5B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 12, 2001
Quote of the weekend
"They compromised us and we're in the
teaching business. You just can't let
guys run amok."
- Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe on the decision
not to start freshmen Bernard Robinson and
Avery Queen against Indiana.
UND AY S GAME
Ln59
_i n na 72
Player of the game
Indiana forward Jared Jeffnes
Indiana's freshman phenom had afull line against
the Wolverines, netting a career-high 26 points, 12
rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks.
Jeffries could have scored even more if it wasn't for
8-of-19 shooting on free throws.
Turnovers devastate in
fourth straight loss
SUNDAY'S GAME
Michigan (59)F FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Asselin 25 1-3 3-5 1-8 1 4 5
Blanchard 40 8-15 0-2 2-8 3 3 17
Young 29 3-6 0-0 2-8 0 5 6
Gotfredson 17 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
Groninger 32 5-14 0-0 1-10 2 3 11
Jones 19 3-6 "6-7 0-1 +0 3 14
Queen 20 1-4 0-1 0.1 2 2 2
Robinson 12 1-2 2-2 0-1 0 0 4
Moore 6 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
Totals 200 22-50 11-17 6-40 8 25 59
FG%: .440. FT%: .647. 3-point FG: 4-14 286
*Jones, 2-4. Blanchard 1-3, Groninge1-4, Robinson
01, Queen 0-2). Blocks: 3 (Blanchard 2, Asselin).
Steals: 6 (Queen 2, Robinson 2, Blanchard. Young).
Turnovers: 35 (Gotfredson 5. Asselin 4, Blanchard,
4, Groninger 3, Queen 3, Moore 2, Young 2, Jones, t
Robinson). Technical fouls: none.
Continued from Page 1B
Robinson, who usually start for the
Wolverines, on the bench for violating
unspecified team rules, Michigan found
itself behind by 18 at the half after turn-
ing the ball over 16 times to Indiana's
four in the first 20 minutes.
At one five-minute stretch that mer-
cilessly ended with a Gavin Groninger
3-pointer with six minutes to play, the
Hoosiers outscored the Wolverines 16-0
and turned a six-point deficit into a 10-
point lead: Over that spell, the
Wolverines turned the ball over seven
times while taking just two shots.
Indiana finished the game with 15
steals - 11 in the first half.
In the first half, we were able to set
the tone defensively," Indiana
guard A.J. Moye said. "We made
some steals, everyone played hard and
the intensity began to spread as we got
on track offensively."
Down 20 points early in the second
half, Michigan fought its way back with
Queen and Robinson on the court,
slowly chipping away at the Indiana
lead.
With 3:19 to play, the Wolverines had
e prob- cut the lead to 62-55. That was as close
M,- ,If as they would get.
Ct do a Queen and sophomore LaVell
Blanchard both had opportunities at the
free throw line to cut the lead to five.
But both missed the front end of a one-
and-one opportunity.
"We made some good plays and
fought back in the second half, but the
big plays were our inability to make free
throws," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe
said. "It would have been very interest-
ing to see how they would have reacted
in a five-point game when we seeming-
ly had the momentum."
In the second half, Michigan turned
the ball over half as many times as it did
in the first 20 minutes. Queen played
the entire second half at the point for the
Wolverines.
Queen and Robinson "compromised
us and we're in the teaching business,"
Ellerbe said. "Youjust can't let guys run
a muck."
"You never know what would have
happened if we had played," Queen said.
Indiana center Kirk Haston and for-
ward Jared Jefferies had career highs
for the Hoosiers, scoring 30 and 26
respectively. Combined, the two
accounted for 78 percent of Indiarna's 72
points.
'Haston and Jefferies "just flat-out out
played us. Me, Josh Asselin,
LaVell, everyone," Michigan forward
Chris Young said. "We put everyone on
them, and we just couldn't stop them."
Blanchard led Michigan in scoring
for the XX time this season with 17
points on 8-of-I5 shooting.
