6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 19, 2001
Offensive staggers
for Blue women
By David Horn
Daily Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON - How do the Michigan Wolverines respond to
their most exciting comeback of the season? With their worst offensive
output of the season. After a 52-point second-half effort against No. 25
[owa this past Thursday, Michigan managed just 51 in the entire game
in yesterday's 73-51 loss at unranked Indiana.
Michigan's guard play was uncharacteristically unproductive. Starters
Anne Thorius and Alayne Ingram were a combined 3-of-15 from the
floor, and managed just three assists each.
Their teammates in the paint didn't fare MICHIGAN 51
ouch better. Forwards Raina Goodlow and
Stephanie Gandy and center Jen Smith - INDIANA 73
whose 26 points led the way against the
lawkeyes - shot a combined 9-of-28 from the floor, and allowed
loosier All-America candidate Jill Chapman a game-high 23 points.
"Anne Thorius and Alayne Ingram have shot the ball much better in
:he last couple games," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "They did-
n't tonight. I thought that (Indiana guard Heather) Cassady put a
:remendous amount of pressure on Anne Thorius tonight, and I think she
really tired her out. You looked at Alayne Ingram - she couldn't get a
shot off, and then when she did she was off-balance and nothing was
going.
"If one player has an off-night, you have other people who can com-
pensate. When seven people have an off-night, you're in deep doo-doo."
From the tipoff, Indiana worked steadily toward a 15-2 lead. Three
urnovers and one block by Chapman were the results of the Wolverines'
irst four trips down the court. Seven minutes into the game, the
Ioosiers led by 13 after missed shots from Thorius, Smith and Ingram.
Michigan was plagued by uncreative passing and poor shot selection,
nd by a general laziness and unawareness on defense. Freshman Smith
sad the particularly difficult task of guarding Chapman.
"I was really disappointed when we got the ball inside," Guevara said.
I think that Indiana, defensively, just took it at us, and we didn't do a
very good job of reciprocating. I always say that big players make big
slays. We had no big players today."
On Thursday, Michigan looked like a new team in the second half. In
Last duals a breeze for 'M'.
Weekend dominance representative of season to date
By eb Singer Star of the Week
Andy Hrovat
DalyS epos Writer
"Come on Becks you can win this match," for- Hrovat (305) continued his destruction
mer Penn State wrestler and current volunteer of the 184-pound class with convincing
victonies sver Penn State and
assistant coach, Ross Thatcher yelled with 1:31 left Northwestern. He will be among the
in the 174-pound bout with Otto Olson. tornentne t eedatthe t e
If Mark Becks did not take the words to heart. it
is hard to blame him. At the end of the bout, Olson
had won 16-9. Michigan toppled Penn State 27-12
in a dual that, like many this season, was never in
doubt.
On Sunday Michigan destroyed lowly
Northwestern 36-7 to improve its dual meet record
to 17-3-1.
A year ago, most Big Ten dual meets afforded
the team a brawl. Michigan assistant coach, Tony
Robie, knows that the those days are over.
"I felt good about things," Robie said. "We knew
if we wrestled well we had the potential to have a
good night and have somewhat of a lopsided
score."
The Penn State win seemed like a formality -
wrestlers did not get too fired up about wins and
the disappointmen of louses was not catastrophic.
"Our guys got it started off right," 165-pounder
Charles Martelli said. "They came out intense and
finished these guys off."
Martelli's match and 184-pounder Andy Hrovat's
bout were microcosms of the dominant wrestling
style. Each took control early in their match and
never let up en route to technical falls.
"I am wrestling better than I've ever wrestled in
my life," Hrovat said. "I am in better shape, I am
hitting a lot more moves. It's hard to work on tech-
nique or conditioning at this point in the season.
For me it is mostly mental."
While a couple of wrestlers suffered losses, the
team is where they want to be at this point in the
season. The Wolverines had a decisive edge on
their feet.
"I think if our guys wrestle the way we are capa-
ble of, we'll have a great Big Ten Tournament, and
we'll put five or six guys on the All-American
podium at the nationals," Robie said.
Last week the team took a couple of days of
recuperate from what has been a tough, yet rewa'-
ing season.
