The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com { ' '' i Friday, March 15, 2013 - 9 S port Friday, March 15, 2013 - 9 Freshman forward Mitch McGary (No. 4) had a double-double in the first half alone, to help Michigan to an 83-66 win. McGary, Horford salvage slow start ICE HOCKEY A final push for the Joe By GREG GARNO Daily Sports Writer Imagine a place where stu- dents stand outside in the bone- chilling, snowy weather for as long as five hours - just for a ticket to a regular-season hockey game, where the spectators are loud early and often. Then imagine this same place when the home team skates for the last time in front of their devoted fans - who have watched a 13-2-3 home season - in playoff hockey, no less. Less than two hours away on the western side of the state sits Lawson Arena, home to West- ern Michigan. The Michigan hockey team Michigan ASERMAN/Daiy paid the Bron- at WMU Senior forward Kevin Lynch said his line must play better than last week to win. cos a visit in January, but Matchup: and hit harder. The defense, led Michigan's power-play unit - this time they Michigan15-18-3 by the pair comprising junior ranked 23rd in the nation. meet in the WMU 19-9-8 Mac Bennett and freshman Jacob The Wolverines scored four quarterfinals When: Friday Trouba, is also leading the offen- goals with an extra man and of the CCHA 6:35 P.M. sive charge by bringing the puck added a shorthanded goal against Tournament Saturday 7:05 up the ice before dishing to a Northern Michiganlastweekend, for a chance to fecussay) streakingforward. butthe Broncoskill off 86 percent advance to Joe 7:05 P.M. "Well, you've got to start with of opportunities. Louis Arena Where: Law- your goalie, but then it's the "The most important thing to compete son Arena whole team rallying around him you have to look at when you play for the Mason and giving him a chance," said Michigan is that you don't take Cup in the TV: Michigan coach Red Bferenson. penalties - that's the best form CCHA's last FSDetroit "We're not playing from behind of penalty kill"Murysi.I By DANIEL WASSERMAN Daily Sports Editor CHICAGO - The Michigan men's basketball team's interior offense picked up right where it left off from last Sunday's loss to Indiana. For the Wolverines, that spelled trouble. Penn State, off to a 14-3 start in Thursday's opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, out- rebounded Michigan, 11-2, early on. Meanwhile, redshirt junior forward Jordan Morgan struggled out of the gate and never found his rhythm. In his first three touches, Mor- gan had a layup blocked, missed another from point-blank range and then, on a fast break, was stripped. Fortunately for the Wolverines, it had a contingency plan in the form of freshman forward Mitch McGary. McGary, who registered just two points and two rebounds in eight foul-plagued minutes against Indiana, almost single- handedly saved Michigan in the first half. The Wolverines outscored the Nittany Lions 32-19 after Penn State's initial run, taking a 35-33 into halftime, with McGary lead- ing the charge. The freshman entered the game with only one career double-double but already had 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 13 minutes by halftime. McGary said it was his best half in a Michiganuniform. "I just felt like I was playing the way should," McGary said. Sophomore point guard Trey Burke, who finished with yet another stellar performance, acknowledged that when McGary entered the game, his presence wasn't just felt inside the paint, but by his whole team- both emo- tionally and schematically. "That's Mitch McGary; that's just how he is," Burke said. "He came off the bench and gave us a spark and once he comes off the bench, it gets the crowds into it ... and that gives us energy. "When ... our bigs get in there, get some second-chance points, get fouled, get to the line, I think that opens it up for our perimeter players" And when McGary's presence quieted in the second half - he added only one rebound and was held off the scoreboard after the break - redshirt sophomore for- ward Jon Horford stepped up. Horford was scoreless in the first half, but came through with 11 points in the second stanza. . Even though Morgan finished with just four points and two rebounds, Michigan still out- rebounded Penn State, 36-32, pulled down 21 offensive boards and scored 28 second-chance points. "That's what our bigs (have) got to do," McGary said. "When we show up, it's tough to beat us." The Wolverines, and espe- cially their frontcount, have been criticized at times throughout the season for being physically soft and failing to show up in key games. Earlier this week, against the Hoosiers, Michigan was out- rebounded 47-26 - an embarrass- ing margin. McGary was quick to admit that the criticism doesn't fall on deaf ears, and that's something he's okay with. "I like when people say it," McGary said. "I turn the degrad- ing comments into motivation.... People were saying we were soft, so we went and grabbed some rebounds, got a whole bunch of put backs and we won the game." Michigan coach John Beilein is generally tight-lipped, especially when it comes to roster changes, but the coach couldn't deny that he'll at least