8 - Tuesday, March 26, 2013 9 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Battle cry for big upset: The game doesn't know Michigan uses Carol Hutchins motto against top- seeded Stanford By GLENN MILLER JR. Daily Sports Writer The game doesn't know. At least that's the theory the Michigan women's basketball team hopes to prove in what would be the most substantial upset in program history. That's the theory endorsed by Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins, who has pro- Michigan vs. vided inspi- Safr ration for the women's bas- Matchup: ketball team Michigan 22-10; this year. Stanford 32-2 Hutchins, When: Satur- the all-time day 9:30 p.m. winningest Where: Maples coaches at Pavilion Michigan, TV. bestowed her ESPN2 29 years of experience on the Michigan women's bas- ketball team earlier this season. On Sunday, senior guard Jenny Ryan recalled the most influ- ential piece of Hutchins' advice - the opponent may be ranked higher on paper, but the game doesn't know that. The eighth-seeded Wol- verines will face off. against top-seeded Stanford on Tues- day for the chance to make the program's first Sweet 16 appearance. And if Michigan's senior-led squad wasn't already anunderdog, its attemptto upset one of the nation's best teams will occur on the Cardinal's home court, Maples Pavilion. "We're going to prepare for Stanford like we would any game, and we have a lot of con- fidence in each other to beat any team in this country," Ryan said. "The game doesn't know." The theory worked last December for Michigan's vol- leyball team which, in a similar situation, defeated the second- ranked Cardinal on its way to the Final Four. NICHOLASWILLIAMS/DaIly SeniorguardJenny Ryan said she has used inspiration from Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins this postseason. But even if the game truly doesn't know, Stanford junior forward Chiney Ogwumike will make it evident why the Cardi- nal deserve the top seed in the Spokane Region. Ogwumike is one of nation's premier players, averaging 22.6 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. If there were a group that wasn't concerned with rankings or seeding, it would be the Wol- verines. First-year coach Kim Barnes Arico's squad has tended to play up to its competition this season, including a win against then-No. 13 Purdue on the road. The Wolverines have faced dominant athletes such as Duke center Elizabeth Williams and Penn State guard Maggie Lucas, though Michigan has yet to compete against an athlete as talented as Ogwumike. Forward Joslyn Tinkle holds down the interior for Stanford, averaging 11.6 points per game alongside Ogwumike. The Cardinal's backcourt is dominated by guard Amber Orrange, who leads the team with 4.1 assists per game while chipping in 10.6 points per con- test. Michigan can expect Stan- ford to stray away from the tra- ditional motion offense while relying on Orrange to distribute and play off screens with Ogwu- mike and Tinkle. "(On Sunday) they did a lot of two-man game late in the game, which really exposed Tulsa," Barnes Arico said. "We know that it's going to be difficult, but like these kids said, the game doesn't know." In their first-round matchup with Villanova, the Wolverines benefited from Barnes Arico's experience against the Wildcats. Barnes Arico's prior interac- tion with the Cardinal should again play a huge role in the Wolverines' preparation for the Cardinal. Two years ago, Barnes Arico's Red Storm was defeated by Stanford 75-49 in the second round at Maples. "I'm sure I'm going to go through my notes the same way (as Villanova) tonight to see what we have done against Stanford," Barnes Arico said. "They play the same offense and do a lot of the same things that they've traditionally done. They shoot the ball exception- ally well." Stanford's 18-game winning streak doesn't make Michigan's task any easier, not to men- tion the Cardinal's seven-game unbeaten record at home during the tournament. But the Wolverines are a streaky team that has the weap- ons to overcome expectations. "We have (senior guard) Kate Thompson on our team who can light it up, and we have (senior forward) Rachel Sheffer and (senior guard) Sam Arnold," Ryan said. "Ten threes isn't out of the question for us." That's no exaggeration. Mich- igan has lived and died beyond the arc all season helping the squad achieve impressive vic- tories over Michigan State, but that has also lead to unexpected losses, such as to Ohio State. If the Wolverines come out of the gates with the hot hand shooting and contain Ogwumike in the post, they could potentially earn their way to the Sweet 16. And if