The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 10, 1995 - 13 Berenson fields fans' questions at League By iennifwr Ivanelli ForThe Daily Red Berenson is one of the top coaches in college hockey, and as a result, people have a lot to ask him. Fans had the chance to pose their questions to Berenson Wednesday when he spoke at noon at the Michi- gan League as part of the "From the Coaches Mouth" series. Berenson answered questions on subjects ranging from his playing days to the fortunes of his first-place Wol- veines. During his lecture, Berenson spoke about his playing days at Michigan and how he decided to delay playing professionally in or- der to graduate. Because of this ex- perience, Berenson believes that his players should be students as well as athletes. "I don't like to talk about the pros. Right now we are all concerned about Michigan," Berenson said. "I can't control what goes on after this. (The team) has a good mentality; they aren't just on a mission to play in the pros." Berenson also talked about hockey in comparison to other sports in the athletic program. He pointed out that hockey is one of the three revenue sports at Michigan, along with basket- ball and football, and that he has the fans to thank for that fact. "Idon't think there's a betterenvi- ronment than Yost (Ice Arena), espe- cially against Michigan State," Berenson said. "We're on track to draw 100,000(fans)." Michigan's corps of budding, tal- ented athletes has a lot to do with the fans' dedication to the team. "We have such a young team this year, but there are sophomores like Brendan Morrison who are playing with the maturity of juniors and se- niors," Berenson said. Berenson be- Berenson lieves this maturity will be essential for the team to succeed in the NCAA Tournament. Furthermore, he said that his team's character is another crucial component of the Wolverines' Michigan vs. Michigan State Olympia Arenas, Inc. is conducting a contest in conjunction with the Daily with prizes forthe Michigan-Michigan State game Feb.18 at Joe Louis Arena. The Grand Prize: A night for two at the Westin Hotel in downtown Detroit including two game tickets. Four First Prizes: Four game tickets each. Six Second Prizes: Two game tickets each. To enter, drop off your answers at the Daily sports desk in the Student Publications Building at 420 S. Maynard. The contest is cumulative - the contestants with the most correct answers over the next two weeks will have the greater chance to win. Gymnasts host unfamiliar rival Downtrodden Ohio State visits Cliff Keen Arena y Michael Joshua Daily Sports Writer Who are the Buckeyes? Though most know them as the arch-rivals from Ohio State, the No.4 Michigan women's gymnastics team does not seem to know a thing about its counterparts from Columbus. The Wolverines (4-0 Big Ten, 9-0 overall) host the Buckeyes Sunday hoping to find out something about their Big Ten opponent. * Michigan, coming off a victory at the State of Michigan Classic, is poised and ready for the dual meet. "Everybody seems confident and relaxed and hoping for a successful night," freshman Heather Kabnick said. Ohio State (1)- Big Ten, 3-4 over- BAS KETBALL ContInued from page 1: gaihashaditsproblemsthisyearmatch- ing up against bigger and more physical team, like Purdue and Penn State, "Their post players really got us last time," forward Catherine DiGiacinto said. "If we want to have a chance (to win), we can't let that happen again." In January, Penn State picked apart the Wolverines' 2-3 zone with physical play and crisp passing from its taller forwards. The Lion forwards outscored Michigan's frontcourt, 44-23. They think they ean beat us, but we won't let them take us for granted. - Catherine DiGiacinto Michigan basketball player And although the Wolverines say they will not remain passive, they know that Penn State will be looking to take their anger out on somebody * after a devastating loss last weekend. "They'll be pretty mad (after losing to Purdue)," DiGiacinto said. "They think they can beat us, but we won't let them take usforgranted. We've worked hard this week and we feel good after beating Illinois." all) is coming off a narrow loss at the hands of Denver, 184-183.475, last Friday. Ohio State coach Larry Cox, in his 16th year with the Buckeyes, finds his team in a rebuilding process. Ohio State has had a string of bad luck which depleted the talent of the team. The Buckeyes lost three gymnasts to bad grades, two to injuries and one to retirement. "This was our year to get back in the top 10 nationally," Cox said. "But we'll have to wait until next year." The Wolverines, on the other hand, find themselves with almost their en- tire team healthy and injury-free. Freshman Lauren LaBranche, who is recovering from an illness, is the only exception. Ohio State does not pose much of a threat to stop Michigan from capturing its 25th straight conference victory. "I haven't heard much about them, they're not ranked, so they shouldn't be too much competition," senior Li Li Leung said. The Wolverines hope to turn it up a notch Sunday to be at their peak by the Big Tens and the NCAAs. "We're going to put back a little more difficulty into the routines and get Beth Wymer back into the all- around competition," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "I wish we were coming up to chal- lenge Michigan," Cox said. "But we'll challenge them in only a few events." MARK FRIEDMAN/Daft, Minnesota to compete in its first away meet of the season. The Michigan men's gymnastics team travels to Men tumblers face hot Minnesota By Julie Keating Daily Sports Writer If you think it is cold in Ann Arbor, start counting your bless- ings. The No. 7 men's gymnastics team is off to Minnesota to brave the negative temperatures and the mighty Golden Gophers in its first meet away from Cliff Keen Arena. "Because of the atmosphere, ev- ery team that comes to Ann Arbor usually scores really well at Keen Arena," Michigan coach Bob Darden said. "We are almost look- ing forward to getting away from Ann Arbor, just to see how we can compete and what kind of score we can achieve." Minnesotaenters the weekend fresh off a victory over Illinois-Chicago. "So far, last weekend was the best score (Minnesota) has posted all season, so it will be interesting to compete against them later in the season than usual," Darden said. Michigan's best score of 226 is two points better than anything the Gophers have managed all season. The Wolverines are coming off last weekend's one-point loss to con- ference leader Illinois. In the meet, "In the Big Ten, most coaches are only concerned with the conference championships."f - Bob Darden Men's gymnastics coach Darden was pleased with the return of senior Bob Young to the lineup. "Bob is doing extremely well for us," Darden said. "He was not slated to work the all-around last week, but came out strong and competed for us anyway. That is the kind of work and dedication that it will take to get us through Big Tens this year." Fellow senior Raul Molina has provided strong leadership for the Wolverines throughout the season. "Raul is a strength and an asset to the team and definitely a power to be reckoned with in the Big Ten," Darden said. Even though the season is far from over, coaches will be using this weekend's scores to gauge how the Big Ten Championships might turn out. After the weekend, each of the conference's seven teams will have met each other at least once in prepa- ration for the tournament. "In the Big Ten, most coaches are only concerned with the confer- ence championships, but with schools like Iowa and Illinois com- peting this weekend, it will almost be a preview for March 25," Darden said. "For the long road that is whai.. we are shooting for as well, but foE the short road, Minnesota is out main focus." TONYA BROAD/Daily Molly Murray and the Wolverines host No. 13 Penn State this weekend. JOIN THE MOST PROMISING PROFESSION OF THE21ST ENTURY! 0..posis VYt BECOME A TEACHER! 1 !Applications are available at the School of Education, office of Student Services, Room 1033. s Call 764-7563 for more information. Deadline: March 1, 1995 The Japan Student Association Presents: The 1995 Japan Cultural Festival ..r 4 m m