8A— Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Wolverines prepare for Minnesota

By SIMON KAUFMAN

Daily Sports Editor

Two weeks ago, when the 

Michigan men’s basketball team 
looked at its schedule, it held its 
breath. It was 
readying for a 
daunting three-
game 
stretch 

of top-25 talent 
featuring then-
No. 20 Purdue 
on 
the 
road, 

then-No. 
3 

Maryland 
at 

home and then-
No. 16 Iowa in 
Iowa City. The 
Wolverines 
came out with 
only one win 
— 
upsetting 

the Terrapins — but also put up a 
good showing against a stronger 
Hawkeyes team.

This week, as Michigan (3-2 

Big Ten, 13-5 overall) looks ahead, 
it can breathe a small sigh of 
relief. The menu for the next 10 
days includes a helping of the Big 
Ten’s bottom feeders, starting 
with Minnesota (0-6, 6-12) on 
Wednesday night at Crisler Center 
and ending with Penn State (2-4, 
11-8) in a neutral-site game at 
Madison Square Garden in New 
York on Jan. 30. Sandwiched in 
between is a trip to Lincoln to take 
on Nebraska (3-3, 11-8) and a home 
bout against Rutgers (0-6, 6-13).

To simplify the difference 

between the last two weeks and 
the next two weeks: Michigan’s 
past three opponents have totaled 
46 wins this season; it’s next four 
have combined for 34.

The slate of lesser opponents 

offers the Wolverines a chance to 
bounce back from a challenging 
stretch. But, of course, don’t 
tell that to Michigan coach 
John Beilein, who is as likely to 
discount an upcoming opponent 
as Rick’s is to let you skip the line 
when it’s not your birthday.

“Still no must wins, you know 

that — not this time of the year,” 

Beilein said of the upcoming slate 
of games. “But yeah, this is the 
way you got to look at it always: 
every home game. You saw how 
difficult it is to win on the road. 
You know that; we all know that. 
… (Our game against Minnesota 
is) an opportunity to win at home 
against a team that’s scrappy, 
that’s feisty.”

Despite that scrappiness and 

feistiness, Minnesota has little to 
show for it. The Golden Gophers 
are still looking for their first 
conference win and are riding 
a seven-game losing streak into 
Ann Arbor, looking for their fist 
win since Dec. 16.

Statistically, it’s easy to see why 

Minnesota is in the gutter. The 
Gophers’ 41.2 shooting percentage 
ranks last in the Big Ten, and their 
77.3 points allowed per game is the 
second highest in the conference.

In his third year at the helm, 

Minnesota coach Richard Pitino 
has struggled to find the same 
success as he did in his first 
season, when he led the Gophers 
to a 2013-14 NIT title. Since taking 

over, he has lost nine players to 
graduation, and his roster this 
year is underclassman-heavy. The 
past two contests, Minnesota’s 
starting five has featured three 
freshmen and two sophomores.

One of those sophomores, 

guard Nate Mason, leads the 
team in minutes and is pacing 12.3 
points per game. He’s one of four 
Gophers averaging double-digit 
scoring. Forward Joey King (12.9, 
3.4, 1.6) has been one of Pitino’s 
first options off the bench in the 
last two games, and Minnesota 
has also gotten contributions from 
guard Carlos Morris (10.8, 3.9, 
1.4) and forward Jordan Murphy 
(10.5, 8.1, 0.5).

After 
getting 
mauled 
by 

Nebraska last week, Minnesota 
hung with an Indiana team 
Saturday that is undefeated in 
the Big Ten, though the Golden 
Gophers ultimately came up short.

On Michigan’s side, Beilein all 

but confirmed that it would be 
without senior guard Caris LeVert 
for the fifth straight game as he 
continues to recover from a left-

foot injury.

“We continue to get encouraging 

news about Caris,” Beilein said. 
“He’s doing more and more right 
now on and off the court. We 
expect (more work) on and off 
the court going forward. We have 
no date yet, and we’ll see how he 
tolerates any pain going forward.”

Michigan might miss LeVert’s 

on-court leadership the most. 
In its two most recent losses to 
Purdue and Iowa, it was able 
to fight back, but never able to 
completely close the gap, allowing 
the Boilermakers and Hawkeyes 
to go on late runs.

