The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 11
es an guards giving
Michigan energy, depth
By Josh Holman
Daily Sports Writer
Even after her team's 75-64 loss to Xavier on
Sunday in the Provident Bank Xavier Invitation-
al, Michigan coach Sue Guevara was greeted at
practice yesterday by a sight that actually
brought a smile to her face. Three of her fresh-
men guards, Lauren Andrews, Mie Burlin and
Michigan's bench will be put to the test again
tonight at Oakland, its third game in four days.
The Wolverines still expect to be without Smith,
who has been a major force down low for the
Wolverines, averaging 20 points and 7.3
rebounds per game while shooting an impressive
66 percent from the floor.
Smith's injury will force senior LeeAnn Bies
to carry much of the workload for the team.
Niki Reams had beaten her there and
were already shooting around.
Michigan's backcourt received a
brutal wake-up call this weekend
from Xavier's seasoned duo of Reet-
ta Piipari and Amy Waugh. The sen-
ior tandem rained down a combined
41 points on the Wolverines,
reminding the freshmen just how far
they have yet to go.
Depth off the bench has been one
of the strengths the team has been
able to lean on thus far this season,
ATHLETICS CENTER
O'RENA
Who: Michigan (5-1) at
Oakland (2-3)
When:7 p.m
Latest:Michigan's leading
scorer, Jennifer Smith, will
likely miss her third-straight
game because of a knee
injury.
After struggling offensively most
of the season, Bies finally explod-
ed for 31 points. But her contribu-
tion couldn't remedy everything in
the loss.
"Having Jen out for a few games
definitely switches things up a bit,"
Bies said. "We have to redistribute
roles and find a new. way to
adjust."
The lack of Smith inside factored
noticeably in the Wolverines' offen-
sive scheme. With its two big bodies
RYAN WEINER/Daily
Michigan sophomore Dwight Helminen has teamed up with Mark
Mink and Jeff Tambellini to form the Wolverines' fastest line.
FRESHMEN
Continued from Page 10
scoring a lot of goals at Michigan."
THE NEED FOR SPEED: With all the line changes this sea-
son due to injuries and early-season experimenting,
Michigan may have found its fastest pairing in years with
sophomore Dwight Helminen, senior Mark Mink and
Tambellini.
Helminen has been known for his ability to break away
for shorthanded goals, and the freshman has been one of
the quickest Wolverines in the offensive zone. Mink com-
plements them both with his solid all-around play.
Since he started skating with Helminen and Mink, Tam-
bellini's production has increased, and that offensive surge f
includes the Wolverines' first goal Friday night.
"On (our) line we have a lot of speed," Tambellini said.
"(On the goal) we all busted to the net, we got a good shot
on net and we were lucky enough to get a rebound. And
that's the way our line works. We work off speed and we
work off chances, kind of creating stuff off the rush, and
hopefully that keeps carrying through."
KILLING TIME: Michigan's team speed was one reason
why its penalty kill had been nearly unbeatable. But on
Friday, speed wasn't enough, as Northern Michigan ended
the Wolverines' streak of eight games without surrendering
a powerplay goal. Stutzel beat Michigan's Al Montoya in
the second period while the Wildcats had the man-advan-
tage. Northern Michigan followed that with another power-
play goal in the first period of Saturday's game. Before the
weekend, Bowling Green had been the last team to beat
Michigan's penalty kill. The Falcons' tally with the extra
man came on Nov. 8, and since that time, Michigan had
killed 44 straight penalties. The Wolverines' penalty kill
percentage dropped from .951 to .923 after the weekend,
but they still lead the nation in that category.
even though it is relatively inexperienced.
"I've been pleased with the contributions our
bench has made," Guevara said. "We have
enough quality kids that I can go deep on the
bench and still maintain."
Just as the rookie backcourt seemed to be cut-
ting down on the ball-handling mistakes that had
hampered them in their first few games, Michi-
gan turned the ball over 37 times in its two
games this weekend. Add to the fact that leading
scorer Jennifer Smith was out because of a knee
injury, and it seems lucky that Michigan was
able to squeak out a win on Saturday over Saint
Louis.
inside, Michigan has faired well running a high-
low style offense. That aspect of the game
almost disappeared in Sunday's gameplan.