entertain the possi- bility of moving McGary into the starting lineup in place of Morgan. McGary played poorly in his only start this season - a four- point, four-turnover effort at Michigan State on Feb. 12 while Morgan was injured - but the combination of Morgan's strug- gles and Michigan's propensity for slow starts might be an indication there will be a different starting five when the Wolverines take the floor FridayagainstWisconsin. "We talk about the roster and rotation everyday and we'll prob- ably do that again, but a change - I'm not going to say we're going to do it or we're not going to do it," Beilein said. "Sometimes, if you do make a change, Jordan will play more relaxed coming off v year. Coming off its third consecu- tive series sweep, the Wolverines begin the next part of their run to salvage the season on the road. Michigan was swept by Western Michigan the last time they met, but this weekend the Wolverines return to Lawson with much more momentum. Having won six consecutive games while averaging more than four goals per game and allowing exactlytwo, Michiganisarguably the hottest team in the CCHA. "Michigan is a good team, we knew that from the outset of the season," said Western Michigan coach Andy Murray in his weekly press conference. "But we think we match up well with them. Led by a goaltender who has made the saves he should and then some, freshman Steve Racine, Michigan's defense has looked much improved, despite sitting 54th in the nation in goals allowed. Racine has started the last six games and sparked a defense to skate to pucks faster, clear pucks quicker, absorb shots more often as much, we're getting a chance to play with a lead and we've got a little more confidence." But the defense receives a break when it travels to face the 51st-ranked offense in the nation, as Western Michigan scores just 2.31 goals per game. The Broncos' defense allows fewer goals than their offense scores, though, sitting third in the nation by allowing just 1.92 goals per game. Led by defense- men Danny DeKeyser, a first- team All-CCHA member, and his partner Luke Witkowski, West- ern Michigan's defense excels at limiting the shots goaltender Frank Slubowski sees. Slubowski allowed three goals while mak- ing 43 saves during his last outing against the Wolverines. "I'm expecting these games to be close," Berenson said. "Goals are going to be precious. You might get the odd good scoring chance, but the rest of it is going to be hard, good-working hockey." The best matchup might come on special teams this weekend, as Western Michigan's 10th-ranked penalty kill attempts to fend off think there's probably going to be a mutual respect factor on the power plays. They know we can do damage with ours. "I imagine both coaching staffs are going to emphasize the fact that putting the other team on a power play in an unnecessary way is only hurting your team." Michigan's offense will pose an enigma then, as it has seen an increase in production from all lines in its recent hot streak. But when itneedsto score, it's carried by a first line that began produc- ing since it last skated against Western Michigan. Last time out, the line of fresh- man Boo Nieves, sophomore Phil Di Giuseppe and senior Kevin Lynch emerged as Michigan's most dangerous scoring threat against the Broncos, where the trio combined for three assists and agoal. "We're going to need to play well for our teamto have a chance and the same with every other line," Lynch said. "We haven't been playing as well as we can this past couple games so we defi- nitely need to turn it on." For Robinson and Kovacs, a final steak dinner before uncertain future A wager between Robinson, Kovacs for Chop House meal By ZACH HELFAND Daily Sports Editor Someday soon, for one of the final times before they move onto the National Football League or whatever might lie beyond, former Michigan captains Denard Robin- son and Jordan Kovacs will enjoy a steak dinner together. One will pay and one won't. The idea started in workouts with Michigan strength coach Aaron Wellman as each prepared for the NFL Draft and the slate of drills it entails. As Roy Roundtree explained, "During the shuttles last week, Denard was like 'I'm gonna run faster than you.' And Jordan was like, 'Nah I'm gonna run faster than you.' It was back and forth." Soon, the two decided to make a wager, settling on three exercises: the 20-yard shuttle, the 40-yard dash and the three-cone drill. Loser buys a dinner at The Chop House in downtown Ann Arbor. It was one final piece of moti- vation for two ultra-competitive athletes. And it was a sign of soli- darity for two players who each face an uncertain professional future, even if each has a different fight to get there. Kovacs, the underdog again, must prove that he has the athleti- cism and ability to play at the next level. For Robinson, the question isn't about talent, it's about how he can use it, and at what position. The end of Robinson's Michi- gan career - really starting after the elbow injury in October that ended his time at quarterback - thrust his future into disorder. To the NFL, Robinson is a tempt- ing yet unknown quantity, with potential at many positions but polish at none. He has