The Michigan Daily - SportsTuesday - January 20, 2004 - 5B
Talkin' the talk
"We just wanted to go out and prove that
we do have toughness,,and we showed it
today."
- Michigan State forward Jason Andreas about the success
the Spartans had in the low post.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Michigan 54
w Michigan State 71
Players of the game
Paul Davis
(Michigan State)
The 6-foot-11 sophomore scored 22
points - including eight straight at
one point - and got Michigan's big
men into foul trouble.
Daniel Horton
(Michigan)
Despite six turnovers, Horton
scored a season-high 20 points to
lead Michigan and consistently
looked to drive to the basket.
Davis too much inside for 'M'
Petway takes backseat while Harrell sits out with an injury
By Chris Burke
Daily Sports Editor
EAST LANSING - Six minutes
into Saturday's loss at Michigan
State, Michigan center Courtney
Sims had taken the
Spartans' star for-
ward, Paul Davis,
completely out of
his game.
Sims had blocked
one of Davis' shots,
forced two more misses and scored
two buckets of his own.
That would be the high water mark
for Michigan's big men in their
matchup against Davis, however.
While Michigan coach Tommy
Amaker continued to rotate Sims,
Graham Brown and Chris Hunter at
the center spot, Davis clocked 28
minutes, finishing with 22 points and
seven rebounds. The Michigan front-
court, meanwhile, combined for nine
points and 10 fouls.
"He was able to get to the (free-
throw) line," said Sims of Davis, who
finished 9-for-I I from the charity
stripe. "I know a couple of the calls
on me were questionable. He wasn't
able to get a shot over me, and they
were calling fouls. That was really
frustrating right there."
Foul trouble was a theme through-
out the game for the Wolverines, and
Davis' ability to avoid that problem
was a key to his success.
Davis picked up his first foul
with 15:58 to go in the first half,
but didn't land another one for 13
minutes and finished the contest
with just three fouls.
Adding to the Wolverines' trouble
inside was the contribution of Michi-
gan State forward Jason Andreas. The
senior soared past his season aver-
ages of two points and two rebounds
per game, notching seven points and
five boards against the Wolverines.
"Michigan State's been known
for being physical, especially the
inside players," Andreas said. "We
just wanted to go out and prove that
we do have toughness, and we
showed it today."
Michigan forward J.C. Mathis
was able to turn in a solid game in
21 minutes against the Spartans.
With Sims, Brown and Hunter all
struggling, Mathis' minutes increased,
and he chipped in six points and eight
rebounds.
NoTHIN' BUT BENCH: One Michigan
forward that Amaker did not turn to
in the attempt to neutralize Davis was
freshman Brent Petway.
The 6-foot-9 high-riser stayed on
the sidelines for the entire game, as
Amaker shortened his rotation to
eight players.I
Petway has seen his minutes drop
drastically since playing 10 minutes
in Michigan's loss to Boston Univer-
sity on Dec. 30. In the Wolverines'
first three Big Ten games - against
Northwestern, Indiana and MichiganE
State - Petway has seen the court
for a total of nine minutes.
"Those things can happen, it's not
frustrating," Petway said. "I'm a
smaller big man, so the matchups
probably have a lot to do with it."
HARRELL HURTING: While Amaker
opted not to use Petway, guard Sher-
rod Harrell was not even an option.
The sophomore suffered a high-
ankle sprain in practice last week and
was on crutches for Saturday's game.
Harrell was expected to return to
practice yesterday.
NOTES: Michigan assistant coach
Charles Ramsey was not present for
Saturday's game. Ramsey was strand-
ed while on a recruiting visit and
unable to make it to East Lansing....
