Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Friday, October 23, 2015 — 7
Michigan has depth, but
experience in question
By JACOB GASE
Daily Sports Editor
After barely escaping with
a .500 record and missing
the postseason for the first
time since 2010, the Michigan
men’s basketball team likely
views last season as a year to
forget. Upset losses to the New
Jersey Institute of Technology
and
Eastern
Michigan
and
subsequent
injuries
to
star
guards — namely then-junior
Caris
LeVert
and
then-
sophomore Derrick Walton Jr.
— left the young Wolverines in
shambles.
But while starting several
freshmen may have seemed like
a drawback last season, it may
come as a blessing to Michigan
this year. The Wolverines return
all five starters from last season
and nine total players who
averaged at least 10 minutes.
Throw in redshirt freshman
forward D.J. Wilson, freshman
forward Moritz Wagner and
a
newly-eligible
transfer
in
redshirt
sophomore
guard
Duncan Robinson, and Michigan
has a rotation that could extend
as deep as 12 players.
In fact, a recent ESPN study
ranked the Wolverines as the
third-most experienced power-
conference
team
based
on
percentages of returning minutes
and possessions.
Depth still can’t be confused
with experience, though, and
Michigan coach John Beilein is
well aware of that.
“Compared to last year, they’re
still not an experienced team,”
Beilein said. “Yes, we do have
four guys that have played a lot
of college basketball
— the four
scholarship juniors and seniors —
but we have so many young guys
that were thrown in there.”
The “young guys” — six players
who logged minutes last year but
still have three or more years of
eligibility remaining — make up
over 40 percent of Michigan’s
returning minutes. Some of them,
including
sophomore
guard
Aubrey Dawkins and sophomore
forward Ricky Doyle, showed
flashes of brilliance last season,
but all still have plenty of room to
grow.
And for most of them, “room to
grow” has a literal meaning.
Many of the returning players
were in Ann Arbor this summer
building muscle with strength
and
conditioning
coach
Jon
Sanderson,
whose
famed
“Camp
Sanderson”
program
has
shaped
the
physical
gains
of
former
Wolverines and
current
NBA
players including Trey Burke, Tim
Hardaway Jr. and Nik Stauskas.
“We
couldn’t
physically
intimidate anybody last year,
because we were just babies
out there,” Beilein said. “Some
of these giraffes and young
thoroughbreds are turning into
bigger animals, bigger people, and
they’ve got to be able to use that
now.”
LeVert, who has experienced
the fruits of Camp Sanderson,
hopes that his young teammates’
physical gains can make up for
their relative lack of experience.
“Just
the
sophomores
in
general (have impressed me),” he
said. “All those guys have made
huge improvements in the weight
room and on the court as well. I
think it’ll really be an advantage
to us playing with Duncan and
D.J. this year, who didn’t play last
year.”
LeVert and Walton are finally
back to full strength, so instead of
being thrust into starting roles too
early, the beefed-up sophomores
will likely find themselves coming
off the bench.
Though
the
experience
statistics may be a bit misleading
because of last year’s chaos,
the versatility on this year’s
bench
cannot
be
ignored.
From Chatman to Robinson to
sophomore guard Muhammad-
Ali Abdur-Rahkman, the bench
will be full of players who can
play multiple positions and have
done
so
in
game action.
“I
think
it’ll
be
an
advantage to
us, just the
versatility we
have,
with
a lot of guys
such as D.J.
or Kam or Duncan who can all
play two to three spots,” LeVert
said. “I think that’ll really pay
dividends to us late in games and
late down the stretch of the Big
Ten season.”
Beilein may not be ready to
call his team experienced, but he
can take solace in the fact that
he can turn to his bench in the
case of an injury or late-game
substitution without worrying
about throwing a rookie into the
fire.
At the same time, though, he
knows the growing will never
stop.
“Whether you’re here, high
school, the pros, there’s always
something next,” Beilein said.
“It’s never like, ‘Hey, we made
it.’ ”
Wolverines prepare for road games
By JASON RUBINSTEIN
Daily Sports Editor
Prior to his team’s season-
opening
sweep
against
Mercyhurst, Michigan hockey
coach Red Berenson said his
main worry was that the Lakers
had already played four games,
while the Wolverines had played
only one exhibition.
Even
though
Michigan
escaped the weekend unscathed,
Berenson can’t use that logic any
longer as the Wolverines travel
to upstate New York for games
against No. 18 Union (2-0-2) and
RPI (1-3) on Friday and Saturday,
respectively.
“I like the fact that we came
from behind,” Berenson said.
“We’ll get a tougher test this
weekend, but we got a couple of
games under our belt. We have
something to prove on the road.
We weren’t very consistent last
year.”
Winning the first two games
already marks a change for the
11th-ranked Wolverines (2-0).
They began last season with a
loss to Ferris State and then split
a series with New Hampshire.
The quicker start this year
could be due to a much-improved
defensive unit. Freshmen Nick
Boka
and
Joseph
Cecconi
have looked capable of playing
substantial
minutes,
while
junior Nolan De Jong looks like a
completely different player after
extensive offseason workouts.
