8 - Friday, January 11, 2013

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Michigan set to
face Wisconsin

Redshirt junior Dan Yates looks to continue his early season success against the top competition of the Big Ten. Yates is 6-0 in dual meet competition this year.~
Grueling sch eduWe awaits"'

By MAX COHEN working on ensuring the team is
Daily Sports Writer healthy and at its peak during this
--- - difficult stretch.
Having completed its non- "It's going to take us stay-
conference portion of the season, ing focused every afternoon
a stretch littered with dual-meet and practice," McFarland said.
victories and tournament disap- "Obviously, we're going to run up
pointments, the true test for a against some stiff competition, so
young Michigan wrestling team we're goingto have to be ready for
lies ahead. For the next four those matches."
weeks, the Wolverines will have In order to prepare for the
Big Ten meets every Friday and staunch competition of the Big
Sunday - a daunting task when Ten, the Wolverines scheduled
the competition and travel are top competition in the early por-
considered. tion of the schedule.
"Not only is the competition McFarland pointed to the tal-
tough, but the travel is tough as ent-heavy tournaments Michi-
well," said Michigan coach Joe gan has competed in, such as the
McFarland. "You've just got to try Cliff Keen Invitational and the
and grind it out." Midlands Championships, as key
Facing seven ranked oppo- experiences for his wrestlers.
nents in eight Big Ten dual meets "If you look at our schedule
immediately followed by the from November through the
Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships, there's
NCAA Championships, the Wol- not alot of fluff," McFarland said.
verines will be training on a grind So far this season, the Wolver-
from now until the end of the sea- ines have performed well, finish-
son. ing non-conference dual meets
Each week, Michigan will at 6-1, their best start since the
prepare for both of its weekend 2007-2008 season. But perhaps
meets with an added emphasis on even more encouraging for Mich-
the Friday match. With two prac- igan is its winning record against
tices a day and two meets every nationally-ranked opponents.
weekend, the coaching staff is "I think a lot of the guys are

looking forward
know we're a rea
meet team," said
Dan Yates. "We re
each other and pu
level when we're
mat."
Yates attrib-
uted the close-
ness of the
team as a
potential key
to success as
the Wolver-
ines progress
through their
difficult sched-
ule.
"We've really
and it's like one bi,
said. "So I feel li
fun is definitely
prepare (our teat
stay through that
of grinding, grindi
where you break
and they don't w
anymore, a lot of
love training hard.
The Big Ten du
will serve as a nev
the young Michige
has had nine wrest
varsity debuts this

because they
illy strong dual
redshirt junior
ally get behind
ush to the next
in a dual for-

Despite the dearth of wrestlers
who have experienced the con-
ference wrestling schedule, many
have fared well to this point, and
the Wolverines believe they are
prepared for what lies ahead.
"The tournaments we've had
and the duals

By ALEXA DETI
Daily SportsI
In its first two Bid
the Michigan won
ball team has madei
its early success has
best start in progran
The Wolverines'
matchup came aga
on Jan. 3 in a domi
victory. Michigan's{
13-2 overall) sec-
ond conference
victory was a
close 68-64 deci-
sion over Iowa,
led by senior cen-
ter Rachel Shef-
fer's career-best
26 points.
On Sunday
afternoon, the
Wolverines will
host Wiscon-
sin (0-2, 8-7),
which will prove
to be their hardes
opponent yet. Desp
pointing start to th
Badgers have more
their record indicate
"I think this groi
in this program ar
cial," said Michigar
Barnes Arico. "Ant
of five seniors, wh
together for four y
to go out and do so
has never been done
before."
In order to contin
success, the Wolveri
tinue to rely on thei
Sheffer, guard Jem
forward Kate Tho
Michigan in scorin
average double-digi
game. Guard Nya
forward Sam Arno
tribute heavily to th
through 15 games,
accounts for 79 pe
offense.
Leading the way
Thompson, who no
country in 3-pointer
with 3.96 and avera
per game. On defe
and sophomore for
Elmblad have help
rebounding issues

