T.- 8 - Friday, December 5, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 'M' rolling into rivalry game MEN'S BASKETBALL Wolverines face Michigan natives By ZACH SHAW DailySports Writer After starting the season with a 2-5 record, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson knew hi; team needed to have a good homestand to keep the season alive. Friday, Michigan has a chance to make it a great one. The Wolverines (1-1 Big Ten, 7-6 overall) look to continue their hot streak in a single game against Ohio State. Michigan has won five of six at home and takes on the Buckeyes (1-1, 5-8-1) feeling good in all areas ofthe game. "Our team has got a lot of confidence," Berenson said. "There's still a level of humility, though. We haven't won the Stanley Cup or anything, but we've got a lot of players who feel betterabout themselves and their game, and that's helpful." The Wolverines' best asset continues to be their offense. After posting 19 goals in their first seven games, the unit has tallied 30 goals in its last six games, vaulting itself to the No. 3 offense nationally. Ohio State, however, returns its goaltender tandem and eight of nine defensemen from last season, presenting Michigan with its toughest challenge since its slowstart. "We've got to keep challenging them in practice and realize that every game's going to be different," Berenson said. "We're better now, but you never know. The shots won't always go in, so we've got to make sure that we don't let up any unearned or cheap goals on the other end." Coming to Ann Arbor having split their last three series, the team has struggled with consistency for much of the season, but Berenson knows his By SIMON KAUFMAN Daily Sports Writer Kyle Cooper grew up in the shadow of the Big House, with Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson watching over him.. The Hillsdale College junior forward is from Northville, some 20 miles northeast of Ann Arbor. Posters of Michigan Stadium, Howard's catch against Notre Dame and Woodson plastered his childhood bedroom's walls. On Nov. 15, though, the Michigan men's basketball team was the opponent, and Cooper put up a double-double, with a game- high 28 points and 10 rebounds. Hillsdale was overmatched, though, as the Wolverines rolled in their season opener, 92-65, but Cooper's performance earned him praise from Michigan coach John Beilein after the game. For Cooper, and a handful of other local products, the opportunity to play against a teamthey watched and rooted for growing up is one they'll cherish for a longtime. "When I first found out this summer we were going to come up (to Michigan) for a game there was kind of that little bit of nostalgia," Cooper said. Hillsdale center Jason Pretzer, a Jenison native, also noted how special it was to play against the Wolverines and how he has watched Michigan's program improve over the years. "It was great watching them just improve as I grew up," Pretzer said. "They're on a completely different level now. You expect them to make the tournament every year - deep runs." On Nov. 17, the Wolverines rolled past Bucknell and two more Michigan natives. Bucknell guard Chris Hass grew up in Pellston, and forward Cory Starkey is from Petoskey - both about a 250-mile straight shot north from Ann Arbor. And when the Bison came to town, Hass didn't go easy against the team he used to root for, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and scoring a team- high 21 points. Three days after taking down Bucknell, Michigan hosted Detroit - a team that has just four out-of-staters on its roster. For one of the Titans, his relationship to Michigan basketball was passed through lineage. Juwan Howard Jr. - son of former Michigan star and Fab Five member Juwan Howard - is a redshirt junior forward for Detroit and its leadingscorer. Howard helped the Titans keep it close for most of the night, contributing a game-high 24 points in an eventual 71-62 loss. "I look up to-my dad a lot," Howard said. "Seeing him have success here, I wanted to do the same thing and follow his footsteps. But things didn't work out. I think that was a learning experience for me and gave me an extra edge and a chip on my shoulder." For some who grew up nearby, lining up across from Michigan doesn't mean they'll stop rooting for the Wolverines. "It's nice playing a team coming off a Big Ten championship," Cooper said. "Hell, I hope they win another Big Ten championship, just to give us some more credibility for playing them tough." Doily Sports Writer Max Bultmon contributed reporting. 