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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Summers weighs options Fetter lone bright
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By NICOLE AUERBACH
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan hockey defenseman
Chris Summers has seen both ends
of the spectrum.
In this year's season opener, the
junior saw captain Mark Mitera
laying on the ice after a brutal col-
lision. Mitera's hopes of a spectacu-
lar senior season, were crushed by a
torn anterior cruciate ligament.
And on the other hand, Sum-
mers watched former Wolverines
Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik,
who both played four years of col-
legiate hockey,lead Michigan to the
Frozen Four in 2008.
So for Summers, the Phoenix
Coyotes' first-round draft pick in
the 2006 NHL Entry Draft (No. 29
overall), the decision to stay for his
senior year could be a difficult one.
In October, Summers was ada-
mant that the decision to stay at
Michigan this season was easy.
"It's kind of a no-brainer," Sum-
mers said. "You come here to be a
student-athlete, and the 'student'
obviously comes first. It's never
been a question whether I would
stay or leave. I've always been dead-
set on staying."
That was before he saw Mitera
suffer his serious injury that kept
him out of all but eight games this
season. It was also before Summers
began assuming duties as the Wol-
verines' acting captain while Mit-
era was out.
Now, at the end of an eventful
season, Summers comes to decide
whether or not to jump to the NHL
a year early.
Michigan coach Red Berenson
seemed very optimistic last week
when discussing Summers's deci-
sion. He admitted first-round draft
picks can be flight risks, but he was
confident that Summerswas a Wol-
verine for the right reasons, which
include getting a Michigan degree.
"He's not just a hockey player
waiting for a phone call," Berenson
said.
Berenson reinforced his confi-
dence in Summers at the Michigan
spot on the mound
during Blue's slump
Junior Chris Summers, a Phoenix Coyotes first-round pick, will be a captain if he returns to the Michigan hockey team next year.
hockey banquet end-of-year Satur- this season. think he handled all that extremely
day when he named the defenseman "He's a guy that we envision in a well, and it was a wonderful experi-
Michigan's captain for next season. matchup role," Treliving said. "He ence for him to go through."
"Since having responsibility as a skates so well. He's mobile. He can Summers will have to make a
captain (this year), I think he feels play against good players. He can difficult decision. Berenson doesn't
more attached," Berenson said last eliminate time and space. Really, as usually appoint a captain unless
week. "The team needs him. He'll he moves forward here profession- he's sure the player is staying.
be our captain nextyear." ally, I really do see that as a role he And from what Summers has said
But although Berenson is confi- can and he's going to grow into. recently, the decision seems almost
dent Summers made up his mind, "In today's game, especially on finalized. Summers doesn't appear
Phoenix Assistant General Man- defense, the ability to be proactive in a rush to leave Michigan just yet.
ager Brad Treliving isn't so sure. and mobile with your feet and legs "I think (Berenson) says it best:
"Well, we've had some discus- allows you to defend more success- you're preparing for a life after
sions," Treliving said in a phone fully than the old days, where you hockey," Summers said Sunday.
interview with The Michigan Daily thought a shutdown guy had to be "There's more to the world than
yesterday. "We've had some dis- 6-foot-5." just skating onthe ice every day. It's
cussions with Chris and his rep- As impressed as Treliving was a game. It should be enjoyed. And
resentatives at the end of the year with Summers's on-ice performance I think that's what a lot of players
since (the Wolverines have) been this season, he seemed more inter- miss out on, that it should be fun.
eliminated (from the NCAA Tour- ested in his off-ice accomplishments "It's unfortunate that it turns
nament) to see what the plans were as the Wolverines' acting captain. into a business once you get to the
going forward. From handling the media, referees professional rankings, but that's
"We'll see over the course of the and teammates, Summers gained the way it is."
next little bit if, in fact, what his some unexpected experience.
desire is - whether it's to stay for a "Really, it's another layer in - Gjon Juncaj
fourth year or does he look at now's his development," Treliving said. contributed to this report.
the time he makes that step to pro "Being a guy that's looked upon to
hockey." set the tone for his group and be a For a full transcript of the
Treliving was impressed with part of the leadership group of that Daily's interview with
Summers's physical growth and team and pushing himself to be bet- Treliving, see http://thegame.
the overall maturity of his game ter and his teammates to be better. I blogs.michigandaily.com
Michigan
first-place]I
by just one
By TIM RO
Daily Sports
In the Michigan b
first game against P
Saturday, senior pitc
ter gave the Wolverin
pull out the win.
But the Wolverine
the offensive playsI
and lost 6-4 int10 inn
"I felt great," sai
gave up two earned r
strikeouts in eight
innings. "That
was probably the
best stuff I've had
all year. That's
why I just want-
ed to keep going
with it. There was
that inning there
when I gave up
three runs, cou-
ple of decent hits
in there and just
some plays that didn
That's baseball."
Fetter said it was
the starters in the
Saturday's doublehe
deep into the game, s
verines' bullpen has t
by injuries.
Junior pitcher E
went 7.1 innings inth
to get the 9-5 win for
Despite getting s
day before, the bullp
gled Sunday. Five rel
a total of 11 runs in a:
Michigan has alto
age of 9.6 runs in its 1E
ien play, The Wolverines went 2-3 in those
trails games, including a 14-13 win over
mid-major team Oakland.
