8- Tuesday, November 18, 2014
The Michigan Daily -- michigandaily.cam
8 - Tuesday, November18, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
MEN'S BASKETBALL
'M' rolls Bucknell
behind quick start
Bielfeldt leads way in win
By SIMON KAUFMAN
Daily Sports Writer
If the Hillsdale game was the
subpar appetizer required before
the good stuff comes out, then
the Michigan men's basketball
team's game against Bucknell on
Monday night was the bottomless
breadsticks, entree and dessert all
at once.
The Wolverines took no time
digging in against the Bison,
devouring them, 77-53.
Unlike the first regular-season
game against the Chargers, in
which the offense struggled to
find a rhythm early on, Michigan
didn't wait long to satisfy its
appetite against Bucknell, scoring
the first 10 points of the game.
"Last game, losing the first
four-minute war, we wanted to
come out (tonight) and make the
first punch,notplay frombehind,"
said sophomore guard Derrick
Walton Jr. "So before the game,
we talked amongst ourselves and
made it a personal goal to just win
the first four minutes."
Redshirt freshman Mark
Donnal started the game for the
Wolverines at the '5,' but Michigan
coach John Beilein opted to sub in
senior forward Max Bielfeldt just
three minutes into the first half.
Beilein said Bielfeldt had a
great practice on Sunday, so he
decided the senior would be
the first big man off the bench
against Bucknell. And Bielfeldt
didn't disappoint.
In his first four minutes on
the floor, he knocked down
two 3-pointers; the first from
straightaway, and when junior
guard Spike Albrecht drove
baseline and drew Bielfeldt's
defender away, Albrecht dished
a pass to Bielfeldt setting the big
man up for an easy dunk.
Bielfeldt finished the game
with 18 points. His previous
career-high was four.
"I got in a rhythm and that's
beenone ofthekeys,"Bielfeldtsaid.
"I haven't quite gotten in a rhythm
most of my career, and when I got
there they set (me) at the top of the
key, and the opportunity was there
and I took it."
Bielfeldt, who missed
Michigan's summer activities
due to hip surgery, said his body
is "feeling better than it has all of
college."
Noticeably absent from the
scoring feast was junior guard
Caris LeVert, who scored just two
points in the first half - both on
free throws - and was 0-for-4
from the floor. The preseason All-
Big Ten selection didn't knock
down a shot from the field until
the 11:45 mark in the second half
and finished with just six points.
Despite not being able to find
his shooting rhythm, LeVert was
able to find teammates who had
the hot hand, collectingsix assists
on the night - all in the first half.
Sophomore forward Zak Irvin
went 6-of-8 shooting in the first
half, draining three shots from
deep for 16 points in the first
frame to help Michigan carry a
48-19 lead into the locker room.
Irvin finished the game with 23
points, leading all scorers.
Walton Jr. also picked up slack
for LeVert. He went 5-of-9 from
the field, finishing with 15 points.
The sophomore also collected
eight boards for the Wolverines.
On the defensive end,
Michigan's help-side defense
stymied the Bison in the first
frame, forcing them to rely on
outside shooting. Bucknell shot
just 7-of-22 from the field in the
half and 1-of-9 from beyond the
arc.
In the second half, the Bison
knocked down four 3-pointers in a
four-minute span, forcing Beilein
to call a timeout so his team could
regroup. And it was enough to
hold off the late scoringsurge.
By JAKE LOURIM
Daily Sports Editor
It all started with Max
Bielfeldt getting into the game,
which he had done 38 times in
his career. But then he knocked
down a 3-pointer, which he has
done just three times in nine
attempts.
Then he hit another, and he
was in previously uncharted
territory.
He wasn't done there, though.
Bielfeldt entered with 38
career points - only one per
game. He had scored more than
one-third of that in the first half
and had finished with 18 points
Monday night in the Wolverines'
77-53 win over Bucknell.
And then he led the fight song
in the locker room after the game
for what he recalled was his first
time.
"I'm happy for Moose," said
sophomore guard Derrick
Walton Jr. "He does that every
day in practice, believe it or not.
