The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
October 29, 2007 - 3B
Beilein among
three new faces
Wide-open race
for Big Ten title
By IAN ROBINSON
Daily Sports Writer
CHICAGO - The three new
men's basketball coaches in the Big
Ten have each led teams to at least
the Sweet 16.
But, in their new positions, they
have something else in common:
They are all trying to install a
new coaching system with limited
practice time.
Michigan coach John Beilein,
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter and
Minnesota coach
Tubby Smith NOTEBOOK
were all hired
this spring. But because of NCAA
rules that restrict summer prac-
tices, they have had just two full
weeks to work with their players.
At Big Ten Media Day yesterday,
Beilein's players said they have
been working on fundamentals
and having some trouble making
the reads required to succeed in
the timing-based offense.
"It's not everybody, but there are
a lot of people who aren't picking
up on the system as well as others,"
senior Ron Coleman said. "But it's
a lot of little things, the things we
can correct at practice. ... Every-
body's still learning, though."
Whereas Beilein is starting on
the offensive side of the court,
Lickliter is starting with defense.
At Butler, Lickliter coached teams
known for their gritty, defense-
first style.
He has already started instilling
that philosophy in Iowa City.
"We'd really like to have an
identity of a team that competes
on the defensive end with urgency
and purpose," Lickliter said. "I
don't think you can do that if you
don't emphasize it."
In addition to the limited
practice time, the unfamiliarity
between coach and player has had
an effect. The players on these ros-
ters were recruited by the previous
coaches, meaning that the current
teams had to buy into the new sys-
tems.
"That's why our freshmen, I see
them pick up things quicker than
our veteran players," Smith said.
But with fewer than two weeks
until the season starts, the new
Big Ten players and coaches must
make strides for their teams to be
successful.
"It's a lot to learn, but, every day,
we learn something," Iowa senior
guard Justin Johnson said of prac-
tices.
That sentiment rings true in
Ann Arbor and Minneapolis, too.
A LITTLE DECORUM, PLEASE:
For years, NCAA rules have said
coaches should be penalized for
conduct that detracts from the
game.
This year, the NCAA will make a
point to enforce this rule.
The NCAA is encouraging offi-
cials to issue technical fouls for
coaches leaving the coaching box
or displaying excessive antics.
But some Big Ten coaches
oppose this enforcement.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
says good referees know how to
control a game anyway.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said
that the rule would force him to
control his emotions. He joked
that some coaches might need to
use medication before games to
keep calm.
The referees will have an incen-
tive to keep the coaches cool.
"The Tournament committee
has made it clear that officials who
do take good care of the benches,
coaches' behavior, coaches stay-
ing in the box are going to have a
better chance of being selected for
the Tournament and advancing in
the Tournament," said Rich Falk,
coordinator of men's basketball
officials.
He said responsibility for
enforcement of this rule started as
a joint effort between university
administration, conference com-
missioner and basketball coaches.
EIGHTEEN IS THE NEW 16: If
Michigan's Big Ten schedule looks
larger this year than the last few
years, that's because it is.
The Big Ten expanded its con-
ference schedule from 16 to 18
games.
Big Ten Commissioner Jim
Delany said fans of Big Ten schools
would be more interested in seeing
two more conference games than
By ANTHONY OLIVEIRA
Daily Sports Writer
CHICAGO - Even though the
season has yet to begin, the Big
Ten already shapes up like some-
thing that precedes most card
games: a shuffle.
With Ohio State and Purdue
replacing last year's talent and
four new coaches in the confer-
ence, multiple teams believe they
have a stake on this season's con-
ference championship.
"The competition is extremely
competitive, and it's up for grabs
this year," new Illinois coach
Jolette Law said. "You've got
so many different changes, you
don't know what to expect."
Law and Michigan coach Kevin
Borseth have each acquired a full
slate of returning starters. But
unlike the FightingIllini, the Wol-
verines finished lOth inthe confer-
ence compared to Illinois's fourth.
With that in mind, Borseth knows
he has a ways to go.
"Based on the hand that's been
dealt, from an outsiders' stand-
point, Michigan is probably the
team (that will have the toughest
time with a new coach) because
they haven't done anything,"
Borseth said. "But that doesn't
mean anything. Yesterday is
gone."
To Borseth, yesterday has gone
much faster than normal, imple-
menting a new philosophy and
system in just the past week. But
with an experienced coaching
staff, the Wolverines aren't losing
any ground.
Michigan's main focus has
been on offense. Coming from
a Wisconsin-Green Bay team
that boasted one of the top-three
assist-to-turnover ratios in the
nation, Borseth makes taking care
of the ball a priority for his squads.
A few days ago, Borseth pitted five
of the most suspect ball-handlers
against a press defense.
But the problem is also putting
it up. Michigan seeks to overcome
last year's dismal .364 shooting
percentage. As much as Borseth
has been teaching plays to his
team, he said skill is essential.
"You can lead the horse to the
water, but you can't make him
drink," Borseth said. "When you
get to the end of it, you have to
make the shot. I believe we'll be
able to make the end, the question
is whether we'll make shots."
