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michigandaily.com/sports
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FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 9, 2001
9A
*
Streaky Groninger
finds his mark for 'M'
Russian 'quiz' awaits
Blue women at Crisler
By Benjamin Singer
Daily Sports Editor
It's no secret that Gavin Groninger
six three-pointers, which he's done
twice.
"He's shooting the ball well, he's
making good decisions, he's extending
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Writer
came in two years ago
touted as a sharpshooter.
The kid from the Hoosier
state displayed his long-
range accuracy early in his
career, going 6-for-9 from
beyond the arc in his
fourth career game.-
But after showing early
promise, Groninger's
effectiveness on the court
quickly diminished. He
soon fell into a deep
Who: Michigan (1-0) vs.
Nike Elite
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Latest Former college all-
stars such as Randolph
Childress and Charles
O'Bannon will play against
Michigan in the Wolverines'
final exhibition.
the defense, he's making
his teammates better
around him," assistant
coach Chuck Swenson
said. "Those are the things
he's been doing. Because
he's been doing them every
day, I don't see why that
would change. I just think
that he's really been play-
ing probably the way he
thought he would when he
came into the Big Ten."
slump that took up a good chunk of the
season, as he shot 8-for-45 (18 percent)
over the course of 16 games.
In Groninger's sophomore year, his
minutes and points per game went down
from 24 and seven to 19 and 5.6, respec-
tively.
All preseason long, the coaching staff
has been praising the new and improved
Gavin Groninger. They weren't simply
stroking his ego - Groninger showed
in Michigan's first exhibition last Sun-
day he can really stroke the three. He
poured in 29 points, including a 7-for-11
performance from three-point land. His
career-high for a regular-season game is
Because depth is a concern for Michi-
gan, increased responsibility will be
placed on Groninger. Although listed as
a guard, where he started in Sunday's
exhibition against EA Sports All-stars,
the 6-foot-5 Groninger can step in at
small forward to help out the few true
post players. Not only will he be count-
ed'on for more scoring, but he will be
depended on to p tform new tasks all
together.
"One thing we're asking Gavin to do
that he's never been asked to do in the
past, that I know of, is rebound just
because we're undersized," Swenson
said. "That's an area that he's going to
While tonight's preseason game
against RTU Klondaika (Latvia) may
not show up on the No. 17 Michigan
women's basketball team's statistics at
the end of the year, the team does not
consider this game unim-
portant. After the Wolver- 0
ines earned their first ever CRISLE
preseason top 25 bid, they Who: No. 17
will do whatever it takes to RTU Kondail
remain there. When: 7 p.m
"This is like a quiz," Latest: Thefir
coach Sue Guevara said. " game for thet
The test is next, Friday." will also be th
The matchup tonight at Crisler unt
will be a fast paced and
exciting game. Guevara characterized
the Latvian squad as playing "typical"
European basketball.
The European run and gun style of
play is characterized by a lot of give-and-
goes and back door cuts. The style also
features three point shooting by the
frontcourt players, which can be a prob-
lem if the opposing post players cannot
move out and defend the perimeter.
The Wolverines play a fast paced
style of basketball as well.
"We really like to get the ball up the
floor and get some easy shots, or get
R ARENA
Michigan vs.
rka
n.
rst exhibition
Wolverines
heir last action
il Nov. 29
the ball up the floor and hit our post
players, and I.think we do that well,"
Guevara said.
The key to this style, though, is that a
team must have post players who can
run the floor. The Wolverines have one
of the most athletic frontcourts in the
conference, with post players who, can
get up the court to take
advantage of the transition
offense.
From a coaching stand-
point, the game will also
help the staff decide on a
starting five line and get a
feel for how the players are
working together. Starting
lineups were not finalized
until late this week and it is
FILE PHOTO
Michigan needs Gavin Groninger to shoot well from long range, but defend as well.
have to improve in."
Groninger and his coaches alike
attribute his recent play to a new self-
confidence.
"I've been working really hard, and I
know that everyday I can look at myself
in the mirror and say that I've been
working hard and I'm the best player
that I can be," Groninger said. "So, I
think that's going to carry over to this
season."
$ TO THE Izzo: Michigan State put
together a private fund for coach Tom
Izzo worth up to $4.9 million as an
incentive for the coach of its basketball
team to remain with the program. Izzo,
who is enetering his seventh year as
coach of the Spartans, simply needs to
finish out his contract through the 2005-
06 season for a bonus of $3.4 million
and additional five-year payments of
$300,000. ,
still unclear who will work best together
as a unit on the floor in game situations.