Taking in Saturday's game as part of
the sellout crowd of 14,759 were
Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles
Rogers, a former Spartan, and Lions'
head coach Steve Mariucci, a close
friend of Michigan State coach Tom
Izzo. ... Michigan State's victory
moved its home Big Ten record to 40-
2 since 1998-99.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Michigan (54)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Robinson 34 2-8 0-0 2-6 2 3 5
Sims 16 2-4 0-0 2-5 1 4 4
Brown 20 1-1 1-2 0-1 2 3 3
Abram 32 3-7 2-4 1-2 0 4 9
Horton 36 5-15 5-6 0-0 3 3 20
Harris 27 1-3 3-5 0-0 0 3 5
Hunter 14 0-4 2-2 1-3 0 3 2
Mathis 21 3-5 0-2 5-8 0 4 6
Team 1-1
Totals 200 17-4713-2112-26 8 27 54
FG%: .362. FT%: .619. 3-Int FG: 7-17,
.412 (Horton 5-9, Robinson 1-3, Abram 1-3,
Harris 0-1, Hunter 0-1). Blocks: 3 (Robinson,
Sims, Harris). Steals: 8 (Horton 4, Robinson
3, Brown). Turnovers: 22 (Robinson 7, Hor-
ton 6, Mathis 4, Sims 2, Hunter 2, Brown 1).
Technical fouls: none.
MICHIGAN STATE (71)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A O-T A F PTS
Davis 28 6-12 9-11 4-7 3 3 22
Brown 24 3-6 0-0 1-2 1 2 6
Hill 38 2-7 3-5 0-0 3 3 8
Anderson 27 2-3 4-6 1-2 3 2 9
Torbert 13 3-3 0-0 0-2 1 5 8
Johnson 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Ager 30 3-6 3-5 3-8 0 2 9
Trannon 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
Hamo 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Bograkos 14 1-1 0-0 0-2 0 2 2
Naymick 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Harvey 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Andreas 17 3-4 1-1 1-5 0 0 7
Ockerman 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
TEAM 0-3
Totals 200 23-42 20-2810-321119 71
FG%: .548. FT0/: .714. 3-point FG: 5-11 (Tor-
bert 2-2, Davis 1-1, Anderson 1-2, Hill 1-5,
Brown 0-1). Blocks: 2 (Davis, Torbert).
Steals: 10(Brown 4, Davis 3, Hill, Anderson,
Bograkos). Turnovers: 18 (Davis 5, Brown 3,
Hill 3, Anderson 3, Torbert, Ager, Andreas,
Team). Technical fouls: none.
DANNY MOLOSHOKDaily
Michigan State's Paul Davis caused a number of problems for the Wolverines on Saturday.
He scored 22 points and got Courtney Sims into foul trouble.
Backcourt stmggles
to strike a balance
Michigan.................23
Michigan State............ 32
31 - 54
39 - 71
By Daniel Bremmer
Daily Sports Writer
EAST LANSING - Michigan
needs Daniel Horton to score, but
Daniel Horton needs help.
When Horton, Bernard Robinson,
Lester Abram and Dion Harris are hot,
the Wolverines are a tough team to
beat - winning every game in which
at least three of the four have scored in
double figures.
But when Michigan's perimeter
scorers can't put it together in the same
game, Michigan has struggled.
The team has lost four of its five
games when just two of the perimeter
players reach double figures in scor-
ing, and that one win was an overtime
victory at Butler.
On Saturday, Horton was the only
one of the four steadily putting points
on the board.
Coming off a freshman campaign
during which he met all expectations,
earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year
honors, Horton has struggled with con-
sistency this season, averaging just 11.5
points over the team's first 13 games.
In his first two conference games,
the 6-foot-3 guard wasn't himself.
Against Northwestern and Indiana,
Horton had just 10 total points on 22
percent shooting, including 0-for-9
from behind the arc.
But Saturday was a different story
for the second-year guard, as he
dropped in a season-high 20 points
and added four steals.
"He's so good, especially in transi-
tion, being able to use screens or his
dribble to get in the lane," Michigan
State junior Chris Hill said. "We want-
ed to do a good job of corralling him
and getting help (defense). For the
most part we did a pretty good job of
that, but he's a very good player, and
especially in the second half, he was
able to create some things."
