2B - November 30, 2009

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com *

No bowl game? Try
these other Michigan
sports road trips

Wolverines continue eight-
game road stretch with split

hen I was a freshman,
the Michigan football
team took its tradition-
al trip to the Rose Bowl to take on
a powerhouse Southern Cal team. I
didn't go.
Oops.
Three years
and only one
bowl trip later,
my collegiate
career doesn't
seem fulfilled
without a senior ANDY
year pilgrimage REID
to some warm-
weather climate
to see the Wol-
verines play football one last time.
I'm sure that many of you -
seniors or not - also feel slighted
by another holiday season spent
watching Notre Dame, Michigan
State and Ohio State enjoying
theme parks, gift baskets and
nationally televised games while
the Wolverines take a very extend-
ed break from the playing field.
But have no fear. Just because
the football team isn't going any-
where until next season doesn't
mean you have to mope around
Ann Arbor until then.
There are plenty of Michigan
sporting events coming up at that
you can double as vacations.
DEC.19 - MICHIGAN MEN'S
BASKETBALL AT KANSAS
Because of the University's
short holiday break, this trip may
not be possible for those of you
with late final exams, like me.
But if you are lucky enough to
have an early exam schedule, this
trip is the perfect way to kick off
your break. Pack a car with some
friends and head down to Law-
rence, Kan. to see the Wolverines
take on one of the most storied
programs in college basketball
history.


I know a couple of people who
are going to try and scalp tickets
for this one, and I'm insanely
jealous. I've always wanted to see
Rock Chalk Jayhawk in person.
JAN. 2 - COPA COQUI
INVITATIONAL
OK, you may be asking your-
self, "Michigan has a women's
swimming team?" Yes, but this
trip isn't really about the sport.
Under the guise of Wolverine
fandom, you can take a trip to
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Adven-
ture tours and castle trips would
be totally worth the flight down
there - nevermind if you acci-
dentally "forget" to actually go
to the Wolverines' meet.
Regardless, a little sun right
before the winter term kicks off
sounds pretty good to me.
FEB. 6 - CAMP RANDALL
CLASSIC
This is college hockey the way
it's meant to be played - in front
of 80,000 screaming fans in the
middle of the coldest month of
the year. Outdoor hockey games
are all the rage right now, and
this one looks to be a doozy.
You'll see Michigan, who
played in the first college hockey
outdoor game in 2001 in East
Lansing, and Wisconsin, one
of the WCHA's best programs.
Oh, and the game is in Madison,
where the bar scene is crazy and
the student union serves pitch-
ers of beer. Plus, you'll probably
get to see the only rendition of
the famous "Jump Around" that
isn't at a Badger football game.
A trip to Madison is to a col-
lege kid what finding one of
Wonka's golden tickets was to
Charlie. If you've never been,
start looking into Camp Randall
Classic tickets immediately.

MARCH 21 - MICHIGAN
BASEBALL VS. NEW YORK METS
Fred Wilpon, owner of the
Mets and a Michigan alum, has
made this exhibition game, in Port
St. Lucie, Fla., a yearly tradition.
For all you baseball nerds, a trip to
spring training is worth it in and
of itself. But this game should be
something to see, too.
in fact, it could be something of a
budding rivalry. After now-gradu-
ated Wolverine Kevin Cislo tried to
bunt with the game on the line, New
York was apparently not happy.
"If he got that bunt down, I
would have drilled the next guy,"
Mets closer Billy Wagner said
after last year's game. "Play to win
against Villanova."
Maybe that sauciness could lead
to some dugout-clearing action
this year? Only time will tell.
MARCH 25-27 - MEN'S
SWIMMING NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Michigan hasn't won a team
national championship since the
2005 softball tean pulled off
an upset in the Women's Col-
lege World Series. This could be
your best chance of seeing a title
in your four years as a student.
Michigan coach Mike Bottom has
assembled a helluva team, chock
full of Olympic-caliber talent.
The three-day event is in
Columbus this year, so a trip
won't be too big a strain on the
pocketbook.
APRIL 3-5 - NCAA FINAL FOUR,
INDIANAPOLIS
Well, I can dream, can't I? Well,
maybe not after that ugly loss to
Alabama last night...
-Reid can be reached at
andyreid s umich.edu.

By ALEX HERMANN
Daily Sports Writer
In the most tightly contested
game of its young season, the
Michigan women's basketball
team traded blows with New
Mexico State in the Aggie Hotel
Encanto Classic. Sixteen lead
changes and nine ties foreshad-
owed the exciting finale.
With the teams tied and just
under a minute to go, senior cen-
ter Krista Phillips blocked a shot,
corralled the rebound, and a hit
a bucket on the other end of the
floor in quick succession to give
the Wolverines a two-point lead.
But after the ensuing timeout,
New Mexico State junior guard
Jasmine Lowe nailed a 3-pointer
to give the Aggies the lead, and,
ultimately, the game.
Michigan went back to Phil-
lips on the next possession, but
the 6-foot-6 senior couldn't capi-
talize. Two intentional fouls and
some insurance free throws by
the Aggies (4-2) gave the Wolver-
ines a 72-67 loss, their second of
the season. It was New Mexico
State's first-ever win over a Big
Ten team.
"The first shot was good,
because I got right to the hole,"
Phillips said. "I regret taking the
second shot because it was a bit of
a fadeaway jumper and not some-
thing I'm known for doing."
Even with Phillips' missed
opportunity, Michigan coach
Kevin Borseth insisted that the
game wasn't just decided in the
final minutes.
"There were a lot of things that
led up to that scenario right there
that were really lucky for them
and unlucky for us," Borseth
said. "We had a lot of opportuni-
ties that were wide open that we
didn't hit. ... Under that circum-
stance, you have to play perfect in
every imaginable area, and I don't
think we did."
The game was the team's first
real gut check of the year, con-
sidering every other contest has
been decided by double digits. On
a team with six freshmen, simply
staying in such a battle, espe-
cially on the road, can serve as a

0i

AARON AUGSBURGER/Daily
Senior Krista Phillips missed a late, game-tying shot against New Mexico.

learnin
hand, a
with ha
the def
disappo
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ift,
h
"Tho
we havi
said. "V

g experience. On the other be able to just rely on our ability,
ny time a team has a lead skill, athleticism, what have you.
If a minute left and loses, We really have to be perfect right *
feat will undoubtedly be now in every possession."
tinting. But Michigan (4-2) will return
home with more than just a moral
victory.
On Friday, it captured its first
win in an away game, 85-61,
against Stephen F. Austin.
heduling? Michigan's next game, on
b r Thursday at Virginia Tech, will
s bordefrline be the fourth in a stretch of eight
consecutive road games for the
iorrifying." team.
"Is it good scheduling?"
Borseth said. "No, it's not. We
don't want that scenario. With
tse are the kind of games what we're trying to accomplish,
e to be able to win," Borseth it's absolutely detrimental. It's
Me're not in the position to borderline horrifying."

- (fE E f- 

Campus lifeis stressful.
Holiday savings don't have to be.
Black Friday isn't the onIy d-Jay for g d prices. 1me .toit,
U-M Comnuter yow ,ae or
A pple's One-Day-Only Sale on Friday, December 4.

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