practiced mostly as a wide receiver, but he has also worked out as a returner and a running back and is even prepared to play cornerback if asked. Every team, it seemed, had different needs, and Robinson was forced to learn an array of different posi- tions in a matter of weeks. At first, the inexperience showed. During the Senior Bowl, Robinson struggled to field kicks in practice and dropped the only one he saw in the game. He man- aged to catch two passes but for just 22 yards, and he lacked preci- sion in his routes. "Obviously he had a tough Senior Bowl," Kovacs said, before adding: "Just seeing how much work he's put in, it's unbelievable." Slowly, through multiple work- outs daily with Wellman and more individual position work, Rob- inson started improving. Field- ing punts came easier, a result of practicing daily for 30 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour, - "until the kicker's leg gets tired," Robinson said. He refined his routes until they gained precision. At the beginning of the winter, despite Robinson's athleticism, he often seemed awk- ward, like a prized racehorse sud- denly expected to navigate a show jumping course. He thought too much. He counted his steps when he ran. He looked for the ball too soon, or waited until it was too late. Now, "he don't count his steps no more," Roundtree said. "When he runs his routes, you can see that he's getting in and out of his cuts, and he's pretty confident in what he's running. It shows the prog- ress that he has made." By Thursday, Michigan's Pro Day, when the team's seniors would work out for professional scouts, he looked comfortable. Robinson had already recorded times in most major drills, at the NFL Combine in February, with positive results. His 4.43 40-yard dash was among the fast- est times at the Combine. He ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.22 sec- onds and the three-cone drill in 7.09 seconds - setting a target for Kovacs to beat to win the steak. Thursday, the focus for Robin- son was onthe position drills. This time, a confident glide replaced unsure strides. He didn't drop a single pass, teammates reported, and he caught everything with his hands. Robinson was even perfect in the return drill. It was all coming together. Then came a. curveball. A few scouts approached Robinson and told him that in the preparation for running back and wide receiv- er and returner and cornerback, he had perhaps ruled out quarter- back prematurely. "They said, 'Continue to throw the ball,' " Robinson said. "I said, 'No problem."' Nearby, Kovacs faced scrutiny on a different part of his game. Robinson's speed times were important, but everyone knew he was fast. Kovacs has the opposite problem. His instincts and on-field intelligence are an unquestioned strength, but does the former walk-on really have the explosive- ness needed to cover NFL wide- outs and tight ends? For Kovacs, the winter entailed almost no positional work. Instead, Wellmen designed a pro- gram to boost his measurables, a heavy-weight, low-rep routine aimed to help Kovacs run 40 yards as fast as possible "and not die after," as Kovacs put it. Kovacs said the preparation wasn't overwhelming because he had ostensibly been through the same process when he walked on to the Michigan team. But his low draft stock provided a familiar motivation. "I just like to prove people wrong," Kovacs said. He had his chance on Thurs- day. He had three targets, set by Robinson at the Combine. Beat- ing them would mean steak, and it would also go a long way to dem- onstrating he had the athleticism requisite for a professional, Three drills, three goals: a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, a 4.22 shuttle and a 709 shuttle. He said he felt faster and lighter than ever. "It's funny, you do 100 of these in the offseason," Kovacs said. "You know, you do 100, and you only get one rep." That was all he needed. In the 40, Kovacs, unsurprisingly, couldn't touch Robinson, but his Former Michigancaptains Denard Robinson(bottom right)and Jordan Kovacs each face a different fight for the NFL Draft, even if they face them together. 4.58-second time was respectable. Kovacs was disappointed in his shuttle time, but his 4.19 seconds was good enough to beat even Robinson. But his three-cone drill was a statement. His time of 6.62 sec- onds didn't just beat Robinson, it destroyed him. Kovacs beat every safety's time from the Combine, and his time would've ranked him third overall. Afterward, Kovacs shrugged off his performance's significance, but he did concede that "Couldn't have hurt" his draft stock. He laughed. "I think we can all agree on that. "My whole mindset is, I just need to get my foot in the door," Kovacs continued. "I've done it once, I did it here. Get my foot in the door, I'll make the most of my opportunity." Tony Pauline of DraftInsider. net reported that the Patriots invited Kovacs to a private work- out. Kovacs' performance was emphatic, it was perception changing - it was steak-worthy. But that dinner will have to wait a little bit longer. For Kovacs and Robinson, there's still work to do before the draft. There's no room in the diet, even for steak, even to settle a score between friends.