' traps. And even though the taunting can make Yost Ice Arena seem like, well, Crisler by comparison, Bullock said he still gets a thrill out of playing there.
"But then also, it's something you don't want to do every day, when you're on the road," Bullock said.
Althought it might be better to end games with a minimum of nail-chomping, against Duke, that hasn't exactly been the case.
"It's always us having to make a comeback," Bullock said. "You always say every year 'Can't we just lead the whole way through and not make it be as tense during the game?'"
If they did that this season, it'd be an even bigger shock than last season's victory. But the floor wouldn't be so crowded.
- Rick Freeman
From the way he spoke, you wouldn't have imagined that his team actually beat the Wolverines last season.
But the Braves did just that.
On the strength of 19 points and seven rebounds from center Adebayo Akinkunle, the Braves upset Michigan in Peoria, 63-58.
But can they do it again?
Molinari says he doesn't think so.
"We got lucky last year against Michigan," the eighth-year coach said. "It's just a privilege to play a team like them."
The Braves also no longer have the services of Akinkunle, their leading scorer and rebounder, due to his graduation.
But the Braves return pretty much everyone else, including three dynamic guards. Juniors Rob Dye and Eric Roberson and sophomore Fred Atkins combined for 26.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last year, and dished out 232 assists.
The frontcourt, without Akinkunle, is a question mark, though. Ed Cage and Gavin Schairer are the Braves' two top returning frontcourt threats, but both are only 6-foot-7. Center Aba Koita stands at 6-foot-9, but, playing in the very large shadow of Akinkunle, he didn't get much of a chance to prove himself. The junior averaged just 4.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season.
For Bradley to pull off the upset again, it will have to get some production from its frontcourt.
- Josh Kleinbaum
And then there's Florida International coach Marcos 'Shakey' Rodriguez, who doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to his team's schedule.
"The schedule is ridiculous," Rodriguez admits. "Not too many teams in the country would do what we're doing. But I'm not complaining."
No, of course not, coach. Why complain when your still-wet-behind-the-ears team faces a non-conference slate of Michigan, North Carolina and the preseason NIT field?
Oh, and don't forget about the Golden Panthers' jump from the Trans-America Athletic Conference to the Sun Belt Conference. While Florida International and College of Charleston have dominated the TAAC for the past couple years, Rodriguez felt it was time to make the move from a league that he considered to be a bottom-feeder.
So with the change comes a new, improved schedule against new conference foes like Arkansas State and Southwest Louisiana. Though certainly not the Dukes or UCLAs of college basketball, it is still a step up for Rodriguez and the Panthers.
Regardless, with a run-and-gun mentality and speedsters such as guard Carlos Arroyo and small forward Raja Bell guiding the offense, Florida International will be ready to make a run at its conference crown - especially with five returning starters.
"For me to say we are going to win 21 games again this year is a bit of a reach," Rodriguez said. "I don't know where we are going to be, but I can tell you this - we're a much better basketball team than we were last year."
- Pranay Reddy
11-12-98
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