The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
November 5, 2014 -- 7A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom November 5,2014-7A
Michigan's best-kept secret
Chatman stepping
into starter's role
By ALEXA DETTELBACH
Daily Sports Editor
Early in the second quarter
against Indiana, quarterback
Devin Gardner found himself
under duress inthe pocket.While
going through his progressions
behind center, the fifth-year
senior locked in on receiver
Amara Darboh running a route
near the right sideline.
Just as Gardner let go of the
ball, the Hoosiers' linebacker
in coverage jumped the route
and appeared to have the ball in
his hands with an easy path to
the end zone. Instead, Darboh
knocked the ball loose and
prevented the pick six.
"I was kind of thinking ...
hit the arm cause I hear the
(defensive backs) coach say that
all the time. So I just kind of tried
to swipe and hit the arm and I'm
thankful he didn't get the pick,"
Darboh said after the game.
Darboh has been arguably the
best-kept secret of Michigan's
offense this season. The receiver
put that talent on display against
Indiana, leading the offense with
nine receptions for 107 yards and
a 12-yard touchdown. It was the
first time the redshirt sophomore
passed the century mark in his
career.
All season, Darboh has been
Gardner's favorite target behind
junior Devin Funchess. But
with Funchess usually receiving
double, sometimes triple,.
coverage, Gardner has slowly
grown a rapport with Darboh,
who has 26 catches for 362 yards
and two touchdowns on the
season. Two-hundred-fourteen
yards of that production have
come in the last three games.
"I think, for me, it's the more
I play the more I get used to the
game," Darboh said Saturday.
"And feel it out and feel what the
defensive backs are doing and feel
out where to be, and I think the
more I play, the more experience
By JAKE LOURIM
Daily Sports Editor
Yes, Michigan freshman
Kameron Chatman plays a very
similar style to former Wolverine
Glenn Robinson III. Yes, he plays
the same position as Robinson
did. And yes, Robinson left that
spot open when he declared for
the NBA Draft last spring.
But no, Chatman is not looking
to replace Robinson.
"I wouldn't really compare
myself to him," he said Thursday
at the team's media day. "He was
a great player, but I don't really
go out there and try to compare
myself to him."
Whether he likes it or not,
Chatman will be counted on at
least sometimes this season to fill
the void Robinson left.
Chatman feels good about.
his basketball IQ as he prepares
to play meaningful minutes
in his first season. Michigan
coach John Beilein's success at
turning freshman role players
into sophomore stars has been
well-documented, but Chatman
thinks he's ready to step in right
away.
Beilein is still undecided on
a possible starting lineup, but
Chatman has the potential to fill
that void. Chatman is 6-foot-7,
210 pounds, Robinson 6-foot-6,
220. Chatman was the No. 38
overall recruit in the 2014 class
and was listed as a small forward,
but projects to be a stretch-four,
much like Robinson.
"He's going to play both
forward positions as well, and if
we ever got stuck, he could play
in the backcourt," Beilein said
Oct. 2 before the team opened
practice. "All of the freshmen are
OK. What happens when we put
two or three weeks together?"
The Wolverines have now
put four weeks together, and
Thursday at open practice,
Chatman looked the part of a
starter. He showed his length
and athleticism on both sides,
much like Robinson did. He was
knockedaroundabitduringmock
contact drills, but he is already
listed at 10 pounds heavier than
he is in his recruiting profile.
And despite the possible
difference in physicality, he is
an inch taller with a wingspan
similar to Robinson's.
"We saw early that he could be
a rotation guy," Beilein said. "We
have a rating system that we use
that I won't share with you, but
there's a number we give a guy
who we feel is in the rotation of
top eight as a freshman, and he
graded outat that."
The coach said being in the
top five and being ready to start
is very different, another step
up from his current spot in the
top-eight rotation. But with
sophomore Derrick Walton
Jr., ' junior Caris LeVert and
sophomore Zak Irvin appearing
as clear starters, Chatman looks
to be one of the viable candidates
for the fourth spot, beside a host
of big men at the'5.'
That doesn't mean he can't
slide to the '2' or '3' to fill in.
"We have guards, we have
forwards and we have a guy that
plays in the middle," Beilein said
Oct. 2. "Sometimes, we'll have
four of them out there at one time
that are guards. Because of Kam's
ball handling ability, I think he
canplay alotof positions"
For now, Chatman's skill puts
him in a good spot for playing
time starting with Monday's
exhibition against Wayne
State. He'll likely be playing in
Robinson's old spot, and he'll be
compared to him, whether he
likes it or not.
