8A - Wednesday, January 28, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam I 8A - Wednesday, January 28, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 1 No longer just Harris shows By RUTH LINCOLN Daily Sports Editor Last season, Manny Harris was one-dimensional. The then-freshman guard would slither around defenders and slash to the basket with amaz- ing moves. He led the Michigan men's basketball team in scoring in 21 of 32 games, including nine of its 10 wins. Michigan at Harris was a Ohio State pure scorer, but not much else. Michigan One year later, 14-6; Ohio and 20 games State 13-5 into the season, When: Tonight the sophomore 6:30 P.M. forward has set- tled into his new Where: Value position with ca different mind- TV: BTN set. Live Blog: "Last year we http://thegame. won 10 games," blogs.michigan- Harris said at daily.com Michigan Media Day on Oct. 14. "I was in full-attack mode, and it wasn't enough. So this year, I'm just getting my teammates involved and believing that they can knock shots down because they can." Despite a recent shooting slump - 3-of-18 in his last two games - Harris has become the versatile threat Michigan coach John Beil- ein wants out of his star player. At this time last season, Harris had 61 assists and 91 rebounds. Entering tonight's matchup with Ohio State in Columbus, he's bumped those figures up to 91 and 152, respectively, while still con- tributing a larger percentage of offense than this time last season. Against Oakland on Dec. 20, Har- ris had 13 assists and was one short of tying Gary Grant's 1987 single- game school record. "We expect some great things from him," sophomore point guard Kelvin Grady said of Harris on Oct. a slasher, versatility span. The five opponents are a combined 79-18. The Buckeyes (3-4 Big Ten, 13-5 overall) play a 1-2-2 zone defense that can easily collapse on a player willing to drive to the basket. The Wolverines struggled against the system when the two teams squared offjust11days ago in Ohio State's 65-58 win. Once again, Michigan (4-4, 14-6) will rely on Harris to find his teammates when he gets double-teamed. But even is he doesn't put up hug scoring numbers, Beilein knows Harris's presence will be felt. "You see these matchups on TV, (which player) is leading the Big Ten, all that," Beilein said. "That should not be a stat that's relative. It should be, 'Are you winning?' Beilein emphasizes assist-to- turnover ratio as the trademark of a winning team, and he praises the "little things" like the assist rather than the basket. And when Beilein's grooming his next crop of players, he's not looking at the scoreboard, either. "When I recruit a kid, after a game, I say, 'How'd you guys do?'" Beilein said at his weekly radio show on Jan. 26. "He'll say, 'Well, we won.' I never ask him how many points he has unless he brings it up. "I'll say, 'How many assists did you have? How many rebounds did you have? What'd you think you did well in the game?' That's the way you do it because that's the common thing. ... It's winning the game that everyone has to realize is the real deal." Although former Michigancoach Tommy Amaker recruited Har- ris, the Detroit native has bought into Beilein's philosophy, even if he doesn't reach double figures. MAX COLLINS/Daily "I've had 20-something and sts than at this time last season. we lost," Harris said. "The big- gest thing is we're winning. I'll get their best for the next two mine soon. I'm not worried about After Ohio State, Michigan that part." SAM WOLSON/Daily Sophomore Carl Hagelin and his linemaes combined for four goals last weekend. Hage lin, Rust and Palushaj reunite to spark stagnant offense By CHRIS MESZAROS attribute of the second line is its Daily Sports Writer speed. Hagelin is one of the fastest players in the country, and Palush- A reunion could spark memo- aj and Rust aren't slouches. ries of high school glory days or Just 36 seconds into last Satur- awkward family gatherings. day's game against Michigan State, But Michigan hockey coach Red Palushaj slid the puck to Rust, who Berenson'sideaofareunioninvolves sped past the Spartan defense a whole lot of lamp-lighters. before whipping a wrist shot into After his team scored just one the net. goal in Michigan's series two Later in the game, Hagelin made weeks ago against Bowling Green, a similar play, receivinga pass from Berenson decided to mix up the Rust and skating past the Spartan forwards on Michigan's top two defensemen before scoring just 12 lines. He moved sophomore Aaron seconds into the third period. ' Palushaj to play with sophomores "He has the ability to create Matt Rust and Carl Hagelin, who offense just by cutting back or were all part of a high-flying offen- beating a guy with his speed," sive line last season. Rust said of Hagelin. "And Aaron "I think it was more of a point is a guy who just has tremendous that Coach wanted to get some playmaking ability. He can just more scoring going," Rust said. find