4B - March 31, 2008

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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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Scoring drought ends
season, WNIT hopes

MEN'S SWIMMING
'M' sputters to sixth place finish
By RYAN A. PODGES
Daily Sports Writer-

By ALEX PROSPERI
Daily Sports Writer
EAST LANSING - As you might
have seen afterthe Michigan wom-
en's basketball team blew a 20-
point second-halflead to Wisconsin
about a
month MICHIGAN 40
ago, MICH. STATE 45
Michigan
coach Kevin Borseth usually has
something to say in postgame press
conferences.
But yesterday's 45-40 loss to
Michigan State (10-8 Big Ten, 22-13)
in the quarterfinals of the Women's
National Invitation Tournament
took the punch out of Borseth.
"I don't really know what to say,
so," Borseth said, trailing off. "I'll
let you guys ask questions."
The Wolverines went scoreless
for 10:51 through the end of regula-
tion and most of overtime.
"It wasn't what they did,'s what
we did to ourselves," Borseth said.
"They say, 'You don't mind getting
beat but you hate losing.' That's how
I feel right now."
Withsixminutesleftinthegame,
Michigan led 37-30. But the Spar-
tans outscored the Wolverines 15-3
in the final eleven minutes, includ-
ing overtime, to secure a victory.

For the game, Michigan shot just
13-for-61, including 4-for-33 on 3-
pointers. It was the Wolverines'
worst shooting performance of the
season.
Michigan (9-9, 19-14) continued
to jack up 3-pointers because they
couldn't penetrate Michigan State's
defense.
"That's really a glaring weakness
that we have this year," Borseth
said. "I am embarrassed for myself.
I feel bad for the kids that I couldn't
get them a shot."
The late-game drought can eas-
ily be attributed to the Wolverines'
poor shooting, but the 2-3 zone
defense Michigan State implement-
ed in the second half changed the
course of the game.
6-foot-9 center Allyssa DeHaan,
in the center of the zone, had four
blocks and forced Michigan to stay
on the perimeter.
"It was just her presence defen-
sively that scares you more than
anything," Borseth said. "You can't
attack the basket. I must have just
put the fear of whatever in them not
to throw it in there."
The game started off ugly for
both squads, as shot after shot
clanked off the rim. Neither team
reached double-digits until the 5:52
mark of the first half, when Michi-

gan junior Stephany Skrba connect-
ed on a layup.
After Skrba's basket, Michigan
found its rhythm and scored 12
more points before halftime to take
a 23-16 lead. The Wolverines could
smell the tournament's final four.
Michigan was in the driver's seat
until Spartan Courtney Davidson's
layup with 6:05 remaining in regu-
lation cut Michigan's lead to seven.
The Wolverines missed their
next five shots, all 3-pointers, before
overtime. In the extra period, they
missed all seven shot attempts, five
of which game from behind the
arc. And because of the Spartans'
aggressive zone defense, most of
their shots were contested
"Shooting is all about rhythm,"
Borseth said. "If you can't get
rhythm shots they're hard to
make."
Borseth said he believed deep
down that this team could go as far
as they did. And despite missing
out on the program's first 20-win
season since 2000, he and his squad
achieved more than most outside
the program thought was possible.
"It took a while for us to get to
adapt to each other," Borseth said.
"I really thought we played our best
basketball at the end of the year. It
was, all in all, a pretty good year."

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - In the
corner of the pool deck, Michigan
coach Bob Bowman stood silently,
staring at lane 3 with his meet pro-
gram covering his mouth. In the
stands, the Michigan fans were on
their feet, frantically cheering, "A-
V-K."
And in the pool, senior Alex
Vanderkaay reached forward,
touched the wall and finished his
career as a Wolverine by defending
his national title in the 400-yard
individual medley.
Vanderkaay dominated the race
from start to finish, and at one
point he led by over three seconds.
His victory was Michigan's only
individual title at the NCAA men's
swimming and diving champion-
ships this weekend.
"It feels really good to bring one
home for Michigan," he said. "I
thought everyone would be out a
little faster, but I just held on to it
during the breaststroke and in the
freestyle, I left everything I had in
the pool."
The three-day meet was held
at the King County Aquatic Cen-
ter just outside of Seattle and 48
teams made up the field. Overall,
the Wolverines placed sixth, mak-
ing it their eighth-consecutive sea-
son with a top-ten finish. Arizona
finished in first place, snapping
Auburn's streak of five consecu-
tive national championships and
becomingthe first first-time cham-
pion in 26 years.
In addition to Vanderkaay's win
in the 400-yard individual medley,
Michigan had several outstanding
performances. Sophomore Scott
Spann placed second in the 200-
yard breaststroke and fourth in
the 100-yard breaststroke, while
junior Matt Patton touched fourth

- JEREMY CHO/Daily
Senior Alex Vanderkaay repeated as the 400-yard invidual medley national cham-
pion. But he was the only Wolverine to win a title as Michigan finished sixth.

