And the waters subsided for 'M'

By Chris Duprey

Daily Sports Editor

Early one morning, God told Michigan basketball coach Brian Ellerbe that there would be a big storm ahead, as his team would face a murderous six-game stretch. He ordered Ellerbe to pack up two of everything - two centers, two power forwards and so on - and board a large Ark.

A storm raged like no other for six straight games, thrashing the large blue vessel around the sea. Finally, after the volatile waters settled, Ellerbe and his crew disembarked from the boat. There were no signs of life. Everything had been wiped out. They were all alone.

But then the sun shined, as a winnable road game at Wisconsin loomed in the distance. Life began again, and it was good.

All parables aside, tonight's game at Wisconsin is a new beginning for the Wolverines, a string of contests against foes more to their liking. And while the pesky Badgers are no pushover, their offensive ineptitude is enough to give Ellerbe and Michigan (3-7 Big Ten, 12-9 overall) an excellent chance to win.

"Nobody on this team is quitting and I think we are genuinely looking forward to this final stretch of games," Ellerbe said Sunday after Michigan's loss to Indiana. "We have an opportunity to do some positive things."

Wisconsin (4-7, 12-11) is the best defensive team in the Big Ten. Not so coincidentally, the Badgers are the second-worst offensive squad behind Northwestern, scoring just 60 points a game.

So tonight will feature two polar opposites - a team that can't score, and one that can't defend.

The Badgers have very few offensive weapons, and

certainly no one with an all-around game that could dominate Michigan.

Mark Vershaw is a post bully, but Ellerbe's combination of Josh Asselin, Peter Vignier and Chris Young - who Ellerbe said might start again tonight, depending on his practice performance this week - can handle him.

Duany Duany has one skill - hitting wide-open 3-pointers. Ask him to drive the ball to the hoop, create his own shot, or nail threes with defenders in his face, and his effectiveness takes a dive.

Aside from that, the Wolverines aren't playing men with Wisconsin - they're playing against Dick Bennett's regimented offensive system.

The key to victory for Michigan is to resist frustration with Wisconsin's going-nowhere-fast pace of play. That's when the Badgers pick their spots and build leads, something the Wolverines are wary of.

"We're trying to keep our heads up and play as hard as we can," freshman LaVell Blanchard said. Tonight

Kohl Center - Madison

Who: Michigan (3-7 Big Ten, 12-9 overall) at Wisconsin (4-7, 12-11)

When: 8 p.m. EST

TV/Radio: ESPN Regional (Channel 35)

Latest: Wisconsin lost to No. 6 Michigan State 61-44 last Friday.

History book Michigan at Wisconsin

Feb. 27, 1999: Michigan 51, Wisconsin 39

Michigan put together a spectacular defensive effort against the No. 15 Badgers, earning just its second road win all season. The Wolverines held Wisconsin to just 32 percent shooting and senior Louis Bullock became the Big Ten's all-time leading 3-point shooter to add to the afternoon.

Dec. 31, 1997: Michigan 76, Wisconsin 63

The Badgers cut a 10-point Michigan lead to just one as the game neared crunch time, but Bullock and the Wolverines put on a spurt of their own to seal the victory, Michigan's last at fabled UW Fieldhouse, which closed later that season.

Feb. 6, 1997: Wisconsin 58, Michigan 53

Wisconsin, playing its classic slowdown game, was able to outlast Michigan in a battle of offensive futility. Foul trouble (surprise!) limited Robert Traylor's effectiveness, and the Badgers managed the clock well enough in the game's final few minutes to hang on.