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…: Its first top-10 win at home, handing Indiana its first conference loss, and most importantly, taking control of the Big Ten. In their biggest game of the season, the sixth-ranked Wolverines (19…

…-2 overall, 10-1 Big Ten) battled against the fifth-ranked Hoosiers (14-3, 6-1) in a game that was close until late in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines came out on top, winning 65-50. Under two minutes…

…8 — Friday, February 28, 2020 Sports The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com WITH BROOKS OUT, D’MITRIK TRICE TORCHES MICHIGAN’S DEFENSE AS BADGERS TOP WOLVERINES, 81-74 KEEMYA ESMAEL / Daily…

… TRICE COLD Comeback falls short as Wisconsin beats Wolverines, 81-74, at Crisler There are a lot of adjectives that describe Thursday night’s matchup between Michigan and Wisconsin. Gritty. Streaky…

… instantly called timeout, as the Wolverines’ new freshman tandem put the league on notice. The new freshmen arrivals, paired with aggressive offensive play from junior Paige Jones, however, was not…

… enough to slow Purdue. The No. 11 Boilermakers (4-4 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) built on Saturday’s win en route to a 3-1 victory over the Wolverines (0-2, 0-2). After Michigan erased a four…

… being the Wolverines’ third-highest scorer behind junior center Hunter Dickinson and freshman wing Jett Howard, Bufkin’s 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists was the difference maker in Sunday…

… right track hopefully,” Howard said. “That was a really good team. So we just had to come out early to bring that energy.” From the tipoff, the Wolverines controlled all facets of the game. Draining…

… Wolverines and Buckeyes — 19th and seventh in the country in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency — struggled to make any gains offensively. Each bucket was hard-earned, and both teams’ offensive…

… the break, where Michigan would have liked to see a spark to ignite a comeback, it instead saw smoke. At the under-12 timeout, the Wolverines found themselves in an 8-point hole after…

… confident taking our shots.” It was a far cry from the Michigan team that bared its formidable fangs against the Boilermakers. The Wolverine squad that dropped 82 points and made over half of its…

… (misses). But other than that, it just didn’t go in for us, but we stay with it.” With every missed shot, the Wolverines lost a chance to build momentum. And when they did make a much- needed…

… 28 points on the Wolverines’ defense with odds-defying makes and clinical shots. Flanked by the rest of Ohio State’s contributors, it was too much for Michigan on a night where it wasn’t at…

… its best. “He’s gonna make tough shots,” Howard said. “… And that’s what it was tonight. Liddell made a lot of tough shots.” The Wolverines’ typical saviors didn’t have it in them to…

… comeback was never realized. With the chance to grab their second Quadrant 1 win in a row and put themselves in a better position to make the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines came up short. As Brooks…

… series. The Wolverines are searching for critical conference points to help them surge up the standings and potentially get home ice for the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament. Before the…

… recent home series against Notre Dame, it seemed likely that Michigan would host the first round. The Wolverines were riding the momentum of a hot second half of the season, in which they’d won 26…

… by Jack Silberman Hillmon’s 30 points lead Wolverines It’s tough to find anything about sophomore forward Naz Hillmon that hasn’t already been said. Her teammates love her. Her coaches rave…

…, the Wolverines’ most consistent player one-upped herself again, scoring 30 points on 14-for- 19 shooting. She added 10 rebounds to secure her seventh double-double of the season. Even though…

…’s seventh-best defense. Ohio State, meanwhile, owned the third-best offense. In a battle of Big Ten heavyweights, the Buckeye attack proved potent. Yet, the Wolverine offense matched Ohio State…

…-0 run that dug the Wolverines out of an early five point hole. “I told (senior forward) Isaiah Livers in warmups, I was like, ‘I like these rims, I love these rims,’ ” Brown said. “I was like, ‘Yo…

… first-half baskets, the Wolverines recorded 12 assists. “Our guys understand … about just making the easy plays,” Howard said. “And we need more ball and player movement. And get away from the iso…

…-ball. So the different defensive reads, our guys took their time making simple plays.” Though Michigan’s offense percolated, the Wolverines failed to build an advantage on the scoreboard. Each…

…. Heading into the locker room, Michigan clenched a two point lead. In the opening minutes of the second half, the offense grew cold. Open looks, the likes of which the Wolverines capitalized on…

