The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Monday, January 28, 2013.-- 3B

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Monday, January 28, 2013 - 3B

MICHIGAN
ATHLETICS
SCOREBOARD

What is Michigan
hockey?

LAST W.EEK
{ THURSDAY (JAN. 24)
Men's Basketball: Michigan 68, Purdue 53
WoRDen's Basketball: Michigan 61, Indiana 43
Mn's TenR s Mchigan 4, Santa Clara 1
Women's Water Polo: Stanford 11, Michigan 2
Women's Swimming: Michigan174, Michigan
State 120
Men's Ice Hockey: Western Michigan 3, Michi-
gan2
S A TU RD AY (J A N. 26)
Women's Tennis: Michigan 7, Brown 0
Women's Water Polo: San Jose State 9, Michi.
gan 4
Men's Tennis: California 4, Michigan 3
Women's Track: Michigan89, Michigan State 73
Men's Track: Michigan 88, Michigan State 74
Women's Water Polo: California14, Michigan 7
Women's Gymnastics: Minnesota196.800,
Michigan 196.775
Men's Gymnastics: Michigan 439.750, Stanford
429.350
Men'sIceHockey:WesternMichigan5,Michi-
ganl
SUNDAY (JAN. 27)
Women's Basketball: Iowa 63, Michigan 57
Wresting: Michigan23,Northwestern 13
Women'sTennis:Michigan 4,SouthCaroina0
Men's Basketball:Michigan74,Illinois60
N E X T W E E K
WEDNESDAY (JA N. 30)
Men's Basketball: Michigan vs, Northwestern
6:30 p.m. ( )
T H U RSDAY ( JA N. 31)
WoRen's Basketball: Michigan at Minnesota 7
p.m. CT (Minneapolis)
FRIDAY (FEB. 1)
Women's Tennis: Michigan vs. Tennessee 3:30
plm.() '
Women's Track: Michigan at Notre Dame Meyo
Mes Track NoDre Dame Myo Invitational4 p.m.
(YSut RITA)
MIns Swimming: Michigan vs. Ohio State 5
p.T. (')
Men's Ice Hockey: Michigan vs. Michigan State
6:35 p.m. (')
Wrstling: Michigan at Indiana 7 p.m..(BlooRD-
Men's Tennis: Michigan vs. Princeton 7 p.m. ()
SATURDAY (FEB. 2)
Women's Track: Michigan at Notre Dame Meyo
Invitational 10 a.m. (South Bend)
Men's Track: Michigan at Notre Dame Meyo IDnvi-
tationa 10 atm. (South RITd)
Men's Siming: Michigan vs. Ohio State 12
.p.m.()
Men's Lacrosse: Michigan vs. Marquette 1 p.m. (')
Women's Gymnastics: Michigan vs. Iowa 4
P.')
Men's Ice Hockey: Michigan at Michigan State
MIn's Lrosse: Michigan vs. Denison 4:30
p.m.)(')
Men's Gymnastics: Michigan vs. California 7
P.D. (')
Men's Basketball: Michigan at Indiana 9 p.m
(Bloomington)
S U NDAY (F EB. 3)
Men's Tennis: Michigan vs. Wake Forest t am ())
Wrestling: Michigan at Purdue I pm (West ,
Lafayette)
Women's Tennis: Michigan at North Caroina 1 pm
(Chapel Hill)
- (')All home events are eligible to earn points
BIG TEN MEN'S
BASKETBALL
STANDINGS
Bia Ten Overall
Michigan 6-1 19- 1
Indiana 6-1 18- 2
Michigan State 6-2 17- 4
Ohio State 5-2 15- 4
Wisconsin 5-2 14- 6
Purdue 4-3 11- 9
* Minnesota 3-4 15- 5
Northwestern 3- 5 12- 9
Ilinois 2- 5 15- 6
Iowa 2-5 13- 7
Nebraska 2-6 11- 10

Penn State 0-8 8 - 12
FOLLOW'
US ON
TWITTER,
@theblockm
 @blockmbball
@blockmhockey
@blockmfootball

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Freshman forward Andrew Copp scored a power-play goal on Saturday, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Wolverines.
Another week, another sweep