“We talk about losses that we 

have had this year, there’s always 
been that four-minute stretch in 
the first half or the second half we 
just fell apart,” said junior forward 
Zak Irvin. “We just got to stay 
together as a team. We can’t have 
mental lapses. (Against Iowa) we 
had one in the beginning of the 
game which hurt us, and then we 
had one late in the second half also. 
We got to stay strong mentally and 
just come together as a team.”

SAM MOUSIGIAN/Daily

Junior forward Zak Irvin has come alive for the Wolverines in the absence of senior guard Caris LeVert.

‘M’ selects trio of 
captains for 2016

By BRAD WHIPPLE

Daily Sports Editor

After missing two straight 

NCAA 
Tournaments, 
the 

Michigan women’s soccer team 
will need to do everything in its 
power to break the trend next 
season.

Tuesday 
afternoon, 
that 

campaign began with the naming 
of three captains for the 2016-17 
season: junior forward Madisson 
Lewis, junior midfielder Jessica 
Heifetz and redshirt sophomore 
forward Ani Sarkisian.

“Jess, Madi and Ani will make 

a great trio of captains to lead our 
2016 team,” said Michigan coach 
Greg Ryan in a statement. “Spread 
evenly throughout the pitch, with 
Jess in the midfield, Madi on the 
back line and Ani up top, we will 
have a great leader in each area of 
the field.

“These three captains are 

supported by an outstanding 
senior class. We view the whole 
class as a leadership team, and 
we are enjoying the meetings we 
are having as we create a shared 
vision for our 2016 team.”

Former 
captains 
Maddie 

Clarfield, Corinne Harris and 
Christina Murillo now hand 
over the reigns to another trio 
composed of three players who 
have each had vastly different 
experiences as Wolverines.

During 
their 
freshman 

seasons, both Lewis and Heifetz 
were part of the Michigan squad 
that reached the 2013 Elite Eight. 
Heifetz saw almost no action 
that season, though, and played 
in only one game — against 
Oakland.

Lewis, on the other hand, was 

one of the team’s difference-
makers on the frontline that 
year and rarely played like a 
freshman — a statement often 
backed by Ryan. After Michigan’s 
NCAA Tournament first-round 

win against Milwaukee, he even 
compared Lewis to being “faster 
than a rocket ship” to describe 
her ability to quickly break any 
opponents’ backline and find a 
scoring lane.

After ending the season ranked 

second on the team in goals (six), 
assists (nine) and points (21), 
Lewis was a unanimous selection 
for the All-Big Ten Freshman 
team. Since coming to Michigan, 
she hasn’t missed a game.

The 
next 
season 
was 
a 

turnaround 
for 
both 
future 

captains, as Lewis played more 
minutes as a defensive back 
and still notched five goals, and 
Heifetz went from playing only 
one game to 18 while adding three 
goals as well.

Though the Wolverines’ season 

was short-lived that year, it 
marked the arrival of Sarkisian, a 
Florida State transfer who missed 
the 2013 season due to injury.

Returning from an injury was 

no problem for Sarkisian, who 
has started every regular-season 
game since donning the maize and 
blue. She hasn’t skipped a beat, 
finishing last season with seven 
goals, three assists and 17 points 
— tying all three categories for 
first on the team with sophomore 
forward Taylor Timko.

“All three captains have been 

key impact players on our team 
since arriving at Michigan,” Ryan 
said. “They have the complete 
respect of our coaching staff and 
of their teammates for how they 
carry themselves on and off the 
field.”

Michigan will soon begin 

its strength and conditioning 
regimen 
in 
addition 
to 
a 

competitive spring season, but 
the Wolverines will have to wait 
until August to see meaningful 
results. The election of Lewis, 
Heifetz and Sarkisian is a start, 
though, and it might just be 
Michigan’s antidote. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Martin, Dancs suspended

By JUSTIN MEYER

Daily Sports Writer

The 
Big 
Ten 
announced 

Tuesday 
that 
Michigan 

sophomore 
forward 
Dexter 

Dancs 
and 
sophomore 

defenseman Cutler Martin would 
be suspended following an on ice 
brawl involving the two after 
Sunday night’s contest against 
Ohio State.

The 
announcement 
was 

expected — Michigan’s pair of 
disqualification penalties each 
automatically carry a one-game 
punishment — but each player 
earned extra-game suspensions. 
In addition to serving conference 
suspensions, neither player will 
be permitted to suit up for the 
exhibition matchup against the 
United States National Talent 
Development Team on Thursday.

