Bowling Green State University ScholarWorks@BGSU BG News (Student Newspaper) University Publications 11-14-2002 The BG News November 14, 2002 Bowling Green State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news Recommended Citation Bowling Green State University, "The BG News November 14, 2002" (2002). BG News (Student Newspaper). 7035. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/7035 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in BG News (Student Newspaper) by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@BGSU. 11.14.02 2 Thursday. November 14. 2002 WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW WWW.BGNEWS.COM Preseason media picks TABLE OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MEN'S BASKETBALL HOCKEY West Division West Division 1. Michigan 1. Ball Stale 1. Ball Stale 2. Michigan State 2. Western Michigan 2. Western Michigan 3. Northern Michigan 3. Toledo 3. Toledo 4. Ohio State 4. Northern Illinois CONTENTS 4. Northern Illinois 5. Nebraska-Omaha 5. Eastern Michigan 5. Bowling Green 6. Alaska-Fairbanks 6. Bowling Green 6. Central Michigan 7. Notre Dame Starting over Page 3 7. Central Michigan 7. Eastern Michigan 8. Western Michigan With a new starting five, it should be East Division East Division 9. Ferris State 1. Kent Stale l.Ohio 10. Miami an exciting year for the men's basket- 2. Miami 2. Miami 11. Bowling Green 3. Marshall 3. Kent 12. Lake Superior ball team. 4. Ohio 4. Marshall Bowling Green was also picked to 5. Buffalo S.Akron place 12th in the Central Collegiate 6. Akron 6. Buffalo Hockey Association Coaches PolL Rebuilding Page 4 New Coach Scott Paluch is finding out just how difficult it is to compete in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Special thanks to the following for helping in the production of the 2002 Winter Sports Preview: Improvement Page 5 Joel Hammond, Sports Editor Matt Ivey, Graphics Editor, for the cover design The women's swim team is in a year where improvement is their main goal. Elxeitement Pages 6-7 The women's basketball team enters this year with something to prove and plenty of talent to do so. Leader Page 10 Assistant captain Kevin Bieksa leads on All BGSU T-Shirts on sale and off the ice for the hockey team. Short sieve $10.00 Long sieve $12.00 440 E. Court St. 10% off all Columbia sportwear with student ID (419)352-9638 Still need tickets for the game...get them here! Free Delivery Woodland Towns Centra 419-3S3-G969 •Fraternity and Sorority Shirts •Team Uniforms •Columbia Sportswear •Danskin $1.00 off any large >'rder of stuffed breadsticks [ Columbia Specializing in Hockey & Baseball Equipment ?y<>rtv*rar C 'xnnpany Expire 12/ WWW.BGNEWS.COM WINTER .SPORTS PRE VI K\V Thufsday. November 14. 200? 3 "This leant has been pushed harder than any team since I've been here. And as a group, Dakich enters season they've worked as hard as any team I've had. I'm anxious to see how we play out there." with much excitement DAN DAKICH, MEN S BASKETBALL COACH By Enk Cassano Inexperience an SPCBIS RlPORtlR The Bowling Green basketball team is toeing ihe edge of uncharted waters as they stand on the threshold important factor ol the 2002-03 season. Four graduations and a transfer I rave nixed their entire starling lineup By Andrew dayman High QnColumbus) took home Ihi- from last year, leaving Head Coach SPORIS ntPORue Division I Stale Championship last Dan Dakich with more youth than When discussing the develop- season, with Lewis and Moss lead- he's ever had to deal with at one lime ment ofhis young basketball team. ing the way. Now. the two proven in his coaching career. Coach Dan Dakich recalls the old winners look to transfer that suc- "This is a team unlike any I've had phrase, "God give me patience, but cess to the college level before with the lack of experience." hurry up already." With all five Lewis, a 6-foot-4 inch forward, he said. "It is a challenge as a coach, starters from last year's squad hav- says the adjustment period has but I am looking forward to the start ing moved on, Dakich has been gone smoothly. of the season." working overtime to mold the now "It's been real good. The seniors BG returns just one senior (Cory unseasoned Falcons back into a and juniors have been helping me Ryan) and three juniors (Kevin contender in 2002. along the way, every day in prac- Netter, losh Almanson and labari Despite carrying only three tice. We have a lot of chemistry