The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 20, 2006 - 3B Despite recent missteps, 'M' will still be dancing t sure doesn't seem like it right now, but the Michigan and underclassmen. The juniors and seniors are pretty much men's basketball team will be an NCAA tournament team doing everything right now, with the freshmen and sophomore this year. (Ron Coleman) coming off the bench and filling in for whom- Although the team can't seem to go 20 minutes without ever is injured. So, with three players gone in a couple months suffering an injury and its defense and effort - and the other four out after next year, what exactly the two things everyone thought they could count will this team look like after they're gone? on from this team - have suddenly become I don't know about you, but when I imagine unreliable. The numbers don't lie. Michigan, Michigan without Horton's leadership and clutch with seven Big Ten wins and 17 wins total, has scoring, all I tend to think about is ... well, last done just about enough to be assured an invite. m season. And with Brown and Hunter gone, can the The Wolverines probably need just two more team win if Sims is the same inconsistent player wins. And with games against free-falling Indi- he has been his first three years? Michigan coach ana and a probable matchup with a bottom-feeder Tommy Amaker has recruited a good forward in in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on next year's class and a good guard for the follow- the horizon, that shouldn't be too much to ask. SHARAD ing year, but really, who knows? Is it that hard to A win this week over Illinois or Ohio State isn't M Tbelieve that the next four years will be a lot like the even needed, though it would be great. MATTU last four years (without the scandals)? As I typed that last paragraph and read it over, The SI)ortsMonlday Of course, this happens all the time in college. I knew that it was supposed to make me feel bet- Coun The two best players on Illinois, Iowa and Michi- ter about the team. Sure, the Wolverines have been struggling, but they played great in January, and they will be rewarded for the season they're having. They've waited so long to hear their name called on Selection Sunday, and it will finally happen. I would feel that way if I thought this season marked the beginning. But that really just isn't the case. Although I would never say this season is as good as it will get, next season and beyond is filled with huge question marks. And it makes these last few games all the more important. Right now, Michigan's top seven players - Daniel Horton, Graham Brown, Chris Hunter, Lester Abram, Dion Harris, Courtney Sims and Brent Petway - are seniors and juniors. As a group, they have spent three seasons in Ann Arbor and have been through it all: losing streaks, injuries, suspensions, win- ning streaks, an NIT Championship and next month, an NCAA appearance. The Wolverines don't have an ideal mix of upperclassmen Freshman point guard Jessica Minnfield scored a career-high 20 points, but it wasn't enough for the Wolverines to beat Iowa. Minnfield's 20 not nearly enough for Wolverines By Sara Livingston Daily Sports Writer IOWA CITY - Once again, Michigan went on a run midway through the second half. Once again, freshman Jes- sica Minnfield took the helm of the team's resurgence. And once again, reminiscent of the team's loss to Iowa on Jan. 5, Minnfield's 20-point career-high scoring effort was not enough, and the Wolverines fell to the Hawkeyes, 67-55, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. "I thought our struggle today was that we would fight to get it back close, and then Iowa would do something to hustle, either to get the loose ball or to get the steal," Michigan coach Cheryl Burnett said. "Then all of a sudden, (they would) steal it twice, even three times, and get some really easy opportunities off of our mistakes, and that hurt us." With 13 minutes remaining, the shot clock winding down and none of her teammates open, Minnfield surveyed her options and then drove to the hole, making a running lay-up as the shot-clock buzzer sounded. Minnfield drew an offensive foul against freshman center Megan Skouby immediately after Iowa's inbounds pass, leading to another Wolverine score. At the other end of the court, the Toledo native continued her dominance by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers - the first after a Krista Clement airball and the second over the 6-foot-6 Skouby. To cap off her scoring run, Minnfield drew a Skouby foul and banked in both free throws, cutting the Hawkeye lead to 11. "Our coach told us at halftime that we either need to come together now or it's not going to be a game," Minnfield said. "I had confidence, and I just wanted to give my team confi- dence. We were behind, and someone has to step up, and, if someone steps up, then the whole team is going to follow." Part of Minnfield's offensive success can be attributed to the Hawkeyes' focus on sophomore Janelle Cooper, who was coming off a career-high 17-point game against No. 10 Purdue. With Hawkeye senior Crystal Smith hounding her, Cooper struggled to find open shots and rarely had enough room to set herself up offensively. Thanks to Smith's defen- sive pressure, Cooper went 2-for-10 from the floor and com- mitted seven turnovers. Iowa's zone frequently rotated to cover Cooper - who went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc against the Boilermakers - along the perimeter, which left Minnfield open to go 4- for-4 from long distance. "We were very, very concerned with Cooper." Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. "We thought she was someone that could really hurt us especially from 3-point range. I think we had a little bit more emphasis on her and maybe that allowed Min- nfield to be a little more open than we would have liked." Said Burnett: "There is really a balance with young play- ers, especially in the point guard position to understand when to penetrate. And we have actually been trying to get Minnfield to push it in transition a lot more. That balance between dribble penetrating and executing the offense is very important, and I think Jess has done a brilliant job this year calling things and understanding what to do." It took Minnfield and the Wolverines time to warm up to the 5,000-plus Hawkeye crowd, but Iowa was ready from the opening tip. The Hawkeyes grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and converted 12 second-chance points. Although Michigan held Iowa forward Krista Vande- Venter to just six points - she scored 13 in the team's last meeting - the sophomore made her presence felt on the boards, cleaning the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds and five offensive boards. "We really came in flat," Burnett said. "We really thought that Iowa was doing a great job of getting a lot of hustle offensive rebounds. They were diving a lot more than we were and doing a lot more of the hustle play aspect, and those are things we know we have to do." GOPHERS Continued from page lB -ing time, giving him a 7-2 decision and lifting the Wolverines to a meet-clinch- ing 19-12 lead. "I came out of the gates, and I knew it was going to be a big match," White said. "I was a little nervous, but I think that's a good thing sometimes." Though White's win at 197 guaran- teed Michigan the victory, the Wagner- Konrad battle still loomed. Something had to give between the two standouts. The match started slow and remained defensive throughout. In the second period, Wagner failed to escape from the bottom position, giving Konrad a big riding-time advantage. Konrad chose to start neutral in the third. Wagner fought for the takedown, knowing he needed the points because of the discrepancy of time on top. But Konrad held tough and won the match 1-0 because of his 2:00 advan- tage in riding time. The loss was Wag- ner's first since his third-place bout at the NCAA Championships last March. Michigan kicked off the evening with a win by 125-pound freshman Michael SI VERSTON Continued from page 2B In high jump, senior Jennifer Wil- liams jumped 1.77 meters for second place. She said she didn't need a new personal record to reach her meet expectations. "I had good attempts at what would have been a (personal record),' Wil- liams said. "The last couple of meets, I haven't been jumping well at the higher heights, and, today, I had two really good jumps at 1.82 meters. I feel like the last couple of meets, my confidence has been down, and I think after today it is back up." In the sprints, Michigan gained confidence with victories from junior. Chanelle Campbell, sopho- more Serita Williams and freshman Amber Hay in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 600-meter run, respectively. The meet closed with the Wolver- ines winning the final event - the 4x400-meter relay. Smith led off and set a fast pace. "It was wonderful," said Ofili of Smith's performance. "She did really well and it was a good race for her. I think we push each other so it was a fun meet, and the team did really well." Watts who had four t 6 victory over Travis ."I thought (Micha job;' Michigan coa said. "That was huge on the right foot." Redshirt junior N Michigan win in th With the score knotte mounted a big singl two points. He allow hung on for a crucial Bonus points prov verines down the stret match, redshirt sopho claimed a four-pointr a 13-5 win. Later in t senior Ryan Churell sively, forcing GopI commit five stalling delays resulted in ad six Michigan points. ines grabbed four bo way to a victory by th The much-anticipa tured 16 ranked wrest top-ranked competito "People got the: tonight," McFarlands BIG TEl Continued from pag The 400-yard free Hannah Smith, Sesk Smith) -, the last re left Michigan wishing Lindsey Smith's com final stretch of the rac onds short, leaving the second-place finish. "We almost camel thing:' Richardson sa five yards longer, weN We may have been th gan State are all seniors, and I'm sure fans at all three schools want to know who exactly will step in. But in the end, those fans probably aren't too concerned, because those schools are used to having success. That's not the case here. Yes, the Wolverines have come a long way this year and the program has made a significant step in the right direc- tion. But as the last five games have shown, there is still a long way to go. These past few years, following Michigan basketball has been just as fun as it has been frustrating. Sure, when we final- ly reach Selection Sunday, it'll feel a little silly to make a big deal about something that, in East Lansing and so many other places, everyone takes for granted. But in Ann Arbor, it will be a big deal. I may mumble to myself, "It's about damn time." But then I'll start counting down the minutes to that first-round game. - Sharad Mattu can be reached at smattu@umich.edu. akedowns in his 9- Friday's win clinched at least a share Lang. of the regular-season Big Ten title for the el Watts) did a great Maize and Blue. And the Wolverines had ch Joe McFarland an opportunity to take sole ownership for us to get started of the crown with a win