Heather Oesterle, who injured her
knee at the end of last season, has seen
limited action in practice and it is
uncertain how long she will be able to
play in the game.
"You have to watch her (Oesterle)
very close," Guevara said. "You don't
want her to get too tired. We'll play her
by ear and see how she feels."
Also, local star freshman Tabitha
Pool will play tonight as she rates the
health of her knee at 95 percent.
FootballSaturday '01:
NQ 12 Michigan a
Minrnesota
TOMORROW, 12,:10 Pm., ESPN2
S &
:";ti :;:
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S...
After last weekend's last-second loss to rival Michigan
State, the Wolverines will try to get back in the win
column this weekend against the Golden Gophers.
This will be Michigan's first home game since it
defeated Purdue back on Oct. 13.
Inside this edition of Football Saturday, you will find:
The Little Brown Jug - After a two year layoff, the
Wolverines and the Golden Gophers will renew their
rivalry for this precious trophy.
Stingy Lau helps Blue squeak past Badgers
By Rohit Shave
Daily Sports Writer
MADISON - When Michigan goalkeeper Brian
Lau stopped a scorching shot from Wisconsin's Erol
Goknur with 27 seconds left yesterday in the first
round game of the Big Ten Tourna-_
ment, the Wolverines' 1-0 upset over > MICHIGAN
the Badgers was sealed.
Using an opportunistic offense, a WISCXNSIN
physical man-marking defense and
tremendous goalkeeping from Lau, Michigan
secured its program's first postseason victory.
The Wolverines' ace goalkeeper Joe Zawacki (red
card), their top defender Kevin Taylor (academic rea-
sons), and James Baez-Silva (red card) all sat out the
game.
And to make things worse, Michigan, which has
relied on scoring first altseason, had to play against a
Me=
stiff lake wind in the first half.
But it found the poise to attack the wind early and
drew first blood against a Wisconsin team intent on
pressuring the inexperienced Lau. Midfielder Knox
Cameron jumped on a turnover around the 18-yard
line, dribbled into the penalty box and drilled a shot
past Wisconsin goalkeeper Phil Ayoub at
1 15:59 of the first half for the game's only
tally.
0 "It was a huge goal," Cameron said. "We
weren't expecting much against the wind in
the first half."
Shortly after Cameron's goal, Wisconsin's John
McGrady lofted a high shot. Lau nearly backed into
the net making the save - making sure the ball did
not cross the goal line.
For the remaining 25 minutes of the first half, the
Badgers sent a flurry of scoring chances towards the
Michigan net. The majority were created by Wiscon-
sin forward Aaron Lauber (four shots on goal).
With under seven minutes left in the opening
frame, Wisconsin had its best chance to tie the game.
Inside the penalty box, Lauber beat several Michigan
defenders to the left post, but hesitated in shooting
the ball, allowing Michigan defender Dave George to
slide-tackle the ball away.
Having dodged several bullets before halftime,
Burns opted to challenge offensively-talented for-
ward Mychal Turpin to mark Lauber throughout the
second half.
"I noticed that (Turpin) stepped in more later in the
game to shut down our guys out wide," DaPra said.
"We didn't get as many crosses as we did earlier in
the game, and that may have been the difference, that
little change."
For all the strategic adjustments, the game was
ultimately decided by, who seemed to be in proper
place for every one of his 12 saves.
No overtime needed as Michigan rallies late
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
With five minutes remaining in a
scoreless tie last night in women's soc-
cer action, it appeared that Michigan
and Michigan State would be heading
into overtime.
But when Michigan's Abby Crump-
ton was suddenly pre-
sented with an empty ti MICHIGAN
net, things changed.
In the 86th minute, MICHIGAN
defender Amy Sulli-
vant was awarded an indirect free kick.
Her kick was headed by Carly
Williamson before it landed in front of
Crumpton six yards from a goal with a
goalie placed on the opposite end;
Crumpton tapped the ball in for her
fifth score in her last four games.
Michigan scored two minutes later
to finish off Michigan State, 2-0, in the
first round of the Big Ten Tournament
in West Lafayette, Ind. The Wolverines
face Illinois today with a berth in the
Big Ten Championship game on Sun-
day at stake.
