fScoreoard.
NBA MEN'S NIT
BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Charlotte at Fresno State
TORONTO, inc. vs. Minnesota, inc.
Buffalo at
CALGARY, inc.
Toronto at
PHOENIX, inc.
N.Y. Islanders at
VANCOUVER
Los Angeles at
SAN JOSE, inc.
SPRTSgan Jdg
How often do you get to enjoy baseball in a wintery
atmosphere? This afternoon, the defending Big Ten
champion Michigan baseball team will debut at home
against Ball State at 3 p.m, so bring your gloves.
Orlando at
ATLANTA, inc.
San Antonio at
CLEVELAND, inc.
Phoenix at
UTAH. inc.
Georgia vs.
Penn State, inc.
NHLS
HOCKEY
Philadelphia at
NEW JERSEY. inc.
Wednesday
March 25, 1998
8
Michigan freshmen look for*
help to avoid NCAA jitters
By Chris Farah
Daily Sports Editor
A funny thing happened when the
Michigan hockey team traveled to
Albany to play in the 1992 NCAA semi-
finals. Well, maybe it wasn't all that
funny at the time.
"I remember the first year we went to
Albany in the Final Four," Michigan
coach Red Berenson said. "Our whole
team was in awe. They were just so
happy to be there. We were the best team
there, and we didn't know it. And we
didn't show it"
Michigan may not be the best team in
the NCAA Tournament this year, but
intimidation could still be a factor Friday
when the Wolverines play Princeton in
the opening round of the NCAAs.
Most of the Wolverines have previous
experience in the national tournament,
but for Michigan's nine freshmen,
NCAA tourney competition is unchar-
tered territory.
"It's kind of early in the week, but I bet
by Friday evening it'll start getting to
me," Michigan freshman defenseman
Dave Huntzicker said. "So, we'll see.
Hopefully it won't be too bad."
Michigan's seniors are doingtheirbest
to make sure the freshmen are prepared
for the increased level of competition.
Aside from advice, they've been taking
the rookies out to dinner this week to
help them ease into the tournament envi-
ronment.
"The other guys have been taking us
out to dinner," freshman forward Josh
Langfeld said. "We always talked about
it as a team. It's a big part of our season,
and we've all been planning for it. We
don't want to lose by a little mistake. If
we work hard, everything will happen."
Aside from support from seniors like
Bill Muckalt, Matt Herr and Marty
Turco, some old familiar names have also
returned to help out. Players on Michigan
teams of the past have made visits this
past week to talk to the freshmen about
the importance of this weekend.
Former Michigan defenseman "Blake
Sloan came up and talked to us a coupl1
days ago.' freshman defenseman Mike
Van Ryn said. "He talked to us. He's
been through four NCAA Tournaments
and three Final Fours. He's experienced,
and he told us what to expect - what it
takes to get there."
At the same time, it's not as if this
weekend will be the first taste of college
hockey for the freshmen. Having played
in the CCHA Tournament just last week,
the rookies aren't exactly rookies any4
more.
"I think we gained a lot of experience,
especially in the three game Notre Dame
(CCHA) series, about how playoff hock-
ey is," freshman defenseman Bob
Gassoff said. "And the freshmen have
been called upon quite a bit this year,
especially with the injuries. We should
be ready to go by Friday."
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
Despite entering his first NCAA West Regional, Josh Langfeld and the other Michigan freshmen are eager to get the games
underway. To calm the rookies' fears about Friday's opening-round match with Princeton, the upperclassmen have taken the
youngsters out to dinner.
Blue tennis seeks upset
win against Notre Dame K'
By Drew Beaver
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 24 Michigan women's tennis team has
not been upset too often this year. It dropped a close
match to No. 30 San Diego, but with both teams so
close in the rankings, that can't really be considered
a shock.
The first time the Wolverines were truly upset
was last Saturday, when they fell to No. 50 Purdue.
So with No. 15 Notre Dame heading to Ann
Arbor, the Wolverines are looking to pull off an
upset of their own.
The 11-5 Irish square off against the 5-5
Wolverines at 4 today at the Varsity Tennis Center.
"I'm hoping the loss to Purdue has a positive
effect on the team," Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt said,
"I think everyone is anxious to get back out on the
court."
The Irish are also coning off a loss - theirs was
at the hands of No. 4 Texas. They also fell to No. I
Florida earlier this month.
A 5-4 loss by No. 27 Kansas earlier this month,
proved that they can fall victim to the upset as well.
Michigan has not pulled off an upset in its four
matches against higher-ranked teams this year. The
Wolverines are looking to end this trend. .
"I think we're ready," Michigan sophomore
Erryn Weggenman said. "The loss (to Purdue) was
disappointing for everyone, but everyone is ready."
In the 'oss to Purdue, the Wolverines' biggest
problem was unforced errors.
"We gave them too many free points," Ritt said.
"We're hoping to improve on our consistency."
The Wolverines will need to reverse this trend
against a powerful Notre Dame team to earn the
upset.
The strengths of the Irish parallel those of the
Wolverines. Both teams rely on depth and strength
throughout the lineup to carry them through dual
meets.
Last year in South Bend, the Wolverines lost a
close 5-4 decision to the Irish.
"We felt like we had opportunities to win that
match," Ritt said. The Wolverines need a victory to
stay above .500 in dual-meet matches.
A win would also help improve their national
ranking, which is used for seedings at the NCAA
regional tournament.
'M' takes first
in Jamaica
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Writer
At the beginning of a track season, all coaches talk about
giving their runners 'tired legs.' After last weekend's travel
those must belong to the Michigan women's track team.
The sprint team made the trek to Kingston for last weekend's
Jamaica Invitational.
The Wolverines began a much-anticipated outdoor cam-
paign by placing first in two events and finishing in the top
eight in most of the others.
Coach James Henry chose to load all of his top guns in the
400-meter relay. His strategy worked to perfection, as the team
of Kenise Bocage, Maria Brown, Tania Longe and Olive Ikeh
turned a solid time of 45.51 seconds to capture first place.
Michigan edged Seton Hall by .14 seconds to pull out the vic-
tory. Of the four, Brown is the only upperclassman. 6
"We had only one day to practice," Bocage said. "We did
really well."
Nicole Forrester continued her winning ways with a victory
in the high jump, clearing the 6-foot 3/4 bar.
Four of the 15 places in the two 100-meter dash heats
belonged to Wolverines. In Heat A, Maria Brown ran a blister-
ing time of 11.91 for second place. Sophomore Bocage took
fifth place in the second heat in 12.16.
DANA LNNANE/Daiy
The Michigan women's tennis team - currently ranked 24th In the nation - con-
tinues Its season this afternoon when the Wolverines host Notre Dame. The
Fighting Irish, ranked No. 15, will be looking to avoid being upset.
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