Michigan begins Big Ten war tonight at Minnesota By Chris Duprey Daily Sports Editor MINNEAPOLIS - Quick quiz: How would Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight react if you were to tell him that his team would be opening up Big Ten play with two consecutive road games in four days? He would - A) Use some rather foul language and then shake like a baby's rattle whomever made the decision; B) Take out his anger by going on an extended hunting trip; or C) Neither of the above? The answer's C). Surprised? Because it's a trick question. No one from the conference home office would even dare try to schedule Knight that way. Michigan's Brian Ellerbe, in just his third season, doesn't yet have the power to dictate demands to Big Ten brass. So here's how Ellerbe is handling this unusual two-game road trip, starting tonight at Minnesota (8-2) and ending Saturday afternoon at Purdue: taking a few deep breaths, playing "the hand we've been dealt," and packing an extra pair of suspenders. "No one should start two games on the road in this league," said Ellerbe matter-of-factly, without whining. And no team is - with the exception of the Wolverines. Chapter One begins tonight at "The Barn," Williams Arena, a throwback to old times, where Big Ten basketball was played in tiny fieldhouses across the Midwest, not large multipurpose superarenas packed with luxury suites. Williams is the classic road venue. The band is just a little louder than others from around the conference, the fans are just a little more in-your-face and the rims seem just a bit tighter. Small differences, yes, but they snowball in the irritation of visitors. The atmosphere is the reason why Michigan (9-2) has won just three games at Williams in the 1990s, despite finishing ahead of Minnesota in the Big Ten seven times during that span. Even worse, the Wolverines haven't won at Williams since '93 - their longest losing streak at any Big Ten arena. Michigan's freshmen haven't yet experienced such a hostile environment. Jamal Crawford put it best when he said that he had "heard" about the well-renowned raised floor of Williams - relatively few Gophers games are broadcast in Seattle, one would imagine. But that doesn't mean Michigan's youth will be overwhelmed when they take the court at 9 p.m. These are the same guys who were cautioned about going on the road to face Georgia Tech - before coming home with a win. These is the same bunch who heard everyone coo over the skill level and fundamental soundness of Duke, before taking the Blue Devils to the wire in a measuring-stick game last month. So far, they have risen to all of their high-profile challenges. "That's motivation," Crawford said of the adversity Michigan has faced. "It's going to bring out the best in us." Emotion will be an asset of Michigan's. Ellerbe will try to ensure that smart decisions and game management are part of the Wolverines' arsenal, as Michigan tries to win in Minneapolis for the first time since 1993 - the Fab Five's sophomore year. "You're going to have runs that you've got to face on the road, and you've got to create some on your own," said Ellerbe "You can't make a lot of mistakes on the road - you can't waste possessions." Spoken like a true road veteran. Tonight Who: Michigan at Minnesota Where: Williams Arena When: Tonight, 9 p.m. EST The Latest: Minnesota lost at Nebraska, 90-78. History book A closer look at the last three Michigan-Minnesota matchups: Jan. 20, 1999, in Minnesota: Minnesota 76, Michigan 70. Brian Ellerbe left Williams Arena asking for respect after the referees gave the Gophers 39 free-throw opportunities. Minnesota took advantage by making 34 of the 39, silencing the Wolverines and starting what would become a five-game losing streak. Feb. 7, 1998, in Minnesota: Minnesota 87, Michigan 77. The Wolverines fell down by 16 on the road and couldn't come back, as Minnesota put on a long-range show. It was obvious that it wasn't going to be Michigan's day when 6-foot-11 Minnesota center Kyle Sanden drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key, killing Michigan's comeback effort. Jan. 11, 1997, in Ann Arbor: Minnesota 70, Michigan 64. Michigan seemed to be down and out, trailing the Gophers by 11 with just over 10 minutes to play until the Wolverines went on a electric run, scoring nine straight. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily Does the soft-tongued LaVell Blanchard refer to his opponents as 'sir' when he dunks over them? Originally on page 7B in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.