“I think our players have to 

take some responsibility for (the 
suspensions),” 
said 
Michigan 

coach Red Berenson. “Our team 
doesn’t condone that. We don’t 
teach that. We expect players to 
play with emotion, but to play 
with discipline. When the whistle 
goes or the horn goes, the game 
is over. I can’t speak for the other 
team, but that’s not how we play. 
I’m disappointed, but if we got 
suspended, then we deserve it.”

Martin, who will sit out two 

conference games, made waves on 
the internet over the weekend as 
a highlight circulated of his hard 
right punch landing square on a 

Buckeye facemask.

Dancs will sit only one Big Ten 

game for retaliating with a high 
cross-check. It appeared that Ohio 
State’s Dakota Joshua instigated 
the extracurricular activity when 
he hit Dancs with the butt end of 
his stick after the final whistle.

The Buckeyes had two players 

suspended for the minimum of 
one game.

“I don’t think it was brewing, 

it just exploded at the end,” 
Berenson said. “Obviously, their 
team was frustrated, and our 
team has to understand that.”

Dancs plays left wing on the 

fourth line for the Wolverines. 
He has suited up for 19 games this 
year, recording five goals and five 
assists on 20 shots.

Martin has started 20 games, 

recently taking the ice alongside 
freshman defenseman Nicholas 
Boka. Martin has eight points and 
leads the team in blocked shots 
with 39.

The Big Ten elected not to tack 

on any additional suspension for 
junior forward Alex Kile, who 
was penalized for leaving the 
bench.

In an official press release, the 

conference said:

“Following a review of the 

incident by the conference, the 
Big 
Ten 
imposed 
additional 

suspensions and issued public 
reprimands of Michigan’s Dancs 
and Martin for violating the Big 
Ten Sportsmanship Policy.”

The fight catapulted the rivalry 

matchup into larger news circles, 
but Berenson was unwavering in 
his view.

“You win the game on the 

scoreboard, you’re not going to 
win it after the game is over,” 
Berenson said. “We made it clear 
to our team that we don’t want 
to be a highly penalized team. 
We don’t want to be a team that 
retaliates. We’re not a team that 
takes cheap shots. We don’t 
recruit players that we think are 
going to help us run the other 
team out of the building. We don’t 
play like that.

“It’s not good for college 

hockey. It’s not good for the Big 
Ten. It’s not good for Michigan.”

Michigan has a clear option for 

replacing Martin in sophomore 
defenseman Sam Piazza. The 
Chicago-area native has cracked 
the lineup several times since 
the 
Great 
Lakes 
Invitational 

tournament.

Meanwhile, Dancs will be 

replaced by either sophomore 
Niko Porikos or junior Evan Allen.

However, 
the 
potential 

absence 
of 
Zach 
Werenski 

from Thursday’s lineup — the 
sophomore defender did not 
practice due to “bruising” — 
leaves the Wolverines in a tight 
spot. Kevin Lohan is still out 
with a back injury, and it is 
likely that Michigan will have 
to dress every available player 
on its 22-man roster if Werenski 
is not ready to go for the NTDP 
exhibition game.

GRANT HARDY/Daily

Sophomore defenseman Cutler Martin will sit out two conference games following an on-ice fight against Ohio State.

Barnes Arico, Wolverines 
get much-needed day off

Michigan takes 
advantage of rare 

break to rest

bodies and minds

By BRAD WHIPPLE

Daily Sports Editor

Monday morning, Kim Barnes 

Arico dunked a basketball.

No, the Michigan women’s 

basketball coach wasn’t on the 
floor of Crisler Center. Nor was 
anybody else. The Wolverines 
never have Monday practice, but 
Barnes Arico told her staff and 
players not to show up for any 
reason whatsoever.

With Martin Luther King 

Jr. Day, Monday came with the 
added benefit of no class, so the 
Wolverines truly had a day off. 
Having played five games in 
the last two weeks, they need 
all the rest they can get ahead 
of a grueling Big Ten stretch — 
starting with No. 7 Ohio State on 
Thursday.

As for Barnes Arico, she 

could’ve 
spent 
her 
morning 

doing the usual: watching film, 
preparing for the next game, etc. 
Instead, she asked her kids what 
they would want to do if she had 
a day off.