The focus on offense has led to
several holes on defense. With a
closed scrimmage against Cleve-
land State and an exhibition
against Borseth's alma mater, Lake
Superior State, looming, Michigan
looks to close those gaps as fast as
it can.
But the holes may shut faster
than one might expect from a new
coach. Ohio State coach JimFoster
said former Michigan coach Cher-
yl Burnett leftthe Wolverines with
a good defensive presence. With a
newfound offense, Foster said the
Wolverines willbe agood team.
Not only can Michigan be agood
team, but it can also gain a greater
understanding of the game. Part
of Borseth's philosophy isn't about
just passing the ball, but learning
why you do it.
"He gives you a reason," senior
Ta'Shia Walker said. "He'll say,
'Swing it,' and ask, 'Why swing it?'
And we'll be like, 'I don't know."'
Added senior Krista Clement:
"It's a lot of learning about the
game of basketball. In college,
the defense is better, the people
are bigger and you need to play
smarter."
Borseth's brand of basketball
also includes letting his players
play at their abilities. Borseth has
no doubt the Wolverines will be
the most improved team of the Big
Ten.
"It may not reflect in wins and
losses, but all I know is that we're
going to improve," Borseth said.
"It's like your golf game. If you're
golfing 60, it's easy to get to 50.
But try and get to the 49, 48, 47
- that's when you start honing.
We're going to get from 60 to 50.
That's goingto come in a hurry."
And with Big Ten coaches
referring to Michigan's solid core,
new system and new confidence,
there's no reasonthey can't.
RODRIGO GAYA/Dail,
Coach John Beilein is one of three first-year Big Ten coaches who have had limited
practice time with their tearns because of new NCA A rules.
two nonconference games.
"The cost of nonconference
games is getting higher, and I
think the interest for the local fan
bases is lesser," Delany said.
But, some have complained
that more conference games could
lead to fewer NCAA Tournament
bids for the conference. Delany
dismissed this notion, saying the
long-term effects couldn't yet be
predicted.
Ryan doesn't think 18 is enough.
If it were up to him, he would like
to see a conference schedule where
each teams played every other
team twice.
"I want as many games against
Big Ten schools as we can play,"
Ryan said. "Scheduling noncon-
ference games are so tough. I have
an assistant coach that's aged 20
years in the last five years just
scheduling."
The Big Ten season had 18
games until the Big Ten Tourna-
ment started in 1998.
PRESEASON PICK 'EM: The Big
Ten released its preseason picks
and all-conference teams.
Wolverines were nowhere to be
found.
The media picked the Michigan
State to win the conference, fol-
lowed by Indiana and defending
champion Ohio State.
Michigan State point guard
Drew Neitzel was named pre-
season player of the year.
Penn State guard Geary Clax-
ton, Ohio State guard Jamar But-
ler, Indiana forward D.J. White
and Illinois center Shaun Pruitt
joined Neitzel on the preseason
all-conference team decided by
the media.
TERRIERS
From page lB
"(Friday) they kind of took it
to us off the bat and caught us off
guard," junior defenseman Mark
Mitera said. "(Saturday) we knew
they were going to come out even
harder, and we knew we had to
match that."
Young Wolverines contributed
all night, with four first-year for-
wards lighting the lamp.
Freshman Max Pacioretty
scored Michigan's second goal
with a wrister from the slot on
the power play.
Minutes later, Pacioretty
showed the other side of his
power-forward skill set and ener-
gized fans by laying out freshman
Terrier defenseman Kevin Shat-
tenkirk in the offensive zone.
As they did Friday night, the
Wolverines responded quickly
to Boston University's first goal
in the second period. Freshman
Carl Hagelin received a long
tape-to-tape pass from Mark
Mitera, snuck in behind the
Terrier defense and calmly beat
BIG TENS
From page 1B
In addition to a younger team,
Michigan has been without
senior Alyson Kohlmeier, who
has been redshirted this season
because of injury.
"Alyson is sorely missed
everyday," Webster said. "She's
a rare talent, and the team
could have really used her at Big
Tens and throughout the whole
year."
Michigan will attempt to
bounce back on Nov. 10 at the
NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
If Michigan fails to qualify
for Nationals, it will be the first
time since 2001 it won't compete
for a National Championship.
"This doesn't mean that
Michigan isn't a strong team
and a strong program," Web-
ster said. "We just weren't able
to achieve that goal of a sixth
championship."
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Gillespie for a power-play goal.
It was the third goal of Hagelin's
six-game Michigan career.
The speedy Hagelin earned a
well-deserved assist on Michi-
gan's fourth goal. After driving
the puck deep into the offen-
sive zone, the freshman got just
enough on a tip toward his class-
mate Kevin Quick at the point.
Quick's slapshot deflected off Gil-
lespie into theair where a third
freshman, Louie Caporusso,
knocked it into the net.
The goal was just another of
many examples of the hard work
both the team and its fans have
come to expect this season.
On a night when they did
almost everything right, the only
thing the Wolverines couldn't do
for the home crowd was answer
its "Let's go Rockies" cheer.
"We didn'thave a chance," Bos-
ton University coach Jack Parker
said. "They were in our zone all
night, They were storming us.
They got the puck and got it out
so fast, we never got near them. It
was like two different speeds."
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