Basketball Notes

by Andrew Golding

Pizza Pizza: The Superfan, graduating School of Public Health student Jeff Holzhausen, made himself heard during the Northwestern game as usual, and also offered his thoughts during a particularly quiet point in the contest. In the midst of U­M's lackluster play, when they seemed unable to pass the 40 point barrier, Holzhausen wondered aloud "Can we get pizza if they score 40 points?" He was referring to the Cottage Inn pizza promotion, which offers ticketholders a 50% discount on their meals if U­M scores 70 points or more. Though they had only 27 points at halftime, U­M rebounded and scored an impressive 47 in the seconds half, guaranteeing the pizza deal for all in attendance.

From the Source: Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill is known for his expletive filled language, and he did not disappoint during the U­M game as he could be heard vigourously disagreeing about a foul call from the 12th row, on the opposite side of the arena. After the game, O'Neill offered his thoughts on a couple subjects. On his team: "This time of year, our guys usually fold up and have a book club." On U­M: "I think talent might have taken over...Bullock's the glue of their team - he makes a lot of things happen." On Traylor: "I think he'll be a great NBA player. I was amazed at his feet and hands. I think he should get his ass out of here right now."

Fish is back, sort of: Deposed U­M coach Steve Fisher has returned to public view, through an interview with the Detroit News, his first since being fired on October 11, and a deal to analyze college basketball for a sports web site, FANS-only, hailed as "Your Ticket to College Sports." In the interview with the News, Fisher stated that his firing "wasn't justified" and "the die was cast before I ever met Tom Goss." Additionally, he might have to sue the University regarding the payment of the final three years on his contract, and plans to move out of Ann Arbor in the near future. "We need to leave here, to cut the cord" he said. "Maybe down the road, the scar will fade." Also, he noted, "with no disrespect to Brian Ellerbe," that "Brian Dutcher had been there for ten years, and in mind, should have been the logical choice." Fisher's columns for FANS-only have analyzed the Duke-UNC matchup, and, ironically, how to handle a high-profile program.

Words, words, words: In the Northwestern postgame press conference, Jerod Ward used "nonchalant," a word not heard often among the press core. "We came out a little nonchalant," Ward noted, drawing a small chuckle from those in attendance. When told that Ward had used the word "lackadaisical" to describe U­M's play - the questioning reporter confused "lackadaisical" with "nonchalant" - and had done so twice, Coach Brian Ellerbe expressed his surpise at Ward's lingo. "Jerod said that?" he asked.

This article was published in the 11 February 1998 edition of The Michigan Review (Volume 16, Number 7).
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