Blast from the past
Go online to relive Michigan's win
over Arkansas in the 1999 Citrus Bowl.
michigandaily.com/sports
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WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 13, 2000
Absolute Citrus
BRANDON SEDLOFFi/DI
Jed Ortmeyer takes a faceoff against Brian McConnell in yesterday's 4-2 win over
the U.S. Under-18 National Team Development Program.
Awestruck Under-18
no mlatc for icers
By Joe Smith
Daily Sports Writer
Just 20 seconds into the Michigan
hockey team's exhibition game against
the U.S. Under-18 National team, future
Wolverine and current Team USA cap-
tain Jason Ryznar (6-foot-4, 202
pounds) was given a little taste of what
it's like at the next level.
Michigan All-American defenseman
Jeff Jillson (6- foot-3, 225) met him
head on,
crushing U.S.A. HX:'sa 2
into the g MilliAN 4
boards.
"At first I didn't think he was as tough
as he was," Ryznar said. "But then I real-
ized how tough he is."
Ryznar got his revenge against Jillson
10 minutes later in another head-on con-
frontation, but it was already too late.
The Wolverines jumped on the awe-
struck Under-18 team early svith two
quick goals and coasted to a 4-2 victory
at Yost Ice Arena last night.
"We were definitely on our heels in
the beginning of the game," said Eric
Nystrom, who will also be wearing the
Maize and Blue next season. "Thev
scored real quick and they were up 2-0
before we even knew it. As the game
went on we got in a groove, but it was
too late by then"
A childhood friend ofMichigan fresh-
man Mike Komisarek, Nystrom was
also Komisarek's teammate on the
Under-18 team last year. Last night, the
two were reacquainted early and often by
wav of battles in the corners, which is
indicative of the unusually chippy style
of play that marked this exhibition game.
"We went at it a little bit, it was fuim"
Komisarek said with a grin. "We're
Long Island boys that go way back I
guess. I wanted to give him a little taste
of what to expect next year."
After Michigan senior Josh Langfeld
tallied a power play goal just five min-
utes into the contest, sophomore J.J.
Swistak took advantage of a 'Team USA
turnover. Swistak went on a shorthand-
ed, two-on-one breakaway with cam
captain Geoff Koch before putting a
wrist shot past goalie Travis Weber at
6:16 of the first.
See TEAM USA, Page 17
A familiar
scene: Blue
in abowl
By Stephanie Offen
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan football team is used to
this scenario: Spend New Year's Day
playing in a bowl game. The year 2001
will begin no differently. With an 8-3
record and a co-Big Ten championship
already under their belts, the Wolverines
will face Auburn in the Capital One
Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1
The last time that the Wolverines fin-
ished the season before the new year was
1995. Five years ago, Michigan, plagued
with three losses, headed to the Dec. 28
Alamo Bowl and lost to Texas A&M.
After a devastating 54-51 loss to
Northwestern this season, the Alamo
Bowl looked like a distinct possibilty
once again for Michigan. But late-season
upsets suffered by the Wildcats and
Purdue and a victory over Ohio State put
Michigan back on familiar ground -
etding the season on Jan. 1.
The year 1995 meant something very
different for Auburn. That was the last
time the Tigers competed in a New Year's
Day bowl. In fact, Auburn has not even t
made the postseason since the 1997 sea- Its all eyes on OrI
son when it faced Clemson in the Peach Florida Citrus Bowl
Bowl.
Something that seems to come for
granted to thtr Wolverines came as a U
pleasant surprise for a team that turned
things around this season.
Two vears ago, Tommv Tuberville By Chris Duprey
took over a 3-8 Auburn squad from for- Daily Sports Editor
mer coach Terrv Bowden. It took
Tuberville just those two seasons to flip It's not a flashy
that record. There's not qu
Tuberville exceeded expectations Michigan-Alabar
when his team won the Western Division there's enough at
SEC title earning the Tigers a chance to their eyes on the
face Florida in the conference's champi- A loss to Aub
onship game. A 28-6 loss to the Gators in Year's Day woulr
that game did not damper Auburn's son, harkeningr
excitement about its comeback season. days, when such
"We're excited about what has hap- The Jan. I bo
petted. except for last night's gatme" Mtchtgan's 14s
Tuberville said after the loss. "We have a should yield the
votng team with great chemistrv. all their seniors t
Injuries have not been a problem this MlICHIGAN RI
year and Rudi Johnson has had a physi- DEFENSE: Of the
cal impact on the team." faced this season
Johnson has been the team's savior. In These weren't gri
his first year with the squad, the running Two of those fi
back was selected as the Associated Florida.
Press' SEC Offensive Player of the Year The Tigers' ru
See AUBURN, Page 15 SEC, a reputatio
LOUISBROWN
ando for Anthony Thomas and the Wolverines New Year's Day. Michigan will face Auburn in the
Urn can't stop offense
Watch ti
-With the term coming to an end,
The Michigan Daily will be put on
hold until the start of classes in
2001. As a result, important
events in Michigan sports will
occur without our extensive cov-
drage. But the Daily sports sec-
tion will not leave you completely
in the dark. Here is a look ahead
for what will be happening over
winter break:
* MEN'S BASKETBALL: Four
unranked opponents for Michigan
give the Wolverines a chance to lick
their wounds before starting confer-
ence play with Purdue.