against Indiana yesterday. Nick Roy added a The Wolverines won eight of 10 e 174-pound class. matches en route to a 31-9 thrashing of d at one apiece, Roy the Hoosiers. Pins from redshirt sopho- e-leg takedown for mores Josh Churella and Eric Tannen- ed a late escape but baum highlighted the meet. 3-2 victory. Wagner rebounded from Friday's ed vital for the Wol- defeat with a 3-2 decision over Dave ch.Inthe 141-pound Herman in his final home match as a more Josh Churella Wolverine. Fellow senior Ryan Churella major decision with continued his dream season with a 5-1 he 165-pound bout, decision to close out the regular season a wrestled aggres- with 22-0 record. her Matt Nagel to Michigan defeated six ranked oppo- violations. Nagel's nents in the Big Ten on its way to a per- disqualification and fect conference season. In all, the Wolver- "The Big Ten Conference is the tough- nus points on their est conference in the, country:' McFar- ie same amount. land said. "For our guys to be able to do ated dual meet fea- this throughout the course of the season lers, including three says a lot about their character." rs. The Wolverines will travel to Bloom- ir money's worth ington for the Big Ten Tournament on said. March 4-5. team there." The Wolverines are third in the Big ,e 1B Ten, but they are shooting for top 10 in the. style relay (Brady, NCAA. With up to nine swimmers par- evics and Lindsey ticipating in the NCAA Championships in lay of the meet - March, Michigan's hopes are high. g for a longer pool. "It has been a tough season in a lot of eback effort in the ways,physically and emotionally,"'Brady e came up .81 sec- said. "I think that in the end, everyone e Wolverines with a really stepped up at Big Tens and per- formed well through everything we've from behind on that had to deal with. We're really focusing aid. "If it had been on doing well at NCAAs this year, and, would have won it. so far, we've got a good group of girls ie best overall relay going." Assistant Gage returns to ! V V old By Daniel Bron Daily Sports Write IOWA CITY not only marked record a Big Ten assistant coach opportunity to r the place wher began her post-pl basketball career Gage worke two years as the torofbasketball o tions for the Haw before joining th coach Cheryl Bu Gage played Missouri State f was a member ley Conference made three NC ances. The four aged 2.7 points, I game for her car Gage spent a sional world of fa joining the Hawk after two years i tion, she wanted ing, and she look that opportunity. "I wanted to g Gage said. "At Io trative position, a nerfert onnortinn stomping ground owich She got along with everybody on our team, spot r and we all just love her. She was like my 12 se best friend who didn't play basketball." onev - Sunday's game at Iowa Smith was not the only person eager broug Michigan's final chance to to see Gage. The entire Iowa community -n road win. It also provided welcomed her back with open arms, and point Shannon Gage with an Gage received and gave numerous hugs first1 evisit and friendly greetings before the game. verin e she "We really miss Shannon," Iowa coach since aying Lisa Bluder said. "She was a great part of other our program. I just never had any worries volle d for $ when she was here because she came in spurt direc- with a maturity level that she could handle is th( ipera- anything that was thrown at her. We really colum keyes miss her. I'm sure she's a great addition to he Wolverine staff under the Michigan staff." rnett this season. Gage is not likely to be content with a for Burnett at Southwest permanent position as an assistant coach. rom 1995 to 1998. Gage But for now, it's the perfect fit for her. of three Missouri Val- "I do eventually want to be a head championship teams and coach;' Gage said. "But I haven't given AA Tournament appear- myself a time limit. I feel like when God -year letter-winner aver- says I'm ready to do that, and I feel like I've .4 assists and .8 steals per learned a lot, then I'll take that next step." eer. SKOUBY-DON'T: Six-foot-six Iowa fresh- brief stint in the profes- man center Megan Skouby wreaked havoc shion merchandise before on the Michigan front line in the teams' eye program in 2003. But first meeting this year. She finished with n an administrative posi- 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting and tallied to move closer to coach- eight rebounds and five blocks. So Burnett zed east to Ann Arbor for and her team entered this game knowing they had to stop the Mentor, Ohio native et on the floor and coach," if they wanted to have a chance to win the )wa, I was in an adminis- game. Freshmen Carly Benson and Steph- and what could be a more any Skrba fronted Skouby - who Bluder ity tc ot into coaching called "the hest freshman in this confer- . in Iowa for the Wolverines came with just econds to play in the game. Six-foot- volleyball player Megan Bowman - ght aboard to help Michigan's depth ailed a 12-foot jumper off a pass from t guard Jessica Minnfield. It was the basket scored this season by a Wol- ne not recruited to the basketball team the injury-plagued squad turned to r sports to help fill out the roster. Other yball players have played for small ts in previous games, but Bowman e first to make a mark in the scoring mn. Students Fly ICheaper spring break, study abroad & more Sample roundtrip Student Airfares from Detroit to: Philadelphia $124 New York $124 San FranciscoX 240 London $212 Mexico City $261 Paris $293 ; . Visit StudentUniver on major airlines to w se.com for cheap student airfares 1,000 destinations across the US -r-"