Crippled 'M' to tackle Hoosiers

Michigan gets advance look at Big Ten Championships venue

Sports that include racing in one form or another are the closest thing to scripted drama in the athletic world. Coaches use this to their advantage to see where swimmers should race in order to give their team the best chance to win.

According to the numbers, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team shouldn't be too worried about the upcoming meet at Indiana tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Wolverines should win 12 out of 21 events, including several sweeps.

"We should be able to win," Michigan men's swimming coach Jon Urbanchek said. "We have the better team on paper, we just have to perform."

KELLY McKINNELL/Daily Senior Andy Potts and the rest of the Michigan men's swimming team will have to cope with the loss of freshman upstart Jason Mallory to a knee injury as they face Indiana tomorrow.

But there's a more important issue in this meet than just winning it. Indiana will host the Big Ten Championships a month from now, and this meet gives Michigan the opportunity to scout out the venue.

"Mentally, it's better if you've been there before," Urbanchek said. "You get familiar with the area. Even the pool is a little different - the ways the walls are shaped, the lighting ..."

But the Wolverines aren't looking ahead too much - despite having the better team on paper, they're going to have their hands full with this meet. With his team plagued by injuries, Urbanchek expects it to be exciting.

"Any time you go down there it's like war," Urbanchek said. "It's always a stressful meet, and without some of our top swimmers, it'll be exciting."

Normally, Michigan would expect to dominate the distance freestyle events. But the Wolverines will have to do it without Olympic silver medalist Tom Malchow, who is suffering from pneumonia.

"Tom Malchow is not going to accompany the team," Urbanchek said. "And John Reich is staying home with an illness."

And when you throw freshman Jason Mallory into the injury mix - Mallory is out for the season with a knee injury (see Page 10A for story) - the Wolverines will have to go without three of their top swimmers.

But Michigan swimmers Werner and senior Andy Potts should make up for the loss of Mallory in the 200- and 400-meter individual medley. Indiana's best chance to score in this meet is sophomore Joe Trent, whose best time is just below that of Michigan's third-best time in each event.

In the 50- and 100- free sprints, Indiana has a strong swimmer in sophomore Bryan Stryker. The young swimmers' times are only two tenths of a second better than Michigan's top swimmers in the 50- and 100- free, Scott Meyer and Jordan Watland.

The 100 and 200 breaststroke seems to be a little bit tighter competition for the Wolverines, with Indiana senior Tom Davis bringing Indiana its best chance at scoring points. But Michigan sophomore Scott Werner should win both events - his times have already earned him consideration for the NCAAs.

Indiana looks its strongest in the relay and diving competition. Indiana has better times than Michigan in the 200 -and 400- free relay and the 200- medley relay. Normally, the Wolverines would look to dominate the 800- free relay, but without Malchow and Mallory, it could be difficult.

In the diving competition, Indiana boasts senior Mike Colleir, who is one of the Big Ten's best divers in the one- and three- meter springboards. Michigan senior Brett Wilmot, also one of the conference's premier divers, will look to score some points for the Wolverines, while facing his stiffest competition so far this year.

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