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… in crime, had graduated. nd with their departure went 5 of the Wolverines' points per ame. There wasn't a single analyst the country that would tell ou they thought Michigan ould make the NCAA Tourna…

…- nent. But as Darius Morris laid in he Wolverines' final basket in a '0-63 win over rival Michigan tate - a win that gave Michi- an one of its most important eason sweeps in recent history - it was time…

… you never thought you'd hear that.) But for the Wolverines, this feeling comes as they sit square on the NCAA Tournament bubble, hoping they've done enough this season to earn a bid to the Big Dance…

… bid. The Wolverines (10-6 Big Ten, 17-12 overall) capped off their best Big Ten season since the 2000-2001 campaign with a 58-55 win at Illinois, and they secured a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed…

… COOK Daily Sports Writer YPISLANTI - The Michigan women's basketball team went into the WNIT as a clear favor- ite after- narrowly MICHIGAN 59 missing EMU 67 the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines fin…

… Crisler arena, it still had high expectations. But just like that, the tourna- ment - and the season - is over for the Wolverines. Michigan (10-6 Big Ten, 17-13 overall) took a short seven-mile bus ride to…

… the rest of the Wolverine post players received started to take a toll. The Eagles (10-6 MAC, 23-12 overall) played a tough, physical game and didn't allow any easy buckets down low. "We got outplayed…

…. In physi- cal games we don't do very well," Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said after the game. "They came out and came after us, and they 'out physicalled' us tonight." The staple of the Wolverines…

…' offense is making 3-point shots that are set up from working into the post. But even when the double and triple teams down low left perimeter shots open, the Wolverines were not able to capi- TODD NEEDLE…

…- ketball team was supposed to defy all odds. Though the Wolverines finished the season just 17-13 over- all, their season was marked by a number of outstanding feats and record-breakingstatistics. Michigan…

… bid, Michigan was sent home in round one. Needlessto say, Michigan was expected to win. In fact, the Wolverines were a poten- tial contender for the WNIT final. "I mean it was a roller coaster," senior…

… of the sea- son, the Wolverines went 4-6. That included two losses to Minnesota, a home-court stomping by Penn State and a 55-47 loss to Illinois, the 11th-ranked teaminthe confer- ence, in the second…

…; be a lot better." The Wolverines did have their high moments defensively, includ- ing against Ohio State when Michi- gan held four-time Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender to a career-low 10…

… Hicks as the sole senior to graduate from the squad, Michigan has promise to come back next sea- son with a strong, young team. But, as a lesson learned from this sea- son, the Wolverines will need to be…

… LANTERN IN A FACEBOOK WAR. Support us on Facebook. *^! 'LIKE' THE MICHIGAN DAILY With Hardaway Jr. and junior guard Stu Douglass, who played despite beingsick, scoreless in the first half, the Wolverines…

…, the Wolverines out- scored the Spartans 26-20 in the paint. But Michigan State hit the glass harder, out- rebounding Michigan by 16. With the Wolverines' win, Michigan is in a four-way tie for fourth…

…- 8 from the free throw line in the half. And it seemed like every shot he hit was big, either stopping a Wolverine run before it could take off, or building momentum for his own team. Lucas scored nine…

… usually challenged, too, but fell any- way. Earlier in the season, the Wolverines may have got- ten rattled in the face of such an onslaught, but ultimately, they kept their composure and held on to win…

… analogy). But the wait is so worth it for any Michigan fan. It all came in the Wolverines 70-63 win over Michigan State on Saturday. It was Michigan's first sweep of the Spartans in more than a decade. The…

… Wolverines did it in their last regular season game of the year. They did it at home and they did it in a game which fea- tured two teams both fightingto stay alive in the NCAA Tourna- ment hunt. Beilein…

…'s offense finally looked crisp. The Wolverines out- smarted the Spartans, used their intelligence to top a team that is arguably more athletic and forced a program that has too many times dominated Michi- gan…

… when his Hoosiers obliterated the Wolverines, 80-61 on Jan. 15 and Michigan cruised to a 1-6 start to its Big Ten schedule. But things started to change. Jordan Morgan finally figured out that after he…

… justblowing smoke. These Wolverines are his first group composed of solely his recruits - players who want to play the rightway, who want to learn, who want to grow with their teammates - and their chemistry is…

… the biggest rivalry win for the Wolverines in years. Perhaps I'm out of touch; per- haps it's time to recognize what college sports are turning into, and it's time for the Wolverines to join up or get…

… most reli- had them there." able Wolverine with the ball. Morgan came in for the Wol- But with just 5.6 seconds left verines and responded with a in the Michigan men's basketball dunk to spark a comeback…

… that team's third-round NCAA Tour- put Michigan within two posses- nament game against Duke on sions of Duke. As the Wolverines Sunday, Morris drove and missed trailed by four points with about a floater…

…. And with Hardaway Jr.'s left, Michigan forward Jordan clutch basket, the Wolverines Morgan and Duke forward Kyle trailed by just one possession. Singler sat on the bench with "(Hardaway Jr.) had great…