Illinois But Fetter has a formula to end
the pitchingstaff's woes.
game "You have to establish that you
are going to throw strikes and keep
HAN the ball down in the zone," Fetter
Writer said. "We have a bunch of guys that
have been throwing decently. But if
aseball team's they're throwingstrikes, they're up
'enn State on in the zone = or they're not throw-
her Chris Fet- ingstrikes."
ies a chance to The Wolverines' inability to
throw strikes has been a major
s didn't make factor in their recent slump. After
Fetter needed starting the season 10-2, the Wol-
ings. verines are just 8-8 in their last 16
d Fetter, who games.
uns and had 11 Although Michigan (3-3 Big Ten,
18-10 overall) usu-
ally matches up well
against its competi-
"That was tion, Sunday'sgame
was the fourth time
probably the this year the Wol-
verines have lost
best stuff I've by more than eight
had all year. "Considering all
the guys we lost,
if you really think
about it, we've had
.'t go our way. to play some pretty decent baseball
to get to (18-10)," Michigan coach
important for Rich Maloney said. "That's part of
second leg of the journey when you have a lot of
ader to pitch new faces in the lineup."
tince the Wol- Although Michigan lost its series
been hindered against Penn State, the Wolverines
have a'3-3 Big Ten record and are
ric Katzman just one game behind conference
e second game leader Illinois. The Wolverines will
Michigan. face the Fighting Illini at home this
nome rest the weekend.
en still strug- "Reality is, as bad as this loss
ievers gave up was, and as bad as losing this
16-5 loss. series is, we're 3-3 and the first Big
wed an aver- Ten team is 4-2 and we're playing
ast five games. them," Maloney said.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSIP
What home-court advantage? Tar Heels trump Spartans for NCAA title
DETROIT (AP) - There was a
team of destiny out there, all right.
It's the North Carolina Tar Heels,
and the final chapter of their story
was about as heartwarming as a
demo-
lition MICHIGAN ST. 72
derby. N. CAROLINA 89
Tyler
Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and
North Carolina won a national
championship a season or more in
the making, stomping out Michi-
gan State's isnniratinnal run Mon-
day night with an 89-72 blowout because their draft prospects
that wasn't even that close. didn't look so good. They also
Hansbrough scored 18 points, didn't want their college careers
Wayne Ellington had 19 and Law- to end on last year's embarrassing
son led all scorers with 21 and also loss to Kansas in the Final Four.
had a record eight steals - and That was a dud of a game in which
now they and Danny Green can they trailed 40-12 in the first half
all head to the NBA feeling good and Billy Packer was telling CBS
about their decision to return to viewers it was over.
school to bring home Carolina's This time, North Carolina led
fifth championship, and the sec- 36-13 around the time "Dancing
ond for coach Roy Williams. With The Stars" was starting on
All those upperclassmen, save another network. At least nobody
Hansbrough, came back in part knew how that one was going to
end.
"We've been working so hard
since last year when we fell short,"
said Ellington, named most out-
standing player. "I wanted to
redeem myself. We worked so
hard."
Michigan State (31-7) simply
never got any momentum. From
the start, it was clear there was no
way Carolina was losing control of
this one, no chance for the Spar-
tans to serve up that definitive ray
of sunshine and warm-and-fuzzy
smile for a state that's been bat-
tered by the ailing economy.
The Tar Heels (34-4) were
up 55-34 at halftime, breaking a
42-year-old title-game record for
biggest lead at the break and set-
ting the mark for most points at
the half.
"We handled injuries, handled
some losses" this season, Williams
said. "The youngsters standing
behind me are great, great young
men. I'm the luckiest coach in
America, I can tell you that."
This collection of NBA talent
was too much from wire to wire,
from the start of the tournament,
to the very end.
Carolina won every game by
double digits, something that
hasn't happened since Duke did
it in 2001.
Lots of basketball fans saw this
coming, including America's No. 1
Hoopster-in-Chief.
Yes, President Barack Obama
picked the Tar Heels to take it all
in his much-publicized bracket.
Magic Johnson, Michigan
State's Spartan-in-Chief, joined
Larry Bird at center court to pres-
ent the game ball, a tribute to
the 30-year anniversary of their
historic matchup and Michigan
State's first title.
From there, it was pretty much.
all "Showtime," all the time -
but not for Michigan State. Heck,
Magic didn't even stick around for
the end of the game. He was spot-
ted walking up the tunnel with 3
minutes left.
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HOLY WEEK AT CANTERBURY HOUSE
Thursday, April 9th - e r
5:30 p.m. A simple Mediterranean meal
in commemoration of The Last Supper.
Thursday, April 9th - r t i T
e o 7:30 p.m. Screening of Daniel
Karslake's 2007 documentary that
explores the intersection between
religion and homosexuality in America.
Friday, April 10th - ' I'
5:30 p.m. Featuring a reading of the
Passion Gospel by the women of
Canterbury House.
Saturday, April 11th -
igii8:00 p.m. A culmination of the Holy
Week celebration, with fire-juggling and
the re-telling in scripture and music of the
whole salvation story.
Sylvia Plath:
eet the girl
behind the poet.
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