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January 29, 2020 - Image 8

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8A — Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Win-coln, Nebraska

LINCOLN — It was decidedly
different from the Michigan lineup
that’s showed up most of this
season, and decidedly different
from the fast-paced, physical
style of play that has become a
trademark of the Wolverines this
season.
Still, though, it was a win. And
on Tuesday in Lincoln, when
Michigan came in looking to
snap a disheartening four-game
losing skid and improve a bleak
conference record, a win was more
than enough.
The Michigan men’s basketball
team (11-9 overall, 3-6 Big Ten)
defeated Nebraska, 79-68, on the
road on Tuesday night behind
the leadership of junior guard Eli
Brooks and an offensive explosion
from
freshman
wing
Franz
Wagner.
Notably
missing
from
Michigan’s lineup was senior
point
guard
Zavier
Simpson,
who did not travel with the team
after sustaining a suspension for
violating a team policy. Junior
forward Isaiah Livers travelled
with the team but did not play
after re-aggravating a lingering
groin injury in Saturday’s game
against Illinois.
After a rocky start to the
game, the Wolverines seemed
to settle in. Brooks stepped into
a commanding role on offense,
contributing 20 points and nine
rebounds on the night, while
playing all but thirty seconds of
the game.
“It was good to see guys like Eli
Brooks step into that leadership
role,” Michigan coach Juwan
Howard said. “He’s been a leader
throughout the year, so it wasn’t
a surprise to me and the coaching
staff.”
Wagner also helped provide
some spark on offense, with
18 points and eight rebounds
on the night. It was a resilient
performance from the freshman,
who missed two free throws late

Saturday that could’ve changed
the game’s outcome; Wagner was
visibly upset in Saturday’s post-
game press conference.
It was an offensive presence
that
Michigan
has
been
missing without Livers, and the
Wolverines’ offense was much
the better for it. A combination of
Wagner, Brooks and sophomore
forward
Brandon
Johns,
Jr.
helped make up for the points
lost when Simpson and Livers
were sidelined; the three of them
combined for 54 points and 24
rebounds on the night.
“I just wanted to really focus
on being active tonight on the
offensive end,” Johns, Jr. said.
“The more I move, the more I
dive, I think it opens up a lot of
perimeter play. So I think that the
more I do that, the more I affect
the game.”
Michigan put the game away for
good with just under ten minutes
left in regulation, going up 63-55
on a three and then a dunk from
Johns, Jr. From there, the game
was never in question. Despite a
valiant effort from Cornhuskers’
guards Cam Mack and Haanif
Cheatham, who combined for
36 points on the night, Nebraska
couldn’t seem to keep up.
From there, the game was never
in question. The Huskers never
drew back within one possession
of the Wolverines. It started to
look more like the game that had

been predicted between these
two teams at the beginning of the
season.
Without two of its best talents,
Michigan got off to a slow start.
DeJulius, in the starting lineup as
a replacement for Simpson, had his
ankles broken by Mack, who easily
sank three with DeJulius out of the
way. Wagner missed the response
three, and after Cheatham made a
layup, Michigan went down early,
5-0.
A layup from Wagner and a
wide-open three from junior
guard Eli Brooks tied the game at
five, but the Wolverines continued
to struggle to put shots in the
net, and after allowing another
layup, they went into the under-
16 timeout trailing, 7-5. Things
improved after the break, though;
Michigan went down by four, 9-5
and then 7-11, but drew within
a one-point margin on another
Brooks three-pointer, and took
their first lead of the game, 12-11,
on a layup from Wagner just inside
the 13-minute mark.
“Franz is a high-IQ basketball
player,”
Howard
said.
“He
knows that we need his offensive
leadership. He knows that we need
his offensive talent. And today, he
did a really good job of mixing in
both by attacking the basket and
making outside shots.”
Ultimately, it was different. And
it wasn’t always pretty.
But it was enough.

