10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Hensick and Hunwick
headline hockey signees
By Kyle O'Neill
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan hockey play-by-play men beware.
The Wolverines announced five recruits that
have signed letters of intent to play for Michigan
next fall, and among them are forward T.J. Hen-
sick and defenseman Matt Hunwick.
The thought of, "Hensick to Hunwick, back to
Hensick who passes it to Hunwick for the one-
timer goal!" is a tongue-twister waiting to happen.
And given the talent level of this incoming
freshman class, Michigan fans are likely to hear
that statement called many times.
Hensick, Hunwick and forward Mike Brown all
come in from the U.S. National Development
Under-18 Team. Both defensemen Tim Cook and
Jason Dest are playing for the River City Lancers
(USHL) in Omaha.
Michigan associate head coach Mel Pearson
was the one primarily responsible for keeping in
contact with the three US-NTDP players, and thus
far he's liked what he's seen.
"T.J. Hensick is more of a finesse player," Pear-
son said. "He's a lot like (senior) John Shouneyia.
Not that I like comparing people to other players,
but he's going to bring that finesse play to our
team.
"Mike Brown is more of an honest, physical,
grinding player - very strong, very good CCHA
player. And Hunwick is just a solid defensive
defenseman and a great character player who will
play anywhere, anytime."
Head coach Red Berenson went on to say that
Brown reminded him of captain Jed Ortmeyer
because of his tough play around the net - inter-
esting comparisons given the four-year success of
both Shouneyia and Ortmeyer.
Another positive about next year's class was
that the Wolverines' coaching staff got the five
players that they wanted. Last year, they went
after sensations Zach Parise and Jeff Tambellini.
The Wolverines got Tambellini, who has pro-
duced nine points in 10 games, but lost Parise
to North Dakota. Parise made the Wolverines
Fresh faces
Michigan recruited Mike Brown, T. J. Hensick and Matt
Hunwick from the U.S. National Team Development Pro-
gram and Jason Dest and Tim Cook from the USHL's
River City Lancers. Here's a look at their 2002-03 stats
to date.
Goals Assists Points Games
T.J. Hensick 11 10 21 24
Mike Brown 3 5 8 20
Tim Cook 2 5 7 17
Matt Hunwick 1 3 4 15
Jason Dest 0 3 3 17
pay in October, when he recorded two goals and
assisted on the game-winner in the Sioux's 5-4
overtime win.
"We talked to a couple other people, but pretty
much we've had these guys for awhile," Pearson
said. "We're really happy with them all, and I
know we're only losing one defender (Mike Roe-
mensky), but we're bringing in three. Those kids
who are coming, they'll give us something we
lack this year in a little bit of size and physical
presence on the blue line."
Though there may not be a Parise or Tambellini
in next year's group - Hensick is probably the
closest - there are many role players to fill the
void from this year's departing senior class, which
includes captains Ortmeyer and Shouneyia.
"They'll just contribute in their own ways, and
not have a real high-impact player," Pearson said.
"T.J. has that type of skill, but I don't want to put
that kind of pressure on him. Overall, I think this
is a real solid class and will be a good group."
The three US-NTDP members that have
already played in Yost this year will have a
chip on their shoulders, as none of the three
had games they would like to remember
against the Wolverines.
"Hensick hurt his hand in the first period, it was
Mike Brown's first game back from a long-lasting
shoulder injury and Hunwick didn't play," Pearson
said. "It wasn't a great game for those kids, but
they played in other college games and played
very well from our reports. I think their games
here will be much better in the future."
M tankers to depend on
freshmen in Chapel Hill
By Gina Adduci
Daily Sports Writer
This season, the Michigan women's
swimming and diving team has high hopes
for its freshmen.
The Wolverines' 200-yard and 400-yard
freestyle relays are both expected to be
fierce challengers for the other nine teams
competing in this weekend's Nike Cup,
despite the fact that each of those relays
includes one or two freshman.
"It will be interesting to see
how they respond to the pres-
sure," Michigan coach Jim CHAPEL
Richardson said. Wa:NkC
The Nike Cup will be an When:Thurs
excellent place for the Wolver- Saturday
ine freshmen to showcase their Latest: Junioi
talents and prepare for the and sophomc
NCAA Championships. Like McCullough,b
the NCAAs, there will be three of Michigan's
individual events and three freestyle rela
relays on the first day, five indi- tionable duet
vidual events and two relays on
the second, and five individual events and
one relay on the third. This presents the
Michigan freshmen with a chance to famil-
iarize themselves with the NCAA format.