there is any extra motivation needed to inspire an upset of one of the best teams in the nation, an extra day bask- ing in the Palo Alto sunshine wouldn't be a bad one. "I'm not ready to go home," said senior forward Nya Jordan. "We're in California, so I'll stay here as long as I can." for arms Redshirt Junior forward Jordan Morgan was the starter all season but has played just one minute in the tournament. Hardaway shines while M-organ disappears 0 By COLLEEN THOMAS Daily Sports Editor Contrary to popular belief, Jordan Morgan is still on the Michigan men's basketball team. The redshirt junior forward seemed to have disappeared NOTEBOOK in Michigan's second- and third-round NCAA Tournamentvictories. The start- ing center for all but four games during the regular season, Mor- gan had been the Wolverines' scrappy, all-around player who collected rebounds when needed and played solid defense. But then the postseason hap- pened. In the Big Ten Tour- nament, Morgan got into foul trouble and couldn't control the ball in the paint, so freshman forward Mitch McGary got a majority of the post minutes and performed exceptionally well. McGary played so well that he took Morgan's starting position. Before Thursday's game against South Dakota State, Michi- gan coach John Beilein started McGary at the "5" instead of Morgan, and McGary impressed and started again against Vir- ginia Commonwealth. The freshman tallied career-highs in points, rebounds and minutes against the Rams and played a majority of both NCAA Tourna- ment games last weekend. During the Big Ten Tourna- ment, Beilein said the coaching staff reevaluates the starting lineup after each game to prepare for the next team's post matchup. But the coaching staff didn't just switch starters - they jumbled the entire frontcourt rotation. When McGary took a breather and rested on the bench against South Dakota State, redshirt sophomore Jon Horford was the second big off the bench instead of Morgan. Morgan played just one minute in the 15-point win while McGary and Horford shared minutes. And against VCU, Morgan didn't see the court at all. Even when the Wolverines were up by 31 points late in the second half, Morgan didn't play, and during garbage time at the end of the game, Beilein rightfully played the seniors over other bench players, including Morgan. The recent developments come as a surprise. When Mor- gan was injured in late January, McGary was expected to assume the starting role, but Horford got the majority of the starts instead. When Morgan returned, the rotation returned to normal, with McGary, and then Horford coming off the bench. When asked whether or not McGary has secured a starting spot over Morgan, Beilein still wouldn'tgive a straight answer. "With the CBS games and the extra timeouts, we can give (McGary) more time," Beilein said. "We've watched his growth, he's at his lowest weight all year long, this is his lowest body weight he's had, so we can play him longer." It shouldn't be a surprise if McGary gets the nod over Mor- gan again on Friday. After his: dominance in the Wolverines' first two games of the NCAA Tournament, McGary is eas- ily the better option at center against Kansas' Jeffy Withey. HIDDEN HARDAWAY?: Though the performance of freshman forward Glenn Rob- inson III has gotten much of the headlines, the contribution of Tim Hardaway Jr. hasn't been overlooked. The junior's hot 3-pointshoot- ing helped fend off a South Dakota State run in the first half on Thursday, and his game-high 21 points helped carry the Wol- verines into the third round. On Friday, Hardaway stayed hot, shooting 45 percent from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc. Though he has had a streaky career at Michigan, Hardaway always seems to step up on big stages - he has performed well in the three games the Wolver- ines played in New York this season, and was named NIT Tip-Off MVP for his 39 points in two games in the tournament. And Hardawaystepped up inthe NCAA Tournament, as well. "Tim Hardaway has not only been important in this game, but has been important all three years," Beilein said after Michi- gan's win over VCU on Friday. "When he has had opportunities like he's had in the past couple days to pass, to bring the ball up against the pressure - that wouldn't have happened last year - to make the right, smart plays to defend. I just watch this young man's game, and it grows i every day. Mothers may not see it that way, I see it as growing. I think his ceiling isvery high." A (DIFFERENT) FINAL FOUR: After months of speculation, there are finally four. Sophomore point guard Trey Burke was named as one of four