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Amara Darboh recorded a career-high nine receptions against Indiana for 107 yards.
I've been getting." ' on a broken play that required
Darboh got his first chance to improvisation from the receiver.
start when redshirt sophomore He had to cut his route short as
Jehu Chesson was out with an , Gardner was pressured in the
injury against Miami (Ohio) pocket. Gardner then aired it out
on Sept. 13. to give Darboh
In that game time to adjust
Darboh hauled "The m TI and get under
in a then- m ore I the ball. The
career best six timing worked
receptions for play, the m ore I and Darboh
88 yards. And get used to the made the play,
while Chesson After seeing
got the start select time
with Funchess b * during his
against true freshman
Indiana, it was season, mostly
Darboh who on special
been a welcome surprise for the
Wolverines. It has been a season
of firsts for the Des Moines
native, beginning with his first
career reception - a 26-yarder
against Appalachian State in
week one.
"(Darboh) works extremely
hard and it's nice to see those
kinds of kids when they are
rewarded because of the hard
work," Hoke said Saturday.
"Amara,youknow we have Devin
on one side and Amara on the
other, it maybe opens up some
things a little better."
If Funchess decides to forego
hislastseasonofeligibilityforthe
NFL Draft, it could be Darboh's
show next year. And after the last
few games it appears he is more
than up to the challenge.
got most of the looks.
On Michigan's fourth offensive
play of the day, Gardner found
Darboh for a 34-yard completion
teams, Darboh sat out last season
after sustaining a preseason foot
injury. His return andosubsequent
performance this season has
*BiG blues: Struggles
are conference-wide
By ZACH SHAW After splitting and largely
Daily Sports Writer outplaying No. 12 Providence
in its opening weekend and
It's no secret the Michigan vaulting into the rankings,
hockey team is struggling. many felt Ohio State's pieces
After opening the season had developed enough to avenge
ranked eighth in the nation, the last season's near-tournament
Wolverines have stumbled to a miss.
2-5 start, their worst in 28 years. But three straight losses
But Michigan isn't the only tempered expectations for the
Big Ten team stumbling out of Buckeyes, who are now 34th
the gate. The Daily gives a team- in both offense and defense
by-team breakdown of what has and have shown little signs of
gone wrong (or right) for each emerging from mediocrity.
team in the opening month. Michigan State (2-4):
No.1 Minnesota (5-1): Michigan State was among
One month ago, Minnesota the bottom five teams in
was one of three Big Ten teams the country in nearly every
in the top-t0. Through six offensive category last season.
games, the Golden Gophers This year hasn't been much
are seventh in the nation with different. With the exception
3.67 goals per game and have of forward Matt Berry, who
converted 30.4-percent of is seventh in the nation with
power-play opportunities, good five goals, the Spartans have
for third in the nation. a dismal 13 goals through six
There has been little to games, have already been shut
question on the other side of out twice, are 2-for-28 on the
the ice. Minnesota's eight NHL power play and have just five
draftees on defense and junior goals in their last four games.
goaltender Adam Wilcox, Despite the woes and poor
reigning Big Ten player-of- start, Michigan State has
the-year, have ensured that the shown it may not need to score
Golden Gophers continue to that many goals to win down
be the nation's most complete the road. Led by goaltender
team. With a seemingly weak Jake Hildebrand - among the
Big Ten, it's hard to imagine nation's best netminders - the
Minnesota doing anything Spartans are allowing just two
short of running the table in goals per game, with the clip
conference play. lowering to 1.25 against ranked
Penn State (5-1-2): teams.
Last season's cellar-dwellers Wisconsin (0-4):
generated plenty of momentum Of all the Big Ten teams
when it upset Michigan in last going through growing pains,
season's Big Ten Tournament. Wisconsin has had it the worst.
That momentum has continued After opening the season 10th
this season. While much of the in the country, the Badgers
Big Ten has struggled, Penn have yet to win a game. With
State has been a surprise starlet 13 freshmen, Wisconsin limped
in its second season as a varsity to two consecutive bye weeks
program. Scoring three or more having scored just three goals,
goals in all but one game, the fewest in the nation, and going
Nittany Lions are third in the 0-for-18 on the power play.
nation in scoring, and have It's almost a given that
made sure to treat their fans - Wisconsin will get better,
which purchased all available but with 5-of-6 upcoming
season tickets in three minutes games against ranked teams,
- to entertaining hockey. improvement won't necessarily
Ohio State (2-3-1): translate into wins.