Western Michigan
takes both games
for the first time
since 1986
By MICHAEL LAURILA
DaiUX Sports Editor
KALAMAZOO - Not once,
but twice did the Michigan hock-
ey team squander a first-period
lead against Western Michigan
this weekend.
During Friday's contest, the
Wolverines opened up the game
with a 2-0
lead in the MICHIGAN 2
first six WMU 3
minutes,
only to end MICHIGAN 1
up falling WMU 5
3-2 to the
Broncos. Saturday night's game
wasn't much-different as Michi-
gan took a 1-0 lead into the first
intermission, and again, it didn't
capitalize in a 5-1 loss to complete
the sweep.
"Last night we had a good
start, but then we got behind
in the second period and we
couldn't answer"the bell in the
third period," said Michigan
coach Red Berenson on Satur-
day. "Tonight the second period
was our Achilles heel. We needed
the first goal in the third period
and we never even had a scoring
chance."
The strong first period wasn't
enough for the Wolverines (5-12-
2 CCHA, 8-15-2 overall) to get
going on Saturday, as they went
on to allow three second-period
goals to Western Michigan (11-4-
2,15-6-4).
After Friday's game, which
wasn't overly physical or chippy,
Saturday night had a differ-
ent feel just 34 seconds into the
game. Sophomore forward Alex
Guptill and freshman defense-

man Jacob Trouba were both
given two-minute penalties for
roughing after the whistle along
with Western Michigan's Luke
Witkowski and Nolan Laporte.
This series of events that almost
led to a fight started when Gup-
till and Witkowski nearly came
to blows following a stoppage of
play. All four players were sent to
the box, but neither team played
with a man down.
With Guptill and Trouba still
in the box, sophomore defense-
man Mike Szuma picked up a
tripping penalty, sending the
Wolverines on their first penalty
kill of the night. Michigan's pen-
alty killers, who held the CCHA's
top power-play unit scoreless on
Friday, continued to have success
against the Broncos.
The Wolverines went on their
second power play of the night
with 4:35 remaining in the first
period and freshman forward
Andrew Copp tallied his fourth
goal of the season only nine sec-
onds into the man-advantage.
The play was setup by a faceoff
win by senior forward A.J. Treais
deep in the Broncos' zone to start
off the power play. Despite many
good chances by Western Michi-
gan, Michigan would take the 1-0'
lead intothe first intermission.
With 15:52 left in the second
period, the Broncos got on the
board after a soft slap shot that
was partially deflected found its
way past junior goaltender Adam
Janecyk, tying up the game at
one. When senior defenseman
Lee Moffie took a penalty less
than a minute later, Western
Michigan put in its first power-
play goal of the series to give the
Broncos their first lead of the
game. This livened up the crowd
and took away any of the Wolver-
ines' momentum completely.
"It's a game of momentum,"
Berenson said. "We didn't hold
the momentum and we couldn't
recover the momentum."

The Wolverines had a chance
to tie up the game with 4:56
remaining in the period when
freshman forward Cristoval
"Boo" Nieves flicked a pass to a
rushing sophomore defenseman
Mike Chiasson, who had a wide-
open look, but he misplayed the
puck and barely got off a shot.
Offensive miscues were a com-
mon theme for the Wolverines
this weekend. Whether it was a
missed-timed shot, or a missed
open net, the Wolverines failure
to capitalize plagued them dur-
ing both losses.
Ninety seconds after the miss,
Western Michigan continued to
make the best of its chances on a
3-on-2 fast break, when forward
Colton Hargrove buried his sec-
ond goal of the series off of a one-
timer. Hargrove's goal made the
score 3-I and would conclude the
scoring for the second period.
After the three-goal second
period, the Broncos weren't done
- they scored two goals in the
first four minutes of the third
frame to extend the lead to four
goals, crushing any hope that
Michigan had of making a come-
back.
"Teams and leaders step up
when adversity conies our way,
especially when a team gets two
quick goals like they did today,"
Copp said. "Obviously it's a
momentum shift for them, but we
need to answer that right back."
After the fifth goal allowed
Berenson pulled Janecyk for
freshman Jared Rutledge. Beren-
son said that the decision to
replace Janecyk was a combina-
tion of trying to get Rutledge -
who hadn't appeared in a game
since Jan. 4 when Michigan was
defeated by the U.S. NDTP team
- playing time and also getting
Janecyk out of a bad situation.
The Wolverines will be back
in action next weekend on Friday
night against Michigan State at
Yost Ice Arena.