Michigan overcomes Simpson suspension to beat Nebraska, 79-68, snapping four-game losing streak

LINCOLN — What do you do
when your most comfortable
state is upended? When all sense
of familiarity is thrown out the
window?
For many, the answer may be
to lose all sense of composure.
Fold under the pressure that is
the massive concept of perpetual
and unexpected change and let
the winds of chance sweep you
away.
While
this
is
clearly
a
melodramatic
rendering
of
the Michigan men’s basketball
team’s game against Nebraska
— the Big Ten’s worst team, per
KenPom — Tuesday’s critical
road win for the Wolverines was
their ferocious shout into the
wind.
For in the end, that’s all
they could do. Shout or be
suffocated
under
a
set
of
bruising circumstances and an
even tougher schedule. After all,
Michigan’s two best players on
the team — senior guard Zavier
Simpson and junior forward
Isaiah Livers — were out due
to
suspension
and
injury,
respectively.
When it was all said and done,
the Wolverines (12-8 overall,
3-6 Big Ten) overcame a sense
of overwhelming strangeness,
showing the depth of their roster,
to handle the Cornhuskers (7-14,
2-8), winning 79-68.
In the hard-fought triumph,
the Wolverines had to tap deep
into the well of its players and
talents in order to secure a
hard-to-come-by road win. In
doing so, Michigan looked like a
completely different team than
it had in months.
“Today, a coach like myself
had to work a little extra,”
Michigan coach Juwan Howard
said. “And I don’t mind that. But
our guys did an excellent job
of collectively stepping in as a
group and filling the void of one
of our best players (Simpson).”

Junior
guard
Eli
Brooks
became
the
ball-dominant
leader
of
the
offense,
distributing the ball and playing
aggressive with repeated takes
to the rim.
Sophomore forward Brandon
Johns Jr. transformed into an
offensive powerhouse, posting
up defenders and shooting at a
remarkably efficient clip.
Freshman
forward
Franz
Wagner
stopped
shooting
3-pointers and began attacking
the basket — a marked departure
from his offensive rhythm thus
far.
Sophomore
guard
David
DeJulius started his first career
game.
Junior walk-on forward C.J.
Baird played in a non-blowout
regular season game.
All telltale signs of player
development
and
rather
unthinkable play calls for this
Wolverine team with an entirely
healthy roster. And for most
of the game, it all started with
Brooks and Johns.
With Livers and Simpson
out of the picture, the floor was
open for Johns to take charge
on the offensive end. He would
end the night with 16 points
on 5-of-6 shooting and seven
rebounds. Feeling dissatisfied
with his level of movement on
the floor during his previous
opportunities,
Johns
made
sure his feet were active on the
hardwood,
forcing
defensive
miscues, especially around the
rim.
“I think the more I move,
the more I dive,” Johns said. “I
think it brings people to me, so
it opens up perimeter players, so
I think the more I do that, the
more effective I can be.”
Added Howard: “He’s been
huge for us all season. He’s
been playing with a lot of
energy, toughness, did a really
good job on the glass, got some
opportunities to score inside.
Kid is just growing. Day by day,
getting better game by game.”

By
playing
through
this
wrinkle
in
the
roster,
the
Wolverines were able to fully
display the talents of their
players. One such byproduct of
this set of circumstances came
from the walk-on Baird.
With Wagner in foul trouble
in the first half, Baird entered
as his willing back-up, entering
over
scholarship
player,
freshman guard Cole Bajema.
Regardless, his teammates were
happy to see him finally get an
opportunity.
“It was awesome,” Johns said,
pausing to draw out the word
‘awesome.’ “It was great seeing
him out there. Just knowing
what he does in practice and
what he’s capable of doing, it
was great seeing him out there.
He should’ve played a little
more confident, but I was just
happy to see him out there.”
What’s more is that with
Simpson off the floor, Wagner
had the opportunity to expand
his game beyond his normal
sub-30 percent 3-point shooting
mark and attack the basket. The
freshman ended the night with
18 points and more confidence in
his shot selection.
“I thought attacking the rim
was very important, I tried to
do that,” Wagner said. “I think
everybody tried to do that.
At the start, I think we shot a
little bit too much instead of
playing to our advantage down
low, but I think it was good
towards the end that we kept
staying aggressive attacking the
basket.”
Johns.
Brooks.
DeJulius.
Wagner. Baird.
The list of players with an
increased workload on Tuesday
read like a laundry list, and in
the end, with their postseason
hopes on the line staring down a
Quad 3 loss, they never batted an
eye. They emotionlessly recited
the mantra, “Next man up,”
as drilled into their brains by
Howard and continued shouting
into the wind.

