The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com SportS Friday, February 25,2011 -7 Despite Hicks's halfcourt heroics, Blue honors Hicks 'M' falk in dohle-OT to Gonher, in senior ceremony 1 7 1 1 .,« JL " 11.L . %. & N-F % AL K-01 \../ .. 1 , N-,F NI-P V .../ .i x ../ JL " By CAITLIN SMITH Daily Sports Writer Senior guard Veronica Hicks didn't want her last game at Crisler Arena to end. So with just second remaining in the game, Hicks hit a MINNESOTA 82 half-court MICHIGAN 78 buzzer shot to send the game against Minne- sota into overtime. "There's always hope when someone throws up a desperation shot like that," sophomore guard Jenny Ryan said. "I guess in my eyes you're just not thinking, you're holding your breath, hop- ing for the best and expecting the worst. As soon as it goes through the net you just breathe and you run." Fueled by Hicks's long-range basket, the Wolverines (9-6 Big Ten, 16-11 overall) played two periods of overtime against the Golden Gophers. But a struggling offense that had plagued Michi- gan all night proved deadly in the second overtime, giving Minne- sota a chance to pull ahead and win, 82-78. Hicks claimed to have felt con- fident taking the game-deciding shot at the end of regulation off a play that Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said he's had in his pock- et for four years. "The funny part is that I was (shooting half-court shots) dur- ing the shoot around," Hicks said. "So when they went up by three with only four seconds left and coach (Borseth) showed us the play, I was like, 'I practiced it today.' So, you know, God must have been preparing me, and it went in." But that confidence may have come as a surprise to the fans at the game Thursday night, as the Wolverines showed anything but strength around the basket. Michigan shot just 27 percent in the first half, stemming from a mere 16 percent from behind the 3-point arc and a leading scorer who tallied just four points in the first stanza. But the Wolverines were also unable to answer Minne- sota (4-11, 12-16) in the second half- until the last second. The Golden Gophers came out of the locker room with a 25-19 advan- tage and, despite a handful of good looks from Michigan, were: able to maintain a two or three- possession lead for the majority of regulation. The Golden Gophers gave the Wolverines trouble on the interior, forcing them to shoot contested layups or dish the ball outside to shoot from long range. Michigan also had 14. turnovers on the night to add to N44 the offensive frustration.' "Both teams struggled, it was very physical," Borseth said. "You try to push, you get moved, you try to cut, you get moved. DANIELLETOLL/ODaily (Minnesota) is pretty good, Seniorguard Veronica Hicks's efforts weren't enough on Senior Night. they're physical and they're big. That was probably a lot of the Carmen Reynolds went to the shot clock so you have just 20 sec- reason why we struggled in the line with Michigan down by two onds to run a play instead of 25. I game, because of the physical- and five seconds left on the clock. think we just got away from what ness." Reynolds, an 85-percent free- we are used to doing. I think we But the Wolverines also strug- throw shooter, only sunk one - were just so focused on swinging gled defensively, unable to get forcing the Wolverines to foul the ball that maybe we didn't get the key stops that could have upon the inbound. it inside the way we wanted." sparked a run on the other end And after Minnesota made Despite producing a late come- of the court. Minnesota shot just both of its freebies, Hicks was back that forced a potential blow- under 50 percent for the night forced to shoot her half-court out into a thriller, the Wolverines and out-rebounded the Wolver- buzzer beater. still lost a crucial game. If Michi- ines, 43-34. In overtime, Michigan con- gan had won, the Wolverines In fact, the fans at Crisler tinued to struggle offensively, would have had a solid grasp on Arena didn't have much to excite shooting just 5-for-17 and con- third place in the Big Ten. But them until the final four minutes tinuously running the shot clock with the loss, they're in a three- of regulation. The Wolverines down, forcing last-second drives way tie for fourth place. And came out of hibernation and gave to the basket and contested looks Michigan vows to bounce back Minnesota a challenge. from long range. with resilience. They took the lead for the first "We were having a shorter "I think I would worry more if time that half, as Hicks made shot clock because of the pres- we weren't emotionally invested two shots from the free throw sure (Minnesota) was putting and if we walked away saying, line. From there, both teams ral- on our point guard," Ryan said. 'Oh well,' "Ryan said. "I'm happy lied back and forth, junior guard "That takes 10 seconds off the that we care so much." By KEVIN RAFTERY Daily Sports Writer. Following the Michigan women's basketball team's heartbreaking 82-78 double- overtime loss to Minnesota on Thursday, players and fans alike were in tears. It was an odd sight following a college basketball game. But the tears weren't shed because of the game's outcome - it was Senior Night, and the Wol- verines' lone senior, Veronica Hicks, was being honored on the Crisler Arena bigscreen. "I think it was pretty well said on that video board," Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said after the game. "She's been here for four years, and she has sunk her heart and her soul into everything we do here." Friends, family, teammates, classmates, Crisler employees and hundreds of people that Hicks had never met stayed after the game for the presen- tation - the tears alone are a testament to what Hicks has meant to this program. Even though it was nearly 10 p.m. on a school night, parents allowed their children stay to watch the presentation and listen to Hicks speak after the game. The fact that Hicks was even willing to speak after the game - 50 minutes filled with emo- tional highs and lows, in which she had arguably the worst first half of her career (zero points, two fouls), hit a half court shot to send the game into overtime, only to have her team lose by four points in double overtime - was incredible by itself. Most players probably would have respectfully