10A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 19, 2004
Indiana win could revitalize 'M'
By Ellen McGarrity
Daily Sports Writer
After returning home from its
road game against Penn State last
Sunday, the Michigan women's bas-
ketball team said good-
bye to its toughest ----
stretch of the season. In Top
the last two-and-a-half
weeks, the team has Mic
been on the losing side Ir
of contests against Pur- TIlME
due, Michigan State and Assem
Penn State - all top-25 Bloo
teams. -
With three games
remaining in the regular season,
Michigan (4-9 Big Ten, 11-15 overall)
now has an opportunity for salvation.
Next week, the Wolverines play
Northwestern and Minnesota at home.
Michigan's first win during con-
ference play was over Northwestern.
After losing to the Golden Gophers
by 20 points in January, Michigan
looks to redeem itself.
But the Wolverines' opportunity
for three solid wins starts tonight
when they travel to Bloomington to
take on Indiana. Although Michigan
has not performed well on the road
this season - it has won just two
road games during conference play -
Indiana (3-10, 10-14) is a squad the
chig
ndi-
)mil
Wolverines know they can beat.
Just five weeks ago, Michigan
edged out the Hoosiers for a close
65-59 win at Crisler.
"I think we're more confident
because we know we can beat that
team," junior point
----- guard Sierra Hauser-
[GHT Price said. "(But)
they're out to prove to
gan at their home court, that
ana they can win ... I'm
7 p.m. sure they're looking for
y Hall revenge."
ngton Just two weeks ago,
Michigan defeated Wis-
consin for the second
time this season, proving that it is
capable of cleanly sweeping a team.
However, Michigan has not had
much success on the road. Tonight's
contest could easily resemble Michi-
gan's last game against Illinois.
When Michigan traveled to Cham-
paign, the Wolverines let the Fight-
The Hoosiers have lost seven
consecutive games, including four
at home.
"Indiana has a lot of similarities
philosophically to what we're trying
to do," Michigan coach Cheryl Bur-
nett said. "One of the things about
Indiana, which I hope people will also
say about us is, that Indiana is such a
hard-working defensive team."
Like Michigan, Indiana plays man-
to-man defense.
But with most teams in the Big
Ten playing a zone, Burnett admitted
that her team is now having to
"reprogram to (again) play against a
strictly man defense."
The Indiana squad is led by dou-
ble-digit scorers Jenny DeMuth
(18.2) and Cyndi Valentin (15.1).
The young team, which includes five
freshmen and five sophomores, is,
like Michigan, struggling to climb in
the Big Ten standings.
Burnett is aware that a positive
M MEN'S TENNIS
Hung adds
Davis Cup*
to resume
By Gabiela D'Jmen
Daily Sports Writer
ing Illini - who then sat at No. 10 outcome in tonight's game would be
in the Big Ten standings - get away a crucial first step to finishing con-
in the second half, resulting in a 16- ference play on a high note.
point loss. "With the three gamnes that we
Not only is Michigan traveling to have left, we definitely think that it's
another Assembly Hall tonight (this a possibility that we could win all
time in Bloomington), but it is also three," Burnett said. "We have
facing a team which needs a win just played much better at home, which SHUBRA OHRI/Oaiiy
as much as Illinois did at that point makes the Indiana game extremely BreAnne McPhilamy, Sierra Hauser-Price and Niki Reams celebrate after Michigan's
in its season. important." victory over Indiana in January. Michigan hopes for a repeat tonight in Bloomington.
"Brian's an international man of mys-
tery," freshman tennis player Steve
Peretz exclaimed about his roommate
and team-
mate Brian
SUNDAY Hung.
Poor per-
Michiganvs. formances
Brown and injuries
Time: Noon are common
Varsity Tennis Center explanations
for why
players are
removed from the lineup, but Hung did
not play No. 3 singles for the Michigan
men's tennis team this past weekend
because of jet lag.
Although Hung did play and win his
doubles match, coach Mark Mees
thought it would be wise to give the
freshman some resting time. While the
rest of the team was enjoying a two-week
break, Hung had returned home to Hong
Kong for a Davis Cup match against
Kuwait.
Leaving the country on Feb. 2 and
returning eight days later, Hung came
back four days before the Wolverines'
match against Toledo and just hours
before a test.
"I arrived in Detroit on Tuesday and
had to rush back to campus just to be in
time for my calculus midterm," Hung
said. "The flight is about 16 hours long,."
Adjusting to the 13-hour time differ-
ence has taken its toll on Hung. Prac-
tices in the afternoon force athletes to
attend classes as early as 8:30 am.
When he is jet lagged, Hung falls asleep
around 5 in the morning. Even with the
traveling woes and added time commit-
ment, Hung enjoys participating in the
Davis Cup events.
"It's pretty tough, but it's a great
experience to have," Hung said. "It also
is nice to have my family and friends
watch me play in Hong Kong."
Teammates and coaches are support-
ive of Hung's travels.
"It's a good experience for him and
its something that did not interfere with
our schedule;' Mees said. "It is some-
thing that is important to him and
important to his country."
In April, the Hong Kong Davis Cup
team is scheduled to play the same week
that Michigan faces both Indiana and
Indiana State. But Hung has resolved to
stay in Michigan that week and play.
"If there is a tournament here and in
Hong Kong I would have to stay here
and keep my commitment to this team,"
Hung said. "Not only are there big
matches that weekend, but I also have
exams to take."
Hung is ambitious both on and off
the court. He will apply to the Business
School next year and currently plays in
Futures events. These events are open
tournaments in which wins give players
Association of Tennis Professional
(ATP) points. Hung already has two
points and a professional ranking of
1,269 in the world.
Meanwhile, Hung is readjusting to the
time change and resting up before the
next match. Michigan faces Brown this
weekend for its sixth-straight home
match. The Wolverines have jumped up
eleven spots in the rankings since the
beginning of the season and are currently
No. 46, five places ahead of the Bears.
SIMMS
Continued from Page 8A
about homesickness," the senior
quad-captain said.
Just talking on the phone can be a
pain since Hawaii is five to six
hours behind the eastern time zone,
depending on the time of year. But
Simms said that she does not get
homesick anymore - she just likes
to go home.
"I go home a lot, as much as the
average student does," Simms said.
As a senior captain on the track
team, it is up to her to set an exam-
ple and provide leadership for the
underclassmen. This is even more
important as the Big Ten Champi-
onships are just around the corner,
next weekend. Simms often talks
individually to women on the team
to reassure them of their abilities as
the Big Tens approach.
"I talk to the girls individually,
and try to get in their heads that this
something they can do," Simms
said.
"It's possible for them to achieve
what they set out to do."
Many on the team believe that the
hardest part now is getting ready for
the mental aspect of the meet.
"My main concern is making sure
we perform well under pressure,"
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