28 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2003
Monumental victory proves gap is closing in rivalry
M ichigan's and Michigan State's campuses have always been 65 ence at the time, but possessed a sizable mental edge over the Wolver-
miles apart. But the gap that exists between the two schools' ines. Michigan went to East Lansing wanting to play well, but not
basketball programs has been ever-changing. With eight con- expecting to win.
secutive wins, Michigan State had thoroughly dominated the Wolverines But this year, Michigan not only went into the Michigan State game at
in all facets of the game over the past five seasons. 5-0 in the Big Ten, it went in overflowing with confidence. The Wolver-
But yesterday afternoon, the Wolverines not only extended their cur- ines weren't just hoping to play well, they went in thinking victory.
rent winning streak to 13, they put an end to years of frustration for fans They were also playing in front of a completely different crowd. Two
and players who have been waiting for this moment, and this moment years ago, Michigan State fans had that field day in Ann Arbor.
only, for a long time. But yesterday, the Maize Rage student section wouldn't allow that to
"It's exceptional," Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin said. happen, as their energy and enthusiasm created an intimidating atmos-
"Tommy (Amaker) has done exactly what we phere most thought was impossible to create at Crisler.
wanted him to do, and a lot sooner than I expect- "It was the first time I've seen so many people in Crisler Arena,"
ed. And to have the rivalry with (Michigan) freshman Lester Abram said. "When I walked out, I was nervous."
State, it's very exciting." For seniors LaVell Blanchard, Gavin Groninger and Rotolu Adebiyi,
But looking back over the games in the past they finally got their chance to celebrate a victory over the Spartans. It
few seasons, it's hard to believe a turnaround like didn't matter that Adebiyi was injured. It didn't matter that Groninger
this happened so soon. w- only hit one 3-pointer, or that Blanchard scored his only two points on
On March 4, 2000, Michigan was embar- free throws. All that mattered was they finished their careers with Michi-
rassed by Michigan State, losing 114-63 at the gan, at least for the moment, above Michigan State.
Breslin Center. The Wolverines had lost four NAWEED For Daniel Horton, Abram and the rest of Michigan's freshmen, this
straight to the Spartans prior to that game, but SIKORA game was a statement - it was a preview of what's to come. Whether - -
the 51-point loss margin was, and still is, the Blowin' they care about the rivalry or not, they certainly respect it, and they have k
largest in Michigan basketball history. Smske proved that losing is unacceptable no matter who you are playing.
A season later, on Jan. 30, 2001, Michigan Michigan is back. If its first 12 wins of the season weren't convincing
State beat Michigan 91-64 in a game that felt enough, this win certainly puts it over the hump.
like a Spartans' home game in Ann Arbor. Green and white filled every "Has the gap been closed? I think that it has," Michigan State coach
corner of Crisler Arena, and they were the only colors left by the final Tom Izzo said. "(Amaker) has done a hell of job as we have done ahell
buzzer, as most Michigan fans left early. of a job in East Lansing. This should be a rivalry for many, many years. I
Even last season, with Amaker at the helm, it still wasn't the time for a have been saying that when we were winning by 30, and I said it when
Michigan revival, as the Wolverines were beaten 7144 in East Lansing. we were losing by 30." ipa
But all that is now forgotten. Said Amaker: "(Michigan State) is a championship program, and that
All the bad memories this rivalry has given Michigan basketball fans is certainly the direction that we are aspiring to go."
were washed away with yesterday's win, and, more importantly, with the Yesterday's win was certainly a major step in that direction. After all,
thought of what this team can do in the next few seasons. All people you can't be the best team in the Big Ten if you're not the best team in
could see was Daniel Horton being hoisted up at center court following the state.
the buzzer, one finger pointed straight into the air, as fans rushed toward
him to celebrate what seems to be a changing of the guard. DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
Going into the Michigan State game last season, the Wolverines Naweed Sikora can be reached at Freshman Daniel Horton is hoisted above the crowd at center
were just 3-4 in the Big Ten. The Spartans were only 2-4 in the confer- nsikora@umich.edu court following Michigan's victory over Michigan State.
Gymnastics takes Big Ten team title
By Michael Nisson
Daily Sports Writer
CHAMPAIGN - It's one thing for a team to compete with half of
its scholarship athletes, including an All-American, out due to
injury. It's something entirely different for that same team to win a
Big Ten Championship.
On Saturday, the Michigan women's gymnastics team did just that,
scoring a season-high 197.450to hold off Iowa and win its 12th Big Ten
Championship. The win extends the Wolverines' Big Ten Championship
win streak to an impressive five straight meets and is also the 10th Big
Ten Title in the last 11 years for Michigan.
"It's an incredible feeling," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "I told
them before we came out tonight that I wanted them to come out on the
floor and not compete not to lose. They needed to put it all out there on
the floor and be aggressive, and if they made a mistake, I wanted them to
make it giving 150 percent, and that's exactly what they did."
- I . -;
The Michigan women's gymnastics team celebrates its 10th
Big Ten team title in the past 11 years Saturday.
The most satisfying part about the event was not that the 10th-ranked
Wolverines (10-1 Big Ten, 17-6 overall) won, but how they won. Going
into the third rotation (Michigan's second event), the Wolverines trailed
the Hawkeyes 49.250-49.125. The next event for the gymnasts was bars,
an event that the team has had its fair share of problems on this season.
Junior Calli Ryals notched a 9.9 in the middle of the routine and was fol-
lowed up by freshman Jenny Deiley's career high 9.95. Sophomore Lau-
ren Mirkovich put the icing on the cake with a 9.925. Plocki was visibly
pleased, giving an emphatic fist-pump after each routine. The score, a
49.450, was a season-high, and was also good to tie for the fifth-best
postseason bars score in Michigan history.
"It just goes to prove that the potential is there, the talent is there, and
you just have to learn how to hit it mentally, and we did that today, so
we're on a roll," Ryals said.
Sometimes teams experience letdowns after a particularly pleasing
performance, but the Wolverines would have none of that. After a fall by
See GYMNASTICS, Page 31
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