Indiana (72)
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTE
Jeffries 36 9-20 8-19 512 3 1 26
Newton 15 1-3 0-1 2-2 0 0 2
Haston 32 8-21 11-11 3-8 1 4 32
Coverdale 38 0-6 3-4 0-6 6 1 3
Fife 38 1-5 00 1-4 52 2
Moye 14 3-5 0-0 2-4 0 3 6
Leach 5 0-0 0-0 04 0 1 0
Hornsby 22 1-4 0-0 0.1 1 4 3
Totals 200 23-64 223513-3816 16 72
F6%:.359. FT%:.629. 3-point 0: 4-18 222
(Haston 3-6, Hornsby 1-3, Jeffries 0-2 Fife 0-3,
Coverdale 0-4), Blocks: 6 (Jeffries 2, Newton,
Haston, Fife, Coverdale). Steals: 15 (Coverdale 5,
Jeffries 4, Fife 3, Moye 2, Haston). Turnovers: 10
(Coverdale 2, Fife 2, Haston 2, Hornsby, Jeffries,
Moye, Newton). Technical fouls: none.
2
Michigan ......~...........24 35 -.59
Indiana .....................42 30 - 72
At: Assembly Hall
Attendance: 16,859
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Conference Overall
Senior Mike Gotfredson received just his second start of the year in yesterday's loss to Indiana. The rnf m
College has a reputation as a scrappy player, but he had five turnovers against the Hoosiers.
4n te paint, Indiana posts vi
Team
Illinois
Michigan State
Iowa
Wisconsin
Indiana
Ohio State
Purdue
Penn State
Minnesota
Michigan
Northwestern
W
9
8
6
6
6
7
5
4
4
3
1
L
2
3
4
4
4
5
6
6
7
10
W
19
19
17
15
15
16
13
14
16
9
9
L
5
3
6
6
9
8
9
7
8
13
15
By Raphael Goodstein and
Michael Kern
Daily Sports Editors
BLOOMINGTON - With 6-9
junior Chris Young and 6-10 senior Josh
selin banging in the post, the
Wichigan men's basketball team is not
usually dominated in the paint.
But yesterday, Indiana was able to
take charge inside en route to its 72-59
victory. Hoosier's center Kirk Haston
and forward Jared Jefteries controlled
the paint, combining for 56 points and
outscoring their Michigan counterparts
by 45.
"Michigan didn't utilize the strength
of their inside game with Young and
selin," Indiana guard Dane Fife said.
IVhen their inside game didn't materi-
alize and Young got in foul trouble, we
capitalized, 'executing offensively by
working the ball in the post."
Despite repeatedly feeding the ball
inside, Michigan only received a com-
bined nine shooting "attempts out of
Young and Asselin, as they were forced
to kick the ball out of the Indiana dou-
e team. Most of the Wolverines' shots
m the paint came from players who
are generally more comfortable around
the perimeter.
"We got a lot of post touches pretty
deep in the post, but we didn't deliver
on them" Ellerbe said.
The Hoosiers, especially Jefferies and
Haston who finished with 12 and eight
rebounds, respectively, crashed the glass
to outrebound Michigan by a 42-39
margin. Indiana is just the fifth
Michigan opponent to do that all season.
WALK-ON IN THE LIMELIGHT:
Michigan senior walk-on Mike
Gotfredson started yesterday's game,
his second start of the season.
The point guard started in place of
suspended freshman Maurice Searight
and benched freshman Avery Queen.
Gotfredson turned the ball over five
times in the first half and struggled
defensively.
He didn't shoot the ball in the first
half, either, and didn't play in the sec-
ond.
"Mike has always played that posi-
tion for us in practice and he had one
start for us already this year," Ellerbe
said about his decision to start
Gotfredson instead of junior .shooting
guard Leon Jones.
"He did a nice job. Part of th
1em with the turnovs n
was that our wing plaers din
great job of getting openi"
Gotfredson also started in Michigan's
97-90 loss to O kland.
SHOOTER GAVN: Pyn in front of
60 friends and famly Cms opho-
more and Indiana nte Gavin
Groninger had an unusual peromne
yesterday.
