The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 9A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 9A ues ions abound on recruiting trail By DAN FELDMAN Daily Sports Editor The Michigan men's basketball team's inconsisten- cies have caused plenty of problems on the court. But they're making Michigan coach John Beilein's job more difficult off the court, too. Beilein has been traveling the country scouting and recruiting high school players, but has struggled to identify his team's needs for future seasons, because many of his current players haven't established them- selves. The coach, who claimed to be going on recruiting visits every off-day, said he has never done this much in-season recruiting in his 30-year career. Players said the team has adjusted to assistant coaches taking over while Beilein is recruiting. "They don't tell us too much," sophomore Ekpe Udoh said. "They just tell us that they're on the road trying to get good players for us." Beilein can't talk to recruits while on visits, but calls them afterward. He has had difficulty talking to prospects at times because he thought he would know more about this year's team by now. But the uncertain- ty has created what he hopes is an appealing recruit- ing pitch. "I think it's a great opportunity for them to come in and say 'Well, I've got a chance. I've got a 50-50 chance of playing,' as opposed to 'Hey, we've got one scholarship left. Do you want it or not?'" Beilein said. Beilein said he's looking for versatile players, rather than players specialized in a particular skill. Senior small forward Ron Coleman is the only starter who will graduate this year. Earlier in the sea- son, that void seemed like it would be nearly impos- sible to fill. No other Wolverine small forward was playing particularly well. And neither of the two play- ers already committed for next year - shooting guard Stuart Douglass and center Ben Cronin - play the position. But junior forward Jevohn Shepherd stepped up and played well while Coleman was sidelined with a sprained ankle. In particular, Shepherd displayed a strong perimeter game, a staple of Beilein's offense. The arrival of Arizona transfer Laval Lucas-Perry, who sophomore DeShawn Sims called the strongest player on the team, creates the possibility of a three- guard lineup. At other positions, Beilein specifically pointed to the recent emergence of redshirt freshman forward Anthony Wright and freshman point guard Kelvin Grady as two developments leading him to rethink his team's needs. The Wolverines have three scholarships available for next year. If they use two on Douglass and Cro- nin, two would available for the following year. Shep- See BASKETBALL, Page 10A RODRIGO GAYA/Daily After losing third-period leads in three of its last four games, the Michigan hockey team knows it must refocus mentally in the final 20 minutes if it hopes to stay atop the CCHA standings. ice-cold in third period By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK Daily Sports Editor For the past two weeks, the Michi- gan hockey team has played like the third period doesn't matter. The problem is, it's probably cost the Wolverines three points in the CCHA standings. In their last four games, against Miami (Ohio) last weekend and North- ern Michigan the previous week, Michigan is 1-0-3. But the Wolverines led in the third period of all four games before being outscored by 6-2 in the third period of all three games and set- tling for three ties. Michigan's third-period struggles were highlighted against Miami last Friday, when the Wolverines were held without a shot for the first 16 minutes. In that span, the RedHawks - who were losing 4-0 coming into the period - outshot Michigan 11-0 and scored twice. The Wolverines were too busy col- lecting penalties to put together plays. Michigan had eight penalties for a total of 35 penalty minutes in the period (including a 10-minute and a game mis- conduct). After coming in with a four- goal deficit, the RedHawks were well on their way to a comeback. "Is that mental fatigue? Is that physi- cal fatigue? I can't put my finger on it," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "But you can't be giving up two-goal leads ... your goals are too precious. We've got to be a better team in the third period." Despite Berenson's uncertain- trouble covering men in the defensive ty, freshman defenseman Tristin zone. And it can't help that the Wolver- Llewellyn had a definite answer. He ines have been trying offensive plays said mental lapses, not a lack of condi- they probably wouldn't when the game tioning, caused Michigan's deteriora- is close. tion in the third period. But their experiments have led to Defenseman Scooter Vaughan called dramatic momentum shifts. his team's recent performance in the Though the Wolverines threatened third period "lackadaisical." After hav- to collapse against Miami in both ing late leads against Miami in both third periods, their third-period woes games last weekend, complacency set were most shocking against North- in - and that's when the former No. 1 ern Michigan. In October, Michigan team capitalized. defeated Northern Michigan twice "It feels a lot more laid back," in Marquette. But on the Wolverines' Llewellyn said. "Yeah, there's a sense home ice, sandwiched between high- of urgency, but it's almost like our play- profile series against Michigan State ers have a switch. A lot of times, they and Miami, the Northern games were just turn it off when we get that big of expected to give the Wolverines a rela- a lead." tively easy four points. Llewellyn said Michigan has had See HOCKEY, Page 10A Borseth's intensity fires up team Freshman steps it up in surprise first meet By JASON KOHLER Daily Sports Writer Imagine a nicer, but not tamer, ver- sion of legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, and you might begin to under- stand Michigan coach Kevin Borseth. The first-year Michigan coach has brought excitement back to the women's basketball program, not just because the Wolverines are enjoying their first win- ning season in six years, but also because of Borseth's intense sideline antics. Borseth can be found on the Michigan bench breaking clipboards, jumping up and down or barking commands to his players. Against Indiana Jan. 24, Borseth fell to the floor and pretended to have passed out in reaction to an official's call. "I sell the farm on every possession," Borseth said. "Sometimes I see a call I don't like and I'm animated about that." But when the officials make a call against the Wolverines (6-6 Big Ten, 13- 