MEN
Continued from Page 11B
"What really hurt us was our
turnovers right before the half," said
Horton, who led Michigan with 20
points. "Our turnovers hurt us in key
stretches of the game."
The Spartans maintained a lead
around 10 points for most of the sec-
ond half, but struggled to put the
Wolverines away.
Michigan fought back to pull within
eight points with 11:38 remaining on a
tip-in by J.C. Mathis.
But Paul Davis scored eight straight
points for the Spartans - his last two
coming on an offensive rebound after a
missed free throw - to push his team's
lead to 13 and put the game out of reach.
Michigan trailed by double digits for
Although his 33-percent field-goal
percentage (5-for-15) overall on Satur-
day wasn't spectacular, the Texas
native hit five of his nine 3-point
attempts, including 3-of-4 in the first
half.
And he consistently looked to pene-
trate and get to the basket, something
that didn't happen in Horton's first two
conference games, when he often set-
tled for mid-range jumpers.
"That was one of our emphases, as a
team - to (penetrate and) try get to
the free-throw line," Horton said.
Unfortunately for Michigan, Horton
didn't get enough help from his sup-
porting cast on the perimeter. Senior
Bernard Robinson connected on just
2-of-8 from the field for five points,
way down from his 14-point-per-game
average.
"They played solid defense on me
today," Robinson said. "I don't recall
that I had any open shots at all, and I
was trying not to force too many
shots."
Freshman Dion Harris didn't look
for his shot as he had done in Michi-
gan's first two conference games.
Harris had scored 13 and 15.
against Northwestern and Indiana,
respectively, but dropped in just five
on Saturday, attempting just three
field goals.
"I thought we did a pretty good job
defensively because (Horton, Robin-
son, Harris and Abram) really have an
offensive mind, and our guys didn't
give them an inch," Michigan State
coach Tom Izzo said.
Michigan's four perimeter players
have all been in double figures this
season in wins over North Carolina
State (68-61) and Fairfield (66-43).
In its one game of the season when
only one perimeter player scored in
double figures, Michigan suffered its
worst loss of the season, an 83-63
defeat at Vanderbilt.
"We're definitely struggling right
now. The shots aren't dropping for us,"
Michigan senior Bernard Robinson
said. "We definitely have to find our
shots - that's the key to us winning. I
think we played solid enough defense,
but when the offense isn't clicking, I
think that hurts on both ends."
Robinson, who had been consistent-
ly solid on offense this season, was
held to just five points on 2-for-8
shooting and committed seven
turnovers.
Davis - the Spartans' leading scor-
er, averaging 14.7 points per game -
had his way inside with Michigan
defenders for most of the contest.
With the exception of having his
shots blocked twice by Courtney Sims
early in the first frame, Davis routinely
caught the ball in good post position
At: Breslin Center, East Lansing
Attendance: 14,759
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Conference Overall
Team W L W L
Wisconsin 2 1 11 3
Purdue 2 1 12 4
Indiana 2 1 8 6
Penn State 2 1 8 6
Michigan State 2 1 7 7
Illinois 2 2 11 4
Iowa 2 2 9 5
Northwestern 2 2 7 8
Michigan 1 2 10 4
Ohio State 1 2 9 7
Minnesota 0 3 8 7
Saturday's results:
MICHIGAN STATE 71, Michigan 54
ILLINOIS 88, IowA 82
OHIO STATE 73, Minnesota 62
INDIANA 73, Northwestern 62
Tonight's games:
Indiana at Ohio State 7 p.m.
Tomorrow's games:
Michigan at Wisconsin 8 p.m.
Michigan St. at Northwestern 6 p.m.
Iowa at Iowa State 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Purdue 8 p.m.
Penn State at Illinois 8 p.m.
Tomorrow's games:
Michigan at Penn State 1215 p.m.
Illinois at Wisconsin 2:30 p.m.
Indiana at Minnesota 4:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Iowa 8 p.m.
