Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 4

SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2000 2E PTj 0 1 SUMMARY NATION WORLD SHARPIWasBlaiichard's leap of faith misplaced? U-M I Late fade helps Wake Forest Wake Forest 71, Michigan 60, WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS (5-0) Ailing France resigns as NASCAR president M1N fG FT II A PFPTS Howard 31 3-6 0-0 4 4 4 6 Sonuaila 29 5-14 3-4 6 4 4 13 Shoemaker 36 4-5 22 13 1 3 10 Hicks 18 2-3 1-13 116 O'Kelley 33 7-15 3-4 1 1 2 19 Murray 10 W) 0-0 2 2 2 0 Scott 15 5-5 2 2 1 1 4 12 Dawson 28 2-11 1-2 2 0 2 5 Totals 200 28-59 12-15 32 14 22 71 Helton named successor; Davis to stay at Miami IIP ui ill. Mt around in May when Ellerbe plucked him out of California. He's a huge work in progress. It might be two years before he develops into a decent offensive player in the low post. "It's too early to tell about us," Blanchard said.

"This was a good test because (Wake Forest) was a nationally ranked team, but unfortunately we didn't have enough to stay with them the whole game. It's disappointing, but it's something we can learn from later." What we're learning is that Michigan basketball remains an r. wr nhv xi- i i Three-point goals: 3-12, .250 (O'Kelley 2-5, Hicks 1-1, Howard 0-1, Sonyaila 0-1, Dawson 0-4). Percentages: EG .475, FT .800. Team rebounds: 1.

Blocks: 4 (Scott 2, Howard, Shoemaker). Turnovers: 8 (Dawson 2, Howard 2, O'Kelley 2, Murray, Songaila). Steals: 6 (Hicks 2, Howard 2, O'Kelley, Songaila). MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (2-2) MIN EG FT A PFPTS Bia.Khard 38 3-13 7-11 8 3 3 13 Young 33 8 24 13 2 4 10 Moore 10 2-7 0-1 2 0 4 4 Queen 31 3-9 2 2 2 8 Rotwison 34 6-19 0-2 7 1 2 12 Jones 2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 Searight 11 0-3 1-22111 Groninger 11 CM) 0-0 1 1 0 0 Asselin 30 5-7 2-3 11 1 3 12 Totals 200 2346 12-23 46 19 60 afterthought, an unassuming di- version around campus until bowl practice begins for the football team. And you wonder how much i Three-point goals: 2-17, .118 (Queen 2-8, Searight 0-1 Blanchard 0-3, Robinson 0-5).

Percentages: FG .348, FT .522. Team rebounds: 3. Blocks: 3 (Young 2, Asselin). Turnovers: 13 (Asselin 3, Blanchard 2, Robinson 2, Queen 2, Searight 2, Moore, Young), Steals: 1 (Queen). longer the old Blues will stand by From Page IE there's better team chemistry among the Wolverines.

Those few times Crawford played last season, he often selfishly ignored his teammates. Gaines had a number of the off-court transgressions that warranted his dismissal from the team following a public-intoxication arrest two months ago that also involved freshmen Avery Queen and Bernard Robinson Jr. "It's disappointing that we lost some of our intensity in the second half," said Blanchard, who led the Wolverines with 13 points. "But we're still learning about ourselves. I'm still learning about myself.

I think I forced things too much, probably trying to do a little too much myself." Blanchard is everything for the Wolverines their best shooter despite a 3-for-13 night, their best creator off the dribble, their best rebounder, their best defender, and their hardest worker. He even takes the opening tip because, naturally, he's their best leaper. But the biggest leap he has taken is believing the Wolverines can return to national significance before his time is done. There's talent among the youngsters, but there are questions as well. Queen is exceptionally quick, but he is prone to fly out of control.

Robinson reminds some of Crawford, but he appears more mature, more capable of adapting to a team concept. And there's a reason why 7-2 center Josh Moore was still and watch their basketball program stagnate. 1ST 2ND FINAL Wake Forest 29 42 71 Michigan 32 28 60 From Page IE them." You take many more free throws than your opponent, you're supposed to win. But U-M was just 12-for-23 from the line 5-for-12 in the second half. Michigan shot 12 free throws and 12 threes in the second half and scored eight points.

That effectively erased Michigan's 49-33 rebounding advantage. "We can't look at this as a moral victory," said forward Chris Young, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds. "We can't say, 'OK, we hung in there with the No. 12 team in the We should have won this game." Wake Forest doesn't agree. Led by Robert O'Kelley's 19 points, the veteran Deacons stayed disciplined.

They turned the ball over just eight times. O'Kelley was hot in the second half with 11 points, including a shot clock-beating three-pointer to give Wake Forest a 47-46 lead, its first lead of the half. Michigan's ACCBig Ten Challenge game is over, but its ACC challenge continues. In its next three games, U-M faces Maryland and Duke, along with either St. John's or George Washington.

