S' The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, March 13, 2013 - 7A Poor defense on minds of Wolverines Recently, Michigan has allowed opponents to put up crooked numbers By STEVEN BRAID Daily Sports Editor A trend has been developing for the Michigan men's basketball team's defense, and it's not a very encouraging one. During the first four months of the season, the sixth-ranked Wol- verines (12-6 Big Ten, 25-6 over- NOTEBOOK all) were great at containing individual scoring out- bursts. In that time period, they allowed just two opposing play- ers to break the 20-point barrier * against them - West Virginia's Terry Henderson and Minnesota's Austin Hollins. But over the course of the past two weeks, a span stretching four games, Michigan has allowed an opposing player to score at least 25 points in three of those games - and the Wolverines are 1-2 in those contests. "Our whole defense has been a concern," said Michigan coach John Beilein. "Whether it's offen- sive rebounds, ball-screen defense - there's a lot that goes into it. At one time it was rotations, at another time it was the big men, at a different time it was the guards. Bringing it all together is diffi- cult." The discouraging signs on defense began when Michigan was upset by Penn State on Feb. 27. Nittany Lions guard Jermaine Marshall scored 16 of his 25 points in the final 10 minutes of the game, helping erase a 15-point deficit en route to a 84-78 Penn State victory. That one-man show by Mar- shall was upped one week later by Purdue's Terone Johnson. Though Michigan narrowly defeated the Boilermakers, 80-75, Johnson torched the Wolverines for 32 points. The Purdue guard aver- ages less than 14 points a game, but he scored bucket after bucket on his way to dropping 19 second- half points. And then against Indiana on Sunday, Michigan was unable to limit a one-man show again, as Cody Zeller dropped 25 points. The Hoosier big man was too much for the Wolverines to handle down the stretch, scoring 16 sec- ond-half points - six in the final 40 seconds - to help Indiana pull out a 72-71 come-from-behind vic- tory. "There was some lapses in deci- sion-making and at times in our minutes a game. "Our coaches have been push- ing me all year to just be solid for us defensively, and what I have strived to do is just defend and rebound for this team and do every little thing that this team needs from me," Morgan said. AN ASSISTANT AT LAST: Beilein has accomplished many things during his 35-year coach- ing career, but there's one thing that has always set him apart from his coaching colleagues: He's never been an assistant coach, anywhere. But after this summer, that will be no more. On Tuesday, Beilein was selected as an assistant coach for the 2013 USA Basketball Men's World University Games team, joining South Carolina coach Frank Martin as an assistant. Davidson coach Bob McKillop will lead the coachingstaff. "It will be different for me to hold a clipboard for somebody, there's no question about itc- I feel very funny about that - but I'll hold it for Bob McKillop anytime," Beilein said. An annual event, the 2013 World University Games will be held July 7-16, in Kazan, Russia. Beilein has had several oppor- tunities in the past totake part in Team USA Basketball, but has had to turn them down every time. He had previously been offered dur- ing situations when he took a new job and his first obligation was to the university that he had just joined. With Michigan holding steady near the top of the college basketball world, Beilein thought this was as good of a time as any to take the opportunity. "I love the World University Games," he said. "You get to work with college players that are really there for the right reasons. I get to work with Bob McKillop, who is a great friend of mine, and serve the country most importantly." PATRICK BARRON/Daily Junior forward Tim Hardaway Jr. tries to front Minnesota's Rodney Williams Jr. during a Michigan win on Jan. 17. execution," said redshirt junior forward Jordan Morgan. Whatever the cause is, Beilein knows that improvement will only come with ateam effort. "I don't think it's as much as one person as it is moving as a unit," he said. "It just takes one man to break down." TEAM EARNS WE-WARDS: On Monday, sophomore guard Trey Burke was named Big Ten Player of the Year by the coaches and media, but he wasn't the only Wolverine to pick up a honor for his performance during the 2013 conference season. Junior swingman Tim Hard- away Jr., freshman forward Glenn Robinson III and Morgan were all honored by the Big Ten on Mon- day, as well. "It's such a terrific honor for all of these guys," Beilein said. "It's incredible to have that type of rep- resentation." Hardaway joined Burke as an All-Big Ten first-team selection by the coaches, and was placed on the All-Big Ten second team by the media. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Week recipient this season, Hardaway is averaging a career high in points (14.8), rebounds (4.7), assists (2.2) and field-goal percentage (45.0). Robinson was honored with a Big Ten All-Freshman team selec- tion, marking the third consecu- tive year a Wolverine has made the team. After starting all 31 games for the Wolverines, the freshman is averaging 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. Morgan was selected to the conference's All-Defensive team, despite being hobbled for several games with an ankle injury during the middle of conference play. The big man is averaging 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds, while playing18 Streaky 'M' prepares for tourney Which team will show up at the NCAA Tournament? By STEVEN BRAID Daily Sports Editor Just days after being bounced from the Big Ten