,, u r v: ,1 fi ' f' a, rl ~. 1 y I M F. { n 4ni 1 O4_: ,~ The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, December 7, 2012 - 7 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Friday, December 7, 2D12 - 7 Unbeaten Blue hosts Hogs Better days ahead for Daley, Michigan By DANIEL WASSERMAN Daily Sports Writer When the. Michigan basketball team traveled to Fayetteville, Ark. for a midseason tilt against the Razorbacks last season, it didn't know what it was in for. No matter how much Michi- gan prepared for the speed and ferocity of Arkansasat the middling Michigan SEC foe, Arkan- sas stormed out Matchup: to a 29-10 lead Arkansas 4-3; - making its Michigan 8-0 first 11 shots - When: Satur- before the Wol- day 12 P.M. verines could Where: even blink. Crisler Arena Arkansas TV/Radio: stretched its CBS lead to 20 in the first half and led by 13 with under seven min- utes left before Michigan's frantic comeback ended with then-fresh- man Trey Burke missing a would- be game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Most fans remember Zack Novak's hard foul on B.J. Young as he attempted a fast-break dunk during the 66-64 Arkansas vic- tory, but when asked about the game on Tuesday, Burke shook his head. All he could remember was the way the game started. "We weren't prepared for that," he said. "No matter how much we prepared in practice, Arkansas' pressure is tough. They're a real- ly good team. They're long and active - very athletic." Michigan coach John Beilein, known for his X's and O's and the way he readies his teams in prac- tice, ajso hasn't forgotten how the game opened. "I haven't watched much tape," Beilein said of last year's contest. "All I know is (it was) a blur last year, the first few minutes. Our defensive transition, with our scout team ... was not like guard- ALDEN Sophomore guard Trey Burke failed to hit a 3-painter at the buzzer last year against Arkansas to win the game. ing them." But Novak is gone, and instead of playing in the hostile Bud Walton Arena, the game will be played at home in Crisler Center, where the Wolverines (8-0) have won 24 of their last 26 games. And that Michigan team last year wasn't the No. 3 team in the nation, and didn't have the trio of freshmen - guard Nik Stauskas and forwards Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary - that have turned the Wolverines into a for- midable transition offense capa- ble of scoring points in bunches. That was something that stuck out to Kansas State coach Bruce Weber, who spent the previous nine seasons at Illinois, after Michigan beat the Wildcats in the NIT Season Tip-Off two weeks r ago. "They are their best in transi- tion," Weber said. "In the years I've watched (Beilein's) teams and competed against them, he went from walking the ball up, grind- ing it out, to now their best thing is their transition." In last year's game, Burke scored 13 points but shot just6-of- 19 from the floor while junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. was held to nine points on 3-of-8 shoot- ing. Redshirt junior forward Jor- dan Morgan had one of the most efficient offensive games of his career, scoring 16 points on 7-of- 11 shooting while pulling down six boards. Young, who returned later in last year's contest after Novak's flagrant foul, scored 15 points and currently leads the Razorbacks (4-3) with 19.5 points. Forward Marshawn Powell, who missed most of last year, includ- ing the Michigan game, after knee surgery, is second on the team with 16.1 points but burst onto the scene with a 33-point outing in an upset over Oklahoma on Tuesday. The win snapped a three-game skid for Arkansas, which included losses to Wisconsin and a 91-82 barnburner against No. 4 Syra- cuse. Despite the mediocre record, the Razorbacks average a whop- ping 82.1 points per game and, with their intense defensive pres- sure, force more than18 turnovers per game - nine of them coming off of steals that help Arkansas counter quickly in transition. But with a more experienced Burke, and ateam more apt to not just handle a high-tempo play- ing style, but excel at, Michigan might even be able to beat the Razorbacks at their owngame. Still, Beilein is still approach- ing the game with an air of cau- tion. "They're going to really force the tempo," he said. "We'll find out (if we're more ready than last year). They run up and'down on everybody. "We're going to simulate the best we can, and then hopefully we can adjust as well as we did last year, but just not get down early." Most NCAA soccer teams could liken their season to a roller-coaster ride, but for the Michigan men's soccer team, its 2012 campaign was quite the opposite. Michigan coach Chaka Daley and hissquad started their sea- son at the top of the JEREMY hill with SUMMITT their hands in the air, On Men's Soccer heading down a 70-degree drop at rough- ly 60 miles per hour. The Wolverines were defeated in five of their first seven games, a disastrous beginning to a new era of Michigan soccer. A team who had been to the national semifinal just two years ago seemed to be heading for another rebuilding year. Many players were putting forth sufficient effort, but ques- tioning if they could actually get positive results midway through the season. But against Ohio State, in one of the most impor- tant matches of the season, that 70-degree drop seemed to sub- side at least for a moment. A thrilling, double-overtime victory against the Buckeyes generated confidence back into the Michigan squad, leadingto its first multi-game unbeaten streak. "The goal (for the season) was to instill a culture of consistently winning," Daley said. "Growth throughout the season is very important to us." It should be noted that the unbeaten stretch stemmed from three home