;
.if_.
},
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, December 9,2011- 7
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, December 9, 2011 - 7
Thompson's 16 points help
Blue hold off pesky Titans
COURTESY OF THE MICHIGAN ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Fifth-year senior center David Molk was named a first-team Walter Camp All American yesterday.
olk wins Ri-mington
as nation's best center
TIM ROHAN
Daily Sports Editor
What does it take to play the
center position?
Michigan fifth-year senior
center David Molk is not the big-
gest guy - he's 6-foot-2 and just
286 pounds. Usually, it takes a
player who's two inches taller
and 40 pounds heavier to play
center.
Consistency is important. But
Molk's resolve was questioned
after his redshirt sophomore sea-
son when he missed eight games
due to foot and knee injuries. He
has started every game since,
gaining a reputation for his smart
play and nasty mean streak.
Too small and too injury prone
no more, Molk was named the
best center in the nation Thurs-
day, as he was announced the
winner of the 2011 Rimington
Trophy.
"I am truly humbled to be
the Rimj gtn Trophy repipi-
ent," Molk said in a statement.
"It's such an honor considering
all of the great centers around
the country, including the other
finalists. It's an individual award,
but it's a credit to our offensive
line, our team and our coaching
staff. I'm proud to represent the
University of Michigan."
Molk is now among-elite com- 1,000-yard rushers for the first
pany - only David Baas had time since 1975. They allowed
previously won the award for just 15 sacks all year. And junior
Michigan in 2004. quarterback Denard Robinson
Ever since the Wolverines fin- made a smooth transition from
ished their 10-2 season Molk has a shotgun spread offense to a
been showered with awards and hybrid spread/pro-style one,
accolades, having paved the way with the help of Molk.
A week and a half ago, he
described what it took to play the
center position.
"Im proud to "I think that my perception
of what it takes to play center
represent the .- is different from the norm,"
Molk said on Nov. 28. "Obvi-
University of ously, I'm not 6-(foot)-5. I'm
not 315 pounds. I go about the
M ichigan. game a much different way.
Speed is everything. Strength is
everything. Proper technique,
great hands, great feet, great
for the nation's No. 11 rushing hip movement (and) hip explo-
attack. sion. There's a lot of things that
Along with winning the Rim- really go into the dynamics of
ington, Molk was also named all the blocks, because you have
a first-team Walter Camp All an even stance. You have a ball
American on Thursday. His man- between your legs. There's dif-
tle was already crowded by his ferent types of snaps. There's
first-team All Big Ten selection different types of techniques.
and the inaugural Rimington- Angles are different than any
Pace Offensive Lineman of the other position.
Year award, both of which the Big "In judging myself, I think that
Ten bestowed on him last week. I did well. But at the same time,
Considered a thankless posi- it's never good enough.And that's
tion, Michigan's center has left how I've gone my whole career."
his mark. , In 2011, there was no one bet-
The Wolverines had two ter in Division-I college football.
MICHAEL LAURILA
Daily Sports Writer
DETROIT - What started
as a 13-point halftime lead for
the Michigan women's basket-
ball team, and later a 19-point
lead early
in the sec- MICHIGAN 61
ond half, DETROIT 51
turned
into a nail biter at Calihan Hall
against Detroit last night.
Last season, the Titans
visited Ann Arbor and eas-
ily defeated the Wolverines,
67-48. Michigan was looking
for redemption this year - and
found it - defeating the Titans
61-St this time.
"I'm glad that we escaped
out of here with a win," said
Michigan coach Kevin Borseth.
"Detroit gave us everything we
can handle"
Though Michigan won by
double digits, the Titans made
Borseth sweat.
With 12 minutes remaining
in the game, the Wolverines led
by 17 points. But the Titans went
on a 13-2 run, cutting Michi-
gan's lead to just six.
Detroit's answer was simple
- production from an unlikely
source. Though guard Senee
Shearer hadn't hit a 3-point
attempt all season, she made
five 3-pointers in the second
half after going 0-for-2 in the
first half.
"I told our kids in the huddle,
'They're making everything
that's going up in that basket,"
Borseth said. " 'If they miss you
need to rebound it and put it in
on your end of the court'."
Rebounding was one prob-
lem that arose for Michigan.
Though the Wolverines were
only outrebounded by six,
Detroit grabbed 15 offensive
rebounds compared to the Wol-
verines' six. The Titans' sec-
ond-chance points from those
rebounds allowed them to stay
in the game.
Forward Shareta Brown, who
entered the game as Detroit's
leading scoring, tallied 15 points
and 11 rebounds - five of which
came on the offensive glass.
