MEN'S NIT BASKETBALL XAVIER 65, Princeton 58 Oregon 77. TCU 68 NBA BASKETBALL Toronto 103, DETROIT 10. ORLANDO 103, Chicago 94 PHILADELPHIA 114, Indiana 110 CHARLOTTE 119, Phoenix 111. NHL HOCKEY Phoenix 4, DETROIT 3 Boston 4, TORONTO 1 New Jersey 4, EDMONTON 1 Pittsburgh 2, TAMPA BAY 0 U le Lid h 3ttnai Tracking 'M' teams Tickets for tomorrow's CCHA semifinal between the Michigan hockey team and Ohio State are still availabj from any TicketMaster outlet or the Joe Louis Arena by office. Tickets get you into both of Friday's semifinals. Thursday March 18, 1999 14A- I 'M' icers go on the offensive iLl Today's NCAA Tourney preview By Rick Freeman GAME OF THE DAY: In this tourna- ment, you're selling yourself short if you miss a game. What did you do last Thursday night? If you skipped the Carolina-Weber State game, it's a safe bet you kicked yourself for it. Any of these games could be (and probably will be) great. But, since we don't take the easy way out of picks (Connecticut in the first round notwithstanding), let's say ... No. 1 Auburn vs. No.4 Ohio State, if you like unpredictability and action. But No. 1 Connecticut vs No. 5 Iowa, is must-see TV if you like emotion. It could be Tom Davis' final game as Iowa coach. Iowa athletic director Bob Bowlsby is showing Davis the door after this season, in part because of Iowa's poor tournament performances in the past. Whether he loses or wins, this game will be all about him. UPSET SPECIAL: The pick I'd really like to make, of course, is No. 10 Miami (you shouldn't need to be told which one by now) over every- body's prodigal darlings, the top- ranked Wildcats. The national media have been sucking up to Tubby Smith and Co. like MSA members in University President Lee Bollinger's kitchen. If Kentucky wins, it's a tribute to Smith's ability to keep his players from looking past the RedHawks. If not, people will be shocked. They shouldn't be. The problem with Thursday's games is there's not an underdog among them, or more accurately, they're all underdogs - Everyone's down on Auburn, Jim Calhoun at Connecticut hasn't been able to reach a Final Four yet, Maryland's overrated and the easiest pick of the lot - Florida - still doesn't get the recognition it deserves. You want upsets? Don't give up on Iowa - the only ones who have sign Davis' pay- check. SURE THING: Despite all the upsets and unpredictability that are the very essence of this tournament, some things are still certain. Top-seeded Michigan State will play flat in the first half, adjust at the break and win. Afterwards, when asked about the excitement of the Elite Eight, Mateen Cleaves will say he "doesn't get caught up in that." Money in the bank, right there. As far as actual games go, you'll see No. 3 Johnny be good - much better than No. 2 Maryland. See PREVIEW, Page 19A By David Den Herder Daily Sports Writer Following last weekend's playoff series with Bowling Green, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said the Wolverines were a better team than they were even two weeks ago. As Michigan prepares for a CCHA semifinal matchup with Ohio State HOCKEY tomorrow, perhaps Notebook the most notice- able aspect is the ----~~~~~~~~~~~~~ team's surging offense. After a string of midseason games where goal scoring was at a premium, the Wolverines have been finding the net with impressive confidence recently. In fact, since Feb. 26, Michigan has the best goals per game rating of any team in the top 10. To what can this offensive rolling thunder be attributed? Berenson con- tends Michigan has had the ability all season. "I think we were right there," Berenson said. "As I said during the slump, 'We're not playing that badly,' but we had trouble buying a goal at the right time." Whether or not the talent was there all along, it has certainly become apparent in the last six games. "The more you play in the other team's zone, the more you force them into making mistakes," Berenson said. "Once they start going in, there's a confidence that goes with it." The timing of the goals may also play a factor in that confidence. When the Wolverines have been able to notch the first goal in a game late- ly, they have won big. Michigan scored first Saturday against Bowling Green, going on to win 9-3, first against Northern Michigan (won 5-2) and first in both games against Miami (won 6-1, 9-4). By contrast, when the opponent manages to net the team's first score, the games are closer. In last Friday's Bowling Green game, the Flacons scored first - and Michigan fought its way to a 3-2 victory. Up north against Lake Superior the Lakers lit the first red light, and Michigan fell, 2-3. See GOALS, Page 17A F .. ' t.. f }'. MARGARET MYERS/Day Scott Matzka and the eighth-ranked Wolverines will take on Ohio State this Friday with a newfound offensive presence. Michigan leads the USCHO Top 10 in goals per game since Feb. 26. Surf and turf Swimmers take eight to NCAAs in Georgia Wrestlers to battle NCAA's 'Big Three a By MichaeiKern Daily Sports Writer if one didn't know better, they might look at the Michigan women's swim- ming team's record this year and think it to be an unsuccessful one. After all, it did lose the Big Ten Championship for the first time in 13 years. But anyone who knows the team and knows the injuries and illnesses it has suffered through all season and how it pulled off a surprising second-place fin- ish at Big Ten's, is well aware how suc- cessful the season really has been. This weekend, the