"The rest was good both mentally and physical-
ly," Martelli said. "We are 95-percent there. (Coach
Joe McFarland) is training us well and he knows
what it takes to get us ready'"
The greatest drama Friday may have come from
senior night at Cliff Keen Arena. Olson received a
standing ovation at the end of his match and left the
arena with a flower, which each senior received
However, he still hopes that the NCAA
grant him a medical redshirt year that would afford
him a sixth-year of eligibility.
"I don't expect it to be my last time at Cliff
Keen," Olson said. "If it is I wish I would have went
out a little bit better with a pin or something."
TOM FELDKAMP/Dilyt
Defensive aggression, as demonstrated by Michigan's Jennifer Smith
against Indiana's Erin McGinnis, were rare for the Wolverines on Sunday.
the second half yesterday, things only got worse. After Gandy missed a
pair of free throws that would have made the deficit only nine, Indiana,
led by the rebounding and scoring of forward Erin McGinnis, went on
a 14-2 run that put them up by 23 with eight minutes to play.
The loss leaves the Wolverines just a half-game ahead of Indiana in
the Big Ten standings. Going into Sunday, Michigan and Indiana were
fifth and six, respectively. Not only was Big Ten positioning at stake, but
both the Wolverines and the Hoosiers are considered bubble teams for
the NCAA tournament.
Storied Lions losing roar
Get mad- Tourney on the line
3y Benjamin Singer
Daily Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON - The Millennium Force
used to feature the largest drop of any roller coaster
n the region. Now it's No. 2.
The emotional roller coaster of the Michigan
vomen's basketball team surpassed the pride of
Cedar Point as the team went from its biggest feel-
good win of the year in the
form of an 80-78 comeback BASKETBALL
win over No. 25 Iowa to falling
lat against Indiana. Commentary
When this team falls, it falls
hard - and suddenly. The 73-51 loss yesterday is
>art of a disturbing trend where Michigan responds
o big wins with even bigger losses.
Three times this season, Michigan has beaten a
anked team, and three times, the next game has
resulted in a loss to an unranked team. The letdown
diminishes the importance of possessing the ability
o pull off such upsets. Michigan has proven it can
>eat almost anyone. It's easy to conclude thatdeep in
:he NCAA Tournament and up against national
>owerhouses, the Wolverines could have the poten-
ial to make a run as far as they wanted.
But Michigan can't magically transport itself to
:he Elite Eight. To get there, you must beat the teams
you aren't supposed to and - maybe more impor-
tantly - the ones you are supposed to. Losses to
teams like Holy Cross and Indiana may be under-
standable, but are death blows to a team that expects
to qualify for the NCAAs. Michigan can't allow
itself to settle for Indiana's level. Not every bubble
team is going to get in.
But Michigan did worse than play down to the
Hoosiers in this blowout. The Wolverines lowest
offensive output of the season was paralleled by
what looked like their deepestdepression of the year.
Michigan coach Sue Guevara and guard Alayne
Ingram didn't so much exit the lockerroom angry as
they did solemn. They were almost in mourng, as.
though the season were dead.
That's a dangerous attitude for Michigan to take.
Sometimes it seems as if the Wolverines need to get
so frustrated with themselves that they can't stand it
anymore before they can finally win again.
With just one game left, the Wolverines-don't have
the time to let their anger mount. But feeling sorry
for themselves isn't going to get them fired up. They
need to get mad now.
Even if Michigan manages a win over No. 17
Penn State in its next and final game, it may only kill
itself with a let-down loss that would typically fol-
low. That loss would come in its first game of the
Big Ten Tournament. Michigan wouldn't have
another chance to redeem itself until round one of
the postseason - in the WNIT.
YESTERDAY'S GAME
Michigan (51) FT REB
MI MA M - 0 TAF PTS
Gtodeo 21 4-11 2-2 3-6 0 2 10
Gandy 29 1-5 3-6 3-5 1 1 5
Smith 21' 5-12 1-1 3-4 3 3 11
Thorius 36 1-7 0-0 0-2 3 2 2
Ingram 27 2-8 0-0 1-0 305
Jara 1 0-1 h-S 1-2 5 0 0
Leans 3 0-2 0-0 1-1 1 1 0
Oesterle 29 1-8 2-3 2-12 1 2
Robinson 3 01 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Dykahause 2 s-s 0-s 0-0s0s0o
Bies 22 5-1d s-4 -7 5 3 13
etals 200 19.69 11-1619-4112 15 51
Fox:.275. FT%:..6th. 3-poise FGn 2-12,.167
(Oesterle 1-4, Ingram 1-5, Goodlow 0-1, Thorius 0-1
Inns h-li. Blncks: 0 Steals: 6 (sandy 2, Smith,
Thoius, Ingram, Oestenlel. Turnovers:1 handy2,
Smith 2, Ineram 2, Bies 2,Gonodlow, Thorius, Leary,
Oesterle). Tecnoicalefouls: none.