finalists for the Naismith Men's Collegiate Player of the Year award on Sunday. The winner will be announced April 7. He is joined by Indiana's Vic- tor Oladipo, Creighton's Doug McDermott and Georgetown's Otto Porter. BASEBALL 'M' still searching' as rotation keeps rotating After the Michigan baseball six flyouts en route to his third Ogden and sophomore right- team topped Western Illinois win of the season. hander James Bourque - are in the first game of Saturday's "We have areallygood defense allowing a little too much con- doubleheader, the classic pop- behind me, and I take that for tact, as opposing batters are bat- hit "Bye, Bye, Bye" from the boy granted," Hill said. "I get a lot of ting .350 combined against them. band N*SYNC blared through ground balls, a lot of fly balls and Bakich said the pitchers who the press box speakers. everyone is really athletic behind are struggling need to work on Aside from the immediate me, so they're making plays." mastering a quick pitching tempo flashback to But Hill stands as the lone and continuously force contact. late-elemen- JEREMY bright spot forMichigan's pitch- "When you do that, it means tary years, SUMMITT ing staff, and the Wolverines you're pounding the zone and the song was clearly have questions to answer getting strike one and strike two reminiscent On Baseball heading into conference play on the hitters quickly," Bakich of the Wol- next weekend. In fact, Hill is said Saturday. "Hill did a nice job verines' struggle to operate, shall the only pitcher to start in every of that, and other guys need to do we say, in-sync all weekend. weekend series this season. a better job following suit." The most prominent issue lin- Bakich hasn't held back in giv- Ballantine and McAnallen gering for Michigan is that Evan ing players opportunities to step have joined Hill the past two Hill can't pitch every game. In up as starters, either. Five other weekends in the weekend rota- order to successfully compete pitchers havestarted at least one tion, but neither has proven he is against Big Ten competition, the game on the mound, but have not there to stay. Wolverines need to fill out a con- maintained enough consistency In McAnallen's last two starts, sistent rotation and the quicker to earn a regular starting role. he has pitched 9.2 innings, allow- that happens, the better, with Just two of those five - senior ing 15 hits and five earned runs. conference play looming next right-hander Ben Ballantine and Ballantine has fared a bit bet- week. sophomore left-hander Trent ter statistically, and despite his This weekend, the offense Szkutnik - are holding oppos- inability to pitch long outings struggled, scoring only one run ing batters to , sub-.300 bat- he seems to be the leading can- on 10 hits in the rubber match ting average. But Ballantine has didate to remain in the weekend against Western Illinois. And struggled to record quality starts rotation. pitching remained inconsistent this season, one reason the eldest When Bakich is fiddling with besides freshman left-handed of the candidates hasn't stuck the rotation this week, Hill will pitcher Evan Hill's remarkable around in the rotation very long. be there. No doubt. But this one-hitter he threw in game one. In his four starts this season, weekend was the first time we've "He just pounded the zone Ballantine has pitched less than seen a weekend rotation that and did a nice job of attacking five innings three times. In those matched another from earlier in the strike zone and forcing con- three lackluster outings, he's the year. tact," said Michigan coach Erik pitched just 10.3 innings com- In order for the rotation to, Bakich. bined. His only quality start of well, not alternate every week- Bakich's pitching philoso- the season came against Holy end, Ballantine and McAnallen phy focuses on quick tempo and Cross, when he allowed two will have to prove their worth in forcing contact, two things Hill earned runs in six innings. a jam-packed, four-game sched- excelled at during Saturday's The remaining three - junior ule this week. If they falter, the outing. In seven innings of work, left-hander Logan McAnallen, job will be open for auditions, as he induced six groundouts and sophomore right-hander Matt it has been all season. -. k j. 0 Open the door to a rewarding summer in Boston, and discover: * More than 700 courses " 70 academic subjects " 19 foreign languages * Summer study internships BOSTON SUMMER -- UNIVERSITYTERM Summer 1 May 21-June 28 2013 Summer 2 July 1-August 9 Register today: bu .edu/summer Boston University Summer Term Anaeual opporunityaffrmat"ve"a"tionnsituton. 0 C -- v A #