The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - January 26, 2004 - 3B
YESTERDAY'S GAME
Michigan 58
Iowa 69
SMICHIGAN (58)
No rhythm for
Blue in defeat
By Eric Ambinder
Daily Sports Writer
Character makes Amaker
right manfor the program
l
t
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0T A F PTS
Pool 31 4-17 1-2 2-5 1 3 10
Helvey 29 2-8 0-3 2-5 0 0 4
Smith 20 5-16 6-8 5-7 1 3 17
Hauser-Price 19 1-2 1-2 1-1 2 3 3
Gandy 34 5-12 0-0 3-5 6 2 12
Andrews 8 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 1 0
Carney 17 0-2 0-2 1-5 2 1 0
Reams 15 1-6 0-0 5-11 3 3 2
Burlin 7 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 1 3
McPhilamy 20 3-4 1-2 3-4 0 1 7
Totals 200 22-72 9-19 23-48 15 18 58
FG%: .306 FTl: .474 3-point FG: 5-28, .179 (Gandy
2-5, Pool 1-10, Burlin 1-3, Smith 1-3, Carney 0-1,
Reams 0-2, Helvey 0-4). Blocks: 3 (Reams 2, Car-
ney). Steals: 6 (Gandy 2, Pool 2, Carney, Helvey).
Turnovers: 16 (Pool 4, Burlin 3, Gandy 3, Hauser-
Price 2, Helvey 2, Carney, McPhilamy). Technical
Fouls: none.
Iowa (69)
FG FT REB
MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS
Solverson 15 3-8 2-2 2-6 3 3 8
Lillis 34 5-9 4-5 1-8 2 5 15
Cavey 28 7-13 0-1 2-3 3 5 14
Richards 33 2-5 0-0 0-3 3 1 5
Faulkner 23 2-6 2-2 0-5 1 4 6
Smith 23 3-8 2-3 0-1 1 0 8
Armstrong 11 1-4 0-0 2-3 0 0 3
Geoffroy 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Reedy 14 2-4 0-0 0-4 1 3 5
Kasperek 3 0-0 2-2 0-0 0 0 2
McCann 14 1-1 1-2 1-1 0 1 3
Totals 200 26-58 13-17 9-41 14 22 69
FG%: .448. FT%: .333. 3-point FG: 4-12, .333 (Arm-
strong 1-1, Lillis 1-1, Reedy 1-1, Richards 1-3, Smith
0-1, Solverson 0-2, Faulkner 0-3). Blocks: 4 (Cavey,
Lillis, McCann, Richards). Steals: 8 (Smith 4, Lillis
2, Cavey, Richards). Turnovers: 16 (Faulkner 3,
Reedy 3, Cavey 2, Lillis 2, Solverson 2, Armstrong,
Kasperek, Richards, Smith). Technical fouls: none.
Nothing went according to plan for the Iowa women's
basketball team on Sunday afternoon against Michigan -
nothing except the outcome.
The Hawkeyes (4-2 Big Ten, 10-7 overall) gave up 23
offensive rebounds, their two best players fouled out, two
usual starters began the game on the bench and Michigan
was in the bonus with eight minutes left in the game - but
Iowa still beat the Wolverines (3-4, 10-10) 69-58 at Carver-
Hawkeye Arena.
Big Ten scoring leader Jennifer Smith, played just six
minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
With Smith off the floor, Michigan couldn't find a
rhythm.
"I talked to our players about not being in an offensive
rhythm and that had something to do with Jen not being in
there," Michigan coach Cheryl Burnett said. "I thought we
had more air balls than any other game in history."
Iowa never found its rhythm either, but did have a much
deeper bench.
Iowa's reserves outscored Michigan's 21-12, and filled
in effectively when leading scorers Jennie Lillis and
Jamie Cavey fouled out in the second half. The two com-
bined for 29 points.
The Wolverines trailed by five at halftime, but Smith
picked up her third foul just 50 seconds into the second half,
leaving the Wolverines with limited scoring options. Iowa
then opened the half with an 8-0 run and never looked back.
i Despite late foul trouble, as the Hawkeyes put Michigan
in the bonus early, Iowa held a double-digit lead for most of
the second half due to its ability to dribble-penetrate effec-
tively and Michigan's ability to beat itself.