ALEC COHEN/Daily
Sophomore forward Brandon Johns finished with 16 points Tuesday night.

ABBY SNYDER
Daily Sports Writer

JACOB KOPNICK
Daily Sports Editor

Pitching staff finding right mentality

Mentality.
It’s the word that’s guided
Michigan
softball’s
pitching
staff through the offseason. But
for its top two arms, that means
something different.
For junior left-hander Meghan
Beaubien, that means not getting
caught
up
in
other
people’s
expectations.
As a freshman in 2018, Beaubien
raked in the accolades — everything
from Big Ten Freshman and
Pitcher of the Year to being named
a first team All-American. She
carried the pitching staff with 217
innings and an ERA of 1.16. After
a debut season like that, Beaubien
felt the pressure to live up to her
own reputation.
While she was still a force in the
circle the following season, she had
her off days and failed to match the
eye-catching ERA of her freshman
year, posting an ERA of 1.87. With
another season under her belt,
Beaubien’s learned to take the
pressure off. This offseason, she
focused on a different approach.
“I think a big lesson I can learn
from last year is to not really think
about my numbers or not really
think about any of my previous
seasons,” Beaubien said. “Even as
the season goes on, not thinking

about my previous games because
I play my best when I’m not
overthinking things, and I have a
very active mind. Just focus on the
game.”
For sophomore right-hander
Alex Storako, that means finding
her presence on the mound.
By all accounts, Storako had
a successful freshman season,
racking up 142.1 innings and
ending with an ERA of 2.02, but her
biggest struggle was maintaining
her composure when the pressure
was on. She wasn’t able to make it
through seven consecutive innings
until March — her 10th appearance.
“I think she’s just come back
more confident,” Beaubien said. “I
think you can see it in situations
where maybe her freshman year
she would waiver a little bit if she
gave up a couple hits or let a couple
people on base. She shakes off
mistakes really well and bounces
back really well.”
Mental stamina has always
been Storako’s biggest challenge.
In several games, she’d start off
strong, but begin to doubt herself
after a couple well-placed hits. In
these instances, Michigan coach
Carol Hutchins would opt to bring
in Beaubien, the team’s reliable ace.
But those days may be in the past.
“I think she understands this
level better,” Hutchins said. “She
understands
the
expectations

better. I think she knows better
what to expect — I mean, that’s just
something with freshmen. They
just have to learn it. She’s more
mature, noticeably. Her mentality
has to be pitch to pitch. Finding the
zone and then break it through the
zone. I think she works hard, and
keeping her mentality into killer
instinct. She throws some fantastic
pitches and great pitchers put them
together and they slice up hitters.”
Though they have very different
personalities, the pitchers have
rubbed off on each other in many
different ways both on and off the
field — Beaubien has helped Storako
work through the transition to
collegiate ball and gotten her
hooked on Marvel movies.
They share the same work ethic
and have worked together through
the offseason to get in the right
frame of mind. They go to bullpen
practice together, run together
and do ab workouts together. They
both consider themselves to be
competitive, and though they face
different challenges, each pushes
the other to work harder.
It’s a mentality that breeds
winning, and their competitive
battles in practice have helped
them grow into a formidable pair.
Now, with an extra year under
their belts, and the duo’s growth
over the offseason, they look well
set to dominate on the mound.