The Wolverines showed Tuesday that they can compete in those games. But they also showed they have to improve But perhaps this is what they want a basketball program that knows its place, overwhelmed by the immense shadow cast by the football program. Attendance: 9,767. their defense and offensive execution to win any of them. They have three days to improve.

"We did a lot of things to help them win this game," Ellerbe said. "And that's something that makes it hard to sleep at night." notebook: Former U-M guard Kevin Gaines, dismissed from the team in September after an alcohol-related arrest, said he wants to transfer to Houston. Contact MICHAEL ROSENBERG at 313-222-6052 or rosenbergfrecpress.com. The crowd was disappointing, considering the level of competition and the pre-packaged ACC-Big Ten grudge match. The upper deck at Crisler was not even a quarter filled.

Perhaps the fans are still holding the Oakland University loss against these guys. But it's more likely a lack of confidence that this season will prove different from last season. They're not ready yet to take Blanchard's leap of faith. Contact DREW SHARP at 313-223-4055 or dsharpfreepress.com. Bill France Jr.

stepped down Tuesday as president of NASCAR, the racing circuit his ther founded in the backwoods of the South that has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. France, 67, who is recovering from cancer, was succeeded by Mike Helton, 47, NASCAR's senior vice president and chief operating officer. Helton was picked two years ago by France to oversee NASCAR's day-today operations. "Over the years, NASCAR has only had two presidents my father and, since 1972, me," France said. "But we put the wheels in motion for this in February 1999 when we named Mike chief operating officer." The founding family will continue its influence on the sport, with Bill France serving as chairman of a five-member board of directors that will include Jim France, Bill's brother; Brian France, Bill's son; Lesa Kennedy, Bill's daughter; and Helton.

baseball: Milwaukee Brewers closer Curtis Leskanic agreed to a three-year deal. The right-hander was 9-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 12 saves in 73 relief appearances for Milwaukee last season. Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield and Don Mat-tingly are among 17 first-time candidates on this year's ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. COLLEGE rOOTBALL: Coach Butch Davis apparently will stay at Miami "To be honest with you, my intent today is to stay at the University of Miami," Davis told KTRH-AM and KRIV-TV as he was leaving Houston following a meeting with the Houston Texans, the next NFL expansion team. When asked if he was considering GAEL CORNIEHAssociated Press Pete Sampras, back from a two-month break, falls to Lleyton Hewitt in the Masters Cup.

coaching at Alabama, Davis was blunt: "I'm staying at Miami." Boston College and Virginia accepted invitations to play in either the Oahu Bowl or the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, respectively. Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel and Sooners coach Bob Stoops won the Walter Camp player and coach of the year awards. GOLF: Loss of cabin pressure and failure to obtain oxygen incapacitated the crew of Payne Stewart's plane, leading to the crash in October 1999 that killed all six aboard the chartered Learjet, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded. The NTSB could not say why the plane lost pressure. TENNIS: Pete Sampras, in his first match in more than two months, opened with a 7-5, 6-0 loss to Lleyton Hewitt in the round-robin format Masters Cup at Lisbon, Portugal.

Andre Agassi, coming off a three-week break because of a hip injury beat Gustavo Kuerten, 4-6, 6-3. No. 1 Marat Safin beat Alex Corretja, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-3. Gibson nixes bench-coach job on Tigers ByGENEGUIDI free press sports writer A (An LZ 37 U-M's Hutchinson named All-Big Ten a fourth time METROSTATE FREE PRESS STAFF REPORTS Odafity Kirk Gibson was offered the Tigers' vacant bench-coach position but turned it down. Gibson, a former Tigers outfielder and current Fox Sports Net analyst, said manager Phil Garner's offer caught him by surprise and that he gave it "serious thought.

You know, this is the first time the Tigers have offered me a job since I stopped playing. There was a time when I really would have been interested in this kind of thing, but my life has changed." Gibson, 43, said he asked himself: "Do I want to be a manager someday?" "If the answer would have been yes, then I should take this job," he said. "But the answer was no." Gibson, bullpen coach Lance Parrish and former Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker have been listed for the first time on the Hall of Fame ballot, which was mailed to voters this week. Contact GENE GUIDI at 313-222-2378. Juan checked; results due soon Juan Gonzalez underwent a lumbar examination Tuesday to determine if the back injury that sidelined him for the final IV2 weeks of last season has healed.

"The doctors say this is the gold standard of back checkups," said the Tigers' Latin American liaison, Luis Mayoral, who was with Gonzalez during the procedure. "Juan knows it had to be done and is positive about it." Test results weren't immediately available but should be in the Tigers' hands in the next day or two. Once the Tigers have that information, they will decide what their next move will be regarding the outfielder, who is a free agent. Among their options is offering salary arbitration, which would net them two high draft picks if Gonzalez signs with another team. By Gene Cuidi Drew Brees was offensive player of the year, and Wisconsin cornerback Jamar Fletcher defensive player of the year.