If
the
Mercyhurst
series was any
indication,
it
already
appears
that
Berenson
has
found
four
lines
capable
of scoring each
night. Seniors
Justin Selman
and
Boo
Nieves, along with freshman
Kyle Connor, have formed an
imposing first line that is capable
of scoring a goal on any given
shift. The trio tallied a combined
eight points in the opening
weekend.
“Playing with Kyle is super
easy,” Nieves
said.
“He
knows what to
do out there.
Justin and I
have a lot of
chemistry off
the ice, which
definitely
translates
on
the
ice.
Kyle
listens.
He
absorbs
everything, and he’s been so easy
to play with.”
Added Berenson: “I think
they are establishing themselves
as a line that can score and
shut another team’s line down.
I thought Boo was our best
forward
over
the
weekend,
and Kyle Connor was our most
dangerous.”
And
once
you
deal
with
that line, juniors Alex Kile, JT
Compher and Tyler Motte are no
piece of cake, either. All are high-
energy players who aggressively
throw their bodies at open pucks,
giving opposing units fits.
If that’s not enough, freshmen
Cooper Marody and Brendan
Warren
played
well
beyond
their years, combining for three
points. The two youngsters are
paired with sophomore Tony
Calderone, who leads the team
in shots with 11.
That’s three legitimate lines
for Berenson to roll out, and
juniors Evan Allen and Max
Shuart
—
both
fourth-line
players — tallied a goal and an
assist, respectively.
“We’re definitely deep this
year,” Nieves said. “Everybody
brings something unique which
makes us tough to play against.”
But No. 18 Union — which
defeated No. 8 Boston University
earlier this year — and RPI,
which beat No. 4 Boston College,
present Michigan with a much
tougher
challenge.
And
the
Wolverines know that.
“Every game is important,
especially these non-conference
ones,” Nieves said. “They’ve
definitely kept us out of the
tournament the last few years.
“We’re
going
in
with
a
business-type mentality.”
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Boo Nieves was Michigan’s best forward in the team’s first two games of the season, Red Berenson said.
Freshman class
stands out early
By CHRIS CROWDER
Daily Sports Writer
Over the past year, Michigan
women’s basketball coach Kim
Barnes Arico and her staff
searched near and far for some of
the best women’s basketball talent
in the United States. In their
quest, the coaching staff may
have compiled the best recruiting
class in program history.
The Wolverines lost three
impact seniors last season in
forward Cyesha Goree, guard
Shannon Smith and forward
Nicole Elmblad, but this year’s
freshman class is prepared, and is
expected to make an impact right
away.
Michigan
originally
had
commitments from four players in
the espnW 100 recruiting rankings
— center Hallie Thome (No. 64)
and guards Nicole Munger (No.
68), Naomi Davenport (No. 76) and
Lauren “Boogie” Brozoski (No.
85). Those recruits, along with
3-star forward Sam Trammel,
gave the Wolverines the 14th-best
recruiting class in the nation
according to ESPN. Davenport,
however, didn’t follow through on
her November commitment, and
is now attending Trinity Valley
Community College in Texas.
Barnes Arico attributes the
success in recruiting to the
opportunities
the
University
presents academically, the work
of her assistant coaches to scour
the country for talent and the
identity of the program. And
thanks to those attributes, even
without
Davenport,
the
rest
of the freshmen bring loads of
potential for Barnes Arico to be
excited about.
“I really think (this class can
be special),” Barnes Arico said.
“They were a top recruiting class
in the country. They’re a special
group of kids. Freshman year is
going to be tough. Some are going
to be backing up, some are more
experienced kids, so they’ll be
getting the minutes they’ll get
later in their career.”
Barnes Arico knows that this
group of freshmen is unique and
ready to handle the pressure
of
Division
I
competition.
Compared to last year’s freshman
class, which Barnes Arico said
struggled at times in the first few
weeks of practice, this year’s class
is in shape and has bought into the
Michigan philosophy of striving
to be the hardest-working team in
America. The rest of the team has
begun to take notice as well.
“I love our freshman class,” said
senior guard Madison Ristovski.
“They’re super talented and bring
a lot of energy to practice, and
they’re always willing to learn
and ask us questions.”
Added
sophomore
guard
Katelynn Flaherty: “They don’t
really act like freshmen — they’re
always willing to compete and
ready to go.”
Barnes
Arico
has
already
praised her quartet of newbies.
She
touts
Brozoski’s
(2015
Gatorade State Player of the
Year in New York) quickness and
ability to handle the ball at the
point guard position, commends
Munger’s
toughness,
notes
Trammel’s strength inside and
leaves practice saying, ‘Oh, my
goodness’ after seeing the 6-foot-
5 Thome (the Gatorade State
Player of the Year in Ohio) play.
Brozoski and Thome may be the
two who earn the most minutes
out of the four freshmen.
