4B — December 14, 2015
SportsMonday
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Lineup shake-up
sparks Michigan
By KELLY HALL
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan coach John Beilein
started off his Friday press
conference with bad news, just
not the kind Michigan fans had
anticipated.
After
mentioning
that junior guard Derrick Walton
Jr. still hadn’t practiced more
than a week after suffering
an ankle sprain against North
Carolina State, Beilein made note
of more injuries that had been
sustained just that day in practice.
Then came the news the
Wolverine faithful already knew:
Senior guard and captain Spike
Albrecht would be retiring from
the Michigan basketball team
due to his slow recovery from
offseason hip surgeries.
Despite injuries and rotation
changes that included redshirt
sophomore
guard
Duncan
Robinson replacing sophomore
Aubrey Dawkins in the starting
lineup, the Wolverines (7-3)
exceeded expectations against
winless
Delaware
State
on
Saturday,
clobbering
the
Hornets, 80-33.
There weren’t any transitional
issues for Robinson, who got on
the board first with a 3-pointer
after being left open on the wing.
He went on to score 11 points on
4-for-6 shooting, validating his
new status as a starter.
“We feel right now, that our
flow, defensively and offensively,
is better as a starter for Duncan,”
Beilein said. “Get him in there
and let him go and get more
scorers out there. … I think he
makes other guys better.”
Robinson dished out four of
the Wolverines’ season-high 23
assists. After the Wolverines
tallied just 12 in their loss to
Southern
Methodist,
Beilein
made sharing the ball a point of
emphasis in practice.
Starting Robinson takes more
pressure off of senior guard
Caris LeVert, who leads both the
scoring and assists categories.
“He opens up the floor because
he’s such a great shooter, so that
really gets us going offensively,”
said sophomore forward Kam
Chatman. “Him starting really
opens up the floor for Caris or
(sophomore guard Muhammad-
Ali Abdur-Rahkman) or Derrick
to get into the paint.”
Chatman made some noise
himself. As soon as he came in
off the bench, he dished the ball
to Robinson, who took it home
for a dunk. Within the next two
minutes, he added five points, an
assist, two rebounds and a block.
“Just coming in, I knew the
play when I was going through
it the past day, it was going to be
open, so I told Duncan, ‘Just be
ready,’ ” Chatman said. “And so
just throwing that pass, it kind of
got me going. It was pretty good.”
Junior guard Andrew Dakich
also had a more impactful day
than usual, burning his redshirt by
checking into the game less than
10 minutes into the first half. With
Walton still recovering, Dakich
supplements sophomore guard
Abdur-Rahkman and LeVert.
“I mean, it was a no-brainer
after he went down,” Dakich said.
“Coach Beilein pulled me in and
told me what was going on with
Spike. I said, same thing as last
year, (I’ll help) any way I can and
contribute the best I can.”
The crowd favorite got Crisler
Center to the loudest it was all
game when he made his first field
goal attempt by faking a 3 and
completing a running layup. The
walk-on had a career day in all
categories with four points, three
assists and two rebounds.
“I didn’t want to shoot it today,”
Dakich said. “I just wanted to get
other people open.
“It was nice. It was fun to see
that first one go down.”
‘M’ routs Delaware State
By JACOB GASE
Daily Sports Editor
The halftime entertainment
at Crisler Center on Saturday
afternoon
featured
“Tommy
LaSwordfish”
twerking
in
front
of
University
booster
Al
Glick,
“Kevin
Duranteater”
rolling
around on the court to the
sounds of Limp Bizkit and,
of course, “Mackerel Jordan”
swallowing a man whole and
spitting him out wearing only
his boxers.
And
though
the
antics
of
the
giant
sports-themed
inflatable animals known as the
“ZOOperstars” may have stolen
the show during Michigan’s
game against Delaware State,
the
Wolverines’
thorough
demolition
of
the
Hornets
proved to be just as flashy — and
at times, just as bizarre.