declined the opportunity, or just said a couple of thank you's and went home. But not Hicks. She'd rather take the oppor- tunity to put smiles on the faces of everyone in the arena. After watching the 10-min- ute presentation that showed highlights of her career along with interviews of her team- mates and coaches, were shown, Hicks grabbed the microphone. She had a speech prepared, and she wasn't going to let one heartbreaking loss affect her so much that she couldn't take the time to say a few words. The speech lasted nearly 10 minutes, but the words that she spoke will stick with the people in Crisler for much longer. She personally thanked everyone she knew in the arena, including Crisler Arena employees, assistant coaches, classmates and even members of the media. She talked about her time at Michigan and how it has made her into the person that she is today. She gave all the credit to anyone and everyone - except for herself. And she did it all with a gen- uine smile on her face. It's easy to get caught up in sports sometimes, especially after a crushing double over- time loss. It's easy to sit around and feel bad for yourself and think about how things could have been different - how making one play could have been the difference. But for 'Roni' Hicks, she'd rather take time to thank other people after her final home game - take time to realize the big picture. The loss hurt, but she'll get over it. Her experi- ence at Michigan is one that she'll cherish for the rest of her life, and she never loses sight of that. "It's rough," Hicks said of the loss. "But I'm very happy, very appreciativeto have played here ... I'm thankful, and I appreciate everybody." Harbaugh comments on coaching jump to NFL By TIM ROHAN gan," F Daily Sports Editor at the *"I look INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - John peeked over the swarm of media members, looking for his brother. Jim was sitting just to John's right, trying to take in the press conference from afar. And once he found him, the smiling. John went on - about how Jim Harbaugh didn't need his older brother's advice about Jim's unprecedented accom- plishments at Stanford the past four years, with the Cardinal's meteoric rise to the top of college football. "He built a family and his fam- ily ran over people," said John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Jim decided to start a new football family, as he left Stan- ford for the San Francisco 49ers last month. At the time, Har- baugh was the hottest coach- ing candidate in the country, drawing interest from all over - including speculation that he'd return to his alma mater, Michi- gan. Michigan wasn't where Har- baugh wanted to go, though. "I have great love foi Michi- Univer versityt great op "Ona do it -, at Sta was a 1 coachi League lev to d at footbal compet I wante Whe facilityE five Lon ately st legacya ished. Harb ment a Harbaugh said Thursday was offered the Michigan job. NFL Scouting Combine. However, back on Jan. 5, during at Michigan, that was my the press conference announcing sity. Stanford was my Uni- Rich Rodriguez's firing, Michi- too ... Both would've been gan Athletic Director Dave Bran- ptions. don said he thought Harbaugh a lot of levels, I wanted to would ultimately end up in the coach at Michigan, coach NFL. nford. Ultimately, there Who would blame Harbaugh level where I wanted to for going, Brandon opined - in the National Football especially with wealthy NFL - the highest level of owners chasinghim? News broke of Harbaugh's five-year, $25 million contract On a lot of with San Francisco just four days after Brandon made those els I wanted remarks. For Baalke and the 49ers, do it - coach they reached out to Harbaugh when he did come available - M ichigan." and there was mutual interest. "What we basically did was we laid out our philosophy and our vision," Baalke said. "We I. And that challenge, that were as honest as we could be itive challenge, was what and gave him plenty ofspace to d. " make his own decision. For me n he walks into the 49ers' it was about the fit, getting the every day, Harbaugh said, guy that wanted to be the head mbardi Trophies immedi- football coach of the 49ers. It are him down - that's the wasn't about selling someone and the challenge he rel- into being that guy. "So we probably took as laid Baugh declined to com- back approach as anyone in the s to whether or not he whole process. We just laid it out. This is how it is. This is how we're going to go about building this franchise and bringing it back to respectability. And then it was up to Jim to make his deci- sion." The 40-minute drive from Palo Alto, Calif. to San Franc- sico may have played a role in the decision, too. And Jim will have the chance to compete against his brother John - the 49ers and Ravens are scheduled to play each other next season. According to Baalke, there's a reason San Francisco had to fight off competitors like Denver, Miami, Stanford and Michigan, who were chasing Harbaugh hoping he'd coach their teams. "I'm just a big believer in pedi- gree," Baalke said. "Jim's been a football guy his entire life. He grew up, obviously his father was a well-respected coach. He grew up playing it, grew up wanting to be a coach, started coaching while he was still playing. "He's a football man. He loves the game, has a great respect for the game. And I think that's the passion that I saw in him dating back to when I ran into him at the All-Star games. I just had a really good feel that he'd be successful." Michigan eventually hired Brady Hoke, formerly of San Diego State, with hopes of turn- ing around a program that fin- ished 15-22 in three seasons under Rodriguez. As for what Harbaugh thinks of Hoke: "Great coach, class guy," he said. GXET AH.D SUMMER SESSIONS 2011 Enjoy all that Chicago has to offer this summer while taking a class to lighten your load for the fall. 300+ Courses in Chicago . Online Courses . Study Abroad Derivatives Program . Retreat and Ecology Campus Courses Apply today. For a full list of courses and to learn more about our summer programs, visit LUC.edu/summer. LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Preparing people to lead extraordinary lives DARRON CUMMINGS/AP San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract last month.