Barnes
Arico’s
feelings
about Thome’s ability and the
whole freshman class are a
combination of excitement and
reservation. But she knows that
it is only their first year, and that
she can’t think too far ahead,
so she is focused on the present
with the hope for the future in
sight. Barnes Arico says she can
get a pit in her stomach thinking
about the possibilities, but she is
looking forward to developing
her players to ensure they meet
or exceed expectations.
“They’re a special group,”
Barnes Arico said. “By the time
they’re juniors and seniors, I
think they’ll do something special
at Michigan for sure.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
“We have
something to
prove on the
road.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
“All those guys
have made huge
improvements.”
Excitement builds for ‘M’
By KELLY HALL
Daily Sports Writer
At
one
point
during
a
somewhat zany practice on
Thursday,
Michigan
men’s
basketball
coach John
Beilein was
doing push-ups with assistant
coaches
LaVall
Jordan
and
Jeff Meyer at centercourt. At
another point, a mock wrestling
belt with a big block ‘M’
emblazoned on it was handed
over to junior forward Sean
Lonergan, who “won practice”
the day before.
The season hasn’t started yet,
but excitement for the upcoming
year is already showing up
on the practice court. After
Thursday’s practice concluded,
the Michigan men’s basketball
team hit the halfway point in its
allotted 30 days of preparation
for the regular season. Halfway
in, the Wolverines have more
answers than they did 15 days
ago, but plenty of work remains
ahead of them.
MO
SMILES:
Though
Moritz Wagner is just 18 years
old, there has been a lot of
talk surrounding the forward
from Berlin, Germany. During
the Wolverines’ open practice
on Thursday, the freshman
bounded up and down the court
with a grin on his face.
“We
just
love
coaching
that kid so much and the
teammates love him,” Beilein
said. “Especially for a kid who’s
18 years old and from a foreign
country, learning the English
language on the fly. I can’t think
of a better transition so far.”
His progress as a college
student in a foregin country has
been incredible, but he’s still in
transition on the court.
At
times,
he
shows
flashes of athleticism. Other
times,
he
looks
downright
awkward.
Beilein
is
still
impressed, mentioning that he
unexpectedly
denied
senior
guard Caris LeVert the ball in
practice, but later explained
to his coach that it would have
been a bad mismatch for LeVert.
According to Beilein, that type
of two-steps ahead thinking
showedcased
Wagner’s
impressive basketball IQ.
“We’re trying to teach him
two positions,” Beilein said.
“At 6-foot-10 and a half, he
can play inside or he can play
in the middle. (He) just hasn’t
shown that physical ability to
rebound yet. He will. He’s really
a talented young man.”
WEIGHT WATCHERS: It’s
impossible to note the advances
Michigan has made in the
offseason without mentioning
weight gain and lean muscle
mass. Most of the Wolverines
stayed in Ann Arbor over the
summer to train, so it’s no
surprise that some players have
put on 20 pounds of muscle.
For Wagner, the adjustment
to American food and weight
lifting made an impact right
away. He made the jump from
211 to 228 pounds over the
course of three months.
“Sandman
(strength
and
conditioning
coach
Jon
Sanderson) really got (Wagner)
on a good program gaining
weight,” said freshman Brent
Hibbitts, Wagner’s roommate.
“He hadn’t really lifted much
back in Europe, so once he
started here and got a hang
of all the lifts, he really saw
improvements.”
Beilein has noticed gains
on both sides of the ball for
sophomore forward D.J. Wilson,
but his growth is affecting his
play as well.
“He’s 235 (pounds) now, and
he’s trying to play at 235 instead
of trying to play like he’s still
190,” Beilein said. “When you
grow up that long and you’re
170, 180, 190, and all of a sudden
you’re 235, there’s some habits
you have that he’s trying to
change so he can use that hard
work he’s done for a year in the
weight room.”
Fellow sophomore forward
Ricky Doyle hasn’t put on quite
as much weight, but he has
readjusted his muscle mass.
“He came in country strong,”
Beilein said. “He didn’t lift
a lot of weights, but he was
still strong walking in the
door. I think one of his bigger
issues was to just change the
muscle mass and make it more
productive as opposed to just
having 250 pounds. … He’s
probably in the best condition
he’s been in.”
Rounding
out
the
group
is redshirt sophomore guard
Duncan Robinson. Robinson
sat out last season due to NCAA
transfer rules, so he had more
time and energy to focus on
conditioning throughout the
year.
“I would say that a lot of (my
improvements) are physically,”
Robinson said. “I put on about
20 pounds, which is pretty big.
I’ve been working with Coach
Sanderson a lot, which has
been big for me. Just adjusting
to speed and the physicality of
play.”
ZAK
IS
BACK:
Beilein
confirmed that junior forward
Zak Irvin will be back shooting
on Friday. After having minor
back surgery in early September
that was expected to keep him
out for six to eight weeks, he’s
right on schedule.
In open practice Thursday,
Irvin participated in passing
drills, but had a bigger role
encouraging
his
teammates
throughout scrimmages.
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