in the 1,650-yard freestyle and
seventh in the 500-yard freestyle.
Michigan's best finish in a relay
was fourth place in the 400-yard
medley relay.
While the Wolverines had a
solid three days of competition,
they were sometimes unable to
compete well in the races they won
easily at the conference champion-
ships a month ago. After the meet,
Bowman said his team had a tough
time recovering from their success
at the conference meet.
"That's just how it is in this
sport," Bowman said. "When you
really prepare for one event and
you spend a whole season focus-
ing on it and you do it and you do
it emotionally and you do it real-
ly well, it's very hard to bounce
back."
Spann also felt that winning the
Big Ten meet hindered his team's
ability to swim faster.
"Coming offsuch a good Big Ten
meet, it's hard to follow up on that
just a month later," Spann said. "As
much as everyone is trying to get

pumped up, I'm still a little tired
emotionally."
Bowman said the teams that
preformed best at this meet were
teamsthathademphasizedprepar-
ing for the NCAA championships
rather than for their conference
meet. Even after the disappoint-
ing results, Bowman defended his
team's approach to the Big Ten
meet and the NCAA champion-
ships.
"We did everything exactly like
I would do it," Bowman said. "I
will do it again until we're good
enough to not have our best people
saved for the conference meet and
really focus on the NCAA meet. It's
just a natural part of the evolution
of the program."
For now, the Wolverines can be
happy with themselves. A 10-1 sea-
son record, a Big Ten Champion-
ship and a 6th place national finish
are certainly respectable achieve-
ments for the program. But Spann
summed it up well when he said,
"we have more to shoot for next
year."


PORTER
From Page 1B
statue given -to the nation's most
outstanding college hockey player.
After Porter's first goal, the rela-
tively small contingent of Michigan
fans burst into a "Hobey Baker"
chant. With each successive goal,
the chant became louder and loud-
er, until almost all the Wolverine
fans were on their feet cheering on
Porter afterhis finalgoal, an empty-
netter late in the third period.
Although the chants are hard
to ignore, Porter said he wants to
focus on the bigger picture.
"I mean, I try not to think about
it," Porter said. "It's nice, but we're
here to win a national champion-
ship, and it's about our team. It's

not about one person. I wouldn't be
anywhere near where Iam without
... the rest of the team."
Porter led the way for the Wol-
verines' top line, which completely
dismantled the Purple Eagles. The
three forwards - Porter, Kolarik
and freshman Max Pacioretty -
combined for 80 percent of Michi-
gan's scoring (12 of 15 points).
Midway through the second
period, the trio broke out on a 3-
on-2 rush toward the Niagara zone.
Racing hard up the middle of the
ice, Pacioretty found Kolarik, who
slid a perfect pass to Porter. The
Northville native was left all alone
withPurple Eagle goaltender Julia-
no Pagliero - a clear mismatch.
"I don't know what you do to
stop that line from Michigan,"
Niagara coach Dave Burkholder
said. "That's unbelievable. Those

guys are going to be on TV for a
long, long time."
Pacioretty to Kolarik to Porter
- the stat line that's become all-
too-familiar this season, worked to
perfection again Saturday against
Clarkson, when Porter notched the
game-clinching goal in the third
period.
Although every Michigan offen-
sive line is capable of putting up
big numbers on any given night, it
starts with the first shift.
And Berenson wouldn't have it
any other way.
"I think that's been the story of
our season," Berenson said. "Kevin
has set the bar for this team, and
Chad Kolarik is hanging onto it
with him and making sure that he
holds it high. And they make the
difference on this team, there's no
question."


BOREN
From Page 1B
any other program. He said his
mother-in-law and sister-in-law,
who live seven hours away, have
attended the last three practices.
When a reportertold Rodriguez
he would change the subject and
asked about the incoming fresh-
men, the coach said "Thank you."
Rodriguez said he didn't spend
much time talking to his team
about the issue.
"They just want usto win," red-
shirt sophomore quarterback Nick
Sheridan said of early-morning
workouts. "They're not doing any-
thing to punish us, even though at
first it may seem that way. They
obviously are under a tremendous
amount of pressure to win, and
they're just doing what they can
that's best for us."
Quarterback competition:
Rodriguez said redshirt freshman
quarterback Steven Threet and
Sheridan are ahead of redshirt

