Frday
February 14, 2003
michigandaily.com
sportsdesk@umich.edu
ReTSiditgunilp
10
Blue drops sixth straight
after ill-advised 3-pointer
Gajic brothers compete
at dinner and on the ice
By Gennaro Filce
Daily Sports Writer
Fresh.man play (fresh-man plae) n. 1. An error,
mistake, or miscue that can be directly attributed to
youthful inexperience.
Example: With 39 seconds remaining in the
game, Michigan freshman point guard Mie Burlin
hits a 3-pointer, cutting
Wisconsin's lead to 53- WISCONSIN 58
52. After being fouled,
Wisconsin guard Shawna MICHIGAN 52
Nicols converts 1-of-2
free throws, giving Michigan the ball down by two
with 36 seconds. Riding the exhilaration of her
prior basket, Burlin jacks up an ill-advised three
with 25 seconds left on the shot clock.
Yesterday, Burlin's imprudent late-game attempt
missed, ultimately killed off any hope of a late game
comeback for the Michigan women's basketball
team and gave meaning to an age-old college bas-
ketball phrase.
"I think that (Burlin) probably got a little excited
because she hit the three before," Michigan coach
Sue Guevara said. "It wasn't quite the shot we were
looking for."
The Wolverines (2-9 Big Ten, 11-11 overall)
dropped their sixth straight Big Ten game to Wis-
consin (5-7, 7-16), 58-52, in a heartbreaker.
After a defensive-minded first half, Michigan led
Wisconsin 25-20 at the break. Having showed limit-
ed offensive prowess in the first half, the Badgers
made some simple lockerroom adjustments.
"(At halftime), we talked about the fact that we
were not being very aggressive offensively," Wis-
consin coach Jane Albright said. "And anytime you
go into halftime, you don't have to be a brain sur-
geon to figure out, (if) you haven't taken a free
throw, and you have very good officials, which we
did tonight, that we're not being aggressive."
In the second half, the Badgers increased their
offensive output and began to take control of the
game. With 1:31 remaining, Wisconsin held a com-
fortable seven-point advantage (53-46), but the
Wolverines wouldn't quit.
Helped by the Badgers' inability to make free
throws, Michigan scored six unanswered points, set-
ting up the aforementioned situation. After Burlin's
questionable shot selection, Wisconsin finally start-
ed to convert free throws and put the game in the
books.
This six-game skid is Michigan's worst losing
streak since 1996. The Wolverines take on Michi-
gan State at Crisler Arena on Sunday 2:15 p.m.
LISA OSHINSKY/Daily
Freshman Niki Reams (left) and sophomore Tabitha
Pool (right) combined for 3-of45 shooting last night.
Cagers look to bounce back against Ohio State
By Courtney Lewis
Daily Sports Editor
It's kind of fitting that brothers Milan
and Nenad Gajic are on opposite sides
of one of the best rivalries in college
hockey. After all, the Michigan sopho-
more and the Michigan State freshman
have been competing with each other
their whole lives.
"The way we grew up, with four boys
in the house, all two years apart, you
have to be (competitive) or you're going
to die," Milan, the first-
born, said. "Even when
you go for dinner, if you're YOST Ic
not there early, if you tell UsN I
them to hold on, there's no W Michii
holding on. And you either CC HA, 20-7
get up there, get your Michigan St
chicken or your meat, or 16-10-2)
you're not eating for the when: 7:351
night." 7:05 p.m. to
The Burnaby, British Latest: Mic
Columbia natives compet- Montoya tur
ed in just about everything
they did.
"Even playing road hockey in front of
the house, the games would start out laid
back, and they'd end up breaking into
fights," their mother, Helen Gajic, said.
The two forwards were teammates in
juniors, and Nenad talked to Michigan
when he was choosing a college. But he
decided that after years of following in
Milan's footsteps, it was time to "try to
get out of his shadow"
Now, Nenad stands in Milan's path to
the CCHA title. The brothers will skate.
on opposite sides for the first time in
their hockey careers when the Spartans
and the Wolverines meet in a home-and-
home series this weekend. Nenad has
"been looking forward to it all year" and
Milan already has a post-game plan.
"If we - when we - take (the game)
here, I'm not going to say anything that
night," Milan said of today's matchup at
Yost Ice Arena. "I'm going to wait until
after the Saturday night game, just see
how it goes."
Both brothers said there hasn't been
much trash talking between them this
week. They're close friends - although
they have different personalities.
"I'm a lot more outgoing," the brother
in the maize-and-blue jersey said. "I like
to scream and yell and get things done.
He's a video-game-type guy, and I just
don't want to go anywhere near it. If I
can win at it, I don't want to play it."
So who's the better hockey player?
CE ARENA,
CE ARENA
ian (145-1
7-1 Overall) vs.
hate (12-7-1,
p.m. tonight,
omorrow
higan goalie Al
'ns 18 today.
expected to
games to catch the Bull-
dogs. Four of those, includ-
ing the pair this weekend,
are against the red-hot
Spartans.
Michigan State spent the
first half of the season in
the bottom half of the con-
ference standings.
"Frustrating is a good
word for the first part of
our year," Nenad said.
"We were losing games we
win. And I think that was
"I'm going to say he is, because he's
my older brother, and I've always looked
up to him;' Nenad said, adding that hav-
ing a brother who knows the ropes -
even one that plays for his archrival -
has been "a big help."
Milan should soak up the compli-
ments while he can, because they'll dis-
appear once the Gajic boys hit the ice,
especially with so much at stake.