It was a contest that featured
Delaware
State
clanking
17
3-point attempts off the rim,
Michigan chasing a slow-rolling
loose ball three-quarters of
the length of the court and
sophomore guard Muhammad-
Ali Abdur-Rahkman appearing
to square-dance in a 10-foot
circle with a defender who
hooked his arm while dribbling.
But with the lowly Hornets
(0-9) unable to
get
anything
going
offensively or
defensively,
the
Wolverines
had no issues
finding shots
all afternoon.
Just five days
after
being
manhandled
in the low post by Southern
Methodist, Michigan outscored
Delaware State 36-10 in the paint
(20-0 in the first half), made 11
3-pointers, converted seven dunks
and had six players reach double-
digit scoring in the 80-33 rout.
“(I liked) the growth we made
in those couple of days (after) a
performance that we did not like
at all,” said Michigan coach John
Beilein. “We were really solid with
our
defense.
Our offense, the
ball didn’t stick
nearly as much
— we had 23
assists. We hate
to lose, but the
only good is that
it really makes
us better in some
other areas.”
The
Wolverines (7-3)
led from wire to wire, starting
the game off with a 3-pointer
from redshirt sophomore Duncan
Robinson
—
who
made
his
first start of the season — and
beginning a 24-8 opening run.
As usual, senior guard Caris
LeVert
led
the
charge
for
Michigan, scoring a team-high
15 points while working as the
lead guard for the third straight
game in the absence of injured
junior guard Derrick Walton Jr.
Junior forward Zak Irvin,
whose
game
has
steadily
improved over the last few
games as he continues to recover
from back surgery, had one of his
best showings of the year. After
tallying nine points and nine
assists at SMU, Irvin posted 12
points to go along with eight
rebounds. He also showed off
his dribble-drive talents, finding
open lanes on two straight first-
half possessions and finishing
with one-handed jams.
Thanks to a putrid 24-percent
shooting performance for the
game, the Hornets were never
able
to
recover.
Completely
locked out of the paint, they
resorted
to
launching
21
3-pointers, just four of which
dropped through the net. The
Wolverines also controlled the
rebounding battle, 41-29.
Even against vastly inferior
competition, Michigan came in
knowing it would have to work
on its defense and rebounding,
especially with the Big Ten
season looming.
“Those are the two main
things,” LeVert said. “I think
today we did a great job of that
— we limited their offensive
rebounds, and we played great
defense at times. We have to keep
our focus up, because we know
the level of competitiveness
will rise as soon as the Big Ten
season starts.”
The usual suspects did most of
the damage for the Wolverines,
but several role players turned in
solid performances as well.
Sophomore
forward
Kam
Chatman was feeling it from
the moment he checked into
the game midway through the
first half, picking up five points,
two assists, two rebounds and a
block in his first three minutes
on the floor.
And junior guard Andrew
Dakich,
who
burned
his
redshirt for the second straight
season
after
senior
guard
Spike Albrecht announced his
retirement yesterday, set new
career highs with four points,
three assists and two rebounds
in his first game of the season.
Though
Beilein
admits
“outsiders” might look poorly
upon Michigan’s weak non-
conference stretch, he explained
that
playing
opponents
like
Delaware State is important to
get those role players a chance to
see where they stand, even if the
game isn’t pretty.
“There are some games where
we can just get guys out there and
get them minutes when the lights
are really on,” Beilein said. “That
was huge today.”
DEL. ST.
MICHIGAN
33
80
UCLA too much for Michigan
By CHRIS CROWDER
Daily Sports Writer
The
Michigan
women’s
basketball team faced a tall
order,
both
literally
and
figuratively, when it faced No.
20
UCLA
on Sunday.
The Bruins
(5-2)
lost
both of their contests to top-
five teams by single digits, and
are physically a noticeably tall
team. That size was an issue for
the Wolverines.
The Bruins started the game
with a big lineup, throwing out
6-foot-3 forward Kacy Swain
to match up with 6-foot-5
Michigan center Hallie Thome.
