SITE AND TIMES:
 
    MSU vs Cornell at 8pm today at Joe Louis Arena in the Great Lakes
Invitational.  Michigan plays Michigan Tech in the opener at 5pm.  The
consolation and championshop games at 5pm and 8pm Friday
 
TICKETS:
 
    $16, $12 and $8 tickets are on sale at Joe Louis Arena and at TicketMaster
outlets.
 
TV/RADIO:
 
    PASS at 5pm and 8pm today and at 8pm Friday; WVFN AM-730 at 7:30pm today
and either 4:30pm or 7:30pm Friday (for MSU).  The Michigan-Michigan Tech game
will be carried by WJR AM-760 at 5pm.
 
RECORDS:
 
    MSU 12-4-1, 8-2-1 CCHA (third); Cornell 2-4-1, 1-4-1 ECAC; UofM
12-4. 9-2 CCHA (first); Michigan Tech 8-7-2, 6-7-1 WCHA (sixth)
 
COACHES:
 
    Ron Mason is college hockey's winningest coach with a record of 711-309-51
in 29 seasons.  Cornell's Brian McCutcheon is 77-65-18 in eight season, Red
Berenson has an 11-year record of 248-160-22 at Michigan and Bob Mancini of
Michigan Tech is 74-81-24 in five seasons.
 
THE RIVALRIES:
 
    Cornell and MSU have met only once and the Big Red won it, 3-2 in overtime,
on Dec. 17, 1966.  MSU is 63-77-2 vs Tech and 93-109-6 against UofM.
 
BIG RED UPDATE:
 
    Cornell has been hampered by injuries this season.  "The Monday after
Thanksgiving, I had nine forwards on the sidelines," said Coach McCutcheon.
"Hopefully, the break for exams and holidays will cure some of our ailments."
Senior center Jake Karam leads the Big Red in scoring with nine points (2-7).
Steve Wilson, a sophomore defenseman, is the top goal scorer with five.
 
UofM UPDATE:
 
    Michigan is missing two key players- center Kevin Hilton, who's with the
U.S. team in the World Junior Championships, and left wing Jason Botterill,
who's playing the Canadian junior team.  There's still plenty of offensive
firepower with the likes of Mike Knuble, Brendan Morrison, Robb Gordon, Bill
Muckalt and Mike Legg.
 
MICHIGAN TECH UPDATE:
 
    The key to the Huskies winning the GLI for the first time since 1980 is
sophomore goalie Luciano Caravaggio (3.26, 8-7-2). who averages 30 saves a
game.  Top forwards include Brent Peterson and Pat Mikesch.
 
MICHIGAN STATE UPDATE:
 
    MSU is healthy and quietly optimistic about ending its eight-year GLI
drought.  Freshman Mike Watt will play right wing on a line with Anson Carter
and Steve Guolla.  The Steve Suk-Rem Murray-Dean Sylvester line remains intact.
Richard Keyes centers Tony Tuzzolino and Taylor Clarke.  Sean Berens is at
center between Brian Carane on let wing and either Matt Albers, Brian Clifford
or Steve Ferranti on right wing.
 
ANALYSIS:
 
    Michigan has to be the slight favorite but the Spartans seem ready to make
their best GLI title run in several seasons.  To win it, MSU needs to play
hard, execute and get stellar goaltending from Mike Buzak.  Expect another
MSU-Michigan final.