Sullivant scored the second goal and
left a couple Spartans in her dust. After
receiving the ball at mid-
ST. 0 field from goalie Suzie
Grech, Sullivant took the
2 ball from the midline all the
way to the goalie box after
beating three Spartan defenders.
Michigan State goalie Stacy Heller
cane out to defend Sullivant but was
beaten, leaving Sullivant with an easy
shot for the score.
. The goals resulted from a well-
played second half for the Wolverines
after a sloppy first half played in wet
conditions. Michigan outshot Michi-
gan State 9-0 in the second frame and
controlled the tempo of the game.
"We played 100 times better (in the
second half). We moved the ball
around and kept possession," assistant
coach Carrie Maier said.
The Michigan defense made life
easy for goalie Suzie Grech. She only
made one save on her way to extend-
ing her school record for shutouts in a
season to 10. Opponents haven't netted
a goal on Grech in 527:48, dating back
to Oct. 6 against Penn State.
Today, Michigan has the opportuni-
ty to show Illinois how it has improved
since the teams last faced each other
on Sept. 21 in the Big Ten opener. The
Wolverines lost the game in overtime
despite leading the game with less than
a minute left in regulation. The loss
was the Wolverines' third blown lead
in their first six games.
Maier and Crumpton agree that the
Wolverines will be seeking revenge on
the field today after this game that
Maier said was "taken away from us."
Michigan has gone 10-2-1 since
their last meeting with Illinois, and
Michigan thinks it is now playing its
best soccer of the season.
"We are peaking at the right time,"
Maier said. "We couldn't ask our play-
ers to be chore ready for each game."
If Michigan is leading the game in
the final minute again, the Illini
shouldn't count on another miracle like
they had on Oct. 6. The Wolverines
* haven't blown a lead since that game,
and the players have learned to play
while leading their opponents during
this time.
i
Beam seeks another strong performance at Big Tens
By Matt Kramer
Daily Sports Writer }
Two weeks after participating at the
ITA Midwest Regional Championships
at Michigan State, the Michigan men's
tennis team heads back to East Lans-
ing this weekend for the Big Ten Sin-
gles Championships.
The top six players from each of the
Big Ten schools will be competing in
an individual, non-team scoring event.
"I'm looking forward to this week-
end," Michigan Mark Mees said. "I
think this will be a good chance for
some of our guys to shine and it's a
good way to wrap up the fall competi-
tion and see where we are."
Michigan's top ranked player, senior
Henry Eeam, is seeded third among all
64 players in the field. Beam reached
the Round of 16 last year before
falling to Indiana's Milan Rakvica 6-2,
6-2. Rakvica is seeded second this
year.
"I'm very excited about playing this
weekend," Beam said, "I'd obviously
like to hold up my seed and I really
feel like our team has an excellent
chance of doing well."
Fellow seniors Ben Cox and Greg
Novak are seeded second and third for
the Wolverines, followed by sopho-
more Anthony Jackson, freshman Matt
Lockin and junior Chris Shaya.
While the Wolverines have partici-
pated in four individual tournaments
so far this year, Mees said he already
likes what he has seen from Cox and
Lockin.
Cox and Lockin both finished with
3-1 records and lost in the Round of 16
at the ITA Midwest Regionals two
weeks ago.
This is the first time that the Big Ten
Singles Championships will be played
in the fall. In past years, the tourna-
ment has always been held before the
beginning of the Big Ten regular sea-
son in January.
Because of the new schedule, the
tournament will conflict with the
National Indoor Championships
being played in Dallas this week-
end. Therefore, many of the top sin-
gles players in the Big Ten will be
absent from East Lansing.
But Mees said he isn't worried
about lack of competition.
"The National Indoors have taken
away some of the top players but the
tournament still has some tremendous
players. So it should be quite a test."
Beam agreed. "This is the strongest
I have ever seen the Big Ten. The con-
ference is so deep this year and every
team brought in a great recruiting class
so the competition is going to be
excellent."
M nine adds two new
assistant coaches to staff
Michigan interim baseball coach
Chris Harrison added two familiar
faces to his coaching staff yesterday.
Former assistant Steve Merriman
and former player Brian Kalczynski
(1998 captain) will serve as Harrison's
assistant coaches this season.
Merriman joins on after serving as
head coach at Macomb Community
College for the past two years.
U
77
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