Friday March 17, 2006 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily. com ilJe £ridiga&ttDtilg PORTCS 0 8 . . .W....g.i..nice, 0 MICHIGAN 82, Throwdown! Blue defeats the Miners Winning is nice, but it's way too late By Scott Bell Daily Sports Editor With its opponent sporting throw- back uniforms, the Michigan men's basketball team decided to do a little throwback of its own. Last night against UTEP, the Wolver- ines extended their season thanks to a return to the inspired play that propelled them to a 16-3 record to start the season. Balanced scoring and an assist-to-turn- over ratio near two helped Michigan cruise to an 82-67 victory against the Miners in the first-round NIT game. "I was very pleased and happy for our kids because they showed a lot of character (last night)," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "I think so many people were asking, predicting and wondering whether or not they were even going to have some spirit or life to play ... I think our kids deserve a lot of credit (for showing up last night)." The Wolverines will next face Notre Dame in the third round of the NIT. They defeated the Fighting Irish 71-67 at South Bend earlier in the season. Two games after the backcourt trio of Daniel Horton, Dion Harris and Jer- ret Smith combined for one assist and 13 turnovers against Indiana, the group made a complete 180-degree turn. They dished out 20 assists compared to just three turnovers. In all, Michigan tallied 23 assists against 13 turnovers. "I thought our kids shared the basket- ball very well, and we certainly tried to take care of it," Amaker said. "I thought that, for us, that was the difference tonight." Said senior Chris Hunter: "That's something we wanted to emphasize, just sharing the ball. I think we're a much better team when we share the ball and just look for an open shot." The 3-point shooting that was non- existent during the majority of Mich- igan's late-season losing streak also reappeared in the Wolverines' return to Crisler Arena. Four Wolverines scored in double figures, thanks in large part to their shooting from beyond the arc. Harris made four treys, and Horton and Hunter made three and two, respectively. All three scored in double figures. Hunt- er led the team with 20 points. What was the inspiration for this turn- around? The media and many fans - as evident by a season-low 4,400 figure - thought that this team had packed it in for the year. But the Wolverines wanted to extend their season, especially for the seniors. "Coach was really on us about that, just going out and giving it all you have for the seniors, and we did that (last night)," Harris said. With nearly a week off following its four-point loss to Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament that ended up bursting its NCAA Tourna- ment bubble, Michigan had a lot of time to worry about the basics at practice. "As soon as practice started, the inten- sity really picked up," Harris said. Said junior Courtney Sims: "We want- ed to basically emphasize energy because a lot of people in our situation who didn't make the (NCAA) Tournament would normally put their heads down, but we are looking past that. We're not even thinking about the (NCAA) Tournament anymore, and we're trying to make the best out of this opportunity." Apparently seizing this opportunity included returning to the swagger that became synonymous with the team dur- ing its solid start to the season. The team that looked tight and tenta- tive in games past finally disappeared. A much looser team came out of the tunnel As I sat in press row watching the seconds tick away in another Michigan victory, only one thought came to mind: Where was this kind of effort the last three games? Five weeks ago, the Wolverines were sitting pretty. They had just defeated then- No. 8 Illinois and seemed like a lock to make the Tournament. Then Michigan decided to mail in the next three games. The Wolverines blew a chance to knock off Ohio State in Colum- bus, lost by one to Indiana to end the regular season and then forgot to play the second half against Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.j Ask anyone affiliated with the team about the apparent lack of effort, and they'll tell you that the The' intensity was there. Unfortunate- ly, the outcome doesn't mirror their belief. After Michigan rightfully received the snub from the NCAA Tournament last Sunday, nobody thought that this team would show up last night against UTEP. But this Wolverine team likes to surprise. Michigan came out with the defensive intensity necessary to pull out a victory. The Miners committed 19 turnovers, mainly due to the Wolverines' pressure. Michigan got the ball toto the post play- ers early in the game, which opened up the perimeter to the tune of 1l-for-21 shooting from behind the arc. The Wolverines cut down on turnovers and took care of the ball. Daniel Horton had nine assists next to just one turnover, and Jerret