Generally known sictly as a poit
shooter, the guard was foed into a dif-
ferent role. With pt paes iJsh
Asselin and Chris Yo in trouble
for most of the second IfGroninger
had to fill in at the smal forwrd posi-
tion so that fellow :ophomo-e L aVell
Blanchard could play in the po
Groninger responded, grabbing a
career-high 10 rebounds and finishing
with his first career double-double. On
offense, rather than look only to o t up
for jump shots, Groninger pused uP
the floor in transition an drove to the
basket for higher percentae shots.
"Gavin compete as hard as 'e ever
seen him compete on he guse
he just really wanted to rbe
said.
Senior Kirk Haston scored 30 points on Michigan yesterday. Haston, a weapon inside
and outside, was held to 13 points in Michigan's earlier win over the Hoosiers.
While freshman Maurice Searight has
shown flashes of potential, his sea-
son has consisted mostly of frustra-
tion and confusion stemming from his
inability to please Coach Brian Ellerbe.
Not surprisingly, Ellerbe has kept the
matter very private, leaving fans and
the media largely in the dark regarding
Searight's transgressions. Here is a
synopsis of Searight's season.
Thiea
In thn ennennnnanind Ince at rlaklanri_ miniitp,.q from
Nov. 17, 2000 Itmhe sesoUn-openI tos dt. mIdnUcI I..a, ii
his home in Pontiac, earight scores 14 points in13
minutes. This game remains his highest scoring out-
put.
Searight doesn't pay one minute in a home game
Dec.30, 000against Eastern Michigan. It is ciear that Searight fell
out of E slerbe's good graces, but the exact reasons he
doesn't play are undisclosed.
Eary tn. 001Searight continues to sit the bench behind fellow
Early Jan. 2001 freshman Avery Queen. Queen' splay is sometimes
erratic, but Ellerbe isn't satisfied with Searight's
effort. "He's got to earn playing time every day, and
he hasn't done that," Ellerbe said.
Jan -- Searight appears to be coming to life on this five-game
Feb. 3, 2001 stretch. He plays more than 10 minutes each game,
and shows some defensive tenacity and court aware-
ness at the point. He commits just three turnovers in
the 72 minutes of action he saw.
Feb. 7, 2001 Searight doesn't play in a loss to Penn State. The
team reports that he has the flu, but Searight won't
comment.
Yesterday Ellerbe suspends Searight indefinitely, but the reasons
are once again undisclosed.
ARSHALL/Daily
,; .'
GOODSTEIN
Continued from Page 18
But the Jamal Crawford suspensions
created too much drama, and the sea-
son ended with a 15-14 record. The
season was chalked up as another
rebuilding year.
An NCAA Tournament berth was
the stated goal at the beginning of
this season. After all, Blanchard was
the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the
Year, a highly touted recruiting class
was coming in and how difficult is it
to be one of the nation's best 65
teams?
In fact, Ellerbe even talked about
trying to model his team after
Wisconsin at the beginning of the
year. The Badgers made a tournament
run to the Final Four last season by
valuing each possession and shutting
down the opposing team's best play-
ers.
Yesterday, Ellerbe's Wolverines had
16 tu-novers in the first half, 25 for
the game; and Indiana's Jared Jeffries
and Kirk Haston both recorded career
highs with 26 and 30 points, respec-
tively.
It might be unfair to blame yester-
day's loss on any one person. After
all, starting guards Bernard Robinson
and Avery Queen were both benched
in the first half for "violating team
rules," and backup point guard
Maurice Searight is "indefinitely sus-
pended."
But who brought in those players?
Who brought in Crawford, another
casualty of suspensions?
And who brought in Kevin
Gaines, last year's starting point
guard who was kicked off the team
at the start of the school year for
violating team rules?
Every suspension and every loss,
makes it that much tougher on
Blanchard to rationalize playing for
Michigan. Every suspension and every-
loss makes it that much tougher for
Carr to continue his blind support for
the program.
And maybe most importantly,
every suspension and every loss will
make it that much easier for Pitino to
sign on the dotted line with another
school.
Raphael Goodstein can be reached
at raphaelg@umich.edu.