UCLA subbed in Swain with
6-foot-4 Monique Billings to
play alongside 6-foot-3 Paulina
Hersler. Nine of the 12 active
players on the Bruins’ roster are
at least six feet tall, compared to
the Wolverines’ four.
“They’re long, and they can
run the floor,” Thome said.
“They basically can pass to
anyone on the court, and they
can score. You could tell that
they weren’t nervous when they
stepped on the floor.”
Michigan (7-2) fought back
with its own height in Thome,
who scored a team-high 24 points,
but the Wolverines fell, 86-77.
Michigan struggled to adjust
to UCLA’s length, as sophomore
guard Katelynn Flaherty missed
her first three shots, including a
wide-open layup. The Wolverines
also adjusted to the Bruins’
three-quarter-court press, an
element of Michigan’s game that
it continues to implement in its
own defensive agenda.
On both sides of the ball,
Thome led the way.
“When (Thome) was out of the
game, they really took advantage
of the rebounding and the size
difference,”
said
Michigan
coach Kim Barnes Arico. “That
definitely hurt us. She needs to
be in the game for us, because we
don’t have anyone else with that
physical presence.”
After the Wolverines held a
two-point lead at the end of the
first quarter, the second quarter
was no different, as the matchup
remained a back-and-forth affair.
About six minutes into the frame,
Thome converted an and-1 to
give Michigan a three-point
lead. In the following possession,
Bruins guard Kari Korver hit a
deep 3-pointer to tie the score
once again. The next time Korver
got the ball, she converted from
behind the arc again for her third
3-pointer of the day.
The Bruins’ other star guard,
Jordin
Canada,
came
into
Sunday’s matchup averaging 19
points per game, but was held
to only one by the end of the
first half. While Canada was
crucial for the Bruins in other
ways, racking up seven rebounds
and five assists, she still looked
frustrated at times. With the
band cooing, “O Canada!” in the
middle of her free throw routine,
she missed the next free throw,
unable to get her shooting on
track before the halftime break.
Despite Canada’s slow start,
UCLA led, 34-30, heading into
the third quarter.
The Wolverines came out of
the gate firing, making their first
three shots. But a block ended
the
streak,
directly
leading
to another three from Korver
in transition. Three minutes
later, freshman guard Boogie
Brozoski tossed a rainbow pass
from half court to Thome, who
was cutting toward the basket
for the fundamental layup. The
players on the Michigan bench
collectively jumped from their
seats, down by just three. After
a UCLA basket and two straight
turnovers, the Bruins had their
largest lead of the contest with
2:30 left in the third quarter at 10.
UCLA’s length continued to
be an obstacle, as guards such
as senior Madison Ristovski
couldn’t dish the ball into
the
paint
without
getting
the delivery tipped or stolen.
As
Ristovski
and
Brozoski
struggled, the Bruins thrived off
their mistakes, leading by nine
going into the fourth quarter.
“Any mistake that we made,
they made us pay for it,” Barnes
Arico said. “I think that is
experience. On our side, that’s
a sign of our youth. … We looked
young at times.”
With about seven minutes
left in the final frame, Flaherty
drove into the lane, but was
blocked. The ball was deflected
right into the hands of Ristovski,
who
immediately
knocked
down a 3. On the ensuing
Wolverine possession, Thome
knocked down another basket.
Junior guard Siera Thompson
had an opportunity to cut the
lead to two, but missed the
layup. Canada, who eventually
found her rhythm, scored four
straight, bringing the lead back
up to eight.
“The
little
things,
the
turnovers at the end, were what
separated us,” Thome said.
UCLA didn’t look back from
there, as Billings dominated the
paint on both sides of the ball,
finishing with 20 points and 11
rebounds. The Wolverines were
outrebounded, 45-27.
“We didn’t rebound great like
we usually do,” Flaherty said.
