I SPORTS FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2002 10 sportsdesk@umich.edu Up-and-comers aim to end 6-year streak By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Writer Before Notre Dame's series-clinching 2-1 victory over Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the CCHA Tourna- ment Sunday night, Fighting Irish coach Dave Poulin was asked to talk about statistics. "I told our radio guy to throw them all out," Poulin said. While it's easy to toss statistics and records out the window come playoff time, there is one statistic that the coaches of the CCHA shouldn't over- look. Michigan and Michigan State have walked away from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit with the last six CCHA Tournament championships - winning three each. Neither the Wolverines nor the Spar- tans know which team they will play in the semifinals. Michigan will play the lowest remaining seed from today's play-in round tomorrow at 2 p.m, and Michigan State will take on the highest remaining seed at 5:30 p.m. Michigan State coach Ron Mason has been so successful in the tourna- ment that the championship trophy is now called the Mason Cup. The Spar- tans' general - who will retire and become Michigan State's athletic direc- tor at the close of this season - has led his teams to 12' tournament titles (three while coaching at Bowling Green), and Michigan State has taken the last two. But coaches from around the league continue to insist that there is parity throughout the conference - especially this season, with Michigan and Michi- gan State both losing to inferior oppo- nents in conference play. "Our league is so close and so com- petitive and tight," Poulin said. But the parity is not at the top. The Wolverines and Spartans finished eight and six points ahead of third-place Northern Michigan, respectively. There is parity in spots three through eight, as the six teams in pursuit of Michigan and Michigan State were separated by just six points in the final standings. Although the standings don't show any signs of the Spartans and Wolver- ines losing their string of six straight CCHA Tournament championships, this could be the year. Michigan has shown weakness recently, losing to last place Lake Superior last Friday at hom 4-3. "If there was any sign of parity, tha was it," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Our team has not been playing playoff hockey." Michigan State, which led the CCHA for two-thirds of the season before los- ing the regular season title to Michigan struggled in the final two months, los ing to Western Michigan, Notre Dam and Ferris State. Aside from concentrating on upset- ting the balance of power, Northern Michigan and Alaska-Fairbanks have something else to shoot for - making the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats, who are ranked at No 12 in the Pairwise Rankings, have a legitimate claim for an at-large bid, hav ing swept Michigan and Alaska-Fair. banks, as well as two nonconference wins over Cornell and Maine. "We're as big of a bubble team as there is," Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley said. "For sure, we have to win one game (this weekend), and we might even have to win two just to get in." Picked by the CCHA media in the preseason to finish in last place, the Nanooks are currently No. 11 in the Pairwise, breathing down the Wolver- ines' neck at No. 10. Alaska-Fairbanks has beaten Michigan and Michigan State this season and swept Ohio State. Poulin is convinced that the CCHA will get three teams in the NCAA Tour. nament, but if his Fighting Irish or the Buckeyes upset Northern Michigan or Alaska-Fairbanks in their play-in games today, that could change. While Michigan's loss to Lake Supe- rior dropped it from No. 4 to No. 10 in the Pairwise, Poulin says the Wolver- ines should be in by virtue of their CCHA regular season title. Ohio State, which has had an up-and- down season, and Notre Dame won't make the NCAA Tournament unless they win this weekend's tournament. "We haven't thought that far ahead,' Poulin said. "We're playing our best hockey of the year. We've kept our preparation just like during the regular season." SEyes on the pnze The powers that be... e t No. 1 Michigan No. 2 Michigan State 2001-02 record: 2001-02 record: 19-5-4 CCHA, 24-10-5 overall (1st place) 18-6-4 CCHA, 26-7-5 overall (2nd place) USCHO poll: 9 Pairwise Ranking: 10 USCHO poll: 5 Pairwise Ranking: 5 , Key wins: Alaska-Fairbanks 3), Nebraska-Omal Key wins: Alaska-Fairbanks, at Northern (3) and Western Michigan (3) Michigan (2), Western Michigan and e Bad losses: Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota,Michigan Bowling Green and Lake Superior r Bad losses: North Dakota, Notre Dame and Ferris State Why the Wolverines can win: Two e words: Mike Cammalleri. The junior R Why the Spartans can win: forward recovered from mono to C Michigan State has owned score 6-4-10 in his first five games MMichgan, and the rest of back on the ice. He has shown the the C CHA for that matter. ability to take a game over count It's no secret. The Wolver- less times this season. In Michi- ines have not won in six g an's last two games against games against their arch- Michigan State, Camm aleririval, and if g e an was unable to play. In Miller has anything to say those games a 11 t about it, the streak will con- and a 3-1 loss - Michi- tinue. Traditionally a defen- gan needed the sparksiemndtath S ofa proven playmaker spartans have be much who has the confidence more explosive offensively to break the Spartans' this season. Freshman Jim Hobe-Baer AardSlater has added a creative t winning goalie Steve Jackson