michigandaily.com/sports sportsdesk@umich.edu WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2001 8A 0 M, Ingerson scorch Stags rom Outside\ By Joe Smith Daily Sports Editor Hockey Showcase keeps rivalries alive Dommanic Ingerson's teammates looked away in disbelief but couldn't help but crack smiles. The freshman shooting guard just drained another three from nearly six feet behind the arc, his sixth 3- pointer of the night, to give Michigan an insur- * FAIRFIELD 59 mountable 34-point lead midway through the sec- . MICHIGAN 88 ond half. "I was just in a rhythm," Ingerson said with a grin. "Sometimes I feel that the defender isn't even there. I do take some deep shots, but that's because I don't always know where I'm at (on the floor)." Ingerson came off the bench to light a fire under an already sharp-shooting Michigan (2-0) team, leading a convincing 88-59 drubbing of Fairfield (0-2). The small college in Connecticut had np chance in this one, as both of Michigan's desired signatures in coach Tommy Amaker's first season - aggressive team defense and 3- point shooting - were in rare form. And Inger- son just added the nail in the coffin by knocking down shots from another time zone. Ingerson's long range capability is nothing new, according to his old high school coach. "It's amazing how he does it sometimes," Santa Bar- bara High School coach Jeff Lavender said two weeks ago. "If he got in a zone, two opponents would run out at him and he'd still pull up from over six feet behind the line and nail over 60-percent of them." While Amaker was impressed with nearly every element of Ingerson's performance, saying, "except for the last one he took from half court, I was pleased with his play." Ingerson was not the only Wolverine in the zone, as junior Gavin Groninger once again found his touch, adding 15 points - including 4-for-5 from 3- DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily New coach Tommy Amaker has been stressing team defense and smart shot selection all year long. Last night, both were clicking on all cylinders, as Dommanic Ingerson poured it on with 23 points on six treys. By Naweed Sikora Daily Sports Writer This weekend, the Michigan hockey team will take a break from its CCHA schedule by hosting this year's College Hockey Showcase with Michigan State. Michigan will face No. 1 Minnesota on Friday and Wisconsin this Saturday. . On getting the chance to host top- ranked Minnesota on Friday, Michigan coach Red Berenson said: "I don't know if this is a good time for us. They are on a roll, and I can't say that we are coming off our best weekend at home. But I think we should be ready." Minnesota (5-0-1 WCHA, 10-0-1 overall) is coming off a sweep over con- ference rival Minnesota-Duluth and is one of only two undefeated teams in Division I hockey. Good time or not, the Showcase is always a special event for the Michigan hockey program. It gives the team a chance to build and maintain its historic rivalries with two of its former Western Collegiate Hockey Association cohorts. In its ninth year, the Showcase fea- tures four games. The two CCHA teams, Michigan and Michigan State, will each play against the two WCHA teams. Michigan State hosts Wisconsin on Friday and Minnesota on Sunday. "The concept here was that we had four programs with a lot of history and success, four Big Ten programs, and we wanted to keep them in competition with each other even though we are in separate leagues," Berenson said. "I think it's good to play them every year." The WCHA began as the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League in 1951. It had seven members, three of which were Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota. Michigan dominated the league early on, winning six champi- onships in the 1950s alone. The WCHA was officially founded in 1959, and Wisconsin became a mem- YOST ICE ARENA Who: Michigan (542) vs. Minnesota (140-1) and Wisconsin (6-4) When: 7:35 p.m. Friday, 8:05 p.m. Saturday Latest: For those looking to escape Friday night leftovers with the family? Tickets are still available for both games. For those out of town, you can listen to the game over the Internet. ber 10 years later. In 1981, Michigan and Michigan State left the WCHA to join the more geographically compact CCHA. The move threatened the long- standing rivalries between these four programs of evaporating. In order to prevent this, the College Hockey Show- case was developed. The first Showcase, played at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 