SPORTS
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TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 27, 2001
9
Scoring duo struggled I,
at wrong time for 'M''
JON
SCHWARTZ
By Joe Smith
Daily Sports Editor
They are arguably the Wolverines'
most talented and explosive players,
and they are expected to act like it.
Michigan depends on junior LaVell
Blanchard and Bernard Robinson, last
year's co-MVPs, to make critical shots
in the big games
this season. More BASKETBALL
importantly, they j,,, j,
I V I I I Y I It It IK
need to be consis- 1 """"
tent, shut down
their opponents' best players and take
control of situations when things aren't
going so well for the Wolverines.
But with Michigan cowering after
Western Michigan's 15-2 blitz, and its
pivotal road contest slipping away in the
first half, Robinson and Blanchard were
MIA.
Both were taken out of their games,
shooting a combined 2-8 with only six
points and as many fouls as rebounds
(3) in the first 20 minutes. The usually
slashing Robinson floated around the
perimeter, unable to attack the basket.
Blanchard missed the 15-footers he
usually makes, was kept away from the
offensive glass and couldn't find a
rhythm on the floor.
On the other end, their counterparts,
Western Michigan's playmakers Steve
Reynolds and Ben Reed, proved more
aggressive and it showed with their
combined 29 points on 11-16 shooting
in the first half. Granted, not all the
points were scored on Blanchard and
Robinson, but the two Broncos defi-
nitely were the ones in control -
helping Western Michigan take a sur-
prising 19-point halftime lead.
Prior to the game, Western Michigan
coach Robert McCullum outlined the
main keys for his team's success against
the Wolverines - shoot well and shut
down Blanchard and Robinson.
The Broncos did just that, holding
Michigan's two stars to a combined 19
points on 7-21 shooting, with nine
rebounds and nine fouls. They merely
did their homework, studied the tapes,
and forced Robinson and Blanchard
out of their elements.
The last time Blanchard and Robin-
son combined for such a small offen-
sive output dates back to the middle of
last season, when the two tallied 18
points in a loss to Purdue in1 West
Lafayette on Jan. 3.
"We talked about what those guys'
strengths are," McCullum said.
"Robinson is more of a driver and
slasher, so we went into game wanting
to play off him a little bit and make
him shoot the 3-pointer. And he was 0-
3 from behind the arc."
Robinson has yet to connect on a
three-point shot, missing all seven that
he's taken in the three games this sea-
son. So the Broncos decided to take
their chances on him beating them
from the outside instead of creating
opportunities for himself and team-
mates off the dribble.
"Blanchard's' strength is obviously
shooting the ball while he's facing the
basket," McCullum said. "And he was
0-5 in that category. Obviously they
weren't satisfied with his play that they
benched him starting the second half."
Freshman Chuck Bailey replaced
Blanchard to start the second half,
chipped in 13 points in 14 minutes of
action and pulled down a Blanchard-
esque five offensive rebounds. Fellow
freshman Dommanic Ingerson also
added 13 points, and along with Gavin
Groninger, was one of the lone Wolver-
ines to perform well on Friday.
Blanchard and Robinson com-
bined for nearly 33 points per game
last season, but so far they're just
averaging 12 points a piece and not
showing the same consistency they
did a year ago. The duo will find
out that nearly every team they face
will impose similar game plans, try-
ing to make other Wolverines like
Groninger and Chris Young beat
them. Just like Reynolds took his
matchup with Blanchard very seri-
ously, most players who guard them
will take extra pride in shutting
down a preseason All-Big Ten can-
didate like Blanchard or Robinson.
"If you're a competitor you want to
take those guys on,'McCullum said.
"Some kids say they get a lot of recog-
nition cause they're in the Big Ten."
STATE PRIDE: While Michigan has
and that's all
About a year ago, I decided
that I would be going to the
2001 Citrus Bowl. Michigan
had just been invited to the self-
proclaimed "best bowl trip in Amer-
ica," so my friends and I didn't
think twice. We were there.
So what's changed?
This year, it's a completely differ-
ent story. In the few hours that have
passed since Michigan accepted a
vacation to central Florida for the
2002 game, I've been bombarded
with fans' disgust and disappoint-
ment.
The common message is simple
- people don't want to go this
year.
An upset fan base should come
as no surprise. Five days ago,
Michigan was a lock for the BCS.
The chances of Ohio State win-
ning in Ann Arbor were about as
good as those of Rutgers making a
bowl.