'The best coaching staff inAmerica'
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By MINH DOAN Arico said. "And with some of us
Daily Sports Writer beingmoms,we understandhow
the kids in our program need to
Michigan women's be treated as someone's child, as
ball coaching staff spends well as how they can be pushed
uch time together that and challenged."
imes, coach Kim Barnes Beyond chemistry and
okes they need mandatory cohesion, two of the three
way from each other. assistant coaches already had
metimes we need to say, experience coaching with
ot allowed to see you,' Barnes Arico at St. John's, with
se I could show up at assistant coach Joy McCorvey
h and there's (assistant) even playing for her.
(Melanie) Moore with McCorvey came to Ann
amily as well," Barnes Arbor with Barnes Arico from
said. St. John's, where she was
it's that family-type part of the staff that broke
phere Barnes Arico has Connecticut's 99-game home
o cultivate that has created winningstreak in 2012.
s within the program. She played under Barnes
h players coming and Arico from 2006-2010 with the
every year, the variable Red Storm, where she was a
as remained constant is captain and ranked third all-
aching staff. time in St. John's history with
t's why Michigan was able 777 career rebounds.
back to the postseason "I think one of the greatest
osing its core after Barnes attributes Joy has is she
first year. understands me better than
that's why this group anyone else," Barnes Arico
ches is as Barnes Arico said. "She really knows the
The best coaching staff in expectations and the demands
ca." Ihave."
family here," Moore McCorvey, who coaches the
"I have two little ones post players, was instrumental
me, and they're around in senior forward Cvesha
Goree's success last season.
While she is known to be
tougher on the players, with just
four years since McCorvey was
in college, she has also become
something of a big sister to many
of the players, including Goree.
Assistant coach Megan Duffy
is in her first season at Michigan
after making the move from
George Washington, where she
was also an assistant. Before
she coached the Colonials,
though, she coached at St. John's
with Barnes Arico, and when a
position opened up at Michigan,
it was a seamless fit.
"When we had an opening, I
called Coach Duffy, as kind of
set up, and asked her 'Would you
recommend anyone?' without
mentioning her," Barnes Arico
said. "A couple days later,
(Duffy) called me back and said,
'Why didn't you mention me?'...
and the rest is history."
Five years removed from
the WNBA, Duffy still has the
same competitive drive that got
her drafted 31st overall by the
Minnesota Lynx.
"Coach Duffy's a bit of a
perfectionist," Barnes Arico
said. "She checks in with (the
players) constantly, to make sure
our point guards are the best in
the country."
Moore is the only coach on
staff who didn't know Barnes
Arico personally before coming
to Michigan, but the first time
Barnes Arico talked to her, she
knew Moore would be a good fit
on her staff.
Coming from Princeton,
Moore understands the time
commitments ofbeingastudent-
athlete at an academics-heavy
university. This has made her
transition from the Ivy League
to the Big Ten easy.
Moore, who coaches the
guards, is known for her
energetic and positive coaching
style.
"Coach Moore is super
positive, she's 'P-squared in
A-squared, Positive PattyinAnn
Arbor," Barnes Arico said. "She's
energetic, she's encouraging,
and the kids love to be around
her."
With such a turnaround
from Barnes Arico's first and
second years, when she lost a
full startinglineup, the program
continues to make a name for
itself in the NCAA.
And it's all due to "the best
coaching staff in America."
the staff because they're great
people. They're all here for one
goal, which is to put Michigan
women's basketball on the map.
We have each other's back, and
it's a great atmosphere."
Off the basketball court, the
staff spends time together with
activities such as watching
football games together and
Sundaydinners atBarnesArico's
house.
"We're with these guys more
than we are with our own
families," Moore said. "(Barnes
Arico) does an excellent job of
making sure we have excellent
chemistry on our staff."
The dynamic is a cohesive
one, too. Michigan boasts a
coaching staff that is comprised
of only women, with Moore and
Barnes Arico being mothers.
"I think one of the greatest
things about having an all-
woman staff is that you really
understand the players," Barnes
Michigan women's basketball coachKim Barnes Arico has helped assemble a familiar staff to help her teams succeed.
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