KALAMAZOO -
How do you kna
you're playing
gan hockey?
It's one of those phrat
coaches and players like
throw around, but a diff
one to define. It's genera
to encompass everythin,
about the Wolverines, at
as a rallying cry to unite
under a common theme.
But after
yet another
Michigan
loss - this
time, a5-1
decision to
Western
Michigan
on Saturday
night - it's LIZ
becoming VUKE
pretty clear
that a full 60
minutes of Michigan ho
nowhere to be found.
At this point, it's prob
easier to instead ask: ho'
know when you're not p
Michigan hockey.
You know you're not
Michigan hockeywhen
taking a lead after a dom
first 20 minutes of play,
next response is to open
floodgates to an abunda
opponent's goals.
You know you're not
Michigan hockey when
Red Berenson - who us
tries to find some sort of
lining in any scenario -
out after a
game and
does nothing
but shake his ]
head.
And you g
definitely
know you're n
not playing
Michigan
hockey when
you get swept
in a com-
manding fashion by a te
hasn't done that against
Wolverines since Feb. 22
a defeat that also mathe
tally eliminates any pos
ofwinning the regular-t
CCHA championship -
that was ever in the pict
The last time the Bro
walked away with six pt
from a weekend with th
verines, Berenson was o
his second year of coach
Michigan finished that s
with a .316 winning per
and bowed out early fro'
CCHA Tournament in t
round.
After this weekend, t
son is lookingto shape o
same way it did 27 years
And considering there a
many reasons for Michi1
predicament, that's hart

some to accept.
ow when There were justifications for
Michi- everything atcthe beginning of
the season. First it was the goal-
ses ies, then the injuries, then the
to poor defensive-zone coverage,
icult then the stagnant offense. But
lly used now, the days of rationalizing
g good loss after loss are gone.
nd acts "Im tired of giving excuses,"
players Berenson said, exasperated.
"We can't keep giving excuses."
The veteran coach has been
careful not to place blame on
particular individuals all sea-
son. Instead, he chastises the
collective group, like the for-
ward corps or defensemen.
But on Saturday, he sent very
clear message to specific indi-
viduals.
"Our good teams have always
sLICH been ledhby our seniors and
juniors," Berenson said. "The
pressure is on the leadership of
ckey is ourupperclassmen. I've always
said you're as good asyour
ably senior class. If your senior class
w do you is not strong, you're not goingto
laying have a strong team."
This weekend, it was the
playing freshmen that stole the show.
even On Friday, Boo Nieves weaved
tinating through a mass of Broncos, and
your then dangled the puck before
the dishing it to sophomore Phil Di
nce of Giuseppe, who buried it in the
back of the net. Andrew Copp
playing capitalized on Michigan's power
coach play early on Saturday to give
ually Michigan a lead going into the
silver first intermission.
comes Since starting their careers as
Wolverines,
these fresh-
men haven't
There were ever had a
chance to see
limpses, but what true
r Michigan
ot a full 60 hockey is all
about.Yet,
minutes they're carry-
ing the sense
of urgency the
upperclass-
am that men seemed to have lost - or
the indefinitely misplaced.
,1986, There were glimpses of it this
mati- weekend, such as the penalty-
sibility kill unit that held the CCHA's
season best power play to a single shot
not that during one of the Broncos' man
ure. advantages. But those glimpses
ncos aren't translating into a full 60
tints minutes.
e Wol- Next up on the Wolverines'
nly in slate is a home-and-home
ing. series with Michigan State in
eason the CCHA Battle For Not-Last
centage Place. And if a confrontation
m the with a bitter rival to keep their
he first heads above water isn't enough
to light the Wolverines' fire,
his sea- then maybe this is the new
lut the Michigan hockey.
ago.
re so - Vukelich can be reached
gan's at elizavuk@umich.edu and
d for on Twitter @LizVkelich