1993, turned out to be a success and displayed the competitive nature of these rivalries. "We hosted that Showcase," Beren- son said. "Minnesota was a good team that year, but we beat them 6-0 the first night, and Michigan State handled Wisconsin. After the games everyone was saying how much better the CCHA was. Sure enough, the next night Wisconsin came back and beat us and Minnesota bounced back and beat Michigan State." These teams have combined for 88 NCAA Tournament appearances and 19 championships. In addition, each program is among the top-15 win- ningest programs in college hockey, combining for 4,514 wins. Within the College Hockey Show- case, Michigan has been the best so far with an 11-4-1 record. It has a'5-3 record against Minnesota and a 6-1-1 record against Wisconsin. I This weekend, college hockey fans have much to be thankful for as these teams get together again. The Show- case is an excuse to get away from conference games and an opportunity to stay focused over the holidays. 0 6 point range. Groninger led Michigan in scoring on opening night against Oakland with 19 points. As a team, Michigan shot a scorching 57-percent from behind the arc, and a 58-percent clip from the field for the second straight game. But once again, Michigan's offense was creat- ed by its swarming defense. Sophomore Bernard Robinson, who started in favor of the injured Leon Jones, scored six of the Wolverines' first eight points and proved he could do it at the other end as well. Robinson's aggressive defense and lengthy wingspan helped Michigan force 13- first half turnovers by the visiting Stags. "Our defense was unbelievable from the opening tip to the final buzzer," said senior tri-captain Chris Young, whose Wolverines held the Stags to 33-per- cent shooting and 21 turnovers. Jones, who got hurt in practice on Sunday, is expected to miss the next three weeks with a torn capsule in his left thumb. While the Wolverines donned their maize jerseys for the first time this season, their starting lineup was nearly the same except for Jones. Scrappy, fifth-year senior Mike Gotfredson made sound decisions in splitting time with Avery Queen at point guard. Young and junior LaVell Blanchard anchored the front line but didn't have spectacular nights - combining for 22 points and seven boards. But they didn't have to, as tht Michigan bench proved again to be a strength. After contributing 30 points on opening night against Oakland, the Michi- gan reserves combined for 44 points - nearly half of Michigan's total. "There wasn't any fall-off at all," said Young,.who shook his head in amazement. With the win, Amaker became the first Michigan coach since Bill Frieder in 1980-81 to start his reign with a 2-0 start. 6 Injured thumb keeps Jones out Senior out for 2-3 weeks; Freshman Bennett has academic problems By Joe Smith. Daily Sports Editor A particular episode in Leon Jones' season-long series was put on hold, but not taken off the air for good. BASKETBALL Michigan's ver- sion of an iron Notebook man had never missed a game in his previous three years as a Wolverine, spanning 89 games. But last night, the senior tri-cap- tain was in street clothes and had a pro- tective cast over his left hand. This is the unfortunate reality for Jones the next three weeks due to a torn capsule in his left thumb. Jones dislocated the thumb in practice on Sunday and will have to wear the cast for at least two weeks. "It's a huge loss," said Bernard Robinson, who replaced Jones in the starting lineup. "He's such a multi- dimensional player that you hate to lose a guy like that." Dr. Dean Lewis of the University hospital performed surgery to repair the damage in Jones' thumb yesterday afternoon, but Jones will likely sit for the next two weeks before starting rehab in an attempt to crack the Michi- gan lineup once again. While he didn't play, a seemingly anxious Jones remained active on the bench, rising to his feet, waving a towel and harping on his teammates on both ends of the floor. Nor did the injury affect the theater buff's ability to create some clips on his video camera in his quest to direct a movie of the Wolver- ines' season. "He's one of the biggest emotion- al leaders on this team," said fellow tri-captain Chris Young, who now holds the team's active streak for consecutive games played with 90. "His presence will definitely be missed, but he can make up for it in other ways." After three seasons of relative incon- sistency, Jones seemed to have