6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 1, 2001
4
BADGERS
Continued from Page1B
front might have contributed to
Michigan's inability to score until
overtime.
"You don't want to change your
system of play so much that it's
what we're not used to," said assis-
tant coach Scott Forrester about the
decision not to move the extra play-
er on the forward line. "We tried to
get more of a presence from 'one of
our center midfielders to get in the
attack."
Michigan was led Friday by Abby
Crumpton. Her leadership on the
field was evident in her third game
back from an injury. Her strong and
energetic play from the first minute
of the game led to several opportu-
nities in the Wildcats' goal box.
In one outstanding play in the
first half, Crumpton had a break-
away with only the goalie left
between her and the net. Her shot
was accurate, but the ball barely
missed the right goal post after the
goalie batted it away with her left
hand.
Crumpton aside, after Friday's
win over the Wildcats, no smile on
a Michigan player's face shone
brighter than that of freshman
Theresa Dwyer's.
"Scoring my first goal for Michi-
gan felt so good," Dwyer said. "I
felt so relieved.
"That was the first goal of the
game and I can't even explain my
feelings."
The freshmen ruled Friday night,
scoring both goals against North-
western. Crumpton beat the North-
western sweeper to set up a
one-on-one with the goalie. She
fired a low shot that beat the keeper
but bounced off the near goal post.
Dwyer came up the right side and
caught the rebound for a clean shot
on goal with 36:48 left in the sec-
ond half.
A little more than 10 minutes
later, the Wolverines found the back
of the net for the second goal of the
game. Dwyer chalked up an assist,
making a great pass from the side-
lines to the center box, right in front
of the goal. Stephanie Chavez
received the pass but was unable to
capitalize due to the difficulty of
bringing the ball out of the air and
getting the shot off with enough
time.
But Chavez made a great decision
under pressure and passed to fresh-
man Kate Morgan for the goal.
"Theresa made a great run down
the line and after Stephanie chested
the ball to me I was surprised to see
it right at my feet," Morgan said. "It
was the perfect set-up."
Rejuvenated and 'tight'
Wolverines keep active
By Joe Smith
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan basketball team found
out early on how much things have chan
ged since Tommy Amaker was hired as
the head coach.
Early in the morning, that is.
When players showed up for 6 a.m.
workouts during the spring, they found
Amaker waiting
for them in the BASKETBALL
weight room. Notebook
Amaker's enthu-_
siasm to get started
has spread throughout the entire team,
and didn't end in the summer. While
Michigan's first official practice with the
coaches is Oct. 13, the Wolverines have
been battling through rigorous workouts
on their own several times a week.
"The system now is intense," fifth-
year senior Mike Gotfredson said.
"There are a lot of workouts that are at a
very high energy. There's also a posi-
tiveness going around that everyone is
excited to play and work out. It's been a
fun feeling so far this fall."
While the atmosphere is lighter, it
doesn't make the workouts any less gru-
eling. Gotfredson said the Wolverines
scrimmage two days a week, lift
weights three days, have conditioning
two days and participate in individual
workouts twice a week.
Gotfredson, an important member of
the "Soul Patrol" on Michigan's scout
team two years ago, saw action in 13
games last season and even started three
times. Gotfredson has been here for the
past two frustrating seasons - includ-
ing a 10-18 finish last year - but sees a
light at the end of the tunnel with a fresh
attitude from the Wolverines.
And he said it stems from the new
coaching staff.
"I think it's basically a new energy of
the coaches," Gotfredson said. "So I
think the players were sort of waiting for
that type of enthusiasm - and I think
these coaches are really providing it."
A 'TIGHT' SHIP: While the condition-
ing and workouts prepare the players for
the grind of the Big Ten schedule, the
Wolverines are also trying to find a way
to strengthen something almost as
important -- team chemistry.
"A lot of winning is knowing your
teammates," said senior tri-captain Leon
Jones.
The players are learning more about
each other by hanging out, working out
and spending time at Amaker's house
for cookouts. Having such good chem-
istry is what can help teams through the
tough times, especially the hardships
that Michigan has dealt with the past
few years with several off-court distrac-
tions and a coaching change.
To remedy this, Amaker and the
Wolverines have implemented a few
new things. The first innovation being
more meetings between the coaches and
players.
"We have a lot of teammeetings just to
make sure we're on the right track," Got-
fredson said. "And if we feel there's any-
one slipping off the track, we've already
had some meetings to say 'Lets stay
focused and get ready for the season.' "
With six seniors, much of the focus in
terms of chemistry has been on the three
freshmen - Dommanic Ingerson, Mar-
cus Bennett and Chuck Bailey. In past
seasons, there have been issues with
underclassmen having trouble adjusting
to college life and the freedom that
comes with it.
Last year, then-sophomore Kevin
Gaines was dismissed from the team prior
to the first day of classes after being
arrested for driving under the influence.
Later in the year, Bernard Robinson
and Avery Queen violated team rules
dealing with curfew, and this season
Maurice Searight was kicked off the
team by Amaker after a tumultuous
freshman campaign.
To remedy the situation, the Wolver-
ines have set into place a "big brother"
system, where an upperclassman takes a
younger player under his wing to help
them along.
"We kind of explain to him what it real-
ly takes," Gotfredson said. "We tell them
Senior guard Leon Jones will be one of three team captains this year.
