'M'-Purdue matchup hinges on Crawford's return

By Jacob Wheeler

Daily Sports Editor

Which one of these scores mean more for tonight's Michigan-Purdue basketball game?

Is it 88 to 86, as in the Wolverines' double overtime road victory on Jan. 8, or 6-0, as in the NCAA's score up on exiled freshman Jamal Crawford since what should have been Michigan's most important game of the season - a Feb. 1 debacle against Michigan State.

These young Wolverines turned doubters into believers with an improbable victory in West Lafayette, proving that even green freshmen sometimes have the stamina to hang tough and beat a veteran Big Ten team down the stretch.

LaVell Blanchard's game-securing tip-in in the second extra frame gave Michigan its first Big Ten victory, and it began a three-game conference winning streak.

But 6-0 has dominated Crisler Arena's coffee talk lately.

When they aren't adjusting their Crawford-esque headbands for more forehead circulation, the Maize Rage fans are talking about tonight's game, when Michigan's crowned prince of the courts is supposed to return from the crusades.

Crawford served a six-game suspension imposed by the NCAA because he accepted improper gifts from a family friend during his high school years in Seattle. The gift-giver's name, Barry Henthorn, has become as infamous in Ann Arbor as Ed Martin.

And meanwhile, the lanky shooting guard's hands have grown cobwebs since he last played. But his Timberland boots, which he has worn on the bench, have seen plenty of use.

This was supposed to be the game when a heroic Crawford would brush off the cobwebs and lead his forgotten Michigan team to victory over No. 21 Purdue (10-3 Big Ten, 19-7 overall), rejuvenating faith in this basketball season.

Theoretically, the Wolverines could win their last four games, finish with a .500 record in the conference and qualify for the Big Dance.

But Crawford may not return to the court against Purdue. As of last night, Michigan still had not received a confirmation from the NCAA that its leading scorer was clear to resume his college career.

"We are still in discussions with the NCAA," university spokesperson Julie Peterson said yesterday. "We are expecting to make an announcement sometime today."

And if the 20-point loss to the rival Spartans was any indication, Crawford shouldn't expect much from the NCAA with another tipoff only hours away.

Crawford was told only 45 minutes before the once-most important game of the season that he would watch it from the bench, and a tailspin ensued. Michigan finally ended its seven-game losing streak last Saturday against Penn State.

In some eyes, the possibility of the leading scorer's looming return makes tonight's matchup the most important game of the season for the Wolverines. They're in desperate need of a victory against a team in the Big Ten's upper echelon, to gain national respect and the shot at a berth in a March tournament.

Purdue is a team that Michigan has already beaten - with Crawford - holding the Boilermakers to 36 percent shooting and hanging tough through 50 minutes on the road.

But without Crawford's long arms hindering Purdue in the backcourt, the Wolverines will be hardpressed to beat a red-hot team which has won its last six games in the conference.

It all hinges on the NCAA's decision regarding Crawford's eligibility today.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily

Michigan beat Purdue once this season, in a double-overtime thriller in West Lafayette. But that was with No. 1.