you wherever on the ice. I've "Especially with me and Carl being never seen a player that can pass kind of snakebitten, he wanted to it through four pairs of skates, or put Palushaj back with us to get us over and under sticks like Aaron going." can." And after the all-sophomore line Palushaj describes himself as combined for four goals and six the linemate who likes to slow the assists in the Wolverines' sweep play in the neutral zone to draw of Michigan State last weekend, it attention from the defense. He looks like this reunion has helped then takes advantage of his line- Michigan finda permanent second mates' speed as they streak down line. the wings by delivering them the The three sophomores played puck, which creates a scoring together for about half of last sea- opportunity for the Wolverines. son, becoming Michigan's second Palushaj tallied three assists most productive line with 89 total Saturday, one each to Hagelin, points. The three have put up bet- Rust and junior acting captain ter combined statistics this year Chris Summers. than last, but Hagelin and Rust "For Palushaj, it's been good for struggled to score throughout the him," Berenson said. "He's been in first half of the season. But the a bit of a rut since he's been back. addition of Palushaj, who has 31 When you're playing with Carl and points so far this season, will likely Rust, they play so hard that things help. happen, andhe complements them. "Starting last year, it didn't take He can make plays even if he's not too long for us to get used to each scoring." other and start putting up num- Like the rest of Michigan's bers,"Palushaj said. "Ijust thought unpredictable season, it's hard to it would be a matter of time before tell what will happen next for the we played together again and just line. But as No. 1Notre Dame looms start producing again." large this weekend, the sophomore Besides the scoring threat that trio must continue its success for it provides, perhaps the greatest Michigan to beat the Irish. MEN'S TRACKA DFED From Jamaica to A2, Peddlar adjusts well Sophomore Manny Harris currently has 30 more assi 14. "But at the same time, we've to be at got players around, too, that he'll weeks.. make better. We'll make him bet- plays No. 16 Purdue, unranked ter, but he'll make us better, too." Penn State, No. 2 Connecticut and - Alex Prosperi And the Wolverines will need No. 9 Michigan State in a 14-day contributed to this report. By ROGER SAUERHAFT Daily Sports Writer The only other time Robert Peddlar had ever seen snow was on television, and his warmest coat was his blazer. But as the Jamaican native sat in class last winter, Peddlar, a sophomore on the Michigan men's track and field team, saw something new out the window. "I was so amazed," Peddlar said of the snow. "I remember the first time I was out of class, just to be in it and touch it and feel what it was like." Assistant coach David Kaiser said when Peddlar showed up in Ann Arbor a few weeks before his first semester, it was comical how underdressed he was. Kaiser laughed as he described a SO-degree outdoor practice dur- ing Peddlar's first year. Through chattering teeth while shivering, Peddlar voiced his disbelief that practice wasn't indoors. He was grossly unprepared for the win- ter in front of him. "We gave him a pair of gloves and a cap, but as far as a true win- ter coat, he didn't even have one," Kaiser said. "Winters in Jamaica are like our summers here, so when temperatures got below 50, he was pretty uncomfortable." Junior captain Frank Shot- well said teammates rallied around Peddlar and that he never doubted his teammate's ability to adapt. "Seeing him all bundled up is the funniest thing," Shot- well said. "He was wearing long sleeves and sweats in August when we were out in spandex. But I knew he was going to make it. He's a tough kid." Peddlar weathered his way through injuries last season and has improved this year. A week after he finished a close second in the 60-meter hurdles at the East- ern Michigan Invitational, he won both the long jump and the high jump against Ohio State in "The Dual" on January 17. Peddlar said he has adjusted very well since August 2007 and doesn't get bothered by the weather anymore. He said he chose Michigan for its outstand- ing academics, and he hopes to apply to the Ross School of Busi- ness. But Michigan might never have been on Peddlar's radar if not for his high school coach at Wolmer's Boys School, former Wolverine runner Neil Gardner. He considered Gardner's words to be gospel, and when making his college decision, it was Gard- ner's advice he listened to most. "Ifa track career was the only thing I wanted, Michigan wasn't the place for me," Peddlar said of Gardner's advice. "But if I want- ed to be well off in life, I should come to this institution because it not only builds you academi- cally, but also athletically and in other areas. "When he told me this was a good place, I believed him."