But I think there's more to this
than the simple disappointment of
losing a big game - I think it has
everything to do with losing The
Big Game.
Last year, Michigan could count
on its offense to put points on the
board, but knew that it had to score
enough to make up for a notorious-
ly weak defense.
This year, Michigan also trusts
just one of its units, but it's the
defense.
Last year, Michigan lost three
disappointing contests en route to
an 8-3 record
This year, same thing.
Last year, Michigan spent New
Year's Day in Orlando.
Same will happen this year.
So what's the difference? It's
obvious. Contrary to what every
team in the NCAA thinks, Michigan
has three football rivals - Michi-
gan State, Notre Dame and Ohio
State.
Last year, Michigan didn't play
Notre Dame, but it beat Michigan
State and Ohio State.
This year, Michigan didn't play
Notre Dame, but it lost to the Spar-
tans and Buckeyes.
There's the difference.
This Michigan team was very
good at best - the midseason
national title hopes were nothing
but a tease. And at this school, what
separates very good from elite is
bigger than the difference between
8-3 and 10-1. It's making sure that
you win the big games.
John Cooper was fired from Ohio
State largely due to his inability to
beat Michigan. That's how big this
game is. Before the season started, I
that matters
asked Jim Tressel whether he would
rather go 11-1 with the one loss
being to Michigan or 1-10 but beat
Michigan in Ann Arbor. He laughed
and told me that he wasn't looking
that far ahead yet.
I was joking, but not completely.
An era of good feelings has just
begun in Columbus, regardless of
the fact that Tressel's team could do
no better than the Outback Bowl.
It wouldn't have mattered if Ohio
State got just its fourth win of the
season against Michigan, an end to
a season without a bowl game con-
clusion. Ohio State would still be
feeling better about its team right
now than Michigan does.
This Citrus Bowl invitation is not
an end to a disappointing season,
per se. The fact of the matter is that
Michigan shouldn't have expected
much more than 8-3 going into New
Year's. Without an offensive line,
quarterback or running attack, 8-3
is nothing to cringe at.
But it is impossible to think about
the fact that Michigan lost to its
biggest rivals and not be furious.
It's horrible when you realize that
Michigan fans won't ring in the new
year on Bourbon Street because
their team couldn't knock off Ohio
State at home. Jeremy LeSueur,
Michigan State's timekeeper, John
Navarre - it's impossible not to
look for people to blame.
But at the end of the day, one fact
is clear as the Miami sky; Michigan
will never succeed if it doesn't win
its big games. There's no one to
blame, there are no excuses to proj-
ect; Michigan shouldn't lose to Ohio
State and Michigan State because
the Wolverines should do to their
rivals what Ohio State did to them
in the first half Saturday.
Hey, Michigan's going to its fifth
straight New Year Day bowl, its
27th straight postseason appear-
ance. I'll be in Orlando - if noth-
ing else, it's better than New Jersey.
But I can understand fans' disap-
pointment. It's not because Orlando
isn't the warmest of holiday desti-
nations. It's not because once you
graduate high school, you're offi-
cially too old to visit Disney World
without a child. It's not even
because the Citrus Bowl isn't part
of the BCS.
It's because Michigan didn't get
the job done. And here in Ann
Arbor, that's all people ask.
Jon Schwartz can be reached at
jlsz@umich.edu. But don 't e-mail him
on New Year's Day - he'll be in
Orlando.
M' didn't get the job done,
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
The usually high-soaring LaVell Blanchard has been hampered by ankle trouble.
already seen how it stacks up with
two schools from the state in beating
Oakland in its season-opener and
falling to Western Michigan, accord-
ing to the recent RPI rankings,
Michigan is fourth in the state. With
a ranking of 209, the Wolverines are
behind No. 18 Michigan State, West-
ern Michigan (No. 146), and Eastern
Michigan (No. 199).
The formula for RPI is as follows:
25-percent emphasis on team win-
ning percentage, 50 percent on oppo-
nents' average winning percentage,
and 25 percent dedicated to an oppo-
nents' opponents' average winning
percentage. Michigan's RPI is expect-
ed to go up in the next few weeks
when it faces No. 1 Duke and No. 15
Boston College.
Ir
MiChigan's Ingram regains 3-point touch
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
Alayne Ingram was moved back to her old position
on Sunday and regained her old form in the process.