The Wolverines, who rank second in the Big Ten in free
throw percentage, shot just 9-of-19 from the charity stripe,
and made just 5-of 28 3-point attempts against one of the
Big Ten's best perimeter defense teams. Michigan's season-
high 23 offensive rebounds turned into just 19 points.
Iowa shut down Michigan defensively, holding the
Junior Tabitha Pool reaches in on Iowa's Kristi Faulkner In
yesterday's 69-58 loss at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Wolverines to just 30.6 percent from the field.
"I really think it's defensive stops," said Iowa coach
Lisa Bluder about her team's ability to overcome Michi-
gan's offensive rebounding. "You gain a lot of confidence
from them."
Confidence, something the Wolverines were hoping to
build on after last Thursday's 63-60 road win at Wiscon-
sin, appears to be the main factor in Michigan's inconsis-
tency.
Two integral parts of the "MV3," Tabitha Pool and Smith,
hit 9-of-33 field goals and combined for just 27 points.
As inefficient as Michigan is offensively, Burnett has her
team playing much-improved defense - a key factor in
building that extra confidence.
"Michigan, no they haven't been known for their
defense, but Cheryl is getting them to start playing it,"
Bluder said. "In a couple of years, look out because
Cheryl's all about defense."
Michigan. ...........28
Iowa......................33
30-58
36 -69
At: Carver-Hawkeye Aren, Iowa City
Attendance: 4,975
BIG TEN STANDINGS
NAWEED SIKORA
The SportsMonday Column
Dear Tommy,
When most current Michigan
students think about you and the
Michigan basketball program 10 or 15
years down the road, they will remember
you as the coach who pulled the pro-
gram out of the depths of despair.
They will remember a coach who set
things straight with the players, who was
forced to deal with the ghosts of the past
and succeeded and who reached out to
the student section by changing the
dynamics of Crisler Arena. Hopefully,.
they will also remember a few NCAA
tournament runs as well.
I will also remember all of those
things. As a student and a basketball fan,
your devotion and desire to bring Michi-
gan back to the upper echelon of college
basketball is certainly well-appreciated.
But there is one story I will remember
more than anything else.
Last year I covered the basketball
team. One afternoon, before the season
had even begun, I was walking down
Hoover Street toward Crisler Arena for
the weekly press conference when a
black car drove by me. I didn't give it a
second thought, until it stopped about 10
feet ahead of me and pulled over.
I didn't know anyone who owned a
car like that, and I certainly didn't recog-
nize the license plate. I walked by it,
glanced inside, and to my surprise, you
were sitting there.
"Naweed, need a ride?" you asked.
"Sure," I said, and hopped into the car.
We were almost at Crisler, so the ride
wasn't going to last long. What burning
questions did I have that I could ask
right now, when nobody else would be
able to interfere?
But to my surprise, you fired the first
question.
"So how are your classes going?" you.
asked.
I told you they were going well, and
that finals were rapidly approaching.
"So how's everyone looking this
year?" I asked.
You talked about how the players
were busy with classes, but were excited
about the season. You said that if the
team stayed healthy, it would be a good
year. I told you about the vibe on cam-
pus surrounding the team and about how
a lot more students were excited about
the upcoming season.
"Hopefully we can get some wins so
we get students down here for the
games," he said.
"Yeah, I hope so," I replied.
We got out of the car and headed into
Crisler, where you once again became
Coach Amaker, and I became a reporter.
Of course, the team went on to get hit
with postseason sanctions, and then lost
its first six games. Not exactly the start
you were hoping for, I'm sure.
I don't know if you remember that
day, but I do. The reason I remember it
is because it allowed me to see you as
your players do - not just as a basket-
ball coach, but as a mentor.
I'm glad you're the coach here at
Michigan, not because of your recruiting
ability or your accurate free-throw
shooting, but because you possess a
character that players respond to. You
came in and established yourself, and
anyone who wasn't happy could leave.
The first question you asked me was
how my classes were going. To me, this
shows that you understand the students
at Michigan, and you're working hard to
bring pride back to this school.
