8A - Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam
INDIANA 78, MICHIGAN 64
Sophomore DeShawn Sims was one of the bright spots in last night's loss to Indiana. He scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Wolverine duo shoulders load
Cold touch
continues
in'M'loss
By DAN FELDMAN
Daily Sports Writer
Slow doesn't even begin to describe Michigan's
Big Ten start - both in the standings and within
games.
The Wolverines moved to 0-3 in conference play
after last night's 78-64 home loss to No. 10 Indiana.
It's Michigan's slowest Big
Ten start since it lost its INDIANA 78
first four conference games MICHIGAN 64
in the 1990-91 season.
Like in its other two league games, the Wolverines
had a lengthy field-goal drought in the first half.
Last night it was 9:07.
At Purdue: 9:37.
And at Wisconsin: 6:57.
"I'm not sure," Michigan coach John Beilein
said. "Probably may have been the lineup that we
have in there, the chemistry that we have in there,
that something's happening. I've got to continue
to experiment. But I can't put my finger on it right
now."
It's understandable Beilein has trouble solving the
Wolverines' miscues, In those spans, they've missed
easy shots, forced tough shots, turned the ball over
and generally taken themselves out of rhythm.
After nine minutes without a field goal last night,
the Wolverines scored 18 points in the first half's
final six minutes, including a half-courtbank shot by
DeShawn Sims at the buzzer. Still, Michigan trailed
by six.
"It can get discouraging at times," said freshman
guard Manny Harris, who led the Wolverines with
19 points. "Sometimes whenthings aren't going your
way, people get frustrated. It's something you've got
to learn - keep your confidence no matter what hap-
pens."
Like in their other two conference games, the
Wolverines never led after their cold streak. Indi-
ana (2-0 Big Ten, 13-1 overall) went on a 22-5 run
heading into the second media timeout of the second
half. With the score 61-39, the game was clearly out
of reach.
Michigan couldn't contain the Hoosiers' danger-
ous duo of D.J. White and Eric Gordon. White had 21
points and 22 rebounds while Gordon, the Big Ten's
leading scorer, had 23 points despite playing just 28
minutes because of foul trouble.
Michigan (0-3, 4-11) has its worst record through
15 games since 1981-82, when they were 2-13.
"It starts with practice," freshman guard Kelvin
Grady said. "If our guys aren't going hard all prac-
tice, our guys aren't busting their butts all practice,
giving it their all to the point we're going to fall out
walking out of the gym, we're not going to be able
to win.
6
6
By MARK GIANNOTTO
Daily Sports Writer
When sophomore
DeShawn Sims and freshman
Manny Harris first arrived
on campus, both were con-
sidered the prize pieces of
their respec-
tive recruit- NOTEBOOK
ing classes.
By donning the maize and
blue, they became a beacon
of hope in ending the Michi-
gan men's basketball team's
nine-year NCAA Tourna-
ment drought.
The duo hasn't saved the
program just yet - the Wol-
verines are off to their worst
start since 1981-82 - but
Sims and Harris have shown
more than a few glimpses of
achievingthe potential that
made both highly-sought
after out of high school.
Against Indiana last night,
Sims and Harris were at
it again, combining for 35
points in the Wolverines' 78-
64 loss.
Through 15 games, the
pair has accounted for more
than 46 percent of the team's
total points.
Harris is the team's lead-
ing scorer, averaging 16.5
points per contest, and Sims
is right behind with almost
14 per game.
Their play has not gone
unnoticed by Michigan
coach John Beilein. With
a young squad struggling
mightily to make baskets, he
is adjusting his offense to fit
the two talents he inherited.
"We're trying to push the
buttons to get them open
as much as we can," Beilein
said.
Both have produced offen-
sively, thanks to a wide array
of skills.
Harris has shown he can
consistently drive to the bas-
ket and draw fouls. His drib-
ble drive is hard to contain
because opponents must also
respect his mid-range and 3-
point shooting abilities.
Sims is adjusting well to
his new perimeter role after
battling in the paint much
of his freshman campaign.
Although he didn't make a
single 3-pointer last year, the
Detroit native has emerged
as one of Michigan's best
threats from the outside and
leads the team with 21 tri-
fectas.
