The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, April 4, 2013 - 7A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Thursday, April 4, 2013 - 7A Freshman guard Nik Stauskas looked like his old self against Florida, when he went 6-for-6 from beyond the 3-point line in Michigan's Elite Eight victory. M iga n reurnin By COLLEEN THOMAS Daily Sports Editor Trey Burke's game-tying shot against Kansas, Nik Stauskas' 6-for-6 day from beyond the arc against Florida, Mitch McGary averaging a double-double in the NCAA Tournament - the Michigan men's basketball team is finally hitting its stride. After struggling through the Big Ten slate and suffering an early exit in the conference tournament, the Wolverines weren't expected to be the last Big Ten team standing in late March. Michigan finished the regular season 6-6 after starting out 18-0. But in the NCAA Tourna- ment, Michigan plowed through tough second- and third-round draws in South Dakota State and Virginia Commonwealth and advanced to its first Sweet Six- teen appearance since 1994. A late rally against the Jayhawks and a drubbing of the Gators propelled the Wolverines to their first Final Four since 1993. So why is Michigan finally hot? "Just coming into the (NCAA) Tournament, we wanted to make a statement our first cou- ple of games," said sophomore guard Trey Burke. "We just tried to stay in the moment. After the loss to Wisconsin (in the Big Ten Tournament), we as well as we should've played. Coming into the NCAA Tourna- ment, we wanted to come in and make a statement from day one. "Once we got past South Dakota State, we focused on VCU - we never really looked ahead. We all did a really good job focusing on everybody's scouting report. That definitely helped us out to this point." The Wolverines have been playing up to the potential that was expected at the beginning of the season, and a lot of it has been because they've been able to get back to playing their fast- paced offense. After Michigan cruised past South Dakota State, it was faced with slowing down a physical, lanky VCU squad with a noto- riously tough defense that likes to force turnovers. As the top team in the nation at forcing turnovers, the Rams trouble opposing teams' guards and shut down passing lanes. But the Wolverines didn't have trouble handling the ball. Though Burke was quiet offen- sively, freshman forward Glenn Robinson III and junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. took control, and VCU was unable to defend Michigan's multitude of ball handlers. Though the Wolverines didn't have an issue dispatching the Jackrabbits and the Rams, both styles of olav were very differ- team runs. It might be daunting to have to scout teams with such a quick turnaround, but Burke and Michigan didn't think it was a weakness of theirs head- ing into the tournament. "We try to use our conference as strength going into this tour- nament," Burke said. "Seeing different defenses and offenses - things that we're not famil- iar with - allows us to get more stops, get out in transition, play our game." That's exactly how Michigan got to the Final Four. Against Kansas, the Wolverines were able to get out in transition by forcing turnovers, helping fresh- man forward Mitch McGary control the boards. The Wolverines duplicated that against Florida in the Elite Eight by jumping out to an early 13-0 lead and shutting down the Gators defensively. Michigan's defense held Florida to a 41-per- cent clip and many one-and- done possessions, which helped' get its offense rolling. The Wolverines scored 21 points in transition and forced 13 turnovers in the game, and Burke found the shooters - freshman guard Nik Stauskas and Hardaway - early and often. "What helped us was getting stops and running," Hardaway said. "We really wanted to come out there and be aggressive. he We did that. Everybody was on attack mode going into the game. We really wanted to do a good job on the defensive end because they're a great 3-point shooting team." Now, Michigan is faced with running its fast-paced offense against Syracuse's seemingly unbeatable 2-3 zone that held Marquette to 39 points and Indiana to 50. The zone's weak- nesses haven't been exploited in the tournament, but that doesn't mean there aren't weak spots. "There's some gaps in the defense, high-low, low post,"_ McGary said. "If our guards penetrate into those gaps in the lane, it'll be easy kick-outs or drop-offs for threes or layups." And Michigan has confidence in its shooters, especially with Stauskas, who was left open on the left-side baseline and was automatic from the corner against Florida. Stauskas said Michigan coach John Beilein has been preparing the players to shoot long