9 overall), don't expect Borseth to throw his chair across the floor. Instead, he just turns around and argues the call with a helpless person in the stands. "They won't let me talk to the referee," Borseth said. "I have to talk to someone. They're watching the same thing I'm watching." But Borseth isn't one to dwell on the past. He quickly turns back to the action and encourages his players on the court. "I coach play-to-play," Borseth said. "You just can't really rest on the fact you just made a basket and you can't sulk on the fact you just gave one up." Sometimes, Borseth's frustration with a play turns into anger. He said he thinks his temper could negatively impact his team. But his players, past and present, don't see it that way. In fact, Borseth's former players miss the coach's tantrums. Rachel Porath, See BORSETH, Page 10A Michigan coach Kevin Borseth has been animated throughout his first season on the Michigan bench. Hard-working Hyrne follows sister's success By COLT ROSENSWEIG Daily Sports Writer At blind volleyball, a favorite offseason pastime ofthe Michigan men's gymnastics team, freshman Ian Makowske is always in great demand. The gymnasts, avid fans of the women's volleyball team, play the game many days after practice during fall and summer. They use tall blue panel mats between the teams instead of a net, making it impossible to see the other team - or defend against sneak attacks. Makowske is consistently one of the first players picked, and will be one of the starters when the gymnasts challenge the volleyball. team to a contest of the blind vari- ety after their season ends. "He's one of our key players in blind volleyball," junior Jamie Thompson said. "Everybody fights over Ian. He's got this kick- ass serve and he's a good spiker." Until Feb. 2, that was Makowske's only spot in a start- ing lineup. But against Iowa, he finally got the chance to compete as agymnast. His father made last-minute travel plans, catching a 3 a.m. flight to watch his son's collegiate debut that afternoon in Iowa City. At first, itdidn't seemas though the trip would have a happy end- ing. Makowske came off the pom- mel horse during his first set - a mistake that might have sent him into a tailspin one year ago. But not this year. The freshman rebounded immediately, posting Michigan's second-highest floor score and one of its few hits during a mostly dismal high-bar rotation. "Just the collegiate debut alone was great, but having my dad there too made it even better," Makowske said. "It was really great to be able to show him what I'm doing with all the help he's given me." For Makowske, Michigan was destiny. His grandfather, Paul DeMar- rais, graduated from Michigan in 1956. His parents met as students at the University in the early eight- ies. His uncle, Quinn DeMarrais, played on the Michigan baseball team and graduated in 2000. In fact, most of his extended family still MAKOWSKE bleeds maize and blue. "Theysaid I could go to 7 any school I wanted," Makowske said. "Aslong HOMETOWN: as it was in Redding, Conn. Ann Arbor." SKILLS:Blind Makowske dreamt of Volleyball competing EVENTS: Floor. for Michi- gan for most High bar of his life. A Pommel Horse poster of the 1999 nation- al champion men's gymnastics team still hangs in his bedroom at home in Redding, Conn. When he received his letter of acceptance, Makowske ripped up the rest of his half-finished applications. So when Makowske faced the prospect of redshirting his first year,he balked.Thoughhis coach- es told him he'd realistically only compete in one or two meets in his freshman season, Makowske knew it was crucial to keep alive the possibility of making the line- up. Without that motivation, he wasn't sure if his improvements would continue. "If that possibility wasn't there I don't know if I would have the same work ethic," Makowske said. The Iowa meet was the shot he'd been waiting for, and he didn't waste it. Success didn't just fall into Makowske's lap, though. Behind that debut were six months of improvinghis skills, difficulty and See MAKOWSKE, Page 10A Junior captain leads team by example as she piles up goals By RYAN KARTJE For the Daily It's hard these days to find an athlete who leads by example. One who produces results in the pool, letting actions speak louder than words. One hundred and twenty-seven goals in three years speak vol- umes for junior women's water polo captain Julie Hyrne who was, described by her teammates as "the quiet leader." "It's her work ethic in practice and matches that inspires us," junior captain Mary Chatigny said. "She leads by example." Michigan coach Matt Anderson saw Hyrne play as a 13-year old in Sunnyvale, Calif., and was blown away. "I knew right then H she would be HYRNE playing for mesomeday," Anderson said. "And when I came to coach at Michigan, HOMETOWN: I knew she would be a Sunnyvale, Calif. Wolverine." MAJOR: Hyrne Political Science didn't expect a future in POSITION: water polo Center until she saw her sister's own success earn her a scholarship at perennial powerhouse San Jose State. Hyrne began swimming at a young age and continued to swim competitively through high school, earning an All-American honor in the 200-yard freestyle relay. But it was her family's love for water polo that put the ball in her hands, and it didn't take long for Hyrne to find her true calling. Hyrne leads the 14th-ranked Wolverines with seven goals this season, and was recently named CWPA Player of the Week for the third time in two years. Last sea- son, she was named to the CWPA All-Western Division first team. Despite the high honors, Hyrne remains quite modest about her skills. "I still need to progress," Hyrne said shyly when asked about her multiple awards. Hyrne continues to quietly climb through the ranks of great water polo players at Michigan and is currently the fifth highest goal-scorer in school history.Just 19 goals stand between her and second place, a feat she should eas- ily accomplish this season. Two- time All-American and Hyrne's former teammate Shana Welch is first with 247 goals. Hyrne may be quiet, but it's no secret she loves to score. Last year againstUC-San Diego, she notched 10 points, the highest single-game total in program his- tory. "She can affect the game in so many ways," Anderson said. "She just sees the ball, and she wants it." It's the effect Hyrne's pres- ence has on her teammates that prompted Anderson to give her captain status this year. "Maybe she's not the most out- spoken leader, but she leads by integrity," Anderson said. "She makes everyone around her bet- ter."