4 rAMsnCOLLR/aily Sophomore forward JT Compher has started to contribute more ooffense, tallying three goals in the last two weeks. young defense needs to be on its runs and breakaways, and they toes. create them a lot, so they're a Ohio State showed its ability to dangerous team for us." score quickly and early in its 5-1 Though Michigan will be win over Notre Dame Sunday. It tested throughout the game, the has proven its fast scoring threat most important time to prevent can occur home runs and at any time breakaways against any may be the team, giving "They're a opening a Michigan minutes. With squad prone dangerous team." a 7-2 record to breakaway when scoring goals a tough first compared task. to a0-4 record "They're a speed team," when they don't, the Wolverines Berenson said. "They've got some understand the importance of dangerous forwards, they won't getting off to a fast start. play as close as you would think. "You've seen us not start well They play more of a stretch game. and not score and get behind They're always looking for home the eight-ball," Berenson said. "You've seen us start well and score, and those are usually our best games, so that first goal and a fast start is important, and that's all preparation." Michigan has been prepared in five of its previous six games, but the Buckeyes - which are 3-1 on the road - present a challenge Berenson is hoping his team is ready to meet. "It's kind of like going to class all week," Berenson said. "If you're doing what you're supposed to do and doing your homework, you should be ready for your exam on the weekend. Every time we play, it's like an exam. "We have to be ready to go and ready to start on time." WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING For DeLoof sisters, team is family By KEVIN SANTO Daily Sports Writer When freshman swimmer Gabby DeLoof arrived in Ann Arbor this year, joining the Michigan women's swimming and diving team meant more than finding a new family in her teammates. Gabby was also reunited with her older sister, junior Ali DeLoof. Competing together is more of the same for the duo. The sisters have swam together most of their lives and were teammates at Grosse Pointe South (Michigan) High School. They have been waiting to get in the same pool again since Ali graduated in 2012. "It's very exciting," Ali said. "(Our favorite part is) the competition and acting goofy sometimes. Some of the girls call us the Goofy DeLoofies." As if having two DeLoofs weren't enough, Michigan coach Mike Bottom revealed Tuesday that Ali and Gabby's thirdsister, Catie, will be joining the 12th-ranked Wolverines next fall. Catie DeLoof signed her letter of intent Nov. 17. The fourth DeLoof, Jacqueline, currently competes at Grosse Pointe South, and if she follows in her sisters' footsteps, she might don the maize and blue soon, too. "It's a great family," Bottom said. "I expect thatthey're going to get better, because that's what the DeLoofs do. They're just going to keep (improving), hopefully all the way to the international ranks." The DeLoof-Michigan tradition started as a result of another family member - cousin Alana Font, who attended Michigan from 2008- 2012. Font taught the sisters about the Michigan athletic culture, and they were fortunate to have the opportunity to consistently visit the campus together at a young age. So, when they received their recruiting letters from Bottom, it was a dream come true. As members of such a prestigious women's swimming program, the DeLoofs have learned to lean on each other through the rigorous training sessions and demanding practice hours. "My biggest obstacle would be probably getting used to the training and lifting," Gabby said. "(I'm) overcoming that (by) being positive, asking Ali for advice. It's been a good transition." Ali DeLoof noted that her transition was much different than her sister's. Gabby knew a majority of the team through her sister prior to having a recruiting trip. Bottom was quick to sing Ali and Gabby's praises for their progress and success so far. He emphasized that the sisters are unique in their own right, but that, as a package, they are extremely coachable and a pleasure to be around. The coach commended Gabby for her willingness to learn and the enthusiasm she shows in wanting to improve. In addition, Bottom went on to pay tribute to Ali's confidence, explaining that she isn't intimidated by any of her competition. The DeLoof sisters are currently competing in the AT&T Winter National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, which started Thursday. As they have their entire life, the duo is looking to blow opponents out of the water, together. TERESAAMATHEW/Daily Juwan Howard Jr. nearly led Detroit to an upset over Michigan at Crisler. AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR READING THE MICHIGAN DAILY @theblockm baba amarket by sava " I.. T r 403 east washington, ann arbor - 8 am-10 pm, monday-saturday F -9 am-10 pm, sunday - !baba: real food fast 4D4J 1 12 nickels arcade, ann arbor - r 7 am-8 pm, daily ~x bafloatm'art r~om @babo ann arbor .