“That hurt us, and we tried to
box out, and that’s something
going forward we need to work
on … Going in (to the paint), we
got a lot of our shots blocked.”
It was fitting that the contest
ended on a UCLA block. The
Wolverines
lost
to
a
more
talented and, ultimately, a much
larger team.
“We always talk about being
better tomorrow than we were
today,” Barnes Arico said. “I
think we’re always trying to get
better. … If each one of us can get
a little bit better, we can be a lot
more successful against quality
opponents. That’s what we try
to do every day and will do from
here on out.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Youth shows in
first home loss
By BRANDON CARNEY
Daily Sports Writer
Hallie Thome was on track to
earn her first collegiate double-
double. Then she picked up her
fourth foul.
It
was
a
situation
the
freshman center had never been
in. Play too aggressively, and
she’d be on the bench the very
next possession based on the
way UCLA forward Monique
Billings drew fouls seemingly
every time she touched the ball.
Play too conservatively, and
the defensive pressure Thome
had been putting on the Bruin
frontcourt would disappear.
Thome ended up choosing the
latter.
At that point, when UCLA’s
guards drove the lane, Thome
was the only thing standing in
between them and the basket.
Her
inexperience
showed,
as
Michigan
couldn’t
put
together a comeback against the
20th-ranked Bruins on Sunday,
falling 86-77.
The Wolverines had been able
to keep up with UCLA for the
first half and the beginning of the
second half. But Michigan began
to show its immaturity around
the time Thome picked up her
fourth foul with three minutes
remaining in the third quarter.
After
struggling
with
the
Bruins’ height early in the game,
the
Wolverines’
offense
ran
through Thome. She had 20 points
and seven rebounds when she
was removed, leaving Michigan
searching for a new strategy.
Freshman
guard
Boogie
Brozoski
committed
two
turnovers on the night, both in
the time between Thome was
subbed out and when she came
back in with 8:44 left in the
fourth quarter. With Thome
off the court, the Wolverines
committed five turnovers and
were outscored 13-7 without an
offensive option to replace her.
As
UCLA
continued
to
go to the basket, Michigan
struggled to come up with an
answer to stop them. Brozoski
and freshman guard Nicole
Munger couldn’t lock down
their
defensive
assignments,
and sophomore forward Jillian
Dunston had to foul the Bruins’
forwards to prevent them from
scoring easy baskets.
“We talk about it as a team,”
Munger said. “We try and go
out every game with the same
mentality,
and
every
single
moment of every game. Nothing
really changed because we have
the same focus.”
But in this situation, not
changing the game plan may have
hurt the Wolverines. Michigan’s
lead scorer was on the bench,
and the younger players seemed
to lose confidence as the deficit
grew larger.
Michigan coach Kim Barnes
Arico knew the only way the
Wolverines were going to get
their
confidence
back
was
sending Thome back in. But
the freshman was overcautious
defensively, and didn’t know how
to handle the situation knowing
she couldn’t pick up the foul.
“She’s been in that situation
before where she’s picked up
fouls early and she’s had to sit
out,” Barnes Arico said. “But it’s
been a while. She’s going to need
to learn how to play successfully
with fouls, because we really
need her on the floor.”
Inexperience caught up to the
young Wolverine squad Sunday,
and while it may have ruined
their chance at an upset, making
mistakes and competing for a
majority of the game with a top-20
team will benefit Michigan with
Big Ten play quickly approaching.
“We cut it to four and had
some opportunities, and we
didn’t make the best decisions,”
Barnes Arico said. “Any mistake
we made, they made us pay for. I
think that is experience. On our
side that’s a sign of our youth,
and I think we’re going to grow
and we’re going to learn from
that.“
UCLA
MICHIGAN
86
77
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Duncan Robinson made his first start of the season against Delaware State.
“We hate to lose,
but the only good
is that it really
makes us better.”
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Freshman guard Nicole Munger came off the bench and scored 15 points in Michigan’s loss to UCLA on Sunday.