games, while the Wolverines often struggled away from Ann Arbor. In the next two games, both on the road, Michi- gan fell short to Wisconsin and No. 3 Akron. Searching for answers in the midst of a 4-7-1 record, the Wol- verines stormed into Blooming- ton for their first road win in what the team called one of the turning points of the season. Michigan had a minor lapse against Bowling Green a few days later, possibly an emotional hang- over from the well-earned vic- tory at Indiana. But following the tough loss at home, Michigan rat- tled off five straight wins en route to the Big Ten Tournament final. "We allowed our guys not to be mediocre anymore," Daley said. "We had a tough season and they didn't play to the final whistle. Losing to Bowling Green was the big wake up call." In an attempt to reach the .500 mark - required to qualify for an NCAA Tournament bid - the Wolverines needed to win their first match of the Big Ten Tourna- ment, which they did. Later that weekend, a crushing defeat at the hands of Michigan State could have sent Michigan back down that same hill they started on. But with the strength derived from previous adversity, the team responded with composure. It grew a vast amount from the beginning to the end, just like Daley expects out of his teams. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, down one goal with 30 minutes remaining, junior midfielder Fabio Pereira surely lived up to expectations by scor- ing a hat trick in just seven min- utes. Propelling the Wolverines into the next round of the tournament was an amazing feeling, Pereira said. In one of the most entertaining games of the season, Michigan finally fell to Akron in the second round to end a remarkable late- season run. The Wolverines believe they have the confidence and talent to build off of that late success and turn it into next year's early-sea- son momentum. i., VOLLEYBALL Spartans next in Sweet 16 M' hockey lines in flux By GREG GARNO play a team that's an hour away," Daily Sports Writer said junior outside hitter Molly Toon. "I think it's definitely going The Michigan volleyball team to be a fun game, but at this point has harped on its strong confer- it's just another team in the way." ence schedule all year, explaining For some Wolverines, Friday's that it would pay off in December. contest will be more than just Now that it's December, that another postseason game, it will strength couldn't be more evident be a homecoming, as freshman after six of seven Big Ten teams libero Tiffany Morales and junior that made the defensive specialist Ally Sabol NCAA Tourna- h hail from the Golden State. ment advanced Morales opted to have her par- to the Sweet 16. VS. MSU ents wait a weekend and skip the Deep into Matchup: trip to Louisville to see her play in the tourna- Michigan person. Now, the member of the ment, Michi- 25-11; MSU All-Big Ten freshman team will gan , will also 17-9 have the opportunity to see her face an oppo- When: Fri- family and friends this weekend. . nent its already day, 8 P.M. "My parents asked me 'So, do seen twice this Where: you want us to come?' " Morales season. More Berkeley, said. importantly, it 'Calif. Morales told them, "I have faces an in-state confidence in my team and I know rival, Michigan you have confidence in my team. I State, putting more pressure on a believe we're going to make it to team that looks to continue its hot you guys next week."' streak. Morales has been a solid defen- Or so you would think. sive player for Michigan during "I'm not throwing coaching its late-season run. The libero led cliches out there, but to me in the her team in digs in both postsea- NCAA Tournament it's just about son games with 19 against Ten- advancing," said Michigan coach nessee and 17 against Louisville. Mark Rosen. "I don't care if we're The Wolverines hope to con- playing a team we've never played tinue to ride the strong play of before or a team we're playing junior outside hitter Lexi Erwin right up the street, like (Michi- and Toon for offensive produc- gan State). We need to advance. tion- the pair accounted for half Everybody becomes your rival." of the team's points in both post- On Friday, the Wolverines will season matches. compete in their fifth regional Erwin, the team leader in kills semifinal in program history this season, has not let off the when they face off against the gas against the strongest confer- Spartans, following victories over ence in the country. On Tuesday, Tennessee and No. 9 Louisville the American Volleyball Coaches the previous weekend. Ironi- Association selected Erwin as cally, though, Michigan will have an honorable mention to the All- to travel across the country to Mideast Region team after she Berkeley, Calif. to face Michigan was named a member of the All- State, instead of driving an hour Big Ten team last week. up I-96 to face the Spartans. Toon, on the other hand, has The Wolverines split the series recently become a more consis- against the Spartans this season, tent force after waitingto find her losing at home in straight sets place during Michigan's offensive before winning in straight sets in renovations. Toon took advantage East Lansing to close out the sea- of the Cardinals' smaller blockers son. Michigan trails the all-time in Friday's game. series, 47-36, though neither team "I think (my performance) has has played the other in the post- been building up the entire year," season. Toon said. "I don't think it was "It's kind of funny having to go one thing that just switched. Its all the way across the country to just all come together in the end." Junior middle blocker Jen- nifer Cross was named to the AVCA All-Mideast Region team Tuesday after playing in every set this season. Along with freshman middle blocker