I
8A - Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Showtime for Borseth Ball'
as ichigan opens season
Third line excels
on ice for Blue
0
By ANTHONY OLIVEIRA
Daily Sports Writer
Ladies and gentlemen, your
attention please.
Borseth Basketball is about to
begin.
As the eighth coach in the 35-
year history of Michigan women's
basketball, Kevin Borseth will lead
the Wolverines into their season
premiere against Akron Saturday
at Crisler Arena.
With its confidence riding
high after last week's exhibition
trouncing of Lake Superior State,
Michigan is looking to win its sea-
son-opener for the second consec-
utive year.
After another week of practice,
the Wolverines should show a bet-
ter grasp of the offense. Borseth
noted the improved ball move-
ment between the Cleveland State
scrimmage and last Saturday's
exhibition. Michigan also looks to
patch up the defense and take more
control of the post.
But much improvement should
come just by being on the court.
"We're not in shape yet," Bors-
eth said Saturday. "Game shape
is different from practice shape.
It's really hard to explain that, but
we're going to get there. I don't
know when, but we're going to get
there. It's going to take some time
to do it."
After an impressive victory of
their own, the Zips arrive in Ann
Arbor looking to ruin the party.
Akron posted a 42-point win Sat-
urday over Division-II Slippery
Rock.
Akron's win featured an 11-min-
ute stretch in which it did not allow
a field goal, dominant paint play
and awful free-throw shooting, all
similar to Michigan's performance
against the Lakers.
And while that shouldn't make
the Wolverines worry, sophomore
Sarah Tokodi should. N.
After averaging 12.6 points as
a freshman, Tokodi was named
to the All Mid-American-Confer-
ence preseason team this year. The
5-foot-10 point guard converted
from the shooting guard position
seamlessly with powerful moves.
on the dribble and quick hands
defensively.
Look for the Zips to play a well-
rounded brand of basketball. In
their victory against Slippery
Rock, five Akron players tallied
double-digit points.
Michigan holds the advantage
in depth and experience. While the
Wolverines added just freshman
Veronica Hicks, the Zips bring
five newcomers to their squad
and return two starters. Akron
also won't have its full bench in
tact since two players must sit out
because of eligibility and NCAA
transfer requirements.
The Maize and Blue should
be relieved that former Zip Niki
McCoy was'one of the departing
starters. Transferring to Bowling
Green after her sophomore season,
the guard-averaged 16.6 points and
6.6 rebounds last season. t
Within their respective confer-
ences, Akron and Michigan hold
similar positions as bottom feed-
ers. The Zips are predicted to finish
last inthe Mid Atlantic Conference
East Division. The media picked
the Wolverines are picked to finish
ninth in the Big Ten.
In 2006-07, both teams went 3-
13 in their respective conference
and ended the season with just 10
wins.
As optimistic as the Wolverines
are about reversing their script in
the Big Ten, they understand it will
be some time until victories start
pouring in.
"We're still learning it right
now," senior Carly Benson said
Saturday. "We're still trying to fig-
ure each other out, trying to read
each other on switches, things like
that."
Even if Michigan is trying to
figure things out, history stands
on its side. The Wolverines have
won their past 12 home-openers.
Michigan holds the edge in the all-
time series over the Zips 2-0, but
the two haven't played each other
since 1989.
It's important for the Wolver-
ines to get the basics down before
it takes its act on the road. After
Saturday's contest, Michigan will
play six road games before return-
ing to Crisler Arena against
Kentucky.
But enough talk. On with the
show.
Last
ey team
restedc
T.J. H,
and KeN
Two
ger don
Leadini
wonder
verine c
And
- whic
posted:
intrasq
tion gan
season's
"We
freshm
his line
weeken
for us sc
to cooti
cent in'
our gat
the mo
team."
Dept
igan la
Hensici
of the
the thi
Brando
- were
By ANDY REID significantly in the point total.
Daily Sports Writer Six freshman forwards have
----- been brought on to solve that
season, the Michigan hock- problem. By design, at least one
's offensive output squarely upperclassman - Porter and Chad
on three sets of shoulders: Kolarik on the first line, Miller
ensick, Andrew Cogliano on the second line and Turnbull
vin Porter. on the third - lends his leader-
-thirds of that trio no Ion- ship and experience to each of the
maize-and-blue sweaters. first three lines, and the rest of the
g into the season, many spots are occupied by freshmen.
ed how effective the Wol- Nowhere has this formula worked
ffense could be. more successfully than Michigan's
when Michigan's third line third line.
h includes iwo freshmen - "We've put a lot of thought
17 points inthe Wolverines' into (the lineups) as to who could
uad scrimmage and exhibi- handle what," Michigan coach
me a monthago, some of this Red Berenson said. "The one thing
s questions were answered. about Turnbull's line is they.had
started off really hot," said some early success (the first week-
an Louie Caporusso of end). They got a little confidence
's performance in the first and got some chemistry going, and
d. "Thathas been really big I think that's helped them out so
o far. We just have been able far this year."
inue it. We all put 110 per- Turnbull, who is complemented
every game. When we're on by Carl Hagelin and Caporusso, is
ne, we're going to be one of a large part of why the Wolverines'
st dangerous lines on our third line has worked so well this
season. His plus-8 ratio leads the
h was a key issue for Mich- team.
st season. Cogliano and The Chesterfield, Mo., native
k were responsible for most worked all summer to improve his
Wolverines' offense, while game for the upcomiig season. He
rd line - Travis Turnbull, woke up at 7 a.m. every morning to
n Naurato and Tim Miller weight train, do drills and go over
n't expected to contribute video to "take out some deficien-
cies" from his game.
"I really didn't do too much
else," Turnbull said of the time
he put in over the summer break.
"I just knew I wanted to get bet-
ter."
As much as Turnbull worked
to get better, he said he isn't the
main reason for his line's per-
e -- the choice formance this season.
- th chiceThe defensive aggression
t the exciting Caporusso and Hagelin add helpf
nities in our keep the; puck in opponents'
zone. The three have already
combined for 18regular-season
points.
velopment Board Michigan fans might com-
mend Berenson for putting
together such a solid third line,
and Careers but with such little practice
tors time with the team before the
Wolverines' first game, Beren-
son admitted luck played a part
Nov 12n in forming of such an effective
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"It's a bit of a guessinggame,"
Berenson said. "We hoped that
Turnbull would give the line
some muscles and some experi-
ence. He's a good skater, so he
should be able to keep up with
Carl with Louie. Although I
don't know if anyone can keep
up with Carl. I think it's a lit-
tle bit of luck. You put players
together, and you watch them
and see how they do. This line
turned out to be a pretty good
line."
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Scientists and the Making of the Iranian Nuclear Prograin
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Moderated by Tom O'Donnell, U-M and New School University
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Thursday, November 8
6:30 p.m.
International Center, Room 9
800.424.8580 www.peacecorps.gov
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