sophomore David Cone in the bat- for turning the ball over just once
tle for starting quarterback. in 100 plays in a scrimmage Sat-
"That's what you compete for," urday. He also said the offense
said Threet, who transferred from completed enough long passes
Georgia Tech last year. "You want that he was discouraged with the
to be the guy taking the snaps defense.
out there in front of 110,000. But Defensive standouts: Rodri-
that comes in time. Right now it's guez listed fifth-year senior John
spring practice - learning the Thompson, redshirt sophomore
offense and things like that." Obi Ezeh and junior Stevie Brown
Threet ran a spread offense in as the defensive players who have
-high school before nearly winning stood out in the spring.
Georgia Tech's starting job last Thompson is trying to take the
year. starting middle linebacker job
"I never really doubted my abil- from Ezeh, who was a Freshman
ity to compete for the quarter- All-American last year. Redshirt
back job, especially at a place like sophomore Jonas Mouton and
Michigan," Threet said. sophomore Marell Evans appear
Sheridan, a walk-on, broke his to be leading the way at the out-
tailbone his senior year at Saline side spots. Rodriguez said the
High School and didn't receive linebacker corps was one of the
any scholarship offers. deepest units on the team.
"I understand football," said Stevie Brown, who was cited by
Sheridan, whose father, Bill, Mike Hart as a potential breakout
coached the defensive line and player, started at free safety in last
linebackers at Michigan (2002- year's opener against Appalachian
04). "I understand what helps you State before being replaced by
win and what makes you lose." then-fifth-year senior Brandent
Rodriguez praised the offense Englemon.


BELL
From Page 1B
"Hell, we have Mike Hart and
Chad Henne for three more years,
why go to the Rose Bowl this year?"
I thought at the time. Why spend
money on a Rose Bowl trip when
this team likely makes a BCS Title
game sometime in the next three
years?
Shows how much this littlesnot-
nosed 19-year-old freshman knew
back then, because that obviously
didn't happen. And I still regret not
going to the game.
Sure Michigan lost, but it was one
of the greatest Rose, Bowls of all
time, and it's the closest the football
teaMp ever got to a National Cham-
pionship game in my time here.
There has been just one team
National Championship since I've
beenatMichigan.Thesoftballteam
won it all later in my freshman year
when it became the first team east

of the Mississippi to win a National
Championship. It was a big feat
within the sport, but I wouldn't be
surprised if half the campus didn't
even know it happened. I'd say
about 10 of my fellow classmates
witnessed it in person. I wouldn't
have been one of that lucky few had
I not been sent there to cover it for
the Daily. As cool as the environ-
ment was - and it really was awe-
some witnessing history and seeing
the joy on all the players' faces - it
meant very little to the campus.
It's not fair, but schools are
judged by how the "big" sports per-
form.
Three years later, here's what
the Big 3 have done for me:
No BCS bowl wins. No Big Dance
appearances. No Frozen Four
appearances.
Until now.
Book-ending my college experi-
ence is another group of talented
freshman putting together an
impressive season when so little

was expected.
This was supposed to be a
rebuilding season for the hockey
team. Jack Johnson and Andrew
Cogliano left early. T.J. Hensick
graduated. The coaches and the
media pegged the Wolverines as a
fourth-place CCHA team.
But after a year of dominat-
ing opposing teams and rising to
become the NCAA's No. 1 team,
Michigan is now just two wins
away from getting the hardware to
prove its worth.
Don't settle for this being
enough.
Seniors, going to Denver is a
must. This is your last shot at a
National Championship before you
gradiiate.
Underclassmen, he4 my warn-
ing. It may not seem urgent now,
but this could be your only chance.
Go to Denver.

4o

- Bell can be reached
at scottebumich.edu.


Interviews are conducted at various
locations nationally, daily in

BIG TENS
From Page 1B
performances from teammates.
Five gymnasts stuck landings
on bars - perfect dismounts were
contagious. The team's bars score
of 49.425 was its second-highest of
the season.
Sophomore all-arounder Sarah
Curtis had a near-flawless routine
on bars for a career-high 9.950
score. She took the bars title and
finished second in the all-around.
While Michigan had flashy
scores on bars, the balance beam
proved key to its victory. For the
first time this year, the Wolverines
were forced to start their rotation
cycle on the beam, a challenging
event to begin with.
"You come out and you have

all your adrenaline built up," said
Plocki, who was named co-Big
Ten Coach of the Year after the
meet. "Beam is the event you have
to not have so much adrenaline. I
think that will give us confidence
if somewhere later in the season we
draw this rotation again. We know
how to handle it."
Michigan put up a 49.050 score
on beam, an especially strongshow-
ing after a two-fall performance on
the apparatus last weekend against
Utah.
And the Wolverines got better
and better with each event.
"It was difficult at first just
because the first event was beam,
already a nerve-wracking event for
us," Curtis said. "After we hit beam,
we just kind of cruised through the
rest of the events, which was really
nice." .

Even with three bye rotations
that disrupted Michigan's momen-
tum, the team was able to energize
itself for each event. During breaks,
Plocki said "the girls go in the lock-
er room, turn on their music, and
dance and be silly."
The fourth-ranked Wolverines
were favored coming into the com-
petition,andtheymetexpectations.
The competition wasn't close, with
runner-up Illinois finishing a full
point behind. Saturday's win gave
Michigan its 16th Big Ten champi-
onship in program history. For the
Wolverines, this was just another
checkpoint en route to the NCAAs
next month.
And with Bruck's leadership and
the impressive performances on
all four events, Michigan is on the
right track to win the school's first
national title.

01