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Miam 86 UTAH t P Attsbrgh hits the stands Nov. 11.
ATLANTA 09 SEATTLE inc.
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NONE inc. Hew Jersey 1iSPIRTSNovember 5,1999
Different looks
DANA LINNANE/Daly
Jed Ortmeyer and the Michigan hockey team play a home-
and-home series against the Buckeyes this weekend.
M' wary ofslip
8n Buckeyes
By Stephanie Offen
Daily Sports Writer
Last season, the biggest ice hockey arena in the nation posed
the biggest problems for the Wolverines.
A blizzard and an ice-altering basketball game acted as wel-
coming committees for Michigan at the Value City Arena in
C umbus. And with those warm welcomes came zero victories
Mite Wolverines. The team will once again have to travel to
Ohio State on Saturday for the second game of a home-and-
home weekend series with the Buckeyes.
"I can't say it was a treat last year" Michigan coach Red
Berenson said. "The first game there was a blizzard and they
were worried about whether there would be a game at all. They
didn't know if the officials could make it and whether or not we
would be able to get home. The second game we played there
they had a basketball tournament that afternoon and the ice
became the issue because they had just taken the boards off."
The first game of the series will be played at Yost Ice Arena.
astseason, even in the safe confines of its home, Michigan
could not pull off a victory against Ohio State. In fact, the
Wolverines did not defeat the Buckeyes last season until Sean
Ritchlin scored the winning goal for the Wolverines in the
CCHA semi-finals.
This season could be a different story. Ohio State comes into
their two-game series with the Wolverines with a 1-5 record,
ranked I Ith in the conference. The Wolverines, on the other
hand, are currently the fifth-ranked team in the nation.
Then again, one just needs to look to last season's Buckeyes
to see that this game will not be played out on paper. Ohio State
v1 1-6 in its first seven game but finished No. 3 in the con-
ference, undefeated against Michigan in the regular season.
"Ohio State always seems to play their best game against us'
said center Mike Comrie, who scored one of the few goals
against the Buckeyes last season.
Comrie will be pitted against Ohio State winger Eric
Meloche, who Berenson praised as one of the best players in the
league and the biggest threat on the team.
Comrie has a full roster behind him though, as Andy Hilbert
returns from his suspension and Kevin Magnuson is expected
to be back after a finger injury.
-both teams have lost significant talent since last season,
nong health an important factor.
The Buckeyes underwent two major replacements this year.
Senior Ray Aho currently takes the spot in goal that was occu-
piged last season by star goalie Jeff Maund.
Meloche is taking over on the offensive end for last season's
top scorer Hugo Boisvert.
Even though blizzards and basketball games may not be a
factor this Saturday, Meloche, Aho and the crowd could play
into both of this weekend's games.
Friday night the Wolverines will host a packed house. Only
s ing room only tickets are available for Michigan's first
h CCHA game. Saturday night, the Wolverines will be
faced with Value City Arena's 17,500 fans, who will try to rival
the intensity the two teams faced the evening before.
And Berenson said that these two crowds are exactly what he
wants for this weekend's games.
"I just like to play when the ice is good and the crowd is good
and we're good," Berenson said.
THIS WEEKEND
:o: Michigan (3-1 CCHA, 6-1
,overalb vs. Ohio State (1-5, 2-7)
Where: Yost Ice Arena tonight,
Value City Arena in Columbus
tomorrow v
When: 7:30 p.m tonight 7 pm lit
tomorrow.
TheiEatest:Ohio State will try to end Pic Let
its second straight early-season slump
a home-and-home seres This is the
st meeting between the two teams
since Michigan's 3-2 win in last year's R kham Ami
CCHA semifinals. Hockey fans can pick Pesened tr LSdA
up a free "Michigan hockey legends"
schedule poster at tonight's game
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Fans will get peek
at men s new style
By M"rk Francescutti
Daily Sports Writer
Something new invades Ann Arbor tomorrow and it's not
New Coke, Crystal Pepsi or even a Flaming Moe.
The Michigan men's basketball team shows off it's 'new' fla-
vor tomorrow at the 'Maize and Blue' scrimmage at Crisler
Arena. Tipoff starts about 20 minutes after the Michigan-
Northwestern football game.
The Wolverines not only have five new heralded freshmen,
but new uniforms and a new style of play to show off.
The scrimmage will give Michigan fans and coaches excel-
lent view of the newcomers along with the offseason improve-
ments of the upperclassmen. Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe will
split his roster in half and pit the two teams against each other.