…’t be stopped down there. He’s proven himself that he can score against anybody. He did that today.” The offense, though, by no means became one-dimensional. Five different Wolverines scored in…

… a two point lead with 5:45 to play. It was a lead the Wolverines wouldn’t relinquish. The two teams continued to trade blows in a game marked by its intensity and physicality. The tide seemed…

… to turn definitively in Michigan’s favor when Livers scooped up an errant Ohio State pass. He finished on the other end with an and-one, giving the Wolverines a six-point lead with 2:33 left…

… me in a top-5 victory on the road Sunday. MILES MACKLIN/Daily The Wolverines dominated from outside and in the paint to best Ohio State on Sunday afternoon. Videos were shown, elbows were thrown…

… drives to the rim and players diving for loose balls. The Wolverines seemed to relish the physicality. “I like these types of games, dog fights,” senior guard Chaundee Brown said. “Like…

….” The effects of the ejections couldn’t be seen right away. In fact, following Beecher’s ejection, the Wolverines killed off the Buckeyes’ man-advantage and scored a goal of their own to make it 2…

…-1. But when Van Wyhe was called for a game misconduct, cracks in Michigan’s forward depth started to show. The Wolverines were already forced to kill off ten minutes worth of penalties from…

… together. They’re taking draws and (have) responsibility in the d-zone.” When the third period started, the true effects of these adversities hadn’t revealed themselves yet. Wolverine…

… mistakes. Saturday night, these mistakes resulted in the Wolverines’ comeback hopes crumpling. In the offensive zone, sophomore defenseman Jack Summers skated with the puck. He was pressured by…

… Michigan hock- ey team, those were the only fire- works of the night. Dominated on special teams, the Wolverines (20-10-2 overall, 12-9-1 Big Ten) fell to No. 10 Ohio State (18- 11-3, 11-9-2), 4-2, in the…

… game.” Opening the game with two power plays in the first period alone, the Wolverines got the opportunity to take hold of the con- test immediately. But in a preview for the rest of the night, they…

… the No. 4 and No. 3 recruiting classes in 2020 and 2021, respectively, Conry is hungry to shake up the Big Ten with a Wolverine squad that is quietly yet quickly ascending. Finding a…

… the Wolverines recruit, bolster their coaching staff and enhance their understanding of the game. In tandem with the completion of U-M Lacrosse Stadium — a brand- new, lavish complex featuring a…

… the University and form relationships with a proper support- ing cast of Wolverine faculty, Conry worked to build on many of the core elements Paul had already woven into the team’s fabric…

… retained many of their key roster pieces from the year prior, the Wolverines picked up where they left off, once again finishing 8-6. Despite stumbles against ranked opponents early on the season…

… contests, the Wolverines set major milestones, earning their first wins over a top-five program and a ranked Big Ten program, respectively. As Conry made his transition in his first year with…

…, the Wolverines took a step back in 2019. Plagued by injuries in several piv- otal areas, including on the defensive front and at the faceoff X, Michigan struggled to slow down its opponents…

… and win important possessions all season long, giving up 13.46 goals per game and losing 67.6 of its faceoffs. On the offensive end, the Wolverines missed the goal-scoring capabili- ties of…

… out there and say, ‘Hey, we still have a game to play. We gotta be successful.’ ” Bolstered by four assists in the first half by Buckanavage, a single-game team record, the Wolverines sur…

… Wolverines’ lead. Although the Buckeyes closed the deficit to two with 10 minutes remaining, a subse- quent pair of goals from Noseworthy secured the monumental win for Michigan, 13-10. In a…

… work in to do so?’ We learned and grew throughout the year in order to do that.” Heading into 2020 with healthy legs and new faces, the Wolverines looked to take this newfound wis- dom, redeem…

… Four — the Wolverines entered this season without a road win against Purdue since 2014. But on Saturday, Michigan changed that. Spurred by junior forward Isaiah Livers’ return from an ankle…

… injury, the Wolverines topped the Boilermakers (14-14, 7-10), 71-63, securing their fifth- straight win. For Michigan (18-9 overall, 9-7 Big Ten), it’s more evidence of a team peaking at the…

… guard Taryn McCutcheon fouled Michigan guard Amy Dilk. Dilk made both free throws. In the few minutes of basketball that remained, she made six more, helping the Wolverines escape East Lansing…

… give her 17 points in the first half, that was just absolutely ridiculous. Unacceptable on our part, on all of our part. We just did a bad job.” Strong play from the Wolverines’ bigs allowed them…