He gives us problems every day,
on the scout teamsometimes. For
him to be able to hit those shots
that he hits in practice in the
game, I'm really happy for him."
Though Michigan won
comfortably - and likely still
would have without the career
night from its unheralded
center - Bielfeldt provided an
immediate spark.
The
.I
4
Senior center Max Blelfeldt had scored 38 career points in 38 games, but Monday, he scored 18 off the bench.
along the baseline and drew
a double team, then dished to
Bielfeldt under the basket for an
easy dunk.
But he still wasn't done.
He came back in with 4:54
left in the first half and scored
five points
Wolverines before the end
already led of the half,
7-0 when he "He's virtually totaling more
entered at the than one point
17:01 mark been a m anchild per minute in
in the first the first frame
half. But then playing w ith - best on the
he hit two team.
3-pointers, our guys. At the break,
helping the Wolverines
to combat were ahead
seven quick comfortably,
Bucknellpoints.Atthat point,the 48-19, and his career-best
senior already had a career-high performance was securely in
in points, besting his previous hand.
mark of four. But Bielfeldt still wasn't done.
Just 90 seconds later, junior He returned from the bench
guard Spike Albrecht dribbled just 1:24 into the second half,
and before the first media
timeout, he swished another
3-pointer.
An April hip surgery
prevented Bielfeldt from playing
in the team's summer trip to
Europe. Then, the team made
the decision to reclassify him
from A redshirt junior to a senior,
making this his last year of
eligibility. Until Monday, he was
largely an afterthought in the
competitionfor playingtime.
He wasn't even in shape to
do sprints until about eight days
ago, according to Beilein. He
didn't play at all in Saturday's
game against Hillsdale and
gave Beilein the OK to allow
freshman big men Ricky Doyle
and D.J. Wilson more minutes.
"And then the last couple days
of practice, he's virtually been
a manchild playing with our
guys," Beilein said.
The Bielfeldt-led scout team
outplayed the first team in
practice Sunday, and the senior
became the first big man off the
bench.
In the grand scheme, the
competition could be more open
now.
"We'll wait and see how
it plays out," Beilein said. "I
won't be making any knee-jerk
(reactions), but I would assume
he'd be in the game against
Detroit."
One last time, Bielfeldt came
into the game, with 5:19 left
and a 24-point lead - when he
usually enters for the first time.
Immediately, Walton fed him
again, just as his teammates had
all night.
Then he was finally done for
the night. But in terms of this
season? Don't be so sure.
"It's a long season ahead of us,
lot of games. I don't want that to
be the highlight."
4
I
FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Crucial week for recruits
Clark dismissed from
program after arrest
By JUSTIN STERN
Daily Sports Writer
As Michigan football looks
ahead to its final two games,
many recruits are also eyeing
the program's final push, as they
weigh their options for next
season. Michigan has already
seen three players decommit this
season and any coaching change
could further put the 2015
recruiting class in jeopardy.
Here is a wrap-up of how the
remaining recruits performed
last weekend.
Chris Clark, tight end: Avon
Old Farms (Conn.) at Choate
Rosemary Hall (Conn.); Rank-
ing: ESPN (111) Scout (23)
In its firstgame without Clark,
the Avon Old Farms season came
to anend, asitwasdefeated49-20
in the playoffs. Last week, Clark
injured his medial collateral liga-
ment in his team's final regular
season game. However, he noted,
surgery will not be needed.
Now Clark must focus on two
important tasks duringthe offsea-
son. He must physically prepare
himself for college-level football,
as well as choose which school he
will attend. Clark has been com-
mitted to Michigan since June
2014, but has scheduled official
visits at other schools, including
North Carolina, Southern Califor-
nia and Texas.
Brian Cole, athlete: Saginaw
Heritage (Mich.); Ranking:
ESPN (142) Scout (39)
Saginaw Heritage finished
its season on Oct. 24 with
a 2-7 record. Many have
become speculative over Cole's
commitment due to quotes in
the last few months. According
to Rivais.com's Mike Farrell,
Cole has not planned an official
visit to Ann Arbor and writes,
"At this point, it is very unlikely
that he sticks with Michigan.