"It a really good opportunity to get agauge of what yourguys
are capable of and to get them in a game situation," Ellerbe said.
All eyes are on Ellerbe's top-ranked incoming class with
only two seniors on the squad. Ann Arborites will have
another crack at seeing Ann Arbor Pioneer's prep star
LaVell Blanchard at forward. Three freshmen guards - 6-
6 Jamal Crawford, 6-4 Kevin Gaines and 6-5 Gavin
Groninger will along with junior Leon Jones will look to
battle for the one and two positions.
Senior Pete Vignier and junior Josh Asselin will lead the
frontcourt along with backups Chris Young and newcomer
Leland Anderson.
But the real treat for fans who attend the scrimmage may be
all the extras associated with the event.
Michigan forward Brandon Smith, who is still recovering
from a foot injury that may leave him out until January, will
guide the "official" unveiling of the team's new apparel. The
uniforms have been on sale at area stores since last week.
The change of the style stems from an Athletic Department
decision two years ago to change to the "Block M" pattern on
Michigan athletic wear. Nike propelled the men's basketball
use of the 'M' when they contacted Ellerbe about a possible
change two years ago. After receiving input from the
Michigan players, Nike came up with a final design.
The pre-scrimmage ceremony will also feature introductions
of all the players and coaches and a new Crisler sound system.
The Michigan Dance Team will make its 'official' debut as
well. The club team will now span the sidelines of every home
game this season. At halftime the dancers will strut their stuff
for the crowd. Students can also participate ina shootout on the
floor where they can possibly win free tuition for a year among
with other prizes.
Having the football game right before the scrimmage isn't a
negative either Ellerbe said, as it could actually improve atten-
dance.
"It's a positive thing. It's very convenient for the fans to just
walk right over from the Big House to Crisler," Ellerbe said.
"The maize and blue scrimmage is something we're going to
try to do every year."
DANNY KAUCK/Daily
Michigan forward Chris Young will show the results of his offseason workouts tomorrow at the Maize and Blue scrimmage.
Women depend on veteran core
By Michael Kern soundly beaten both Ashland and Akron by an average
Daily Sports Writer 24 points per game. The Athletes have also shot 55 perce
The Michigan women will be a step ahead of the fresh- from the field in those two games.
men-laden men's team, returning a veteran core of players "They have a real nice inside-outside game," Gueva
from a young team last season. said. "They have a couple of really good three-point shoe
Last season, the Wolverines found themselves in a siu- ers, and they love to run."
ilar situation to this season men's team, trying to rebuild Two former Michigan players, Shimmy Gray and Ai
with a class of five new faces. Lemire, will be making their return to Crisler with t
Now the Wolverines find themselves poised to improve Athletes.
on last season's 18-12 record and nake a run at the NCAA Lemire, who graduated last year, ranks 14th on t
Tournanent, as they open the exhibition season against Wolverines' career scoring list and second in career thre
Athletes in Action Friday at Crisler Arena. point percentage. Gray captained Michigan during the 9
Michigan will start a veteran group of seniors is Alice 94 season and ranks sixth on Michigan career steals list
Miller and Stacey Thomas, junior Anne Thorius, and "Anytime your alumni come back, it's great," Gueva
sophomores Alayne Ingram and Raina Goodlow. All five said. "It's an opportunity for both of them to contin'
saw significant playing time last season. playing, and Athletes is Action is a very good organiz
But that doesn't mean the younger players, namely tion."
freshmen Infini Robinson and LeeAnn Bies, won't get an
opportunity to show what they can do.
"Hopefully, I am going to be able to play everybody,
Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "But the game is going
to dictate that. Iam hoping the freshmen are going to be
able to get their feet wet."
Athletes in Action already boasts a 2-0 record, having
of
ent
ara
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TONIGHT
Who: Michigan women's
team vs. Athletes in Action
Where: Crisler Arena
When: 1 p.m.
The Latest: The
Wolverines look to kick-
start their season with an
exhibition against Athletes
in Action - a Christian
team dedicated to spread-
ing their beliefs through
basketball. Tickets are free
for all Michigan students:
Former 'M' stars Shimmy
Gray and Ann Lemire play
for the Athletesin Action.
TOMORROW
Who: Michigan men's team
scrimmages itself in the
Maize and Blue scrimmage.
Where: Cdisler Arena
When: Doors open at 3
p.m. Opening ceremony will
begin approximately 20-25
minutes following the
Michigan-Northwestem
football game,
The Latest: Admission is
free for all fans. Fans can
come and watch the sec-
ond half of the football
game on Crislet's big-
screen television.