finally felt comfortable and confident in his role. Grabbing coach Tommy Amaker's attention for his work ethic and leader- ship on the floor, Jones beat out the slashing Robinson at the small forward spot in the past three games, including two exhibitions. Robinson started in his place and added 11 points and commit- ted only one turnover. "He played unbelievable," Young said. "He was all over the passing lanes, shutting down their top guys and was more careful with the ball." NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: All five members of Amaker's top-10 recruit- ing class for 2002 have officially sent their national letters of intent during the early signing period: Lanky swing- man Lester Abram, highly touted point guard Daniel Horton, along with 6- foot-9 power forward Graham Brown and big men 6-foot-11 Chris Hunter and 6-foot-10 Amadou Ba. Amaker said all recruits have cleared academi- cally except Ba, who is still in the process of taking his first test. "All five players are versatile with outstanding athletic ability and com- mitment to academics," said Amaker, who felt that he addressed some of Michigan's major needs at point guard and in the post. HIGIjER LEARNING: Freshman guard Marcus Bennett didn't play for the second straight game, but this time it was due. to academic concerns. Amaker said that is an "academic sit- uation" and that he wouldn't play until "it was resolved." Bennett was unavailable for comment. NOTES: Sophomore center Josh Moore continued his foul problems, as he fouled out in just 10 minutes ... Starting point guard Mike Gotfredson has only attempted one shot in 49 min- utes the season's two games ... Over 40 Fairfield fans who live in Michigan area attended last night's game and added some flashes of red in the student bleachers ... Fairfield coach Tim YESTERDAY'S GAME Fairfield (59) FG FT REB MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS Spann 31 8-15 2-3 2-9 2 1 18 Gai 20 .2-7 4-4 0-1 0 5 8 Thompson 31 1-4 11-14 2-3 0 5 13 Goode 33 2-4 1-4 1-1 3 1 5 Walsh 7 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 Urgo 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0' Galvanoni 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Logan 22 3-6 3-3 1-2 0 3 9 Sogadzi 25 2-8 0-0 0-5 1 3 6 Feleccia 9 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Delfico 13 0-2 0-2 1-4 0 1 0 Team 0 0-0 0-0 4-5 0 0 0 Totals 200 184721-30 11-317 19 59 FG%: .383. FT%: .700. 3-point FG: 2-6, 333 (Sogad 2-4, Goode 0-1 Spann 0-1). Blocks: 2 (Gai 2) Steals: 7 (Goode 3, Spann 2, Thompson, Delfico). Turnovers 21 (Spann 6, Goode 3, Walsh 2, Urgo 2, Delfico 2, Gai, Thompson, Logan, Sogadzi, Feleccia). Technica Fouls: none. MICHIGAN (88) FG FT REB MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS Robinson 22 4-11 3-4 2-2 2 4 11 Blanchard 23 5-9 0-0 2-5 3 2 11 Young 23 3.7 1-3 0-0 0 3 7 Gotfredson 27 0-0 0-0 0-1 4 0 0 Groninger 25 5-6 1-2 0-1 2 1 15 Queen 18 1-1 1-2 0-1 2 1 4 Gibson 7 1-3 0-0 0-1 2-0 2 Ingerson 21 7-12 3-4 0-2 0 2 23 Garber 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Bailey 12 4-4 1-3 1-4 0 1 9 Moore 10 2-3 2-4 1-2 1 5 6 Adebiyi 10 0-0 0-0 1-4 1 2 0 Team 0 0-0 0-0 0-2 '0 0 0 Totals 200932-56132210-3117 2488 FG%: .571. WT%:.591. 3-point FG: 11-19, .579 (Ingerson 6-8, Groninger 4-5, Blanchard 1-4, Robin- son 0-2). Blocks: 2 (Bailey, Young). Steals: 8 (Blan- chard 3, Robinson 2, Gibson, Gotfredson, Young). Turnovers: 14 (Ingerson 4, Blanchard 2, Queen 2, Gibson 2, Robinson, Groninger, Bailey, Adebiyi). Technical fouls: none. Fairfield...........................26 33 - 59 Michigan......................... 42 46 - 81 At: Crisler Arena Attendance: 9,379 O'Toole was Amaker's assistant at Seton Hall and served as a fellow assis- tant coach at Duke with Amaker. FootbaHlSaturday '01: No.VIMicign mj OE OW OaFootball Saturday S IS Inside this edition of Football Saturday, you will find: Quarterbacking - neither Michigan nor Ohio State seems to have it, so which team will find it in time for Saturday's game? Check michigandaily.com/sports for a women's bas- ketball story. And, don't forget about two other Michi- gan teams which are playing on Friday - the men's basketball team travels to Kalamazoo to face Westem Michigan at 7 p.m., and the volleyball team hosts Indiana at 7 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena. 0 U ui ISj-1 / 'o Al A- 4 . at 41Q a> 4 iindit 2L room michign unio - A ID 0. WHEN YOU THINK "SERVICI THINK "KOLOSSOS". 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