…, spurred on the Wolverine offense to an explosive second quarter. Finishing the first half, Dilk was halfway to a triple-double — tallying five points, five rebounds and five assists. But when the…

… on Michigan State’s side, the crowd smelling a collapse, the Wolverines fearing one — shot 9-for-10. Despite earlier struggles, despite a stop-and-go game with 54 fouls, despite teammates…

…’ suffers first losses of season Michigan softball’s perfect record is gone. Offensive inconsistency plagued the Wolverines all weekend at the Gamecock Invitational resulting in Michigan…

…8 — Tuesday, February 25, 2020 Sports The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Wolverines’ defense leading team When any team is searching for its identity, it deals in moments. Players, fans and…

… pundits alike look for one game, one tournament, one shot to define a season or sometimes even entire programs. For instance, the Wolverines’ miracle run to the final game of the 2018 NCAA Tournament…

… HUMAN VALUES Torn apart Whenever Wolverines and Buckeyes collide, sparks fly — and not in a sentimental way. That’s to be expected from two bitter rivals. But the significance of Tuesday…

… moments, the Buckeyes (15-7 overall, 5-6 Big Ten) extended their run, beating the Wolverines (13-9, 4-7), 61-58. A sense of urgency characterized the early going as both squads looked to jump out…

… (7-1 overall, 3-1 Big Ten), as it had lost three bouts in a row going into the intermission. The Wolverines went on to win four of the next five bouts and defeat No. 16 Minnesota (3-4, 2…

… to avoid getting pinned but ended up losing 14-5 in a major decision, and Blockhus tied the meet up at 7-7. The Wolverines showed some life in the last match before the intermission, which…

…, the arena filled with applause as one Wolverine gym- nast shouted: “He was so good!” With an ample 2.800 lead going into the third rotation, Michigan posted its best score of the day on rings…

…, achieving a 70.000 flat — the second best rotational score of the day. Juda anchored the event for the Wolverines, and captured the mood of the meet, landing a near perfect landing to soaring screams…

… Varejão hopped on one foot to the bench before coming back on. And yet, the Wolverines were still in it against the No. 19 team in the country, Northwestern. Somehow, some way, they had limped their…

… way into a tight fourth quarter, the win within reach. Down by three with a minute left on the clock, the Wolverines got the stop they needed. Now, they had to devise a play to draw level with the…

… not disappoint and awarded Wojcik with a full 10 points, adding the exclamation point to a dominant win for the No. 8 Wolverines over Nebraska on Monday afternoon. Michigan’s 197.650 to 195…

….300 win was expected, but it also answered a lot of open questions regarding the Wolverines’ form following the University’s 14-day practice pause and the team’s 24-day break from competition…

….” Michigan came out strong and never looked back, winning each round, convincingly. *** The meet began with Michigan on vault and Nebraska on bars. Every Wolverine who vaulted earned a score of at…

… with them.” Wojcik’s words are very fitting in a match that was a celebration of team unity. Monday was the Wolverines’ annual “Flip for Chip” meet, which sees the team honor the late…

… perhaps no meet where the attitude the Wolverines take from Hills’s legacy could be more appropriate. Coming off less-than-ideal circumstances in which some worried about rust, Michigan…

… weeks without so much as touching a basketball. Inevitably, when the Wolverines returned, the discourse would revolve around any alleged rust. So, Livers took the initiative to try to avoid…

… errors, poor shot selection and jellied legs. Livers, though, did what he could to help keep the Wolverines afloat, scoring 13 of Michigan’s 27 first half points. “I knew I was gonna come out and…

… double-figures in seven straight. Ho-hum. “We keep it simple,” Wolverines’ coach Juwan Howard said of his team’s offensive strategy against the Badgers. “We kept it simple. Simple plays.” No…

… repertoire also features a blend of jump shots and points in the paint. When the Wolverines stared down a 12-point halftime deficit on Sunday, Livers recognized that he needed to emphasize the…

… year to come. She went on to contribute in three of the other four wins, helping the Wolverines improve to 5-0 on the season. There was no debate over whether Storako was going to be a starter…

… Storako’s performance in the Wolverines opening weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational warrants a new question: Does Michigan have a clear No. 1? The short answer: no. When asked, Michigan coach…