After sitting out Friday's game against New Hamp-
shire for violating team rules, coach Sue Guevara
moved Ingram from the point to shooting guard on
Sunday. Former walk-on Susana
Jara took the point for the week- BASKETBALL
end and is now the starter. Ingram Noeok
spent the first three seasons of Noteb
her career at shooting guard, but
was moved to point guard for the first two games this
season after the graduation of Anne Thorius.
The switch back to shooting guard paid off. Ingram,
who was only 7-20 from the field and 0-4 from
behind the arc in her first two games, caught fire on
Sunday. She hit five 3-pointers, scored 25 points and
shot 75 percent from the field in an 84-76 victory over
Syracuse. Ingram's sharpshooting moved her within
one 3-pointer of the Michigan record of 134, set by
Molly Murray (1995-98).
STARTING SUSANA: As the former team manager,
Jara has experience organizing the women's basketball
team. But no one knew how well she would manage it
on the court.
"I think it was an eye opener for everyone, includ-
ing myself,' as to how consistent Susana was in both
games," Guevara said.
With Ingram suspended, Jara was thrust into the
starting role against New Hampshire, just the second
start of her career. According to Guevara, she provid-
ed the team with an "extra dimension" on defense
shown in her five steals.
Jara also surprised everyone with her shooting abil-
ity over the weekend, hitting three 3-pointers - the
first triples of her career - and scoring 13 points.
But, more importantly to her coach, Jara ran the
offense smoothly. She had 10 assists and only four
turnovers on the weekend.
"Susana scoring is icing on the cake," Guevara said.
"Susana's job is to give everyone else a chance to
score." ~
Jara isn't the most talented player on the team but
she's in the starting lineup because she is one of the
smartest.
"Susana plays within herself," Guevara said. "She
doesn't try and do more than what she is capable of
doing. She understands what we want her to do and
does a good job getting the ball to the open player
(and) running the offense."
EASY SHOOTIN': Michigan has outshot opponents
90-40 at the free throw line this season, and made its
opponents pay for it. The Wolverines shot 81 percent
from the line in their first four games and made 27-of-
29 free throws in last weekend's games.
The foul shots are a result of strong inside play by
centers LeeAnn Bies and Jennifer Smith. They lead
the team in free-throw attempts and are among the top
three on the team in free-throw percentage.
Smith said that she feels most comfortable at the
line. She has practiced there with her dad since she
started the game. In 13 attempts this year, Smith has-
n't missed from the line and has high expectations
after shooting a "disappointing" 81 percent last year.
"It would be absolutely awesome if I could shoot
100 percent this season, that's my goal," Smith said.
"I'd be happy in the 90's."
Suddenly Susana
Susana Jara's progress is evident from her sta-
tistics in the first three seasons compared to her
last two games.
Time Min Ast. St. Pts.
98-99: 6 0 0 0
99-00: 27 3 2 7
00-01: 51 5 1 2
Friday: 31 4 5 5
Defensive miscues still plaguing Blue icers
By J. Brady McCollough
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn
is not used to surrendering five goals in
a game. Last Friday against No. 1 Min-
nesota, though, that's exactly what the
senior netminder did. Blackburn
allowed five goals in two periods -
three in the first eight minutes.
But Blackburn shouldn't receive all
the blame for
Michigan's defen- HOCKEY
sive blunders
against the Golden Notebook
Gophers. The
Michigan defense left him out to dry
countless times Friday, giving offensive
juggernaut Minnesota point-blank scor-
ing opportunities.
"I can't tell you it was strategy, but it
was breakdowns," Michigan coach Red
Berenson said. "It was a poor pass in our
zone, or poor coverage. Two of their first
three goals were not earned goals. They
weren't good plays by the other team,
they were bad plays by us. That's some-
thing we should have been able to pre-
vent"
Yesterday, the Wolverines held a
video session to try and find a remedy
for the defensive miscues that continue
to crop up this season.
"I've looked at (the video) 100
times," Berenson said. "Our players
know better. They got caught and they
just weren't sharp, and bang, bang,
bang it was in the net."
Said sophomore defenseman Andy
Burnes: "Sensing danger is one thing
we've been working on, and communi-
cation with our forwards. Coach has
been talking to our forwards about get-
ting back and identifying their man, and
standing them up at the blueline. The
biggest thing is keeping your head on a
swivel and knowing where everyone is.
Sometimes you get so focused on the
puck that there may be two guys open
in front of the net."
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: Last week-
end, the Wolverines shot 41 times
against Wisconsin and 32 times in their
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