With nine days left before the Big Ten Championships, all diver Chris Devine can do is count down the days to the conference-title fight. Twice a day, he manages to convert his intense anticipation and nervous energy into workouts at McCoy Natatorium, but that's about it.

Question: Why is he working so hard this time around, as if this year's championship is more important than those in years past?

Answer: Plain and simple, this one is more important.

Reason: Devine redshirted last season and was stripped of his chance to compete at the Big Tens.

When reality sunk in that he would miss a year of postseason action, he was overwhelmed with disappointment, just as he was getting on a roll. In 1992, his first year in pursuit of the conference title, Devine went into the meet virtually unknown to his competitors and made the finals, much to everyone's surprise.

"Chris just walked in there and wowed them," Diving Coach Craig Brown said.

But he wasn't able to show any improvement in 1993 because he tore cartilage in his left knee. Instead of going to Big Tens, he went into surgery.

Now, Devine doesn't have time to worry. This is a new year and he's ready to make up for lost chances.

"Now I have a chance to bring back a good scoring event, especially in the 1-meter," he said. "This one is gonna be exciting."

Joining the No. 1 diver in all of the excitement are teammates Ryan Smith and Seth Kane. This is the first year that the Lions will bring all three divers on the post-season trip. Devine said traveling together will help solidify the group's purpose.

"This is one of the few times when our points as divers will really count for the whole team, for the swimmers," he said. "We can really make a difference."

Junior Ryan Smith was the team's only representative off the board at last year's championship meet. In the unenviable position of having to fill the shoes of his injured teammate, he managed to eke out some impressive results. Starting out on a list of 800 divers, he moved all the way to the country's top 30 in less than a year. Smith said last year's experience was difficult because he was all alone.

"It's tough to dive when you can't relax with your friends," Smith said. "Our team dives best when we're relaxed and loose, joking between dives."

While Devine and Smith have been seen by top competitors around the U.S., don't think the Lions will compete this year without a surprise. Coach Brown still has newcomer Kane up his sleeve.

"I think little Seth, the freshman, will impress the most people," Brown said. "He can do all the best dives, just as fast as the No. 1 guys."

Kane is aware that his coach touts him so highly. He's excited about his first Big Ten championship meet, but he doesn't want to give in to any expectations that may distract him or his teammates.

"I know I'm gonna be nervous because it is such a big meet," he said. "Being a freshman with all these older guys is going to be pretty cool."