Yesterday's results:
INDIANA 72, Michigan 59
Saturday's results:
OHIO STATE 63, Wisconsin 58
NORTHWESTERN 69, Iowa 61
Illinois 82, PURDUE 61
Michigan State 94, MINNESOTA 83
Tomorrow's games:
Wisconsin at Illinois,, 9 p.m.
Wednesday's games:
Ohio State at Purdue, 6 p.m.
Iowa at Michigan, 8 p.m.
Northwestern at Indiana, 8 p.m.
Penn State at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Saturday's games:
Minnesota at Michigan, 12:15 p.m.
Purdue at Penn State, 2:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Alabama, 4 p.m.
Illinois at Indiana, 4:30
Sunday's games:
Northwestern at Wisconsin, 1 p.m.
Iowa at Michigan State, 4 p.m.
BIG TEN
POSTSEASON PICTURE
Last season the Big Ten received six
bids to the NCAA tournament: With a
productive nonconference season and
less small-conference teams in the
running for an at large bid, the Big
Ten may be able to get seven bids
this year.
At the top, first-place Illinois and sec-
ond-place Michigan State appear to
be fighting for a No. 1 seed. If either
team can take both the conference
regular season and tournament, it
would likely get to stay in the
Midwest and play in Dayton.
Iowa and Wisconsin are both virtual
locks for the Big Dance. Ohio State
also appears to be in position to get
a bid. The Buckeyes' record is just
16-8, but they have accumulated
important wins over Michigan State,
Iowa and Wisconsin of late.
Minnesota, Purdue and Penn State
all put themselves in good position
out of conference but have losing
records in the Big Ten. Indiana is in a
different boat, with a 6-4 conference
record but just a 15-9 overall mark.
Those four teams are likely fighting
for one to two bids.
Only Michigan and Northwestern will
most likely have to win the Big Ten
tournament to see any postseason
play.
MARJORIE M
ink
GINN&- ft NK EL- Eaft0 8 0
HOW THE AP Top 25 FARED
WEEKEND NOTES
IG KROUNDUP
No. 1 Nonm CAROuNA 96, No. 13
MARYLMD 82: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
It's Matt Doherty and not Dean
Smith on the North Carolina bench.
But it's still team before individual
for the streaking Tar Heels.
Top-ranked North Carolina got
career highs of 27 points from
Jason Capel and 18 from Julius
Peppers as the Tar Heels broke
open a close game in the second
half to beat the reeling Terrapins.
"If we wireverybody is going to
players. That's why we're able to
win."
No. 25 Mississippi 87,
Tennessee 71: The debate over
the best team in the balanceds
and competitive Southeastern
Conference has mostly revolved
around Tennessee,
Kentucky and Florida
this season.
Alabama and
Georgia draw atten-
tion. It may be time,
to~ Mart mpn iafling v
NORTHWEsTERN 69 lowg 1: At
long last, Bil Camo and the
Wildcats have th r frst ig Ten
> win.
coach Jim O'Brien hopes they take a
look at what the Buckeyes did
Saturday.
"This win helps our portfolio,"
O'Brien said after his team beat
Wisconsin (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today,
No. 16 AP) 63-58. "Whenever we
need to make our case, this will real-
ly help us."
The Buckeyes (16-8, 7-5 Big Ten)
lost their first four games against
rankedbopponents this season, but
have beaten No. 3 Michigan State,
No. 14 Iowa and the Badgers in the
Team
1. North Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Duke
4. Michigan State
5. Kansas -
6. Virginia
7 Illinois
8. Florida
9. Syracuse
10. Tennessee
11. Arizona
Record
21-2
22-1
21-2
19-3
19-3
16-5
15-6
16-5
19-4
18-6
17-6
This weeks results
Beat No. 13 Maryland 96-82
Beat Oregon State 82-63
Beat North Carolina State 101-75
Beat Minnesota 94-83
Beat Oklahoma State 77-61
Lost to Georgia Tech 62-56
Beat Purdue 82-61
Beat Arkansas 73-63
Beat Seton Hall 63-62
Beat No. 25 Mississippi 87-71
Beat Washington State 86-51
f U UeCA~