For full teams, see Page 6E. More football: Wayne State's Huston Julian, a tight end from Roseville, will play in the Division II Senior Cactus Bowl in Kingsville, Texas, on Jan. 1 3. The American College Football Coaches' Association invited Hope quarterback J. D.

Graves to play in the Division III Aztec Bowl against an all-star Mexican team on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico on Dec. 16. Baseball: Sale of the Class A Michigan Battle Cats to Michael and Jeffrey Savit and Bill Collins was completed. Michigan signed five players: right-hander and infielder Matt Collins of Birmingham Detroit Country Day; outfielder Chris Burhans of Alpharetta, left-hander Paul Hammond of Mason, Ohio; catcher Jeff Kunkel of Oak Forest, infielder Nick Rudden of Englewood, Colo. Hockey: Defenseman Brad Fast is the Central Collegiate Hockey Association defensive player of the week after top-ranked Michigan State allowed only four goals while beating Lake Superior State, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Forward Mike Bishai is the top offensive player (three goals, six points) and forward Jeff Campbell is rookie of the week (one goal, five points) after Western Michigan beat Ferris State twice. Bo Cheeseman is the North American Hockey League player of the week after a hat trick Friday and three assists over the weekend for the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians. Five players from Michigan and two from Michigan State made the All-Big Ten teams selected by coaches and the media. Michigan center Steve Hutchinson was voted offensive lineman of the year by the coaches and became the third player in Big Ten history to be selected all-conference four times. The other two were U-M defensive lineman Mark Messner (1985-88) and MSU punter Ray Stachowicz (1977-80).

Also on the all-conference coaches team were Michigan tailback Anthony Thomas, receiver David Terrell, offensive tackle Jeff Backus and linebacker Larry Foote, and Michigan State linebacker Josh Thornhill and cornerback Renaldo Hill. All but Foote and Hill made the media team. Purdue safety Stuart Schwei-gert of Saginaw Heritage was voted freshman of the year on both teams. Purdue quarterback 0 CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 1-877-SEE-ICON TODAY www.iconlasik.com (1-877-733-4266) A fully refundable 5500 deposit at time of booking consultation Price includes comprehensive eye euro, procedure and enhancements if indicated. 'Based on bilateral correction.

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TV highlights 11a.m. (E5PN2) Tennis: Masters Cup, early rounds. 3:30 p.m. ISHD Tennis: Masters Cup, early rounds (taped). 5:00 ifSPf NHL Cool Shots: First of a two-part interview with Red Wings coachJJcotty Bowman.

7.00 ESPN College basketball: Purdue at Virginia. 7:30 (FSNJ Red Wings: Detroit at Atlanta. 7:30 EDPistons: Detroit vs. New Jersey. 7:30 ISPJ2) College basketball: Michigan State vs.

North Carolina. 8:00 CTNTD NBA: Miami at New York. 9:00 ISP College basketball: Maryland vs. Wisconsin at Milwaukee. 9:30 ilPNfi College basketball: Penn State at N.C.

State. 10:30 Q3S) College basketball: Gon-zaga at Arizona, joined in progress. 11:00 XoTF Australasian Tour. Australian PGA Championship, first round. 3 a.m.

CONJ College basketball: Indiana at Indiana State (taped). Radio highlights 7 p.m. College basketball: Detroit Mercy at Toledo, WYUR-AM (1310). 7:00 College basketball: Eastern Michigan vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 710 Red Wings: Detroit at Atlanta, WXYT-AM (1270).

W1KA-AM (1050). 7:30 Pistons: Detroit vs. New Jersey, WWJ-AM (950). 7:30 College basketball: Michigan State vs. North Carolina, WDFN-AM (1130).

7:30 NHL: Toronto vs. St. Louis, CHYR-FM (96.7). Area events Basketball: Pistons vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m., the Palace.

248-377-0100. College basketball: Eastern Michigan vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 7 p.m., Convocation Center, Ypsilanti. 734-487-2282. College basketball: Michigan State vs.

North Carolina, 7:30 p.m., Breslin Center, East Lansing. 517-432-5000. Horse racing Great Lakes Downs: Intertrack at 12:25 p.m. 231-799-2400. Hazel Park: Intertrack at 1225 p.m.

248-398-1000. Jackson: Intertrack at 12:30 p.m. 51 7-788-4500. Northville Downs: Intertrack at 12:25 p.m. 248-349-1000.

Saginaw Harness Raceway: Intertrack at 12:25 p.m. 517-755-3451. Sports Creek Raceway: nine races, 7 p.m.; intertrack at 12:25 p.m. 810-635-3333. Toledo Raceway Parte Intertrack at 12:25 p.m.

419-476-7751. Windsor Raceway: 10 racs. 7:25 p.m.; intertrack at 12.30 p.m. J13-961-9545. iTjf -4.

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