… Wolverines dominated, with the men winning all 16 events, and the women taking 15 events out of 16. The last dual meet of the season was fine-tuning for Michigan, with many swimmers competing…

… in races which they do not usually compete. Tucker, usually dominant in the breaststroke, won the women’s 100-yard freestyle, women’s 200-yard freestyle and women’s 100-yard IM. The Wolverines…

… breath. The Wolverines just watched Illinois guard Brandi Beasley drive the length of the Crisler Center floor in five seconds, sinking a layup to give the Fighting Illini — the No. 13 team in the…

… embarrassing loss to the Big Ten’s doormat, it would need to lock in defensively. The Wolverines did just that, allowing just 17 points the entire second half and running away with an 80-59 victory. “It…

… Wolverines didn’t seem to have answers for anything that Michigan State threw their way. They couldn’t contain the volatile Spartan offense, led by star senior point guard Cassius Winston and junior…

… Tom Izzo. But with Livers back and a home crowd decked out in maize behind them, the Wolverines finally had some answers. Michigan (14-9 overall, 5-7 Big Ten) managed to grit out a win over the 16…

… Thursday, Michigan lost its first game of the season, falling 77-81 to Ohio State. Junior forward Naz Hillmon had a historic performance with 50 points, but the Wolverines couldn’t find the…

… longer as the Wolverines embark on a 14-day pause due to positive cases of the novel COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant within the Michigan athletic department. The directive is just one of a string of…

… guard Amy Dilk and fifth- year senior Akienreh Johnson have all stepped up only for their future as a Wolverine to be uncertain. Michigan has already proven this team is capable of anything…

…The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Sports Tuesday, February 18, 2020 — 7 Breaking down the Wolverines’ recent revival Two days before the Michigan men’s basketball team’s thrashing of…

… nothing to do with the Hoosiers. Instead, he was asked to discuss the Wolverines’ recent revival. A conversation like Friday’s seemed unthinkable less than three weeks ago, when senior point guard…

… Wolverines fed off their leader. Amidst recent struggles, senior center Jon Teske even nailed a 3-pointer. “It’s nothing new,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. “(Zavier’s) a smart enough player to…

… presence, guard Geo Baker, sent the Scarlet Knights into the locker room with a 31-28 edge after drilling a buzzer-beating triple. With the Wolverines’ rotation thin in Livers’ absence, Howard needed…

… KEEMYA ESMAEL / Daily POWERING FORWARD Design by Jack Silberman Wolverines win Duel in the D, 4-1 DETROIT — Nick Blankenburg extended his two hands out and wagged them up and down like paws. At…

… sit quietly in their seats in a 4-1 win over Michigan State on Monday night. Blankenburg had just scored a goal, the third of the night for the Wolverines, in a highlight- reel fashion. In the…

… the half. With momentum swinging the wrong way, the Wolverines (11-10 overall, 5-5 Big Ten) imploded, get- ting trounced by the Nittany Lions (14-7, 5-5), 83-61. After failing to amass defensive…

… energy from the crowd.” Even before the spiral though, the Nittany Lions came out as the aggressor, knocking down shot after shot as the Wolverines lacked energy to offset the charge. Led by guard…

… without a game, its season on the brink of disaster. One week to right the ship. First came the Jan. 9 road loss to Ohio State, where the Wolverines led for 27 minutes total, even up to halfway through…

…. But what looked like the dagger came a week later against Nebraska. Senior forward Kayla Robbins — the Wolverines’second- leading scorer — went down in the first minute with a season-ending ACL…

… winningest coach in program history. The Wolverines, however, couldn’t deliver Bernstein her record-setting win. That accom- plishment will have to come anoth- er day as Michigan (3-2 overall) couldn…

…’t handle the constant pres- sure from the star-studded Tar Heels (7-0) in a 5-2 loss. According to Bernstein, UNC is the best team the Wolverines have seen so far. Five of its six singles players are…

… him, he’s just a hockey player.” During his freshman year, Blankenburg had just two goals and eight assists but led the Wolverines in plus-minus at plus-11. Last season, he produced more…

…-way threat. He’s found a home on a line with Power and the pair complement each other well. They have boosted the Wolverines’ power play — each contributing two goals on the man advantage. “I’ve really…

… when — and if — it resumes play. Despite not having any positive tests of their own, the Wolverines are currently in the midst of a 14-day shut down after the novel B.1.1.7 strain was detected…