Wolverines will have their chance to prove the doubters wrong once again when they travel to Athens, Ga. for the NCAA Championships. Michigan will bring seven swimmers to the meet, all Big Ten champions, with the hopes of finishing in the top ten for yet another year. Although they are not the favorite this year, the Wolverines have the chance to play Cinderella. This year, No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Stanford have set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd as the favorites to win the title. Stanford, the 11 straight time Pac 10 champion, is defending NCAA champion and brings 16 swim- mers and divers to the race. Georgia, the events host, brings 18 swimmers, the most in the event, and defeated Stanford in a dual meet is earli- er in the year. Both teams are extremely deep and have multiple defending NCAA champions. "You have to give the nod to Georgia," Michigan coach Jim Richardson said. "They are swimming at home and beat Championships With spring just around the corner, two winter sports aren't quite ready to end their seasons yet. As the Michigan wrestling and women's swimming teams travel to the NCAA Championships, here's a quick look at both teams' representatives... HrTTING THE MAT By Michael Shafrir Daily Sports Writer Seven Michigan wrestlers descend on Penn State this weekend for the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Seven wrestlers who have endured two-a-day practices, a grueling meet schedule and their own fair share of injuries. Seven wrestlers who will have to deal with the Big Three of col- lege wrestling - Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Iowa. "Those three teams are clearly bet- ter than the rest of us," said Illinois coach Mark Johnson, who is sending nine wrestlers to the meet. "The rest of the guys will look to do well individu- ally." Michigan's best chance for an indi- vidual title is sophomore Otto Olson, who finished third' at the Big Ten Championship. That was a disappoint- ing finish for Olson, who had been ranked second in the country in the 174 pound weight class. "Otto learned his lesson," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "But 4 he qualified for nationals and that's what's important." One Wolverine who will miss the NCAA's is senior Chris Viola - a two time NCAA qualifier. Viola finished eighth at Big Tens, one spot away from qualifying for NCAA's. "Chris had a great season," Bahr said. "He just had a horrible tourna- ment." Other wrestlers travelling to Penn State include Joe Warren and Damion Logan - Michigan's other top hopes for an individual title. Waren and Logan both lost in the See TURF, Page 18A See SURF, Page 18A Wrestler Joe Warren Damion Logan Corey Grant Otto Olson Andy Hrovat Frank Lodeserto Matt Brink Wt. Class 133 141 149 174 184 197 Hwt. MAKING A SPLASH Swimmer. Year Jennifer Arndt Lindsay Carlberg Emily Cocks Jennifer Crisman Jennie Eberwein Cathy O'Neill Shannon Shakespeare Missy Sugar Jr Fr Jr So Sr Sr Jr So KELLY McKINNELL/Daiiy Sophomore Missy Sugar is one of eight Wolverines In Athens, Ga. for the 1999 NCAA Championships. Sugar, junior Shannon Shakespeare and senior Jennie Eberwein are Michigan's best hopes for a title in the 100-meter freestyle. DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily As seven members of the Michigan wrestling team travel to Penn State for the NCAA Wrestling Championships, they enter a field dominated by participants from three wrestling powerhouses - Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Iowa. Boys of summer headed south fillI I I, fil - 17int Sprint PCS* presents COLLEGE HOCKEY AT THE JOE By Daniel Reback For the Daily The Michigan baseball team, posting a 5-6 record, hopes to elevate its game this weekend in College Station, Texas. Playing in the Texas A&M Tournament, the Wolverines will gear up for some top competition. With the six game tournament run- ning from tomorrow to Monday, Michigan is set to battle it out against Cal State-Northridge, Nevada-Las Vegas, and Texas A&M. The road trip will allow the Wolverines to see how they measure up against some quality opponents, notably Texas A&M, which enters the tournament ranked No. 6 in the nation by Baseball America. "We're going against three pretty good teams. We definitely want to do well in this tournament," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said. Returning six starters from last year's squad, including 1998 Michigan MVP Mike Cervenak, the Wolverines' enter the event looking to cash in on their experience this year. But thus far the Michigan offense has slumped. The team is batting .256, nearly 30 points lower than their oppo- nents'. In its last game, a 6-0 loss to Southern Illinois, Michigan was held to just five hits, all of which were singles. Although the offense has been some- what sluggish, there are some notable, bright spots. Senior second baseman Bobby Scales and senior center fielder Brian Bush are enjoying I1 and six game hitting streaks, respectively. Seniors Mike Cervenak and Jason Alcaraz are also swinging the bat well, each holding their batting averaI above .300. But Zahn recognizes the need for other players to contribute if the Wolverines are to have a successful sea- See TEXAS, Page IA' Review lents Fri.. March 19 Semifinals Seed #1 vs. Seed #4 5:00 PM Seed #2 vs. Seed #3 8:30 PM Sat.. March 20 Championship Game MCAT stud The Princeton 7:30 PM have an average score increase of R nnints mm __ I. kep .'