TELBACH more than 12 combined rebounds
Writer per game.
Like the Wolverines, Wis-
g Ten games, consin has been plagued with
hen's basket- early season injuries, but unlike
it look easy - Michigan, the Badgers have been
led it to the unable to find help from their
o history. other players, resulting in its
first Big Ten slow start.
inst Indiana As the Wolverines look for
nating 65-48 their ninth straight win, they
(2-0 Big Ten, will have to find an answer on
defense to match the firepower
Wisconsin of the Badgers' scoring trio. Led
at Michigan by junior guard Morgan Paige's
16.5 points per game and sopho-
Matchup: , more guard Jacki Gulczynski's 11
Wisconsin 8-7;points per game and six rebounds
Michigan 13-2 per game, Wisconsin is a lethal
When: Sun- opponent.
day 2 P.M. The third scorer of the trio is
Where: usually sophomore guard Taylor
Crisler Arena Wurtz, who averages 12.6 points
TV/Radio: per game and seven rebounds per
BTN game, but Wurtz is out because
she had back surgery at the
beginning of last week.
t conference "We need a third scorer, and
pite a disap- we don't have that with (Wurtz)
e season, the out," said Wisconsin coach Bob-
talent than bie Kelsey. "It hasn't manifested
es. itself as of yet. But we're still
up of players looking, and we hope we will get
e really spe- that person going here soon."
n coach Kim In addition, the Wolverines
d this group have to look out for the Badgers'
o have been junior forward Cassie Rochel,
'ears, (want) who averages 2.8 blocks per
mething that game, good for first in the Big
at Michigan Ten and 15th in the nation. Mich-
igan did a good job of blocking
ue their early the lanes against Iowa's Morgan
nes will con- Johnson, but Rochel, at 6-foot-4,
five seniors. will prove to be a much harder
ay Ryan and opponent to contain.
mpson lead "Because we are limited in the
rg, all three post, we can't leave our kids one
it points per on one," Kelsey said. "Containing
Jordan and (Michigan's) scorers is crucial to
Ad also con- our success."
e offense and As the Badgers look to win
the quintet their first Big Ten game of the
rcent of the season, the Wolverines will fight
to remain unbeaten in confer-
on offense is ence play and continue improv-
aw leads the ing upon their best start in
's per contest program history.
ges 16 points "The number-one goal is to
nse, Jordan get that Big Ten Championship
ward Nicole and hang that Big Ten banner,"
ed quell the Thompson said. "That's what we
by adding want to do."

0

we've had
are not easy,"
"We want to said freshman
.Rossi Bruno.
compete with the "We're used
best of the best" to wrestling
the best kids
in the country,
but the atmo-
sphere of Big
come together Ten duals, every match is just that
g family," Yates much more important because it's
ke still having not only for you, it's for your team
going to help now too."
m) mentally to If the Wolverines keep up their
grind instead preparation and continue their
ing, grinding to performance in dual meets, they
the kids down should be a viable competitor
ant to be here in Big Ten competition. Though
the guys still Michigan has not had an ideal
." season so far, the schedule that
al-meet season would appear intimidating 'to
w challenge for many is a welcomed challenge for
an team, which the Wolverines.
lers make their "We want to compete with the
season. best of the best," Yates said.

0

S

Standout defender
transfers to Michigan

By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA
Daily Sports Writer
In 2012, the Michigan women's
soccer team shut out more than
half of the teams it played. With
the addition of its newest mem-
ber, finding the back of the Wol-
verines' net might prove even,
more challenging next season.
Michigan' coach Greg Ryan
announced the transfer of Olivia
Brannon on Wednesday - one of
the nation's top defenders - into
the program. A member of the
United States National Team's
under-20 squad, Brannon comes
from Virginia looking to improve
a Wolverine defense that record-
ed 13 shutouts and allowed just
17 goals in 2012, both program
bests.
"Olivia is going to be an impact
player for us," Ryan said. "Hav-
ing Olivia join us will only make
us stronger. It's going to really
solidify the defense and give us
new tactical options."
A graduate of Athens High
School in Troy, Brannon was
named the Gatorade Michigan
State Player of the Year in 2011.
After representing the United .
States in international compe-
tition at various age levels, she
was Ryan's most sought-after
recruit and one of the top pros-
pects in the country. But Bran-
non enrolled at Virginia, where
she started all 24 matches as a
freshman and earned ACC All-