-,
--
they can come to us if they need to."
Amaker said that this year's freshman
class has fit in well with the team, and
shouldn't have a problem in the adjust-
ment process.
Not to be forgotten is that Michigan
returns all but one player from last year's
team, which is just one reason tri-captain
Chris Young says that this year's
Wolverines are even closer than before.
"We're getting very tight," Young
said. "So tight you won't be able to
notice the difference between us by the
end of the year."
RECRUITING UPDATE: While one of the
top recruiting targets on Michigan's
wish list for the 2002 season - 6-foot-
11 power forward Chris Bosh - was
nabbed by Georgia Tech this past week,
the Wolverines have reportedly landed
verbal committments from two big men
that round out a solid first recruiting
class for Amaker.
Two power forwards, Chris Hunter (6-
foot-lI, 205 pounds) from Gary, Ind. and
Amadou Ba (6-foot-10, 240) were in
town on an official visit this weekend.
Rivals.com reported yesterday that both
gave verbal committments by the time
the weekend was over.
Hunter, ranked No. 64 nationally by
Prep Spotlight, reportedly is a good shot-
blocker with a nice upside to his game.
He picked Michigan over Ohio State
and Seton Hall.
Ba is the sleeper of the 2002 class that
also includes highly-touted guard Daniel
Horton, lanky swingman Lester Abram
and power forward Graham Brown.
With Michigan landing the two big
men, it may have answered a lingering
absence of a post-presence for next year
- especially with the impending gradu-
ation of senior Chris Young.
While these committments round out
the class of 2002, another contributor to
the Wolverines may be Flint Northern's
two-sport star Matt Trannon who also
has Michigan high on his list. The only
problem is that Michigan State is also
recruiting Trannon.
While it's more likely that Trannon,
also a playrnaking wide receiver with
great leaping ability, will receive a foot-
ball scholarship, he is interested in play-
ing basketball as well.
WTKA reported late last week that
Trannon was close to committing with
Michigan, but nothing has been con-
firmed yet. Trannon was spotted at the
Michigan football game on Saturday
and said that he was not on an official
visit but just watching the game. He
said that he hasn't made a final deci-
sion yet.
Even with Michigan State coach Tom
Izzo's recruiting success in the basket-
ball haven of Flint, national recruiting
analyst Clint Jackson doesn't think
Amaker is that far behind when it comes
to in-state talent.
"Izzo definitely has the more impres-
sive resume, but Amaker has tremen-
dous eye for talent and is a great
relationship manager," said Jackson.
"He knows how to.treat kids and kids
love Amaker. He'll-give Izzo a run for
his money."
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PRACTICES
Continued from Page 1B
The third and final Friday will end with
some fan appreciation festivities. Players will
be available for photographs and autographs.
Amaker also said the crowd may be addressed
.by members of the team or himself.
The practices will be run slightly different
than when behind closed doors in that Amaker
will have more scrimmaging and five-on-five
play out on the court for the sake of entertain-
ing the fans and giving them a first-hand pre-
liminary look at the players' game skills.
These practices may also benefit the
Wolverines themselves.
"I think there was some level of excitement
from our kids,to see something new in the
program," Amaker said. "I think it's a good
thing, especiallyfor the freshmen. They'll
understand what it means to perform in front
of people. It's something important for our
kids to exposed to."
Fans are also excited about the new avail-
ability of the team.
"I think it's a.great way for coach Amaker to
get students andthe community involved in the
Michigan basketball family," said Aaron Ruh-
lig, co-captain of Michigan student fan club
Maize Rage.
I
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
Center Josh Moore spent the summer working on his footwork.
I
/' __________________
The UM School of Music
2001 HALLOWEEN CONCERTS
Sunday, October 28 at Hill Auditorium
4:30 PM & 8:00 PM
7 Number your preferences (from 1 to 6) so if your first choice is unavailable, we can fill
your order with your next choice. If you do NOT indicate any other choices, your check
will be returned to you if your first choice is not available. All ticket requests will be filled in order
of receipt. Limit 10 tickets per order. Note: There is NO elevator in Hill Auditorium.
2 Make your check payable to the University of Michigan. One check or money order per
order form, please. Sorry, no credit card orders.
3 Include a self-addressed STAMPED envelope so we can mail your tickets to you. If both
concerts are sold out, we will use the envelope to return your check to you.
4 Mail your order form, payment, and self-addressed stamped envelope to: Halloween
Tickets, League Ticket Office, 911 N. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1265. ONLY
mail orders will be accepted.
5 Please allow TWO WEEKS to process your order.
6 In-person sales for any remaining tickets will begin on Monday, October 22 at 10 AM at
the League Ticket Office. Orders will not be accepted by phone.
7 All tickets are reserved seating. No one will be admitted without a ticket, including all
children, regardless of age!
0
mu
id
li
This concert is presented
with support from __eC pe
new inta e
S
2001 Halloween Concerts Mail Order Form
Mail Orders will be accepted September 30 through October 12!
Name
a
v
Phone
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LIMIT 10 TICKETS PER ORDER FORM!
PERFORMANCE LOCATION number in order of preference # TICKETS $ TOTAL
SUNDAY Main Floor @ $8.00
MATINEE
Oct. 28, 2000 1st Balcony @ $8.00 $
4:30 PM 2nd Balcony @ $5.00
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