As I watched the Wolverines close out
Penn State yesterday afternoon, I could-
n't help but think about the change the
Michigan basketball program has gone
through over the past couple seasons.
I know there are still plenty of con-
cerns out there about how ineffective the
offense can be, and that the lack of
offensive structure limits Michigan's
ability to win on an off-shooting night.
I have similar concerns. I cringe when
Daniel Horton misses a shot, or Bernard
Robinson Jr. loses the ball. But you're
guiding them in the right direction.
Although these past few weeks have
been frustrating, the Wolverines finally
have a legitimate chance of going to the
tournament - something that hasn't
been the case in a very long time.
Whether that tournament berth comes
or not, I hope that you are remembered
for the effort you put in to save this pro-
gram, rather than the effort you put in to
take it to the very top. Foundation is
always the key to growth, and you have
put in a solid one.
So thanks Tommy, for all that you
have done for Michigan.
In the press conference room that day,
you jokingly told me that the ride wasn't
free. Well, I don't know if I've paid you
back for it yet, but I do know one thing:
I'll see you Wednesday for Iowa.
Penn State
Purdue
Michigan State
Iowa
Minnesota
Michigan
Indiana
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Illinois
Northwestern
Big Ten
W L Pct.
8 0 1.000
6 1 .857
5 2 .714
3 2 .600
4 3 .571
3 3 .500
3 4 .429
2 4 .333
2 5 .286
1 6 .143
0 7 .000
w
15
16
15
9
15
10
10
10
8
7
7
Overall
IL I
2
3
18
17
9
11
11
Pct.
.833
.889
.833
.563
.833
.526
.556
.588
.471
.389
.389
McPhilamy shines, Pool rusty
By Megan Kolodgy
Daily Sports Writer
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, Jan. 29
Indiana at Minnesota
Iowa at Northwestern
Michigan State at Illinois
Ohio State at Michigan
Wisconsin at Purdue
Sunday, Feb. 1
Indiana at Ohio State
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Iowa at Michigan State
Michigan at Illinois
Northwestern at Penn State
Thursday, Feb. 5
Illinois at Northwestern
Ohio State at Iowa
Penn State at Indiana
Purdue at Michigan
Wisconsin at Michigan State
TBA
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
1 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
There were few high points in Michi-
gan's loss to Iowa yesterday, but one was
scoring from some Wolverines who
don't usually contribute.
Junior BreAnne
McPhilamy came off 400
the bench raring to go.
She netted seven points
for a new career-best.
She went 3-for-4 from the field and 1-
for-2 from the charity stripe.
McPhilamy, who will replace senior
Jennifer Smith next year as the team
giant, subbed in for Smith when the cen-
ter committed two fouls within the first
six minutes. Consequentially, McPhil-
amy broke another career record, spend-
ing 20 minutes on the floor.
Before traveling to Iowa, her career
scoring high was four - she averages
just 5.6 minutes-per-game.
"One of the bight spots was BreAnne
filling in the first half, and doing just a
tremendous job," Burnett said.
FAMILIAR FACE: The battle against
Iowa marked the third time this season
that Burnett, who was head coach at
Southwest Missouri State, has gone up
against a coach who previously accom-
panied her in the Missouri Valley Con-
ference. The MVC has fed four coaches
into the Big Ten in recent years, includ-
ing Burnett and Wisconsin's Lisa Stone
who are both in their first season.
The Iowa squad is coached by Lisa
Bluder, who has led them for the past
four years. During her time in the MVC,
Bluder posted a .638 record, and led the
Drake Bulldogs to four conference tour-
nament championships.
Prior to yesterday's matchup, Burnett
had a 19-9 win-loss record against Blud-
er. Unfortunately, the new Wolverine
was unable to put another in the win col-
umn. Despite the loss, Burnett feels pos-
itive about her history with Bluder.
"It's just a wonderful rivalry," Burnett
said. "The players have always respected
each other, the coaching staffs have
always respected each other and even
the fans respect each other. It's the way
athletics should be."
TROUBLE FOR TABITHA: Junior Tabitha
Pool's 3-point percentage was .354
entering last weeks Michigan state
game. She is 3-for-28 from beyond the
arc in the last three games.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Naweed Sikora can be reached at
nsikora@umich.edu