Freshman honors.
The Cavaliers were one of the
nation's best teams in 2012, but
were upset by Duke in the Sweet
16 of this year's NCAA Totirna-
ment.
"Our soccer program, at the
time we were recruiting (Bran-
non), wasn't nearly as strong as
the University of Virginia's,"
Ryan said. "So she chose to go to
Virginia."
It's not like that anymore. In
2012, the Wolverines finished
third in the Big Ten and made a
deep run into the NCAA Tour-
nament, and the majority of
that team will return next sea-
son. Brannon will likely line up
alongside junior Shelina Zador-
sky, an All-Big Ten defender who
plays for the Canadian Women's
National Team.
The NCAA grants athletes -
except those competing in foot-
ball or basketball - a one-time
transfer exception, which will
allow Brannon to play immedi-
ately.
With the resurgence of the
soccer program, a coaching
staff that has succeeded at an
international level and the Big
Ten's recent expansion into the
East Coast, Ryan hopes Michi-
gan's appeal will keep vaunted
recruits in-state in the future.
"We may see more like Olivia
down the road," Ryan said. "She
wanted to come back home and
play in her home state."


PATRICK BARRON/Daily
Freshman forward Daniel Milne didn't record a point in any of the seven games he played inat Michigan, but he'll make his OHL debut on Saturday.
In wake of Alaska series, M1me defects

By MATT SLOVIN
ManagingEditor
Michigan will host Alaska at
Yost Ice Arena - the last time
the two schools will meet for
the foreseeable
future - this NOTEBOOK
weekend for a
two-game set. w
The Nanooks, who currently
sit in a tie with the Wolverines
for seventh place in the CCHA,
haven't played since Dec. 8 -
34 days prior to tonight's series
opener.
With Michigan razor thin
on its blue line due to a pair of
injuries during Tuesday night's
loss to Bowling Green, coach
Red Berenson will need to get
creative. But when the team has
given up more goals in confer-
ence play than any other league
team, creativity isn't exactly
what you want to see.
And while it's difficult to
anticipate how exactly the
Nanooks will look coming off a

month-long break, it isn't as hard
to predict how Berenson plans to
fix his patchwork defense - or
as Berenson called it, a "rotating
defense" - long thought to be
the team's strength entering the
season.
One coping strategy will be
moving senior forward Jeff
Rohrkemperback to the blue line.
Rohrkemper filled in on defense
against Northern Michigan ear-
lier this season.
The Wolverines will also make
adjustments in how ice time is
allotted. During the Great Lakes
invitational, sophomore defen-
seman Mike Szuma was thrust
into action despite being one of
the unit's less experienced play-
ers. Berenson compensated by
limiting the number of minutes
he played.
The lone bright spot the
defense is the return of its long-
awaited top pairing of freshman
Jacob Trouba and senior 'Jon
Merrill, who will take a huge
chunk of the ice time.

"Trouba and Merrill are going
to play a lot more than the other
four," Berenson said of the Alaska
series.
Berenson said that he usually
puts a 25-minute ceiling on his
top pairing's ice time going into
games. Forwards, by contrast,
are typically in the eight to 18
minute range.
DEFECTION TO MAJOR
JUNIORS: Freshman forward
Daniel Milne has left the Michi-
gan hockey program, the team
confirmed Thursday.
Milne, a Unionville, Ont.
native, played in seven games
this season without tallying
a point. He signed an Ontario
Hockey League Standard Player
Agreement with the Owen Sound
AttackThursday.
Michigan coach Red Berenson
said in a statement that Milne
informed him of the decision to
leave Ann Arbor on Thursday.
"While we are disappointed
with his decision, it is important
to note that he is leaving in good

academic standing," Berenson
said in the statement.
Milne was selected in the
third round of the 2010 OHL Pri-
ority Selection.
"We are extremely thrilled
that Daniel has chosen the Attack
and the OHL to further his hock-
eycareer,"said Owen Sound gen-
eral manager Dale DeGray. "In
2010, we felt that he was a player
that could contribute greatly to
our team and our feelings have
not wavered in that regard."
KEEPING THE PIPELINE
STRONG: While one former St.
Michael's Buzzer left the pro-
gram Thursday, another one
joined it on Wednesday.
Defenseman Jared Walsh
committed to join the Michigan
program for the 2015-16 season.
Walsh has 16 points, including
15 assists, for the Buzzers of the
Ontario Junior Hockey League.
this season. According to a press
release from the Buzzers, he was
offered "several" NCAA scholar-
ships and an OHL contract.

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