O WONIEN'S BASKETBALL: The
Big Ten season starts,hincluding a
game on CBS as Michigan hosts
powerhouse No. 6 Purdue.
ICE IOCKEY: Michigan heads
into the annual Great Lakes
Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in
Detroit. Since winning nine in a row,
is
the Wolverines have dropped the
past three tournaments to Michigan
State.
. WomiN's swvtmt"n: Michigan
spends its break in Hawaii for competition
with Texas A&M.
GYNtNASTICs: Both the men's and
women's teams have intrasquad meets.
MEN'S TENNIS: Michigan begins
play in the Milwaukee Tennis Classic.
Bosvt, G kstrs: If you have satellite
TV, at least three televisions and an
unhealthy desire for football, you might be
able to squeeze in all 26 bowl games.
B
Dl
y matchup, but it will have to do.
ite the excitement that last year's
ma Orange Bowl presented. But
stake for the Wolverines to keep
prize.
'urn in the Citrus Bowl on New
d be Michigan's fourth of the sea-
nemories of the pre-national title
a fate had become routine.
wl also serves as one final go for
eniors. An overmatched Auburn
Wolverines an opportunity to get
time on the field.
L:SHING vs. ALBURN RUSHING
five ranked teams the Tigers have
, four rushed for over 100 yards.
eat running teams, either.
ve games were against pass-happy
ish defense ranks second in the
n the Wolverines will test. As he
does in every bowl game, Michigan coach Llot
Carr will see if this squad can hang with his bru
ing backs for four quarters.
Carr is betting the Tigers will tire from battlit
Michigan's offensive line all day. As the four
quarter stretches on, Anthony Thomas will break
bi" play that seals the deal for the Wolverines.
Advantage: Michigan
MICtIG.AN PASSING vs. AUBURN PASSIN
IEFENSE: The Wolverines, without cxaggeratio
have been able to do whatever they've wished
opponents in the passing game. It's the one part
this 2000 season that can unquestionably be ruled
success.
Surrendering 200 yards a game passing,
Auburn has done this season, is fairly decent.
But the Tigers average below two sacks a gam
See MATCHUPS, Page 1
Falcons up first i next
phase of cagers' season
By Dan Williams Then in act two, Michigan floundered
uly Sports Writer to four consecutive defeats at the hands of
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If Michigan carved its season into
quadrants, grouping collections of simi-
lar opponents on the schedule, tonight's
bout with Bowling Green (3-2) would
begin act three.
Michigan (2-5) will host four consec-
utive unranked opponents from smaller
schools before the Big Ten season begins
Jan. 3 at Purdue.
In act one, Michigan went 2-1 against
three physically overmatched teams. A
season-opening loss at Oakland over-
shadowed wins against Western
Michigan and Wagner.
four ranked opponents. The nadir in the
young season came Saturday, when the
Wolverines fell to No. 1 Duke, 104-61.
Michigan's next four-game stretch
will likely determine whether postsea-
son hopes remain when Big.Ten play
commences, or if the entire year will be
a tale of suffering.
"I think we can come back, we just
have to build from these losses," senior
Josh Asselin said.
Bowling Green presents another physi-
cally subordinate opponent for
Michigan. The Wolverines will get to
See FALCONS Page 16
Men's basketball
honae"es in bald
Date Opponent Time
Dec. 13 Bowling Green 7pm.
Dec. 23 Morris Brown 12 p.m.
Dec. 27 Towson 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 Eastem Michigan7 p.m
Jan. 3 Purdue (ESPN 8 p.m.
~ -
MARSHALL/Daily SEDLOFF/Dail
Women's basketball
Date Oponent Time
Dec. 16 Toledo 2 p.m.'
Dec. 28 Illinois 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 Purdue (CBS) 2 p.m.
t
itll l ! ALIIAAAA 1 ua r+rNw rlrous .,.ok..m we smww =man^
Big Ten
play get
underwd
By David Hom
11aiy'Sports Witer
The Michigan women's bast
team will not be opening such git
new DVD player, Playstation 2 or i
front teeth for Christmas. Inste
opens its Big Ten season against 4
and No. 6 Purdue, who are both v
under the tree in the week after th<
day. But, before that, the Wolv
conclude their nonconference sc
Dec. 17 against Toledo.
Michigan (6-3) had been flyinl
until last Sunday, when a 67-58 1
Marquette ended its five-game wi
streak. The Wolverines had avera
24.6 point margin of victory duri
stretch.
"I don't think we've been wi
ugly," coach Sue Guevara said last
before the Marquette loss. "Our
tion has improved - setting and
screens.
Assistant coach "Ron Mott w
a game tape, and he says, 'This i
we're going to exploit them.' He
bringing up to me and the staff th
have to be like surgeons - we h
be precise and take a team apart
sively."
That offense will have to she
Dec. 30, when Michigan plays at
against Purdue - a game that w
broadcast nationally on CBS.
Wolverines managed to shoot jus
percent from the field in a 74-59 1
Purdue in last year's Big
Tournament semifinals.
But, - the perennially
See PURDUE,
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