That doesn't mean he's
abandoned his post moves,
though.
The multi-talented Sims
can still score on the interior,
and a smooth mid-range
jump shot rounds out his
game well.
"There's some other
things that I have to work
on, but I feel I can always
score.," Sims said.
But with so many points
and so few victories this
season, both Harris and Sims
realize their stats may have
to suffer for the Wolver-
ines to eventually succeed.
The Hoosiers are a perfect
example of a team with two
stars complemented by those
around them. .
Senior All-American D.J.
White and freshman sensa-
tion Eric Gordon combined
for 44 points last night. But
unlike Michigan, they got
help from guards Jordan
Crawford and Jamarcus
Ellis, who had 11 and seven
points, respectively.
"If it takes me cutting
down some points with
extra passes, and everybody
knocking their shots down,
I'll do it," Harris said. "I just
want to win."
COLEMAN INJURED: For a
team that's already been rav-
aged by suspensions, defec-
tions and dismissals, the last
thing Michigan needed was
an in injury.
But with 16:55 remaining
in the second half, senior
Ron Coleman dropped to
the floor in pain, with what
Beilein described afterwards
as a "low ankle sprain."
The Romulus native did
not return and his status is
uncertain for Saturday's con-
test at Northwestern.
"Although he hasn't shot
the ball great, (Coleman) has
been a staple influence out
there as far as leadership,"
Beilein said. "We'll miss that,
but we'll just adjust."
If Coleman is unavailable
Saturday, Beilein indicated
the team would switch to a
three-guard starting lineup,
making freshman Kelvin
Grady the likely candidate to
fill that role.
PAINT PUNISHMENT:
The Wolverines' woes on
the interior continued last
night. White dominated with
a career-high 22 rebounds,
helping to give the Hoosiers
a 51-33 advantage on the
glass.
Many of those rebounds
led to Indiana's 34 points
in the paint. Michigan had
just 16.
9
Exhibition gives glimpse
of future Wolverines
MAX COLLINS/Daily
Freshman Bryan Hogan rejected all 14 shots he faced in two periods before fellow
freshman Shawn Hunwick replaced him in the third period.
By ANDY REID With less than five minutes to
Daily Sports Writer go and the game all but wrapped
up, Czarnik took a pass from
What the game lacked in ten- Wohlberg and snuck it past fresh-
sion, it more than made up for in man third-string goalie Shawn
exciting prospects. Hunwick to tally the team's only
In front of a less-than-exu- goal of the contest.
berant Michigan coach Red Berenson
Yost Ice MICHIGAN 5 said after the game that he paid
Arena USNTDP 1 little attentionto the two soon-to-
crowd, be Wolverines during the game.
the freshman-led Michigan hock- But he said he would break down
ey team coasted to a 5-1 victory their performances on film.
over the United States National "I was really excited," Cznarik
Team Development Program last said about scoring against his
night. future team. "We still lost, but I
Michigan freshmen dominated guess it's all right."
the scoring. Senior Chad Kolarik said the
Two freshmen goalies turned two players used the opportunity
in a stout performance. to trash talk some'of their future
And, perhaps most intriguing, teammates.
two future Wolverines account- "Some of the guys in the lock-
ed for two thirds of USNTDP's er room were talking about how
points. (Czarnik and Wohlberg) were
Forwards Robbie Czarnik and chirping, giving them a hard
David Wohlberg - who skate on time," Kolarik said. "They both
the same line for the USNTDP played well. Czarnik had a nice
- have already committed to goal. Good for him, and I'm sure
Michigan. it was pretty exciting."
Freshmen accounted for eight
Michigan points, more than half
of the team's final point total.
Freshmen forwards Ben Winnett
and Max Pacioretty each tallied
a goal. Sophomores Brian Lebler
and Anthony Ciraulo added to the
scoring with a goal and an assist
each.
"It was good to get back into a
game," Berenson said about the
team's return from the Winter
Break hiatus. "Get some players
more ice time."
Michigan's puck movement
was outstanding through most of
the night. The increased passing
paid off, as every Michigan goal
had two assists attached.