jump- ers from anywhere on the floor with a half-court drill. When- ever a coach blows a whistle, the player at the top of the key has to take a deep 3-pointer - a way to help prepare for Syracuse's defense that can close out well and stretch the floor. "We have a lot of guys who can shoot it from real deep, but, coach Beilein made it a point: not all of the threes we're gonna get are right on the line," Stauskas said. "But this week we're going to spend a lot of time working on threes maybe two, three, four feet outside the line, knocking down with confidence." BASEBALL 'M' gets 'greedy' win against Chippewas By SHANNON LYNCH freshman pitcher Jacob Cronen- Daily Sports Writer worth each scored a pair of runs, and Zott, Cronenworth and In its last two games, the Mich- O'Neill picked up two hits apiece. iganbaseballteam's offense has 16 "We've explored a few leadoff hits and nine runs, and base run- hitters and two-hole and three- ners have stolen five bases. Mean- hole and mixed that part of it up while, the Wolverines' pitching just to find the right combina- staff has fanned 15 batters and tion, and we're looking forward hasn't allowed a single run in 20 to Pat (Biondi) rejoining the innings of play. lineup because he brings so much On Wednesday, Michigan was to the table and to our offense," on a roll offensively for eight Bakich said. "Even though some innings at guys may not always be a regular Ray Fisher CENTRAL MI. 0 starter, when they do get their Stadium, MICHIGAN 7 opportunities, we're confident earning a and they're confident that they 7-0 victory against the Chippewas are going have a quality at-bat and and putting up at least one run in help the team win." six frames. Many of the opportu- Central Michigan's offense nities for runs came from aggres- couldn't find its rhythm against sive base running and getting the a myriad of Michigan pitchers. leadoff hitters on base. Bourque pitched the first three Sophomore right fielder Kevin innings and tied a season high White, who went 1-for-2 with a with five strikeouts. Four reliev- double, two walks and two runs ers followed, including sopho- scored, gave a short and argu- more right-hander Jay Perry, who ably seamless answer to describe struck out two, and fifth-year Michigan's current style of play. senior right-hander Chad Jasman, "Playing greedy has worked who preserved the shutout in the better for us." ninth with a strikeout. On Wednes- "We're feel- day afternoon, ing really good the Wolverines " a nright now - got off to a hot our pitching start early. reedy s staff has really During the d hstepped up," first inning, worked better White said. sophomore J5.LI.I "We're just right-hander f u going to try to James Bourque for us* ride these two struck out two wins into the batters without weekend, stick allowing a hit, while sophomore to the routines, execute the fun- outfielder Zach Zott hit a bomb damentals this weekend and take into right-center, earning a triple care of business." and bringing junior outfielder Bakich expects the same Michael O'Neill home. aggressiveness on offense and "Any time we can get the lead- defense from his team this week- off hitter on base, they've got a end. The Wolverines travel to East great chance of scoring," said Lansing on Friday and Sunday to Michigan coach Erik Bakich. take on Michigan State and will "Our team can bunt, it can run, it play a game on their home turf can get guys in motion, it can put against the Spartans on Saturday. pressure on the defense and we "Of course it'sgoing to be big- have alot of weapons once we get ger because it's Michigan State," the leadoff guy on to get him into Bakich said. "But that doesn't scoring position." mean that we can execute any dif( Recently, the Wolverine ferently than what we did these offense has had to operate with- last two games." out senior outfielder and team Part of that execution strategy captain Patrick Biondi, who has relies on producing solid at-bats been out of the starting lineup every inning. Another part relies with an injury since early March. on the base runners' ability to put While his presence has been pressure on the other team and missed, the Wolverines have been force errors. And the Wolverines producing at the plate. will rely heavily on their pitchers' In its 7-0victory over the Chip- ability to throw strikeouts and pewas, Michigan (1-2 Big Ten, pitch to contact. Keeping with the 13-14 overall) batters capitalized aggressive and "greedy" style of in crucial situations. The Wol- play against the Chippewas is key verines had three sacrifice flies to Michigan's success this coming before the fifth inning. White and weekend. 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