Next thing she knew, she was 

at Sky Zone Trampoline Park 
in Canton, Mich. With a ball in 
her hand, she flew toward the 
basket and dunked. And yes, of 
course she got the whole thing on 
camera.

“I was just gonna watch 

(my kids) and maybe do some 
work on the e-mail, bring my 
computer and watch some film,” 
Barnes Arico said in her weekly 
radio show. “And they said, 
‘Mommy why don’t you come 
out?’ So I paid, and I joined the 
fun.”

The fun didn’t end there. With 

her mother visiting town, Barnes 
Arico took her out to lunch for 
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week. 

Once all was said and done, 
though, Barnes Arico returned 
home to start preparing for the 
Buckeyes. 

As for her players, Monday 

was probably the most rest 
they’ve had all season. This is 
the Wolverines’ first season that 
games consistently fall on both 
Thursday and Sunday, which has 
led to the same weekly routine: 
game Thursday, practice Friday, 
travel Saturday, game Sunday, 
class Monday.

Yes, it’s as exhausting as it 

sounds.

“Our players haven’t had a 

true day off,” Barnes Arico said. 
“I don’t know if we’re gonna get 
another one for a really long time 
— and we haven’t had one for a 
long time.

“Sometimes less is more. They 

need to be reminded this point in 
the season to make sure they’re 
resting both their minds and their 
bodies.”

Last season, the Wolverines 

had eight games on Monday, 
Tuesday or Wednesday. This 
year, that number is down to four. 
Michigan players have lost their 
weekends, and having to rest their 
legs on Mondays with no practice 
doesn’t mean they can just skip 
class.

According to Barnes Arico, she 

would prefer her team to have 
more full days off. Regardless, 
she has worked around the jam-
packed schedule to the best of her 
ability.

“This is the first year that we’ve 

had to do it like that,” Barnes Arico 
said. “I don’t particularly love it, 
because of the weekend aspect, 
but I do think there is something 
to be said for the routine. I think it 
makes the kids feel comfortable — 
they know what they have every 
week, they’re set.”

The schedule has also taken 

a toll on the coaching staff. One 
of 
Barnes 
Arico’s 
assistants 

hadn’t been home for the last 
four weekends, and that didn’t go 
unnoticed by the head coach.

“I could tell she’s wearing it 

a little bit on her face,” Barnes 
Arico said. “I said, ‘You know 
what, you need to get out of this 
office a couple days, and you 
need to go home and spend some 
time with your family. You being 
here an extra hour is not gonna 
make the difference between us 
winning or losing this basketball 
game.’

“I think it’s important for us to 

remember to tell the people we’re 
surrounded by that it’s important 
to do that — whether that’s our 
players or staff. We will get more 
in return.”

Of late, the Wolverines have 

been getting more in return. 
They’ve won three of their last 
four games, all of which have been 
decided by an average of nine 
points. Michigan dropped a close 
game against No. 8 Maryland 
last Thursday, but it was the 
Wolverines’ only loss in the two 
weeks following a three-game 
losing streak.

As 
for 
Michigan’s 
recent 

success, it completed a 17-point 
comeback against Iowa and held 
on down the stretch against 
Minnesota on the road.

Most 
importantly, 
the 

Wolverines 
changed 
the 

storyline against Penn State. 
In 2013 and 2014, Michigan 
had been the Nittany Lions’ 
third-to-last and final game, 
respectively. 
Both 
times, 

Penn State earned a win to 
clinch its share of the Big Ten 
Championship. 
Both 
times, 

Michigan players hung their 
heads as confetti rained from 
the ceiling and fans stormed 
the court. Thursday, though, 
Barnes Arico helped eliminate 
the pit in her stomach as her 
team pulled off its first win 
in Happy Valley since 2001 — 
evening out its Big Ten record 
at 3-3. 

And if that’s what Michigan 

can do while battling great 
fatigue, there’s no telling what it 
could do on Thursday, against a 
ranked Ohio State squad with a 
full day off.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Minnesota 
at Michigan

Matchup: 
Minnesota 
6-12 ; 
Michigan 13-5

When: 
Wednesday 
8:30 P.M.

Where: 
Crisler Arena

TV/Radio: 
BTN