Krystalyn Goode, opposing teams have no relief for a force at the middle of the net. Michigan State runs a 6-2 offense that features three hit- ters,.making blocking more of a challenge against teams that rely on'just a pair. However, the duo has combined for 267 total blocks throughout the season, enough for over half of the Wolverines' total. One area of concern for Michi- gan will be its serving errors. During the first and second rounds, Michigan struggled to keep the ball in play, which ended runs or allowed the momentum to shift. The Wolverines had nine serving errors in both games, but that doesn't surprise the veteran coach. "We're going to miss some serves because we're going to serve aggressively," Rosen said. "I didn't really feel like there was any point in the two matches where I felt like that was getting away from us, but we need to keep serving tough. I never think we're good enough. I always think we have things to improve on." Michigan would play the win- ner of the match between No. 15 Iowa State and No. 2 Stanford game on Saturday night should it advance. The idea of adjusting quickly doesn't frighten the Wolverines, though, who are accustomed to making quick changes or adjust- ing on bus rides between confer- ence games. Michigan (25-11) won't be the only Big Ten team to play a con- ference foe in the tournament. Minnesota travels to Purdue to face the Boilermakers with the winner advancing to possibly face Penn State. "People say all the time, like Tennessee's coach before the match, 'The SEC is so much more like the Big Ten now,' " Rosen said. "But in the back of my mind I'm going 'No. You're not.' By MICHAEL LAURILA Daily Sports Writer The offensive line chart that Michigan coach Red Berenson put out Saturday night in the series finale against Ferris State night didn't look even remotely similar to the one he posted when the Michigan hockey team opened up its season on Oct.11. Even compared to the line chart in the Wolverines' 5-0 loss the night before, there were glar- ing differences. But sudden, multiple changes to Michigan's offensive personnel have been a common trend this season. Berenson has continuous- ly mixed and matched different forwards in an effort to produce more quality play. "We're looking for who , can help (each) linegetbetter," Beren- son said. "It might be offensively or defensively, but it gives you a new life sometimes when you get a new player on the line. If we were playing really rock-solid as a team night after night, I wouldn't be changing lines." Heading into last weekend's contest with the Bulldogs, Michi- gan had been stagnant on both offense and defense. Spanning back to a Nov. 10 loss at Michi- gan State, the Wolverines have gone 1-4, scoring just six goals while allowing 22. The offense, which had been one of the top in the nation earlier in the year, had faltered, and the defense had allowed 3.46 goals per game on the year. Though Saturday's switch worked offensively - the Wol- verines scored three goals in less than two minutes during the first period - the defensive effort still wasn't completely effective. Whether it was the fault of fresh- man netminder Steve Racine or poor defensive-zone coverage, which has plagued Michigan all season, Ferris State was able to rally in the second and third peri- ods to tie up the game with three unanswered goals. Surprisingly, Berenson has consistently said that the Wolver- ines' defensive struggles are just as much a result of forwards' mis- cues as defensemen's miscues. Senior forward Kevin Lynch played alongside two other seniors last weekend. "I think coach is stressing the importance of defense right now," said senior forward Kevin Lynch. "As long as we're not giving up goals, that's the most important thing..I think he's still just 'try- ing to focus on the defensive part of the game - backchecking hard and cutting things down in. the defensive zone and then the offense will come." Berenson has also touched on the production of the lines as a whole. Senior forward A.J. Treais who leads Michigan in scoring with 10 goals - more than double anybody else on the team - has led the top line all season. The rest of the offense has been decid- edly hot or cold, either scoring in bunches or not scoring at all. Though Treais has been mixed and matched with various players, his line on Saturday of Lynch and senior Lindsay Sparks accounted for four points with two goals and two assists. The third and fourth lines, which usually provide little pro- duction, have been almost nonex- istent. Freshman forward Justin Selman has two goals during the last sevengames and he isthe only player from the third and fourth lines to notch a goal during that stretch. Though the expectations for the third and fourth lines are lower than the top lines as they tend to be comprised of younger players, production from them can rally the veteran players to play harder and more inspired. "We played the last two games and at least three players have scored their first goal of the sea- son against us," Berenson said. "That's the fourth line guys that are scoring. ... We're expecting (Treais) to be an offensive play- er but we're also expecting the other guys that are playing regu- larly to chip in with the odd goal when they get a chance. You can't keep playing and never score and expectto be a plus player." Lynch said that Berenson likes to mix up lines early in the season to see "how much chemistry they have." The coaching staff has shown all year that being a plus player - having more goals scored than allowed when you are on the ice - is important. And with the defense giving up a conference- high 3.45 goals per game, play- ing both ways will continue to be the only way for Michigan to cut down on the goals against.