… within Michigan’s athletic department. Regardless of whether the Wolverines’ stoppage is slightly misplaced, the interruption is just another example of how the pandemic has disrupted college…

…’s premiere closers to give the Wolverines a lead they wouldn’t relinquish en route to a 4-3 victory over No. 1 Vanderbilt. “It was kind of a surreal experience,” Schmidt said. “We fought and competed…

…,” Michigan coach Erik Bakich said. “Just guys that had their moments in different games that could be positive contributors for the entire season.” In the Wolverines’ second game of the…

… from the Wolverines. Michigan (1-2) won just one of three games in the College Baseball showdown in Arlington, Texas, beating Kansas State (0-3), 10-2, and falling to No. 14 Texas Tech (1-2), 7…

…-6, and Oklahoma (2-1), 6-1 in its opening weekend of the season. The Wolverines cruised from the start against the Red Raid- ers, continuing a rally through the second inning. Grad transfers Joe…

… Hunter.” In their biggest game of the year, the Wolverines shouldered their offensive load onto freshman center Hunter Dickinson. Putting that kind of pressure on any freshman will undoubtedly…

… struggled to find looks inside, forcing the Wolverines to concentrate their offensive attack on the perimeter. The strategy paid off, and a 10-for-13 3-point shooting display in the first half…

… the fourth quarter against Michigan State on Sunday, the Wolverines’ offense looked completely dysfunctional. They made just one field goal the entire second half up to that point, and turned the…

… game if the defense can’t get stops. And although Michigan State did score 13 points during that drought, the Wolverines’ defense made enough key plays to still emerge ahead at the end of it. To be…

… Robbins went down, the Wolverines had won two of three. But with the absence of Robbins and Rauch, almost every other player on the roster had to play significantly more minutes than they had before…

… both stepped up over the six- game stretch and the Wolverines were playing as well as they had all season, Sunday against the Scarlet Knights the injuries and fatigue finally caught up with them…

…’s lacrosse team could’ve been one of those teams. But the Wolverines still needed to play Ohio State to end their 2019 campaign. Despite its 3-9 record at the time, Michigan wasn’t going to hand the…

… Buckeyes a win. Eager to send departing seniors like Brent Noseworthy, Decker Curran and Nick DeCaprio out on a high note, Michigan came out hot. At halftime, the Wolverines found themselves up 8…

… be described as smart. Every Wolverine player could have physically made the passes and taken the shots that defined Hughes’ night, but far fewer would’ve had the vision to get the puck where it…

… Wiscon- sin it translated well. And when it translates, the Wolverines are better because of it. For that reason, when Naurato was asked if he had any advice for Hughes, he answered simply. “Ehh, just…

… Michigan men’s basketball team making you feel something again? Don’t. For your own sake, I’m beg- ging you not to believe in this Michigan team. The Wolverines might be fun to watch — and feel free to…

… wins against North- western and Ohio State, the numbers are objectively not in Michigan’s favor. As it stands, the Wolverines have a mea- sly two Quad 1 wins — the holy grails when it comes to mak…

… in the NET at a neutral site). It seems like ample opportu- nities await. But opportunities are just that — opportunities. The Wolverines need to actually capitalize on those chances to add Quad…

…-in-the-NET Wildcats group? Or was it the blowout, downright embarrass- ing loss to Penn State? There’s just not enough substance there to show the Wolverines are any different than before. Now, here’s where the…

… belt to make the NCAA Tournament will still be, in all likelihood, out of reach. There’s no specific number, per se, but it’s safe to say the Wolverines will need at least five to punch their…

… 2 and 3, to make the tournament in spite of its Quad 4 loss. The SARAH BOEKE/Daily Wolverines, too, were on bubble watch and needed five Quad 1 wins to book their trip to the tournament, even…

… without a Quad 4 loss. So theoretically, Michigan could reach that threshold of five coveted Quad 1 wins if it went on a tear to end the sea- son. The Wolverines could even chain enough wins in a row…

…’s basketball team in the state of Michigan was Michigan State. Not anymore. After the No. 18 Michigan women’s basket- ball team pulled off a comeback win Sunday in East Lansing, the Wolverines have…

… turned in one of his strongest performances of the season on the way to 12 points and 11 assists. All Sunday afternoon, the Wolverines’ offense fired on all cylinders and showed its ceiling on…

