Veteran Smith returns to hoops lineup By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer Sparked by the return of junior forward Brandon Smith, the Michigan basketball team made perfect on a three-game winter break homestand with an 87-80 victory over Colorado State this past Sunday. Thanks to wins over Duquense, Towson and the Rams, the Wolverines padded their final nonconference record to 9-2, entering Big Ten play at Minnesota tonight. Sunday's victory marked the first appearance by Smith this season, who had surgery on his knee this past June. "He adds leadership," freshman Jamal Crawford said. "He's a utility player. He can do it all. It's just great being out there with him. He was one of the main reasons, as far as players go, for me coming here. It's like a dream being out there on the same team with him." Smith scored six points and looked healthy in his debut. The junior also fought off an early scare when he had to leave the game halfway through the first half. In a scuffle for a loose ball, Smith fell hard to the floor and was down for a few minutes wrenching in pain. He returned a minute later to the bench and came back to the game soon after. "The best thing that happened today was that Brandon fell down and he didn't fall to pieces," Ellerbe said. "He needed that because right now it's all psychological." Smith's return helped piece together one of Michigan's best all-around performances of the season, especially due a a proper balance with the Wolverines' inside-outside game. Center Josh Asselin had his best game of the season, leading Michigan with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. The senior finally started to find his rhythm inside and made good on the post touches he received. "We know what we want a little more offensively," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "I made a deal with the guys. - 'if we're in transition, and you have opportunities, you go ahead, use your abilities and attack the rim. But if we don't have it, we need a post touch and a ball reversal. I give you a piece, you give me a piece back.'" The Wolverines built several runs throughout the game and could have put the Rams away countless times, but Colorado State kept around like an annoying little cousin, constantly responding with threes. The Rams' John Sivesind and Aki Palmer shot a combined 16-21 for the game, leaving the Crisler Arena crowd baffled as to whether anything could buckle the Rams. "It's unbelievable," Crawford said. "They were getting ball screens, and we were trying to get out there to them, but they were just knocking them down. If someone told me they were going to make that many threes before the game, I wouldn't have believed them. I'm just glad we were able to hold on." But even a Crisler Arena-record 17 3-pointers by the Rams wasn't enough to stifle the Wolverines' strive for a finishing win to their nonconference slate, as all the Michigan starters scored in double figures, and two posted double-doubles. Freshman LaVell Blanchard scored 15 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Jamal Crawford added 14 points and 10 assists. Michigan's freshmen backcourt of Crawford and Kevin Gaines also took care of the ball, handing out a combined 15 assists while only committing three turnovers. Michigan now enters Big Ten play at Minnesota tomorrow followed by a trip to Purdue on Saturday. The Wolverines return home to face Illinois the following weekend, giving Michigan three tough contests to find their true faces in conference adversity. "I am really excited, because everybody said that we were doing well because we weren't in the Big Ten (season) yet," Crawford said. "Now we're here. Bring it on." Anderson still out: Freshman forward Leland Anderson will remain out of the lineup for the Minnesota game. Anderson, who has missed the past four games due to a leg injury, might not be back for awhile according to Ellerbe. "Leland is a very difficult situation," Ellerbe said. "Medically it's a dilemma and it's going to be awhile until we can come to a conclusion with him." SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily Michigan has missed junior Brandon Smith's intensity this season. He returned to the hardcourt and provided quality minutes in the win against Colorado State. Originally on page 7B in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.