INDIANA (73)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A MA 0-T5 F PT5
McGinnis 3d 5-7 0-4 0-0 5 13
Chapman 30 9-12 5-6 2-6 0 3 23
Cassady 38 3-12 0-0 0-6 9 1 8
Alning 21 2-4 2-2 2-5 3 7
Janes 36 4-7 2-2 1-3 2 2 11
Lazic 3 0.0 0-0 0-2 0 1 0
Manna 2 0-0 0-0 0-00 0 5
Wvg 19 0-3 0-0 0.1 0 2 3
Hanman 4 h-1 2-2 0-1 0 0 2
Skapin 2 h-i130-0 0-10 0 0
Christenson 11 2-3 2-2 02 1 2 6
Totals 200 20-50 13-18 5.39 20 15 73
FG%:.520. FT%: 722. 3-point FG: 817, .471
(McGinnis 3-4, Cassaay 2-6, slring 1-1, Jones 1-3.
Waugh 1-3). Blocks: 4 (Chistenson 2, Chapman,
Lazic Steals: IMceinnis 4. Cassady 3, Alting).
PTrnoners: 14 (McGinnis 5, Waugh 3, Cassady 2,
Chapman,'Ating, Jones, LaI. ehnical Fouls:
Michigan...... . 25 2 1
Indiana. m .33 40H-73
At: Assembly Hall, Iloomington
Attendance: 1,832
By Nathan Unsley
Daily Sports Writer
In collegiate sports, even the mightiest teams
have periods of decline.
Penn State has been participating in wrestling as
a varsity sport for 92 years, with a record of 702-
215-33 entering this season.
It finished in the top six nationally every year
from 1991-1996, and were fourth in 1999.
Penn State alumni account for 17 national cham-
pions and 142 All-Americans.
This season, things are different.
The Nittany Lions are No. 23 in the nation, but
they finished their dual meet season at 7-13 - only
the ninth losing season in the storied history of the
program.
The Nittany Lions have been up and down this
year, notching impressive victories over Arizona
State and Lehigh, which were both ranked in the top
ten at the time.
But losses to unranked Pittsburgh and West
Virginia, as well as a 1-8 record in the Big Ten, have
put a damper on the season.
As with any sport, losing seasons lead to losses of
recruits. Penn State has had difficulty finding the
same level of talent that they enjoyed in the mid-
1990s.
"There are a lot of challenges to get us back to
where we need to be," Penn State coach Troy
Sunderland said. "We want good student-athletes,
who are going to make a commitment both acade-
mically and athletically, and it doesn't come easy."
With rapidly improving programs like Michigan
and Illinois garnering big name recruits from@,
parts of the country, the challenge becomes even
greater for the Nittany Lions.
Another factor in the decline of Penn State
occurred in 1999, when a number of wrestlers were
removed from the team for gross indiscretions.
A key loss for the program was Penn State-alum
Kerry McCoy's decision to become an assistant
coach at Lehigh, another Pennsylvania school, leav-
ing his post with the Nittany Lions.
McCoy was a two-time national champion
heavyweight in 1994 and 1997.
"He has to do what is best for himself and his
career, in terms of marketing himself," Sunderland
said. "But it's good for Penn State wrestling, no
matter where he goes, because he's a two-time
national champ and he's been in the Olympics."
Sunderland knows that a daunting task is at hand
for the Nittany Lions, who must compete for
recruits and victories in the Big Ten as well as the
state of Pennsylvania. Like football in Texas,
wrestling in Pennsylvania is the passion of the state.
Michigan assistant coach Tony Robie, who wr
tied for Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, thin
that Sunderland will be able to turn the program
around.