dimes to a Ron Ryaniller. rCam Mason's team, and the malle scores a emergence of defense- with his individ man John-Michael Liles, withiabi itynibut who leads the team in alo aiitsu scoring, has strength- every player ened the Spartans' S on the ice powerplay. The key much more totbeating Michi- explosive gan State will be when he is scoring on Miller out there early to break with them. his seeminy confidence. r w Andy Burnes photos by DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily 1 rMoving on up.. t No. 3 Northern Michigan No. 4 Alaska-Fairbanks 2001-02 record: 2001-02 record: 44 16-10-2 CCHA, 25-11-2 overall (3rd place) 15-10-3 CCHA, 22-11-3 overall (4th place) r USCHO poll: 11 Pairwise Ranking: 12 USCHO poll: 12 Pairwise Ranking: 11 r ey wins: Michigan (2), Alaska-Fairbanks Key wins: Michigan, Michigan State, Nebras- __~(2), Cornell and Maine ka-Omaha (3 and Western Michigan (2) Bad losses: Ohio State (2), Michian Tech, Bad losses: Lake Superior, Ferris State (2) Bowling Green and Notre Dame (2 and Alaska-Anchorage _ Why the Wildcats can win: Why the Nanooks can win: Northern Michigan introduced itself to the world of college hockey on When Alaska-Fairbanks' coach Guy Gadowsky stormed out of the CCHA's the weekend of Oct. 26-27, when it swept Michigan at Yst I ce Arena. Media Day in Detroit because of his team's predicted last-place finish, it Goatender Craig Kowalski has four shutouts this season and can take was obvious that his Nanooks would have something to prove. The over a game all by himself. The Wildcats went through a tough stretch Nanooks are led by a balanced offensiveattack that features nine play- in the middle of their season, but recovered in the last month, putting ers with 20 or more points. Gadowsky has been p laying two goaltenders themselves in position for a NCAA Tournament bid. Senior center Chad (junior Lance Mayes and sophomore Preston Mc Kay) off and on this sea- Theuer (16-37-53) is their most explosive offensive player, but he will son. Alaska-Fairbanks swept Ohio State, which it will play today to need to have a big weekend to lead his team to the championship. advance to the semifinals. Living on ai prayer ... No. 7 Ohio State No. 8 Notre Dame 2001-02 record: 2001-02 record: 12-12-4 CCHA, 19-15-4 overall (T-7th place)I 12-12-4 CCHA, 16-16-5 overall (T-7th place) U SCHO poll: 15 Pairwise Ranking: 18 USCHO poll: N/A Pairwise Ranking: 22 Key wins: Nebraska-Omaha, Northern Michi- Key wins: Northern Michigan, Michigan State gan (2), Cornell and Western Michigan (4) and Nebraska-Omaha (2) Bad losses: Bowling Green, Miami (2), Fer- Bad losses: Union (2), Bowling Green, Miami ris State (2) and Yale Why the Buckeyes can win: Why the Fighting Irish can win: Coach John Markell's team entered this season with high expectations The Cinderella slipper is in coach Dave Poulin's closet. But does it fit? and was supposed to be a contender for the CCHA title. Things haven't Poulin feels his team is playing its best hockey of the season, winning gone as planned, as the Buckeyes couldn't get their record akove .500. seven of eight on its current run. The Fighting Irish are surging behind an But Ohio State does have the talent to compete with the league's best. improved defensive effort, as the young core on the blueline has grown up Super sophomores R.J. Umberger, Dave Steckel, Paul Caponigri and a lot since the beginning of the season. Notre Dame is as explosive as any DaymendBencharski each have more than 20 points for the season team in the Super 6. Connor Dunlop and David Inman each has more than Goaltender Mike Betz has been a consistent backstop all season, giving 30 points in C C HA play. The Fighting Irish split their fourgames this sea- up 2.56 goals per game. son with Northern Michigan, their opponent in the play-in round. The road to the Mason Cup Play-in round Today 4 p.m. No. 3 Northern Michigan No. 6 Notre Dame 7:30 p.m. No. 7 Ohio State No. 8 Alaska-Fairbanks Semifinals Saturday n4 No. 1 Michigan lowest remaining seed No. 2 Michigan State highest remaining seed 2 p.m. championship game Sunday, 3 p.m. 5:30 p.m. u r ''. y 'h- . Enjoy a night of live electronic music on Saturday March 16t' featuring: Chris Peck and Stephen Rush Show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $5, $3 for students, with proceeds benefiting the Ann Arbor Hunger Coalition Sunday evening Jazz Mass at 5 p.m. Blue returns home, prepares for Spartans By Wai Ting Yu___ For the Daily I CANHAM NATATORIUM Being away from home for a long time is inevitable in college sports, but there is nothing like the feeling of returning home - especially when your in-state rivals are waiting for you. This will be the case when the No. 13 Michigan water polo team returns to Canham Natatorium today at 7 p.m. to play against Michigan State in an exhibition game. Coming off a strong road trip in Grove City and Slippery Rock, Pa., the Wolverines are hoping to continue their seven- game winning streak. In most other sports, such as foot- ball or basketball, the rivalry between the two schools is evident. Who: No. 13 Michigan (12-0 CWPA, 12-10 overall) vs. Michigan State (12-11) When: 7 p.m. Latest: Michigan is returning home after play- ing 19 straight games away from Ann Arbor. This game will be an exhibition. women's water polo. The Spartans are a club team, and have been blown out by the Wolverines in their meetings in the last two seasons - the most recent being a 20-8 exhibi- tion win by Michigan at home on Jan. 26. But, even though the game itself will have no impact on Michi- gan's overall record, the outcome can still influence its ranking in the National Collegiate Poll. *J~55'