‘M’ top line leading way offensively

Throughout the first half of
the season, Michigan’s line chart
lacked one thing — stability.
For the first few weeks, coach
Mel Pearson tried out some
different
combinations
and
witnessed varying degrees of
success. He had senior forwards
Will Lockwood and Nick Pastujov
playing
with
freshman
Eric
Ciccolini in the first game of the
season against Clarkson. The next
night, Ciccolini was swapped
out for redshirt sophomore Luke
Morgan.
The revolving door at wing
continued the next weekend when
Morgan was replaced by senior
forward Jake Slaker. This new
line worked well together, having
already played a stretch of games
together the season before. But
midway through their third game
as a line, Slaker got injured. So
again, Pearson had to shake up his
lines.
That was the story for the first
half of the Wolverines’ season.
A line would play well together
and seem to be building a bit of
offensive chemistry, but then an
injury would occur somewhere in
the lineup and everything had to be
reshuffled.
When Lockwood got injured
Nov. 8 against Minnesota, the
two members of his line were
separated. When freshman Johnny
Beecher
suffered
a
shoulder
injury that limited his ability to
take faceoffs, the winger on his
line — sophomore forward Jimmy
Lambert — stepped into the role
of center. Then when Beecher
returned, Lambert remained a
center but was moved to a different
line. Pearson just couldn’t find a
stable lineup.
Each time a player had to miss
games because of injury, budding
chemistry was cut short.
“That’s what you’re looking for,
some sort of chemistry on a line,”
Pearson said. “We’ve had Johnny
and Will at times together trying to
find something, but because of all
the injuries we had in the fall there
… we had to juggle lines for a lot of
different reasons. We couldn’t just
have our full lineup.”
Now with a fully healthy

lineup and plenty of options,
Pearson’s lines have yielded results
throughout the second half of the
season. Michigan has scored 16
goals in its last four games, nearly
doubling its goals per game average
from the first 20 games.
That means in just four games,
Michigan’s offense has produced
over a third of the goals it scored in
the first half. And while the scoring
was shared between a number of
players, one line in particular made
significant offensive contributions.
It was a line of Lockwood,
Beecher and freshman forward
Nick Granowicz that combined
for five of those goals. The line
born out of necessity. Within the
opening minutes of the first game
against Notre Dame, Pearson knew
he needed to mix a few things up to
create the matchups he wanted.
He
was
inspired
by
the
chemistry
between
Lockwood
and Beecher that had been evident
in practice. They like playing
together. They’ve got size, smarts,
defensive awareness, speed. They
just needed a little bit of grit, and
that’s exactly what Granowicz
brought.
With all these factors in mind,
Pearson sent Granowicz, Beecher
and Lockwood over the boards
together midway through the
first period of Friday night’s game
against the Fighting Irish.
Beecher’s line generated plenty
of offense and early in the third
period, they found the back of the
net. It wasn’t a typical goal, as the
puck went in off Granowicz’s head
as a result of crashing toward the
goaltender.
“… We were on the road those
four games,” Pearson said. “So

whoever we put on the ice we felt
comfortable first and foremost
defensively. Then hopefully they
can do something offensively.
Because you don’t get last change.
You don’t want to get a bad
mismatch in those games because
every game can come down to that
one goal where it’s so close.”
While the line didn’t appear
on
the
score
sheet
in
the
following game, it created many
opportunities. It also made strong
defensive plays.
Pearson was impressed. His
team’s offense finally seemed to be
catching fire. So the next weekend
against then-No. 6 Penn State, he
wasn’t taking any chances with
adjusting lines.
That
series,
Granowicz,
Lockwood and Beecher combined
for four goals. The first night,
Beecher scored two goals in the
6-0 victory. Lockwood had three
primary assists on the weekend.
Most notably, though, Granowicz
scored two important goals to
boost his team to the extra point in
double over time.
“I think that’s kind of what
our line needed,” Lockwood said.
“(Granowicz has) been the key to
our line. Beecher and I do a lot of
the outside work, and he gets to
those gritty areas. He’s been the
guy that’s completed our line.”
With 11 of 12 points in their
last four games, Beecher’s line is
emerging as an offensive power
that came at a pivotal point in the
season. Now, only Big Ten games
remain on Michigan’s schedule.
If it wants to extend the season
beyond the first weekend of March,
the goal scoring, led by this line, has
to continue.

KELSEY PEASE/Daily
Senior forward Will Lockwood is part of a surging top line for Michigan.

ALEC COHEN/Daily
Sophomore right-hander Alex Storako pitched to a 2.02 ERA in 2019 but hopes to be more confident this season.

MOLLY SHEA
Daily Sports Writer

LANE KIZZIAH
Daily Sports Writer

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