and Maltox) lo ihis year's team. The other juniors and one senior this season everybody is getting along. ... Wfe eight players projected to be on the opening night roster are sophomores (none of whom averaged over five have real high hopes." and freshmen. points a game last season), Dakich Veterans like Cory Ryan and losh As a result, Dakich has sped up the has not let inexperience be a rea- Almanson, Jabari Matlox and learning process, turning training son to go easy on his players in Kevin Netter are expected to help camp into one big cram session. The practice. the youngsters get comfortable practices have been longer and hard- "This team has been pushed with the system. But for I*wis, it er compared to years previous. harder than any team since I've doesn't hurt to have a fellow "A couple Saturdays ago, we were been here," he says. "And as a Brookhaven graduate sharing the supposed to practice before the I lit ,1 CrmsSchoolMBGNms group, they've worked as hard as freshman experience with him. football game," he said. "We prac- SHOT: BG sophomore Germain Fitch attempted a shot in practice last any team I've had. Now, I'm anx- "It's better to have a teammate ticed, I didn't like it, so we came back week. Fitch will see significantly more minutes this year. ious to see how we play out there." with you, inslead of going it alone," in afterward and practiced some ball is as popular as any sport at any Dakich said. "In how many ever prac- Without question, BG's perfor Lewis says about the G-font-4 inch tnore." mance on the court will depend on guard Moss. "It makes you more The Falcons face the difficult task time of the year. Teams in that tices we've had, Kevin has brought (Bracket Busterl get discussed the good stuff." the development of its young guns, confident about yourself and of being a retooling team playing a as new recruits and former role everything that's going on." schedule more befitting last year's 24- nationally." Cory Eyink might take Netter's old But the players have to get the role as the primary big man off the players will be expected to con- As far as playing lime goes, win squad of Keith McLeod and Len 1 tribute each night. Coach Dakich won't hesitate to Malela. The road non-conference team then first. Below is a position- bench. The 6'8" sophomore played schedule features stops at Detroit, by-position breakdown of the 2002- sparingly last year, but could see his Transferring from Loyola (Md.) is throw ihe freshmen into the mix. Alabama, Michigan and 03 Falcons. minutes, and expectations of using the sharpshooting sophomore for- "We'vestarted freshmen before." Northwestern. And that's before the them well, get ratcheted up this year. ward John Reimold, a man with he says. "We go into it, and we play meal-grinder MAC schedule even CENTER "I'm just trying to provide leader- high expectations around him after who's performing. I think you can ship and do what I need to do to help gets out of bed. Kevin Netter was enough to make being named the MAAC Rookie of count on every guy here. There's an "This schedule is, by far, the most the entire BG coaching staff need this team get better," he said. "Right Ihe Year in 2001. Another sopho- inconsistency that comes with a difficult I have seen," Dakich said. toupees or Grecian gel by the end of now, I'm trying to be very vocal on more expected to rum heads is for- young team. Bui Raheem and Ron In February, BG will play a road last year. No player inspired more the court." ward Germain Fitch, who may be are potentially great players." non-conference game in the ESPN hair pulling or graying Flashes of the most athletically-gifted per- This year's freshmen not only Bracket Buster showcase, featuring success one night, getting his 6T0". FORWARD former on the team. Guard Kris have the advantage of having won 209-pound frame knocked out of the Germain Fitch and losh Almanson teams that have been on the NCAA will most likely flank Netter in the Wilson and center Cory Eyink are a stale title in high school, but they Tournament bubble the past few sea- paint Ihe next, he was a model of inconsistency. starting fronlcourt on opening night. also likely lo play greater roles in are also honor roll students who sons. A win could put a team search- With no Matela or Brent Klassen, Fitch started games at small forward their second season as Falcons. have been able to absorb the col- ing for an at-large bid over the top.