Friday
October 1 1, 2002
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sportsdesk@umich.edu
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11A
Ba's absence leaves 'M' short in the paint
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Writer '
After the graduation of Chris Young last spring, it
was clear the Michigan basketball team would be
inexperienced in the post this season. After inking a
trio of freshman centers comprised of Chris Hunter,
Graham Brown and Amadou Ba, it looked like coach
Tommy Amaker had enough boides to fill the whole.
But now it's down to just Hunter and Brown.
"I'm going to redshirt this year," Ba said. "Talking
to coach Amaker, the best thing for me is to redshirt
this season"
Ba will still be able to practice with the team, and
the coaching staff hopes the extra year will help to
develop the young center. An inexperienced player,
Ba has only played organized
basketball for four years, and he BASKETBALL
will be able to use his redshirt
season to learn what the coaching Notebook
staff expects from him on the
court and to better adjust to the pace of Big Ten play.
Ba will still have a significant role in practice though.
"Talking to the coaching staff and Amaker, I think
my role on this team is too rebound, play defense and
to make some shots," Ba said. "My main role is to
rebound, play defense and help people get open."
Ba, a native of Mauritania (in western Africa),
moved to the United States just two years ago. The
freshman speaks five languages, including Arabic,
French and English, but according to Amaker, his
English has held him back at times.
Despite the challenges he will face, Ba remains
confident, and the coaching staff has faith in him and
his abilities.
"I think his future is very bright. He's a hard
worker, obviously a bright youngster and very
mature kid," Amaker said. "'His sights and thoughts
are a little bit larger and higher maybe than the
average kid his age."
If you ask him why he is redshirting this year, Ba
responds that it is for his own good. Forgoing the
opportunity to play now for a chance at developing in
to a better player one day, Ba's sights are clearly on
the future.I
While Ba may not play this season, the coaching
staff has every intention of preparing Hunter and
DAVID KATZ/Daily
Michigan will badly miss the defensive presence that was six-foot-nine center Chris Young. Young graduated last
year, and it will be up to freshmen Chris Hunter and Graham Brown to fill his very large shoes.
Brown for immediate action on the court. It would be
naive to think that the two will be able to jump right
in and fill the hole left by Young, but the coaching
staff will do the best it can to prepare them.
"We're going to work with them, develop them and
help them go through the process," Amaker said. "It
would help us greatly if they can be a little better than
we anticipate."
ROOM FOR ONE MORE: The Michigan basketball
team has already added one walk-on, freshman Sher-
rod Harrell to the squad. The 6-foot-3 guard was a
three-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball
as well as football and track and field. The recruited
walk-on gives the Wolverines even more depth at the
Football Saturday
No. 13 Mkhigan x
No. 15 Penn State
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fAfter a week off, Michigan (1-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall) is
prepared for its first home ame of the Bi Ten sea-
son, looking to successfully follow up a solid perform-
ance at Ilinois.
But after a huge win at Wisconsin, The Nittany Lions
(1-1, 4-1) knows that a victory at the Big House will
give them a boost in the Big Ten title chase and the
national rankings.
Inside this edition of Football Saturday, you will find:
. Old man's stillgot it - Joe Patemo may be getting
up there in years, but the legendary Penn State coach
hasn't lost his zest for life or passion for football.
Ten years in the club - Since its arrival in 1993,
Penn State has brought loads of competition and
recognition to the Big Ten conference, with plenty of
success of its own.
Penn State trio coming into its own - Senior mem-
bers of the Penn State defensive line are a force to be
reckoned with - and they know it.
"M" secondary smells Nittany Lions' blood - The
self-titled 'Wolf Pack" is as aggressive as they come -
a tendency Penn State will attempt to exploit.
guard position.
"My role is to get in when I get in," Harrell said.
"I'll basically be a defensive player. That's what
coach Amaker expressed that he wanted out of me
and if he asks for it, I'll give it to him."
A native of Kalamzoo, Harrell has been a fan
of the Wolverines for years. He values his educa-
tion at Michigan and is enrolled in the College
of Engineering.
"I had a few other options, just smaller schools,"
Harrell said. "As far as coming here, it was for the
academic background that the school has. Secondly,
I've always wanted to play here - since the Fab Five
or so I guess, I've wanted to come play here."
. Search for Shouneyia' s replacement begins
By Courtney Lewis
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan will open the 2002-03
hockey season tonight in the same place
it hopes to end it. Buffalo's HSBC Arena
not only hosts the Xerox College Hock-
ey Showcase this weekend, but it is also
the site of the Frozen Four April 10-12.
Michigan matches up with Niagara
tonight, and after falling one game short
of the national championship match last
season, the Wolverines acknowledge the
symbolism of the venue.