"She's big," Borseth said. "She
just moves you. You're blocking
her out and she just moves you
and then rebounds it. I don't
really know how you stop that.
She's a handful, and she's going
to be handful for everybody that
she plays against."
Added senior guard Courtney
Boylan: "It was our emphasis
to guard (Brown) because we
know that she's their best play-
er. Butwhen (Shearer) started to
hit shots, it was harder for us to
help - which is when (Brown)
got more looks."
The Wolverines received a
big offensive performance from
junior guard Kate Thompson,
who went 6-for-12 from the field
and led the team with 16 points.
"Kate has faced a lot of zones
in high school, so when she gets
in against a zone, she really
knows how to move," Borseth
said.
Thompson was able to use
her size advantage, as a 6-foot-
4 guard, to make 3-pointers and
score inside the paint.
Borseth played Boylan less
than usual - in favor of a taller
lineup - in an attempt to stop
the Titans from penetrating
with their speed. In the second
half, Detroit penetrated and
kicked on multiple possessions,
which resulted in Shearer get-
ting open looks from behind the
Junior guard Kate Thompson, pictured playing against Penn State during the
2010-11season, scored a team-high 16 points in Thursday's win over the Titans.
arc.
"(Junior guard) Nya (Jor-
dan) had a great game when
we played against Detroit last
time," Borseth said. "Her ath-
leticism and her size and it
being Detroit, I really thought
Nya was a kid that could make
a difference (tonight). I thought
she did a great job.
"It wasn't that Courtney
wasn't doing her job. Defen-
sively, I just tried to put a bigger
guard in." .
Boylan finished with just
nine points, while only playing
23 minutes - 10 minutes less
than her season average.
"I think Coach just wanted to
throw a lot of different things
at Detroit because last year we
kind of sat back and took a beat-
ing," junior forward Rachel
Scheffer said. "This year we
came at them with a lot of dif-
ferent lineups they weren't used
to."
Last night's game may have
been a close one, but when it
came to free throws late in in
the game, the Wolverines were
flawless.
Though they shot 43 percent
for the game, theywent 6-for-6
from the charity in it's last three
possessions to clinch the vic-
tory.
ICE HOCKEY
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Hunwick puts 4-2 record on the Oakland looks to avenge last season's
line in crucial series with MSU loss, takes on Michigan at The Palace
MATT SLOVIN that's
Daily Sports Writer Berens
Alm
Michigan hockey coach Red
Berenson knows some parts of
his job come
easy. He doesn't
have to sell the Michigan
program - its State at
history speaks .i
for itself. He Michigan
doesn't have to Matchup:
hype up his play- Michigan 8-8-
ers. Scouts know 2; Michigan
that Berenson State 10-5-1
prepares them as When: Friday
well as anybody. 7:05 P.M.
And he doesn't Where: Yost
have to teach Ice Arena
his players the
desire to beat Michigan State, or
at least not the ones from in state.
"When you're a kid from Mich-
igan, you're either a Michigan guy
or a Michigan State guy," Beren-
son said.
Luckily for Berenson, he's got
one of the former between the
pipes for this weekend's series
against the Spartans.
There's something about Mich-
igan State that just seems to light
a fire under fifth-year senior net-
minder Shawn Hunwick - a fire
that burned brightest on the big-
gest stage last season.
Hunwick believed he would
be on the bench for The Big Chill
at the Big House last December.
When he got the starting nod dur-
ing warmups, the Spartans' fate
might as well have been sealed
- Hunwick didn't allow a goal,
making34 saves against Michigan
State in front of the biggest crowd
ever to watch a hockey game.
"If (playing Michigan State)
brings the best out of you, then
the W
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their go
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the way it should be," Lakes Invitational on Dec. 29-30
on said. at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
ost a year to the day later, "Whether it's the standings
Volverines (4-6-2 CCHA, (or) whether it's the rivalry, it all
overall) will again need points to a huge weekend," Beren-
oalie to be at his best if they son said. "I think we've built
steal points from Michi- some confidence up, and we've
ate and climb back into the got to get that momentum ... and
race. When Michigan con- it'll show up on Friday (at Yost Ice
Arena)."
Berenson never expected that
his team would find itself near the
think we've CCHA cellar at the midway point
after reaching the title game last
built some season. But even a split with the
Spartans (6-4-0, 10-5-1) would
ifidence up... be a boost. Despite being in a tie
for eighth place in the conference,
d it'll show." Michigan finds itself just five
pointsoutofthe top four - hardly
an insurmountable margin.