… any offense for the Wolverines that relies on Simpson to let it fly is surely in for some rough games. But in Howard’s words, Simpson makes teams die by a thousand cuts rather than by volume…

… points this season. In moments when the starting five have required rest or missed games because of COVID-19 protocols, the bench has stepped up for the Wolverines. Michigan’s 13-2 record is in…

… reignites the Wolverines’ offensive momentum. In Michigan’s win over Wisconsin, where she scored a career-high 21 points, Nolan was a consistent outside threat that the team leaned on. In the early…

…’s Adaptive Sports and Fitness program, had made it clear that he wanted Kelley as a Wolverine. About to return home, Kelley crossed paths with “the tipping point” — Okanlami was coincidentally at the…

… sports history. Still in the early stages, it’s no secret that the Wolverines are playing catch up. But Michigan has all the makings of becoming a recruiting powerhouse in the Midwest. “There is no…

… Friday night against Ohio State. Fortunately for the Wolverines, they were able to bounce back the next day with a 6-0 throttling of the Buckeyes. Come tournament time, though, Michigan won…

…. That’s your season, and how would you like to feel after you play like that and you’re done?” Since the Wolverines returned from their COVID-19 induced shutdown, they’ve split both their…

… Tournament looming just over three weeks away. It appeared the Wolverines were hitting their stride prior to the shutdown. Following the long layoff for winter break, Michigan won five of its…

… first six games and was building its rapport as a national title contender. As the Wolverines work back from the pause, the team is desperately trying to get its conditioning back to the level…

… Michigan men’s bas- ketball team finds itself and rounds into form here, we will look back on Saturday’s 77-68 win over Michigan State as a catalyst. Not just because the Wolverines beat the Spar…

…. But is it that simple? Are the flaws that plagued and nearly killed Michigan in his absence simply in the rearview? Saturday certainly was a step in the right direction. Presum- ing the Wolverines…

… the three-day invitational, contributing three runs and three RBI to the Wolverine offense. Senior outfielder Haley Hoogenraad hit .429 with four runs and three RBI, sparking the back-end of the…

…-5 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) defeated Nebraska (14-11, 6-8), 80-75, to earn its fourth-straight win. Strong showings from a cast of Wolverines allowed them to eke out a close victory despite a valiant…

… down and battled back.” The Wolverines looked up to that challenge from the onset. After trading blows in the first quarter, Nebraska drew a charge call that fifth-year wing Leigha Brown clearly…

… from home for the Michigan men’s basketball team. The last time the Wolverines walked off the floor, it was with the 2018 Big Ten Tournament title in hand. Prior to that, they scored wins over…

… Ten) on Saturday, the Wolverines extended the streak to double-digits with a 69-63 win. There wasn’t a trophy on the line this time, but the magnitude of securing a ranked win in an uber…

…) held serve to beat the Hoosiers (16-9, 6-8), 89-65, Sunday afternoon. It didn’t take long for each offense to get going. Collective scoring from the Wolverines and a quick pair of triples from…

… and working hard. He’s buying into the teaching and development, and he’s going out there and having a great carryover game after game.” Even more offensive production from the Wolverines gave…

… this Michigan team — one with the tal- ent to be the best in the conference — always required the best version of Wagner. His impending ascen- sion always offered the Wolverines a level they could…

… lift Wolverines in win Center Jon Teske’s teammates nicknamed him Big Sleep. It’s a reflection of the seven-foot senior’s quiet demeanor off the court. But recently, he’s been relatively quiet on…

… imaginable, whether it be blocks, assists or rebounds. In her first 21 games as a Wolverine, Nolan played 6.33 minutes per game. In the last six games, she’s played 30.33 minutes per game — only…

… Wolverines’ youth was thrust into the most hostile environment Michigan has faced all year, they were ready. The three had hit their stride. Instead of leaving their coach standing on the podium…

…. Through the last 14 days, the Michigan baseball team has grown familiar with UConn. The Huskies weren’t the toughest opponent it faced in that time. It wasn’t even the best team the Wolverines…

…, followed by a 2-1 series win last weekend. UConn, having made the regional tournament three of the last four years, acts as somewhat of a measuring stick for Michigan. Wolverines’ coach Erik Bakich…

… Wolverines have aimed to emulate in the past few seasons, they fell flat. It’s not that the Huskies’ strengths exploited all of the Wolverines’ weaknesses. It’s the simple fact that everything Michigan…