MICHIGAN
From Page 1B
Sometimes they might be on scout
team and we notice them beat-
ing us sometimes on the drills.
They're great players and they
just need to keep doing what
they're doing."
Sunday's game marked Hor-
ford's third game back from his
injury, and though Beilein has felt
that Horford still isn't 100 per-
cent, he's been impressed with his
progression so far.
"For him to get to where he
needs to be, (Horford) needs to
get reps in both practice and in
games," Beilein said. "Because
of injuries, it's been tough to get
him the reps he needs. He needs
high.volume of reps.... I thought
he played really well the other day
against Purdue (and) practiced
really well the last couple days.
He's got enough volume right now
where we felt he could play, and
with Jordan hurt, it expedited it."
But with Morgan in warmups
and Horford in to start the second
half, the Illini (2-5, 15-6) made
some important adjustments.
Instead of settling for outside
shots - Illinois took 15 3-pointers
in the first half alone - it started
driving to the basket with much
success.
Early in the second stanza,
Illini guards Tracy Abrams, Bran-
don Paul and D.J. Richardson
led Illinois on a quick 5-0 run to

pull within five. The trio was eas-
ily able to drive to the basket and
draw fouls - all nine free throw
attempts for Illinois came in the
second half - and combined for
37 of the Illini's 60 total points.
But the Wolverines responded
with a long run of their own to
finalize the 14-point victory. Led
by Burke, Michigan extended its
lead to as much as 18 points late
in the second half. Burke finished
with a game-high 19 points, and
four of the Wolverines' starters
finished in double figures. Rob-
inson and Stauskas each tallied
14 points, and junior guard Tim
Hardaway Jr. added 12 points.
As a result of the Wolverines'
push, Illinois was forced to speed
up its offense and shoot from
beyond the arc. The Illini finished
at a 24-percent clip from three,
continuing its poor shooting from
the field, and the Wolverines'
defense forced 15 turnovers by
forcing Illinois into a faster-paced
offense.
"The numbers Illinois hit had
a lot to do with a great, tough
attitude by our defense," Beilein
said. "(But) because a lot of my
teams have been based on three
point shooting, sometimes it's
just a matter of having one game
where a couple guys hit a shot and
it gives everybody confidence.
My teams have had incredible
dry spells at times, and when you
play that way, it can get difficult
at times. ...They'll shoot their way
out of it eventually."

RANKING
From Page 1B
last week, the Wolverines were
offered another opportunity to
seize that desired top ranking.
Only Michigan did more than
that with its victory. The Wol-
verines demonstrated that they
could handle the hype, that the
target on their back hadn't got-
ten too big. They played like a
much-improved team from two
weeks ago.
Michigan came out with life
on Sunday. The guards pushed
the ball, and the bigs played
the aggressors on the glass.
And most important of all, the
freshmen rose to the occasion.
Swingman Nik Stauskas led
the team with nine early points,
and together with forwards
Glenn Robinson III and Mitch
McGary, the first-year play-
ers accounted for more than
half of the team's 35 first-half
points. The difference between
two weeks ago and Sunday was
apparent to sophomore guard
Trey Burke.
"I think the freshmen did a
good job of stepping up and not
playing out of control," Burke
said. "They stayed poised"
But that wasn't all. When
redshirt junior forward Jor-
dan Morgan exited with a
sprained ankle just minutes
into the game, the reserve for-
wards came off the bench to

play a
MtG
forwo
shirt;
Bielfe
and 1
board
Th
tightl
yet, M
doubt
Su
(mine

huge role in his absence. "It's Jan. 27 and not one of
ary, redshirt sophomore you in here can remember who
ard Jon Horford and red- was No. 1 last Jan. (27)," he said.
freshman forward Max "So to our team, that (ranking)
eldt combined for 17 points really does not make a big dif-
4 rebounds, including eight ference. I'm sure to a lot of our
Is on the offensive end. fans at water coolers and in
is should have been a coffee shops, and to people who
[y contested matchup, and love Michigan and hate Michi-
dichigan turned in another gan, it's probably something
le-digit victory. that they hate or they love right
re, Illinois is no Ohio State now"
d you, Illinois did beat the Yes, it's coach-speak, clighd
to the max. But it's true. The
rankings mean nothing. The
Wolverines showed they are
No one ever continually improving, and
that's a scary thought for the
nembers who rest of the country.
So don't get hung up on that
vas No. 1in number, the new digit that will
assuredly loom large likely posi-
j tioned next to Michigan's name
come Monday.
Try to forget about that
No. 1 ranking - because the
eyes by 19 points three Wolverines certainly have.

ren

Buck(

weeks ago), buta road win in
the Big Ten is a road win in the
Big Ten, especially when you
have a large target on your back
and a possible No. S ranking in
your sights.
But to the Wolverines, it isn't
about the rankings.
It's not about where they
stand now, but about where
they'll stand come March. It's
about winning on the road and
growing as a team.
Beilein might have said that
best following Sunday's victory.

Braid can be reached at
sgbraid@umich.edu
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