"I think it's definitely going to be in
the minds of a few that realize the sig-
nificance of that," alternate captain John
Shouneyia said. "We'd love to start there
son with two wins there."
But Michigan will have to start with-
out Shouneyia. The senior center had
surgery on his right wrist this week and
is expected to miss four to eight weeks.
Shouneyia had a pin inserted into the
wrist, which he jammed against Toronto
last weekend. Michigan coach Red
Berenson said it was a simple procedure
that went well.
Shouneyia's absence will be felt both
on the ice, where he was the Wolverines'
leading scorer last season, and in the
lockerroom, where he is one of the
team's leaders.
"It's a good test for us to see what
type of team we really are, what we're
made of," sophomore Eric Nystrom
of heart we have."
But Nystrom, who had been playing
on Shouneyia's wing, said pressuring
himself to make up for Shouneyia's
absence would be counter-productive.
"When you work too hard to try and
score, it seems to be the goalie saves
everything, you shoot the puck wide or
hit the post," the winger said. "You have
to keep working hard the way you
always do, and the puck just seems to
drop in."
Dwight Helminen will try to'help
Nystrom fill the void when he steps into
Shouneyia's spot between Nystrom and
freshman Jeff Tambellini. Helminen and
Nystrom were linemates when they
played for the U.S. National Team
BUFFALO, N.Y.
Who: No. 3 Michigan (0-0) vs. Niagra (0-0) or
Canisius or No. 13 North Dakota.
When: 7:30 p.m. today, 4 or 7 p.m. tomorrow
Latest: The Wolverines will drop the puck on
their 81st season tonight.
together.
The coaching staff said Helminen
looked solid in his new position, even
though he brings a different style than
Shouneyia.
"Dwight's more of a speed guy," asso-
ciate head coach Mel Pearson said,
adding that Shouneyia plays a puck con-
trol game. Nystrom "has really had to
work hard to stay up with Tambellini
See NIAGRA, Page 12A
-1
and end there - start with two wins said. "John's a big part of our team and Development Program before coming to
there and hopefully we can end the sea- we need to step it up and see what kind Michigan, and are comfortable playing
Stickers look to continue streak
7
By Brian Steere
Daily Sports Writer
Times have certainly changed for
the Michigan field hockey team.
Three years ago, the Wolverines
were the new kids on the block, tal-
ented young girls who were eager to
prove themselves and challenge any
opponent. That intensity propelled
Michigan within one win of the
national championship and sent a
powerful message that there was a
new force in NCAA field hockey.
Now the second-ranked Wolverines
(2-0 Big Ten, 10-1 overall) are the
established leaders, looking to flatten
any competition and win their second
straight national title.
"We definitely embrace the chal-
lenge," Michigan forward April Fron-
zoni said. "Our team works well
under pressure, and we love knowing
that everyone is going to bring their
"A" game to us."
Her teammate Kristi Gannon also
knows that it can be beneficial when
every team is gunning for you.
"You know that everyone's after
you, and everyone's practicing to
beat you because you're on top,"
Gannon said. "We realize that, and
that's how we push ourselves harder
because we know everyone's out
there to beat us."
This weekend, No. 11 Iowa (2-0, 7-
3) and Southwest Missouri State (1-2
Northern Pacific, 3-6 Overall) will be
next in line trying to end Michigan's
nation-best 10-game win streak as the
Wolverines leave the friendly con-
fines of Ocker Field for the first time
, in over a month.
said. "They're a very strong team.
They're deceptively good. We have to
really pay attention to our tactics and
not be undisciplined."
One area where Michigan will
look to break open the game is in its
offensive attack. With explosive
speed up front, the Wolverines
should have an opportunity for odd-
man rushes against the Hawkeyes'
defense.
"Our offense changes from game
to game to work to our advantage
against the defenses of other teams,"
Fronzoni said. "We're going to work
the ball around and hopefully use our
speed to create two-on-ones all day
with them. We're going to use our
speed to our advantage."
Even if the offense can only put up
a few scores, it will be anchored by a
IOWA CITY
Who: No. 2 Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 10-1 over-
all) will face No. 13 Iowa (1-0, 6-3) and
Southwest Missouri State (1-2 Northern
Pacific, 3-6 overall,)
When: 4 p.m. today, 1 p.m. Saturday
Latest: Michigan hits the road for the first
time since opening weekend, looking for its
10th consecutive victory.
smothering defense, which has
helped produce three shutouts in the
last five games.
"We have a lot of returnees this
year," Gannon said. "Each game we
build confidence and experience in
the backfield. I think that's the most
important thing when you're playing
defense - it's all about communica-
tion and working together."
I