And to make things worse, if the
visit situation works out for the
Buckeyes, there is a solid chance
he may end up in Columbus."
Michael Weber, running
back: Cass Tech (Mich.) vs
Clinton Township Chippewa
Valley (Mich.); Ranking: ESPN
(169) Scout (99)
During a week of Big Ten
college football that was
highlighted by Melvin Gordon's
record-breaking 408-yard game,
Weber produced similar stats,
rushing for 404 yards and five
touchdowns on 32 carries. Cass
Tech reached the semifinals of
the playoffs with a 48-35 victory
over Clinton Township Chippewa
Valley. The Technicians will face
Saline on Saturday for a chance
to reach the state finals,
By ALEXA DETTELBACH
Daily Sports Editor
As the saying goes, when it
rains it pours, and the Michigan
football team has put that on full
display throughout this year's
never-ending campaign.
Before the team's second bye
week, there was little that could
drag the Wolverines down
further. But the arrest of senior
defensive end Frank Clark
for alleged domestic abuse
Saturday and his subsequent
dismissal from the team by
coach Brady Hoke on Monday
managed to do that.
"Frank Clark has been
dismissed for violating team
rules from the Michigan football
program,"Hokesaidinastatement
released Monday morning. "This
"The harsh reality of it is I did
the right thing today," Hoke said.
"Domestic abuse is tragic and
it's tragic on a national scale. It's
tragic in our society and we all
need to do something about it.
"It's a message I send strongly
to our football team, what we (do)
and how we will handle ourselves
with women."
Clark appeared in Sandusky
Municipal Court Monday at 10:30
a.m. via teleconference where
he pled not guilty to domestic
violence charges. He was released
on bail shortly after.
"(Hoke) has expectations for
everyone on this team and if
you don't follow them, if rules
are broken, stuff will happen,"
said senior middle linebacker
Jake Ryan. "He has talked about
domestic violence with us, that's
one ofthe things you can't do. And
it's unfortunate this happened."
On the field, Clark's position
will be filled by junior defensive
end Mario Ojemudia with
sophomore Taco Charlton moving
over to back him. Redshirt
freshman Henry Poggi will move
behind senior Brennen Beyer
on the'strong side. All of those
moving players received high
praise from Hoke and Mattison as
both coaches feel the position is in
good hands.
Moving forward, Clark's
tale will be one in a long list of
controversies that has filled the
2014 season.
"It's pretty amazing so many
things keep coming up," said
fifth-year senior quarterback
Devin Gardner. "But it's
preparing us to deal with stuff
in life. You're going to have a lot
of adversity. Things are going to
come that you don't expect.
"And (there's) a lot of things
we've dealt with it and I think
that we've dealt with it well.
We need to continue to stay
grounded and continue to work.
That's what you're going to have
to do as a citizen in the world
and that's what we're learning
to do right now."
is a tragic situationOur student-
TT I AG AZ71NTE 1ACS athletes will be held accountable
when their actions fail to meet the
standard we have at Michigan.
There is a legal process that
will occur and we respect that
process."
FASH~ N SEAKSHoke stood by the statement
Monday during his weekly meet-
ing with the media when he said
he found out about the incident
Sunday morning. Once he learned
all the surrounding information
was legitimate there wasn't much
of a decision to make on Clark.
MARLY GRAUBARD LINDSEY KILBRIDE "What was reported ... is
oxecuti'e Director of Fashion and I/ead of Sales at frnInk Club, lies unacceptable," Hoke said. "It is
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with our program. ... I have told
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Added defensive coordinator
CELESTE NORTHERN JAIME SZTOSER Greg Mattison: "They're young
kids that make mistakes. ... Do I
Detail events Assistant lanager at Fashion liedia Staffing lianager a condone it? No, I'm disappoint-
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them? Yeah, we always are and
that's the way we'll always be."
Hoke said the subject of domes-
tic violence is discussed multiple
times a year with his team and as
a husband with a daughter and
two sisters, the issue hit home
with the fourth-year coach.
Senior Frank Clark will miss Michigan's final two games after his dismissal.