"It will provide a good opportunity for
some growth from our freshmen," Richard-
son said.
The Wolverines' veteran 800-yard
freestyle relay team may have to race with-
es. Although these swimmers will travel
with the team to Chapel Hill, N.C., their sta-
tus for the weekend is unknown. Even if
Johnson and McCullough are able to partici-
pate, Richardson said the relay "will not be
in full force."
Fortunately, the remaining healthy Wolver-
ines are already familiar with the meet's facil-
ities, after traveling there earlier this month
for a meet against North Carolina.
While most of the teams competing in the
Nike Cup pose little threat to the Wolverines,
0
HILL, N.C.
Cup
day through
r Sara Johnson
ore Amy
both members
s 800-yard
y, are ques-
to illness.
No. 11 North Carolina will be
an especially strong opponent.
After already competing in
three other meets, it will be fas-
cinating to observe the improve-
ments the team has achieved
through the new training tech-
niques. Three long weeks have
passed since Michigan's 238-
132 loss in the meet against
North Carolina, providing the
team with plenty of time to
make any needed corrections.
JASON COOPER/Daily
Mike Brown is one of three Michigan recruits
playing for the US-NTDP Under-18 team this year.
The invitational is the ideal place for the
Wolverines to exhibit the adjustments that
have been made in their practice regimen.
This season, Richardson has reduced the
volume of in-water training and amplified
the amount of dry-dock training. Initially,
these changes will slow the Wolverines'
times, but as the season progresses, the
times will become increasingly faster.
"There is a great attitude on the team,"
Richardson said. "Their training habits are
really terrific."
out two
Johnson;
who are
of its key swimmers, junior Sara
and sophomore Amy McCullough,
recovering from respiratory illness-
1
The University Musical Society, The University of Michigan
& The Ann Arbor District Library
present
a free lecture by
Michael Boyd
Artistic Director of the
Royal Shakespeare Company
Thursday, November 21
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Main Library
Multi-Purpose Room
7 /~a
Why Shakespeare Matters To Me
Boyd was the winner of Britain's prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for
Best Director for his productions of Shakespeare's 1,2,3 Henry VI and
Richard III, which appeared in Ann Arbor in 2001. Join him for this special
appearance as he shares his thoughts and reflections on Shakespeare and
Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Royal Shakespeare Company will return to Ann Arbor for a March
2003 residency with productions of Shakespeare's Coriolanus and The
Merry Wives of Windsor and Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children.
Please contact The University Musical Society box office by phone at
734.764.2538 or on the web at www.ums.org for more details.
BCS
Continued from Page 9
total score (the lower the score, the bet-
ter). Miami does not have any quality
wins, although its BCS score was
helped this past week, despite remain-
ing idle, when several of its opponents
won tough games. That has a direct
effect on the Hurricanes' strength of
schedule ranking, which has a direct
effect on their BCS positioning. Indeed,
The New York Times poll, which saw
Ohio State and Miami swap positions
this week, features strength of schedule
prominently. That swap resulted in
Miami having a higher computer aver-
age than Ohio State, and was the pri-
mary cause of its ascendance to the top
of the BCS.
If Ohio State defeats Michigan, it
will still have to answer a criticism that
has existed now for months: The Buck-
eyes did not have to play Iowa, so their
Big Ten supremacy is suspect. Iowa has
been not just the Cinderella team of this
year's national title race, but the Big Ten
juggernaut that Ohio State isn't. Where
the Buckeyes have been keeping their
heads above water down the stretch, the
Hawkeyes have been, in keeping with
the metaphor, a predatory shark that has
swallowed everything in its path. They
have won their last four games by an
average of 30 points, and boast the most
explosive offense in the country.
Should Ohio State end its season in
the Fiesta Bowl, the BCS will have once
again failed in the eyes of many. The
difficulty that the Buckeyes have had
lately against lesser teams, and their
avoidance of Iowa in the Big Ten sea-
son, are enough to question their legiti-
macy. That being said, the numbers
don't lie: 12-0 is 12-0, and much of the
BCS (primarily The Associated Press
and ESPN/USA Today polls) is based
on reputation and perception. Thus, the
BCS will suffer yet another year of sec-
ond-guessing, unless Ohio State loses
on Saturday and Miami is the only
undefeated team left standing.
But that, of course, raises a whole
new set of questions.
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