Michigan sits four points behind first-
place Ferris State in the CCHA stand-
ings, and it needs to win its last eight
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Writer
*
9
S
After dropping three of the last four
games, the Michigan basketball team
has the chance to come home and
regroup before another tough road trip.
Before the Wolverines go on the road to
take on conference-leading Purdue and
Wisconsin, they have a chance to
remain undefeated at home, as they
host a woeful Ohio State squad.
With senior guard Brent Darby as the
Buckeyes' only reliable scorer and a
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potent offensive threat for this year's
team, Ohio State (5-6 Big Ten, 12-10
overall) has been ineffective on the
offensive end all season long. Darby is
the only Buckeye averaging double dig-
its in conference play with 18.5 points
per game, but the last time the two
teams met, he was all but shut down by
Michigan's swingman Bernard Robin-
son. And, despite the poor showing
against the Wolverines (7-3, 14-9) earli-
er this season, Ohio State coach Jim
O'Brien still has faith in Darby and
knows the value of his senior guard.
"He's been terrific. He's come a
long way since he first got here."
O'Brien said. "He has the weight of
the world on his shoulders this year
for our team. And he has kept his atti-
CRISLER ARENA
Who: Michigan (7-3 Big Ten,1 9overall) vs.
Ohio State (5.6,12-10)
When: 3 p.m.
Latest: Michigan has lost three of its last four
games and will hit the road for two straight fol-
lowing its matchup with the Buckeyes.
tude in great shape, and he has been a
shining star for us."
The Wolverines put on a lackluster
performance Wednesday when they
were, in coach Tommy Amaker's
words, "embarrassed" by Indiana in a
63-49 loss. Michigan couldn't shoot,
defend or rebound in the loss, and if it
hopes for a different result tomorrow,
these are the areas that will have to be
improved.
Michigan does have one advantage
going into tomorrow's game, though.
The Wolverines are undefeated at
home in Big Ten play this season and
much of that has to do with the pres-
ence of the fans.
"We've been very pleased with the
support our team has gathered this
year," Amaker said. "There is no ques-
tion (the crowd) has been a big part
help to us."
Michigan's 61-50 win over the Buck-
eyes on Jan. 15, helped legitimized its
hot conference start, but it will need
another such win if it hopes to legit-
imize itself as a contender for the con-
ference crown.
the problem - we we're expecting to
win just because we're Michigan State.
We just weren't showing up early in the
year. It came down to work ethic"
Gradually, the Spartans adjusted to
the departure of superstar goaltender
Ryan Miller and the arrival of new
coach Rick Comley, and a sweep of the
Wolverines this weekend would tie the
two teams at third in the CCHA.
One group in the crowd won't be
rooting for a Michigan State sweep -
or a Michigan sweep. A crew of Gajic
relatives are flying in from Britsh
Columbia, and Helen Gajic said that,
since both teams can't win, two ties
would be ideal. She and her husband,
Lazo, have never been to Yost or seen
Nenad play for the Spartans. Helen
Gajic said she is excited, despite her
divided loyalties.
Besides, she may have to get used to
this. Ilija Gajic, who turns 18 next week,
visited Michigan last year and was,
according to his mother "blown away."
Ilija has never been to Michigan State,
but his 15-year-old brother, Alex, will go
there with his family this weekend.
Both boys play hockey.
Maie Out
The Michigan athletic depart-
ment is encouraging fans to wear
all maize to tonight's game for
"Maize Out 2003." Specially-
designed shirts can be purchased
for $5 by calling (734) 615-2025,
and, students will find Thunder-
Stix waitingfor them at their
seats.
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Entries taken:
Mon, 02/17 ONLY
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
IM Building
Entry Fee:
$80.00 per team
Manager's Meeting:
MANDATORY
Wed, 02/19
6:00 PM
IM Building
Entries due:
Tuesday, 02/18
5:00 PM
IM Building
Entry Fee:
$25.00 per team
Meet Date:
Wednesday, 02/19
Indoor Track
4..
I
V\XPlay begins:
Mon, 03/03
IM Building
VcIIeyball
Entries taken:
Mon, 02/17 ONLY
11:00AM - 5:30 PM
Alt IM Building
Entry Fee:
$70.00 per team
Manager's Meeting:
MANDATORY
Wed, 02/19
8:00 PM
IM Building
Play begins:
Tues, 03/04
Sports Coliseum
MinI-Soccer
Frka, I ays
11
Entries taken:
Mon, 02/17 ONLY
. 11:0AM-5:30PM
IM Building
Co-rec; Womens &
Sorority ONLY
Entry Fee:
$80.00 per team
Manager's Meeting:
MANDATORY
Wed, 02/19
7:00 PM
IM Building
Play begins:
Mon, 03/03
Yost Ice Arena
Broomball
I
M.
This Weekend in
Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketbalt
Thursdav. Feb. 13
vs. Wisconsin @ 7 p.m-
7 Halftime entertainment:
St. Francis Heartbeats
Sunday. Feb.16
vs. Michigan State @ 2 p.m.
Break the Attendance Record!
- Halftime entertainment:
The Zooperstars
-Visit the Family Fun Zone
Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for
children Et senior citizens. U-M students ;.
Women's Gymnastics
Friday, Feb. 14
vs. Northern Illinois
7 p.m.
- Gymnastics Trading Cards
Set #1
-2003 Calendars available
Cliff Keen Arena
Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for
children & senior citizens. U-M stu-
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