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 T H E RIG I N A L 512 E. 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Please registe lsllp:IlwwsF.con tst an -r'sa' nomm.com/L About Contact Singapore Contact Singapore promotes living and work up for our mailing list and visit us at www.cot 1013 4.3Opot tronics, Precision and nore than a quarter of hing the frontiers of rtunities ranging from nagetnent, regional and nent. Attend our event r at DBindex.huml ing in Singapore. Sign ntattctinalxort~r.sg trio. "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." Offer Expires: 11/30/2007 ____i| Only available through the Computer Showcase RAZY 8 SALE http://shwcase.itcs.umich.edu 0 4 Sale ends November 21, 2007 Global and Regional Dimensions of ran's Nuclear Progan A panel discussion featuring: Dissent and Conformifyin Ian's Nuclear Policy Making Process Dr. Farideh Farhi, University of Hawaii-Manoa Ironies and Cross Pressures in US Nuclear Policy Toward Iran Dr. Frederic S. Pearson, Wayne State University Scientists and the Making of the Iranian Nuclear Prograin Dr. Kai-Henrik Barth, Georgetown University Moderated by Tom O'Donnell, U-M and New School University Sunday, November 11', 4:00 pm Rackhan Amphitheatre, 915 East University A Parthofdte Cha Face ofranian Society Series Center for Middle Eastern and North Afrcan Studies'**www.ii. uich.eda/cnenas/ I Information Meeting Thursday, November 8 6:30 p.m. International Center, Room 9 800.424.8580 www.peacecorps.gov I