… left-hander Jacob Denner — the only Wolverine to earn a win — pitched four innings, amassing just two strikeouts as he closed out a blowout win on Saturday. “Definitely the first and third day…

…-hander Cam Weston and senior left-hander Ben Keizer combined for four innings, six hits and two earned runs out of the bullpen. While this would normally be a solid outing, the Wolverines did not…

… uncharacteristic — we usually have a very reliable and capable bullpen.” Inconsistent bullpen pitching coupled with a lack of consistent offensive production spelled doom for the Wolverines. Over the course of…

… the series, out of a total of 100 at-bats, Michigan hitters struck out 36 times. In the two losses, the Wolverines racked up 17 and 13 strikeouts, respectively. “We need to do a better job…

…,” Bakich said. “I thought the lack of success this weekend is us pointing the thumb at some of our lack of execution, and that is really it.” Wolverines see pitching struggles During the second game…

…4B — February 24, 2020 SportsMonday The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com NOTRE DAME SNAPS MICHIGAN’S WIN STREAK, SWEEPING WOLVERINES AT YOST IN CRUSHING BLOW TO AT-LARGE NCAA TOURNAMENT HOPES…

… around a little bit, so I wasn’t sure. I just played to the whistle.” That goal seemed to take some energy out of the Wolverines. A couple minutes later, forward Cam Morrison attacked Mann from the…

… trot around the bases, having reclaimed the Wolverines’ lead with a two- run rocket to dead center field. And she had a new mentality to thank. Pinch hitting is, to any softball player…

… Esman. With six Wolverine seniors graduating last season, perhaps the largest hole left to fill was former second baseman Faith Canfield’s spot. With multiple candidates for the position, it’s been a…

… seeing consistent defensive playing time, she’s opening up the idea of a breakout freshman season. On the other side of the plate, Esman has shone. On Sunday, the Wolverines found themselves tied for…

… prove instrumental — not only in the Wolverines’ early-season match- ups, but even further down the line. Michigan’s defense begins to fall into place With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning…

…. It also demonstrated the likelihood that defense will be a crucial part of Michigan’s winning equation. The Wolverines’ coaching staff has taken an approach that emphasizes the infield defense…

… Jack White had a daunting task ahead of him. In a play echoing the Wolverines’ final out against Cal Poly, the Sun Devils’ Drew Swift knocked a fast-moving grounder toward a sprinting Blomgren…

… career starts at Michigan with just one last season, seemed right at home as the Wolverines’ new starter at first base. Riding high off his game-winning home run against Vanderbilt on Friday…

…. BY THE NUMBERS Michigan’s bench production .417 The batting average for Wolverines’ pinch-hitters this season, through 12 at-bats. Two Home runs have been hit by Michigan pinch-hitters, each…

… giving the Wolverines the lead. Eight Runs have been driven in by Michigan’s bench, helping spur its 9-0 start. Five Players have appeared for Michigan as pinch-hitters in its nine games this season…

… herd of old friends — including former NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo — Howard felt different about Wednesday’s game. Whatever was in the air though, clearly affected the Wolverines (15-9 overall…

… to worry about the outcome of the game. And, as if possessed, the Wolverines’ shooters began to take things into their own hands. Junior guard Eli Brooks lit it up from behind the arc, going 4…

…, catching stride with its shot selection. The Wildcats threatened to chip away at a 20-point Wolverine lead with an 8-0 run, but would never actualize the comeback with Brooks drilling a 3-pointer to…

… snap Michigan out of the rut. Brooks’s 3-pointer felt like more of an inevitability rather than a big-time shot by a veteran player. The game was never truly in doubt and the Wolverines…

… spark on Wednesday, it turned to an unlikely source. It was a game in which the Wolverines shouldn’t have needed a spark in the first place, for a number of reasons. But even coming off a season…

…- altering win over Michigan State, Michigan struggled out of the gate against Northwestern. The Wolverines’ early-game struggles have become all too predictable. Just four days after missing 10 of its…

… injected a jolt of life into a half- empty Welsh-Ryan Arena when the Wolverines needed it most. After Isaiah Livers’s baseline drive was cut off, the junior forward found an open Davis beneath the rim…

…. With Michigan trailing, 13-8, he rose above three Wildcats and threw down a two-handed flush. The dunk ignited an 8-0 spurt for the Wolverines — one that eventually became a 27-5 run, propelling…