Freshmen played a large role
in this fluid offensive rotation,
recording the majority of Michi-
gan's assists.
Forward Louie Caporusso -
who played in just his third game
since sitting out six weeks with a
damaged medial collateral liga-
ment - added two assists.
The scoreboard wasn't the only
place Michigan's youth shone
through, either. In the net, fresh-
men Bryan Hogan and Shawn
Hunwick manned the Wolverine
net and turned in a solid outing.
Hogan was a veritable wall
through the first two periods,
deflecting every single USNTDP
shot that came his way. In relief of
usual starter Billy Sauer, Hogan
made 14 total saves and furthered
his case as a legitimate backup to
Sauer.
Hunwick was also impressive
in his maize and blue debut, sav-
ing 11-of-12 USA shots-on-goal in
the final frame.
"We got Hunwick some game
time, which is good," Berenson
said. "Overall, you hope to come
out of the game with some good
things and no injuries, and I think
we did that.".
The game might not have been
a nail biter, but if it's any sign of
times to come, Michigan fans
have plenty to be excited about.
Michigan men's swimming coach Bob Bowman is impressed with the progress of freshman Tyler Clary and believes the Wol
verine will thrive on the international level.
Freshman swimmer makes a
splash in first Michigan meets
By JASON KOHLER
Daily Sports Writer
Ever since the moment freshman
Tyler Clary jumped into the pool in
his first collegiate meet, he's been a
winner.
On Oct.12, Clary raced his way to
victory in the 200-yard backstroke,
200-individual medley and 1,000-
yard freestyle in a dual meet against
Eastern Michigan.
"When you're able to win three
events in your first meet as a fresh-
man, that's a good thing," Michigan
coach Bob Bowman said.
Clary entered Michigan as a
highly touted swimmer from River-
side, Calif. In high school, Clary had
to drive an hour each way six days
a week to swim for the Fullerton
Aquatics Sports Team.
Although he competed in an elite
swimming program, Clary still
stood out as a rare talent.
"Back athome,there weren'treal-
ly a lot of peopleI could race," Clary
said. "But here, I'm often struggling
to keep up."
His workout regimen has been
intensified since coming to Michi-
gan. For the Wolverines, he works
out six days a week at night and
three days in the morning. He has
also begun to lift weights, some-
thing he never did in high school.
"It's not only the competition
level here, it's the expectation of the
staff and the swimmers," Bowman
said. "Even though he's one of the
premiere swimmers in his class, he
gets challenged on a daily basis."
What initially drew Bowman to
recruit Clary was Michigan's lack
of depth in backstroke. Soon he
learned that Clary was more than
just a great backstroker, but a per-
fect fit for the Wolverines.
"I really thought Tyler was the
No. 1 recruit in his class," Bowman
said. "He is also someone that will
compete on the international level.
He really fit the bill of everything
we're looking for here at Michigan."
Before coming to Ann Arbor,
Clary represented the United States
in the Pan American games this
summer, winning the silver medal
in the 200-meter backstroke. Clary
is one of five Wolverine swimmers
who represent the United States on
the international team.
Clary has been an instant success
at Michigan so far, leading the Wol-
verines in scoringthis season.
. "He's definitely somebody who
you think will be at the top of the
NCAAs at some point," Bowman
said. "When that will be remains
to be seen, but he's as good as any
swimmer in college swimming."
As a freshman, Clary still has
much room to improve. For one, he
stillhas to clean up hisbreaststroke.
Once he does, Bowman said Clary's
individual medley willbe fantastic.
"He has great technique," Bow-
man said. "He's a super-tough com-
petitor in workouts and practice,
and'he has definite goals that he
knows he wants to achieve."
Someday, Clary would like to
win an NCAA individual title. For
now, he's focused on qualifying a
few more automatic NCAA times.
He has already qualified in the 400-
meter IM, 200-meter backstroke
and 400-yard freestyle relay.
He also wouldn't mind earning
NCAA freshman of the year honors.
"That would be really sweet,"
Clary said.
Clary has just begun as a Wol-
verine, but, in his short career, he's
been nothing short of impressive.
"I've always been competitive
since I was a little kid," Clary said.
"I just like beating people."
So far, that's all he's been doing.
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