"Programs go throg some hard times, and
maybe they're not doing as wellas they were five or
six years ago, but their coaching staff is working
real hard," Robie said. "I'm sure it won't be long
before they're back at the top of the Big Ten and the
NCAA."
is win streak
The University of Michigan W HAT'S
REC Department of Recreational Sports
INTRAMURALS INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM
RELAYS MEET RACQUETBALL
SGLS & DBLS
ENTRIES DUE:
Tues 2 20, 4:30 P'l, OISB ENTRIES DUE:
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$25 per team ENTRY FEE:
MEET DATE: $5 for Sinagles
\ Eed 2 A21 T $9 for Doubles
U of M Track Building TOURNAMENT DATES:
EVENTS: Fri, Sat & Sun 3/16, 3/717
& 3 18
800m (each inuns I lap) DISB
1200m (2 = I lap; 2 = 2 laps)
I600m(each runs 2 laps)
3200m (4 = 2 laps; 2 = 4 laps)
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Encouraged Participation Good Sportsmanship
Successful Participation Extensive Participation
Positive Attitude to Ms Contributed to Quality of
CO-RECREATION Intramural Program
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CO-RECREATI9N
Make sure to check the Intramural Sports Program All-Year Point Standings
to see if your team is in the running for the
All-Year Championship in your division.
OFFICIALS NEEDED!
Join us at the IM Official's Clinics!
* MINI-SOCCER: tonight Monday February 19
" BROOMBALL: tonight Monday February 19
" VOLLEYBALL: tonight Monday February 19
All clinics are held at the Intramural Sports Building (IMSB).
All clinics begin at 7:00 PM.
Wildcats snap tenn
By Courtney Lewis
Daily Sports Writer
It was the battle of the undefeated
Saturday in Evanston when the
Michigan men's tennis team, 5-0 going
into the competition, faced then-4-0
Northwestern.
Michigan began the match just like its
previous five matches this season. The
Wolverines earned the doubles point to
take the early lead and then built on it
with wins in the singles.
But the team broke its winning streak
and lost to the Wildcats 4-3.
Michigan's Danny McCain and Greg
Novak beat Northwestern's Jackie
Jenkins and Russell Bennett in the No. 2
spot, and Wolverines Ben Cox and
Anthony Jackson followed with an 8-5
victory over Josh Axler and Ryan
Edlefsen.
When Jackson won his singles match
in straight sets and Henry Beam came
from behind to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, the
Wolverines found themselves in a famil-
iar place with an early 3-1 advantage.
But this match wasn't like the others.
Camp Counselors & Instructors Needed
Camp Walden in Cheboygen, MI, a coed summer camp, needs
backpack - canoe - mountain bike - bus driver, and trip leaders. Also
needs male and female arts & crafts - tennis - gymnastics
" sailing - riding " performing arts - archery instructors
* secretaries - & INFIRMARY ASSISTANTS (work
with doctors in a camp clinic).
-Michigan left the safe confines of the
Varsity Tennis Center, its home court,
and faced its first road test at
Northwestern's Johnson Tennis Center
- which Michigan coach Mark Mees r
refers to as "a bubble."
Unlike most NCAA tennis compl
es, which hold six courts, the sma
Johnson Tennis Center has only three -
creating an intense atmosphere and an
irregular playing schedule. The three
doubles matches were played first as
usual, but then the No. 1, 3, and 5 sin-
gles matches were contested while the
remaining players waited.
This was also Michigan's first Big
Ten match, with Northwestern present-
ing a higher level of competition t5
the Wolverines had previously encoun-
tered. The Wildcats weren't fazed by
their early deficit in the doubles. They
roared back with three consecutive sin-
gles wins to take the match 4-3, handing
Michigan its first dual match loss of the
year.
Despite the unusual playing condi-
tions Michigan was not ready to make
excuses.
"Il'sa lot different than normal and
it's not easy to adjust," Mees said. "
we just did not play well, even in
matches we won. I'm happy with the
effort. We worked hard, competed hard
- we just didn't play up to our capabil-
ities."
The 30th-ranked Wolverines don't
have time to dwell on their first loss of
the season.
"Our next five matches will be very,
very difficult," Mees said. "We can't
around and worry and be disappoint.
We have to get back to work and get
after it.'
Y
For Additional naformation Contact: Intramural Spoils Progran, IMSB, 606 E. Hoover, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-37 17, (734) 763-3562
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