Senior defenseman and Michi-
the home-and-home series gan native Greg Pateryn didn't
ay night at Munn Ice Arena have to tell the freshmen how
Lansing, forward Phil Di important the series will be.
pe's absence will be promi- "I think most of the guys
he freshman is tied for the understand when they're com-
ead for goals scored this ing here the rivalry we have with
with eight, and his trip to Michigan State," Pateryn said.
:ive Canada to try out for "(But) you're not really going to
ior nationalteam is just one get it until you get out there and
le of the series' seemingly you have your first shift against
ming. The Wolverines had them and everyone's going above
week of practice because and beyond."
r return from Alaska. And Berenson wants to use the
tuldn't catch the Spartans weekend to make a statement
rse time - Michigan State - that these are the games that
in its last 10 games. define programs.
r Michigan snapped a "This is the last weekend of
game winless streak in hockey (in 2011) and it's Michigan
ries finale against Alaska State," Berenson said. "We belong
nks), Berenson harped in these games. That's part of the
is team needed to string reason you come to Michigan - to
'r some wins heading into play in big games."
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LUCAS PASCH "It's going to be a great chal-
Daily Sports Editor lenge for us."
Since last year's matchup,
kland men's basketball though, there are new faces and
Greg Kampe has received new storylines.
-helming praise for estab- Both teams have had to deal
g con- with the loss of their most valu-
cy in able players from last season, as
ogram, Darius Morris decided to leave
ing VS. Oakland Michigan early and Oakland
1st two Matchup: (6-3) has adjusted to life with-
ns atop Michigan 6-2; out star center Keith Benson -
Sum- Oakland 6-3 both were selected in the 2011
League When: Satur- NBA Draft.
arning day 4 P.M. Former Grizzly forward Will
cu- Hudson also graduated. Led by
NCAA Wherbn al center Corey Petros, this sea-
ament son's starting Oakland front-
s. TV/Radio: court is entirely new.
fortu- FS Detroit Michigan's frontcourt may
for look to target Oakland's inex-
e, he perience underneath. Expect
so been consistent in his redshirt sophomore forward
ity to beat Michigan (6-2). Jordan Morgan and sophomore
Grizzlies have squared forward Jon Horford to get a lot
ith the Wolverines three of looks.
over the last four seasons, A Detroit native, Morgan
iey've lost each time. will also look to impress on his
t year, following a nar- home court of sorts.
oss to then-No. 8 Michi- "Yeah, it's cool to go play in
ate and a victory against The Palace, I've never played
No. 7 Tennessee in Knox- there before," Morgan said
Tenn., Oakland came after last week's win against
risler Arena and took Iowa State. "I've seen games
-point loss on the chin there before, so it'll be a new
st Michigan. experience."
s Saturday afternoon, Another relatively new addi-
e will get another crack tion to Oakland's roster is for-
Wolverines, when Michi- mer Michigan guard Laval
nd Oakland will tip off Lucas-Perry, who was dis-
the bright lights of The missed from the Wolverines
at Auburn Hills. prior to the 2010-11 season for
kand's a tremendous undisclosed disciplinary rea-
tball program with a Hall sons. Lucas-Perry transferred
me-type coach as far as before last season's matchup,
een their only coach there but this is the first year he's eli-
r," said Michigan coach gible to play for the Grizzles.
Beilein. Though Lucas-Perry hasn't
been shooting the ball particu-
larly well so far this season. His
ability to get into the lane off
the dribble allows him to draw
fouls and get to the line often.
He's also an above-average
rebounder whom Michigan's
guards will have to box out.
The Wolverines' main con-
cern on defense will be con-
taining fifth-year senior Reggie
Hamilton, easily the Grizzlies'
most prolific scorer with 20.1
points per game.
Last season, the 5-foot-11
point guard lit up the Wolver-
ines for 23 points.
Granted, some of Hamil-
ton's production in last season's
contest was because guards
sagged off of him to help defend
against Benson and Hudson in
the post. The numbers don't lie
- Hamilton launched a whop-
ping 14 shots from behind the
arc in that game and made all
six of his team's 3-point field
goals.
This year, Michigan's focus
will be on Hamilton. Freshman
point guard Trey Burke will
likely guard him for most of the
game, a tremendous opportu-
nity for the young stud to show
Beilein that he could be a pre:-
mier on-ball defender.
But don't be surprised if
Beilein goes to the bench fre-
quently to call on senior guard
Stu Douglass to give Burke
some rest. The co-captain has
been in a shooting slump all
season, knocking down just 28
percent of his 3-pointers so far,
but he's still considered Michi-
gan's top perimeter defender.
In Beilein's world, a good
defense leads to a good offense.
tester break. This weekend
the season's halfway point
last game action the Wol-
will see before the Great
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