Tournament, the Michigan women's basket- ball team now has its sights set on loftier goals - an NCAA champi- onship. The Wolverines (10-6 Big Ten, 21-10 overall) will likely receive their sixth tournament berth in program history Monday under the leadership of first-year coach Kim Barnes Arico. At St. John's University, Barnes Arico led the Red Storm to four tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2012. "I'm excited for the opportu- nity to play in the NCAA Tour- nament," Barnes Arico said. "Obviously it's going to be a stressful week. We feel like we're in agood position, and we feel like our total of body of work has been really good. We feel like we're one of the top teams in the country." Last season, former Michigan coach Kevin Borseth helped the Wolverines achieve their only tournament berth during his five- year tenure in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines, however, couldn't extend their season past the first round and ended the year with a loss to Oklahoma. But that was last year. Michigan now boasts one of the best teams in the Big Ten, carried by a core of five seniors and a rookie coach. The Wol- verines have been streaky down the stretch this season, but it's their senior class that insists on making some noise in the NCAA Tournament. The question isn't whether Michigan has the talent to make a deep run in the dance, but rath- er if it will show up. This season has been chock full of impressive wins, including victories over Michigan State and eventual con- ference tournament champion Purdue on the road. When the Wolverines are fir- ing on all cylinders, they have the potential to beat almost anyone. Michigan proved its competitive fight this season with near victo- ries over two top-10 teams, Duke and Penn State. "We could catch somebody off guard, and we got a lot of differ- ent weapons, and when we were playing well, I think we could beat a lot of good people," Barnes Arico said. Yet the Wolverines have also proven their ability to struggle against poor teams. Consecutive losses to Iowa and Minnesota midway through conference play marked the beginning of an ugly streak, marring an otherwise impressive record. After starting the season with the best record in program history, the Wolverines capped Big Ten play by losing to Ohio State on the road - a team that might not even make the NCAA Tournament. If Michigan has any chance at postseason success, it must start with its perimeter shooting and rebounding. Senior guard Kate Thompson leads the team in scor- ing with 14.5 points per game but has been rhythmless from the 3-point line recently. The All-Big Ten second-team player is one of the most dynamic shooters in the country, but her inconsisten- cy has plagued the Wolverines' offense late in the season. Barnes Arico's presence has reemphasized the importance of rebounding. Last season's -3.9 rebound- ing margin has transformed into a plus-3.0 margin. Accord- ingly, Michigan is 15-3 when out-rebounding its opponent this season. Next Monday, known as "Selection Monday," the NCAA's selection committee will release the bracket. The Wolverines must wait to scout its opponent until then, but this week will provide a much-needed opportunity for Michigan to nurse any lingering injuries and prepare strategies for the tournament. "We're just going to keep working until Selection Monday comes around," Ryan said. "We hope we're in a good seed, and we feel like we are with our resume. That's all we have to go on right now. "We're going to keep getting better day by day like we have all year and hope that when Selec- tion Monday comes we're in the Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico (top) and senior guard Jenny Ryan will lead Michigan in postseason play. The Wolverines have been hot and cold this season. FOOTBAL Robinson out runs Swope, voter fraud to win spot on EA Sports' NCAA cover I i By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor Two late additions to the list of people Denard Robinson has outrun in his time at Michigan: Texas A&M's Ryan Swope and a hoard of ballot stuffers. EA Sports announced Tuesday that the former Michigan quar- terback won its fan vote to deter- mine who will grace the cover of the NCAA Football '14 video game next fall. Robinson defeat- ed Swope in a close and surpris- ingly eventful online vote that would make the state of Florida proud. "It's such a blessing," said ed questions directly from fans Robinson in a release. "I've been on Twitter Friday. playing this video game since I Still by Saturday, the final day was a little kid, and it's a dream of voting, the race remained too come true. I can't thank the fans close to call. And allegations of enough for voter fraud - their votes." Robinson took a person- al role in the campaign, urg- ing fans to vote through social media, atypi- cal for him. As yes,voter fraud A player for in a Facebook vote - further years now the muddied the picture. The cover boy vote had been ongoing since mid December, but less than to create fake Facebook pages to stuff the ballots. EA Sports was forced to issue a public statement explaining its response to the potential inequities. Ultimately, Robinson proved as elusive in the polls as he is on the field. "It's hard to put into words what all of their support means to me," Robinson said of the fans' support. "It was an honor to wear the maize and blue for four years, and it will be an honor to represent Michigan and the fans on the cover of NCAA '14. I'm so glad that winged helmet is on there." part of the University Athletic two weeks before voting ended, a Department's push to put Robin- Texas A&M message board (later son on the cover, Robinson field- deleted) surfaced urging Aggies I