Michigan's Graham Browni
combined for 40 turnoversi
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
dives underneath Michigan State's Jason Andreas to corral a loose ball on Saturday. The teams
in the Spartans' 71-54 victory. Andreas was big off the bench, with seven points and five boards.
Horton, Robinson key to solution
BURKE
Continued from Page 1B
wrong on Saturday. "Daniel had a pretty good game today,
and everybody else didn't really. I think sometimes we're
trying too hard."
On paper, there doesn't appear to be much of a problem.
Horton, Abram, Bernard Robinson and Dion Harris are all
averaging more than 10 points a game.
In watching Michigan State's offense, however, the
problem with Michigan's attack became more apparent.
Almost every trip down the court, the Spartans got the
ball in the hands of either guard Chris Hill or forward Paul
Davis. There was no question that, in spite of Hill's sub-par
performance (he was hampered by illness), the Spartans
knew which two guys they wanted with the ball.
For the Wolverines, though, every possession had a dif-
ferent aim. Maybe it was Horton shooting a 3-pointer, or
Robinson trying to create on the wing, or center Courtney
Sims looking to bang inside.
Michigan's variance of options can sometimes be a huge
advantage over the defense. But when the shots aren't
falling, like they weren't on Saturday, then it's imperative
to know which guy you can find to pour in some points.
So far, that No. I option has been different in every win
- which can definitely give opponents fits. The problem
has come from the fact that a go-to guy has been nonexist-
ent in every loss.
"(Hitting on all cylinders) comes with experience,"
Robinson said. "We're a young team, and that experience
will take care of itself. We don't run a specific offense like
(Michigan State). We run a more open offense, so every-
one gets ample opportunities."
Getting the entire team involved can be effective, but in
a game like Saturday's, the Wolverines need someone to
step up individually.
The person most capable of doing that is Horton.
The Michigan coaching staff knows it. In the second
half on Saturday, Amaker played Horton and guard Dion
Harris together, allowing Horton to catch and shoot, or
drive to the basket.
When this offense has been at its best, like in the victory
over UCLA, it started with Robinson and Horton. Every-
one else fed off of them. No matter who they play all year,
there won't be anyone who matches up defensively with
Robinson and Horton.
So, while spreading the ball around will keep everyone
involved, it also has a tendency to take Robinson and Hor-
ton away from what they do best.
At this point, the discovery of the Wolverines' identity
lies in their ability to distinguish between sharing the ball
and doing so while getting their best players the majority
of the touches.
Solving the problem would, no doubt, lead to the best of
times.
Chris Burke can be reached at chrisbur@umich.edu.
UP NEXT:
HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED
A'PHOO
Wisconsin's Devin Harris
AT WISCONSIN
Just like after its loss to Indiana,
Michigan has to follow up a
defeat with a difficult game. This
time, the Wolverines will take
their two-game losing streak to
Madison to take on the always-
tough Badgers. Wisconsin has
again cracked the top 25, and
sits atop the Big Ten with a 2-1
record (11-3 overall). The Bad-
gers beat Indiana and Michigan
State before dropping a 53-51
heart-breaker at Purdue last
Wednesday. The teams split two
games last year.
AT FENN TATE
Team
1. Duke
2. Stanford
3. St. Joseph's
4. Connecticut
5. Louisville
6. Cincinnati
7. North Carolina
8. Pittsburgh
Record
14-1
14-0
15-0
15-2
13-1
13-0
11-3
18-1
This weekend's results
Beat Wake Forest 84-72
Beat California 68-61
Beat Xavier 81-73
Beat Pittsburgh 68-65
Beat Tulane 79-58
Beat TCU 85-57
Beat Connecticut 86-83
Lost to Connecticut 68-65
This week's games
at Maryland; at Georgetown
UCLA; Southern Cal.
Mass.; at St. Bonaventure
Providence
Cincinnati; at Tennessee
at Louisville; at Southern Miss.
at Florida State; Virginia
at Syracuse