"If you take away (Smith's) 20 points and nine
rebounds, is it going to have a little bit of an
impact? Of course it will," Guevara said. "We
have to make a few adjustments in the way we
attack teams now."
Today's game is also Oakland coach Eileen
Shea-Hilliard's first matchup against Michigan,
where she was an assistant coach under Guevara.
"I think just because Eileen was an assistant
here, there will be a little more emotion going
into it," Guevara said.
JASON COOPER/Daily
Michigan guard Lauren Andrews elevates for a jump shot. Andrews has
logged significant minutes early in her career, adding much-needed depth.
'M' grapplers not looking
past upstart Cleveland State
By Eric Chan
Daily Sports Writer
The Cleveland State Vikings aren't exactly
a team to be feared in many sports. The
Vikings' basketball team? Mediocre. The
men's soccer team? Not bad. How about the
football team? Actually, it's non-existent.
What about the wrestling team? Surprisingly,
it has the potential to be a future powerhouse
in Division I college wrestling.
Last week, the Vikings upset No. 21 Edin-
boro in an attempt to prove that they belong
in the top 25 this season.
"We cannot take these guys lightly," Michi-
gan coach Joe McFarland said.
The state of Ohio is one of the top five
sources in the country for high school
wrestling talent, which helps Cleveland State
coach Jack Effner improve his recruiting
class from year to year.
"Jack has done a great job over there,"
McFarland said. "They've got a solid lineup
all the way through."
No. 6 Michigan will square off against
Cleveland State Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Cliff
Keen Arena in Michigan's first home match
of the 2002-03 season. The Wolverines are
the heavy favorites against the Vikings, but
Michigan is also coming off a disappointing
performance at the Cliff Keen Invitational in
Las Vegas.
"(In Las Vegas) we just weren't wrestling
aggressive," McFarland said. "We would have
the lead and just try to hold on to it. We can't
wrestle like that."
Michigan will need to be in top form
against a strong Cleveland State team. The
Vikings are led by brothers Rocco and Phil
Mansueto in the 125 and 133-pound weight
classes, respectively. In Michigan's 29-9 win
over the Vikings last season, A.J. Grant and
CLIFF KEEN ARENA
Who: Michigan vs. cleveland State
When: 7:30 p.m.
Latest: The Wolverines are fresh off a disappointing
seventh-place finish at Las Vegas' cliff Keen Invita-
tional - named after the legendary Michigan
wrestling coach.
Foley Dowd were able to beat the Mansueto
brothers in close matches.
First-year Michigan starter Greg Wagner
will face another tough challenge in Cleve-
land State's Russ Davie (ranked No. 16
nationally at heavyweight according to
Wrestling International Newsmagazine's
latest poll). Davie's 6-0 decision over then-
Michigan heavyweight Aaron Walter was
Cleveland State's only win in last season's
rout. The other six Viking team points
came from a medical forfeit at the 141-
pound weight class.
This weekend's match also has personal
meaning for McFarland.
"I'm from Cleveland myself, so it meant a
lot when I wrestled against (Cleveland State)
my sophomore year," said McFarland, a four-
time All-American at Michigan.
HORN
Continued from Page 10
defining themselves. They're playing
under sanctions, and are victims of what
Amaker calls "a culture of losing." That
culture extends upward from the court to
the stands at Crisler, where even in the
student section late in the second half
you could hear a pin (or a banner) drop.
Excuses. Justifications. I'm a Michi-
gan basketball fan and I have yet to see
Michigan basketball. My two favorite
players are gone, and what I have seen
on the court has been painful to watch.
But I have supported this team since I
saw freshmen Jamal Crawford and
LaVell Blanchard give Djuke a run for
its money during my own freshman
year, and I'm with this team still.
But to Amaker and the players: Show
me something soon. Will the fans rally
behind this team? You need to show me
why, before regret really sets in.
David Horn can be reached at
hornd@umich.edu.
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