Smith dished out six without turning the ball over once. Unfortunately, this complete effort came a little too late. Because instead of playing on a court in San Diego, Greens- boro, N.C., or Salt Lake City in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Wol- verines played in front of a sparse Crisler Arena crowd. If Bill Martin had decided to remove the upper bowl of Crisler before the game, the arena would have looked half full. That's probably because no one wants to see this team in the NIT. For many Wol- verine fans, a Michigan NIT run would be like a nightmare that just won't end. Every game the Wolverines advance in the NIT KE S would just reinforce the incomprehensible late-season collapse. Michigan picked up the extra win it needed to make the NCAA Tournament. Only it came a week too late. Had Michi- gan showed the effort and desire displayed last night against Minnesota or Indiana, the Wolverines wouldn't need to keep answering questions about what they have to do in these upcoming NIT games. Sure, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker and his Wolverines have continu- ally stressed that they're focused on the NIT and want to win it. He had hoped that his players EVIIN would show the heart to RIGHT come out and end the sea- 'xth Man son on a high note. But, what does an NIT title do for this program? Absolutely nothing. Hanging an NIT championship ban- ner in the Crisler Arena rafters next year would just add insult to injury. This team came so close to making the NCAA Tournament, and they know it. Now, an NIT championship wouldn't come close to compensating for that empty feeling the players had when the field of 65 was announced, and they weren't included. Even if the players don't feel that way, the 4,400 fans at the game proved that. Talk circled around campus to boycott the NIT and not buy tickets. Michigan fans don't want to see another NIT banner alongside the 1989 NCAA National Championship, 1986 Big Ten Championship and the Final Four banners. With a little more than a minute left in the game, a chant started in the Maize Rage. Some students shouted "season's over" to the UTEP team. But that phrase could just as easily be turned around to the Wolverines. For all intents and purposes, Michigan had its chance to continue its season in the NCAA Tournament, but it failed. Now, the Wolverines are playing in their second NIT in the last three years. As far as I'm concerned the season's over. - Wright can be reached at kpwr@umich.edu 4 t EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAM IAN/ Daily Brent Petway slams one of his electrifying dunks during last night's game. I for its return to the NIT, and junior Brent Petway became the biggest benefactor of the team's revived swagger. The forward went 4-for-4 on the night and added two free throws to be the fourth Wolverine in double figures. All four of his field goals were the result of him being on the receiving end of alley-oops. "It might be the most alley-oops I've had (in one game) here at Michigan," Petway said. "It was fun; they were look- ing for me tonight." 1 CONGRATULATIONS! I The following students will be among those recognized during the Honors Convocation program on Sunday, March 19, 2006. These individuals have demonstrated the highest level of undergraduate academic success by achieving seven or more consecutive terms of all A's and earning the designation of Angell Scholar. The University of Michigan congratulates these students on their superior scholastic achievement and wishes them continued success. TWELVE TERMANGELL SCHOLAR Mark David Buckles* School of Music TEN TERM ANGELL SCHOLAR Bishr A. Al-Dabagh* College ofArts and Sciences-- UM Flint EIGHT TERM ANGELL SCHOLARS Ola A. Al-Dabagh Aviva Rachel Morady* Erik Wright Schomburg * Susan Yiwen Wang* School of Education and Human Services-UM Flint College of Literature, Science, and the Arts College of Engineering School of Music Ariez Manek Dustoor* Daniel B. Edelman* Allison Mileo Gorsuch Carrie Marie Guernsey Kendal Elizabeth Harlan Julie Ellyn Heringhausen* Lauren Renae Hirt. Manda Emeline Lai Diana Beth Lawrence* Jun Li Julia Christine Malette Michael Sean McDonald Kristen Michelle Pelachyk* Jeffrey David Roslund* Courtney Hanson Rowley Robert Morton Schabinger* College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Stephen M Ross School of Business College of Literature, Science, and the Arts School of Dentistry College of Literature, Science, and the Arts School of Nursing College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Stephen M. Ross School of Business School of Music College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters-- UM Dearborn College of Literature, Science, and the Arts College of Engineering College of Literature, Science, and the Arts College of Engineering School of Music College of Literature, Science, and the Arts SEVEN TERM ANGELL SCHOLARS Kathleen Amanda Bowerman School of Music I I I