… four fouls and Wolverine forward shots," Beilein said. "Every one Evan Smotrycz was headed there that he took, when he took a shot as well after notching his fifth. it looked like it was going in just…

… was down two points with 5.6 seconds remaining. But Michigan couldn't complete the upset, as Morris missed the final shot of the Wolverines' surprising sea- son. Duke's defense started the game playing…

… Michigan very aggressively around the perim- eter. After missing their first three 3-pointers because of the Blue Devils' perimeter play, the Wolverines went on to make five 3-pointers to conclude the first…

… of the rim. Wolverines'1-3-1 zone poses problems for Duke down stretch Despite late miss, Morris leads Blue in tourney run ByZAKPYZIK tying shot from. Morris wasn't DailySportsEditor in tears and he…

…. Morris bricked the attempt. Though there wasn't even a hand in his face, he missed the shot that would have sent Mich- igan to overtime against Duke. With 5.6 seconds remaining the Wolverines were down two…

… Sun- day. It's a defensive set that's proved difficult for several teams Michigan has faced this season, and it did exactly the same thing when Michigan coach John Beilein employed it in the Wolverines…

…- finals Friday night, there will be more than a trip to the conference championship game on the line. While the Wolverines are play- ing in their 22nd consecutive CCHA semifinal game, the Bron- cos haven…

… little better health than we are. It's a big game at the Joe, and we've got tobe ready for it, no matter who we play." The Wolverines completed their sweep of Bowling Green relatively easily - defeating…

… line? The Wolverines (9-9 Big Ten, 19-12 overall) led by a4 many as14 points on Saturday, butlike most Bigen con- ference games, it came down to the final five minutes when Michigan led by just four. The…

…'texecutig oandwenpregettingturn- overs," Hardaway Jr. said. "So we just wanted to make sure we came out in the second half and played tough." But he was not the only Wolverine to struggle fromr the floor inthe first stanza. The…

… shooting struggles, Michigan held an improbable eight ard in the Wolverine's game against Michigan State, point lead heading into the break. 1996-1997. See MSU, Page 3i Michigan withstands Lucas's surge…

… are the things that teams coached by Michigan coach John Beilein go through. The Wolverines have suffered at many times solely because of Beilein's offensive scheme. And as difficult as it has been to…

… - star- jawed at each other for stretches ing down the distinct possibility of the afternoon. that his team could be swept by Lucas took exception to what- the hated rival Wolverines in ever Morris yelled…

… maybe he deserved it." Izzo then emphatically pound- ed the podium while addressing the rivalry. For his part, Michi See ALTERCATION, Page 31 Wolverines fall to last-place Illini in Big Ten tournament…

… tournament semi- finals. And things only got worse for Michigan after the first five min- utes. By the time the first-half buzzer sounded, Illinois had all but run the Wolverines out of Conseco Field House…

… half this season. Illinois forward and Detroit native Amber Moore nearly equaled Michigan's point total with 14 first-half points. The Wolverines shot an atro- cious 13.3 percent from behind the arc, and…

… in both categories. "I don't necessarily think we See ILLINI, Page 3B Michigan coach Kevin Borseth and the Wolverines have an uncertain post- season future. i Afterfinishing at the top of the CCHA…

… No. 3 Michigan softball team is mentioned, there are typically two seniors who come to mind: shutout pitcher Jordan Taylor and slug- ger Dorian Shaw. The two captains have led the Wolverines over their…

…, age and responsibility, but these players all have one thing in common - they have saved the day more than once this season. In May last season, the Wolverines were matched up against Tennessee for the…

… strikeout against Notre Dame and she was performances great." against North Florida and Val- With consistency, Speier- behind theI or in the o and Taylorc about havin unsung hero Wolverine t be its most…

… finally returning home for spring and the start of conference play, Michigan (2-0 Big Ten, 31-2 overall) is the only team with more than 19 wins. The Wolverines have won the Big Ten title in 13 of the past…

…- down for each conference team. THE CREAM OF THE CROP No. 4 Michigan Wolverines The Wolverines are the only ranked team in the Big Ten and started off the conference season with a sweep of Northwestern…

… schedule filled with teams foaming at the mouth to get a shot at the Wolverines. "Just being Michigan, there is always a target on your back no matter where you go," senior hurl- er Jordan Taylor said…

… Ten pitchers may not allow the Wolverines to score at will like they did against non-con- ference foes, Michigan has the hit- ting to keep up every game. It starts with senior first base- man Dorian…

… Samantha Findlay. She has enjoyed a tremendous career as a Wolverine, winning a Big Ten title in each of her sea- sons. There have also been plenti- ful individual accolades for Shaw - she has been a member…

… the cleanup spot, Chidester has provided a spark for the Wolverines at the most oppor- tune times. Last weekend in Evan- ston, her grand slam triggered a comeback win over Northwest- ern. This clutch…

…'s gunning for us but we're always ready for it," Taylor said. "We don't take any opponent for grant- ed." The Wolverines have only one be tough to beat. National Championship, but in a STAFF PICKS The Daily…

…. All three Wolverine starters earned quality starts, and two of them got wins as Michigan swept the weekend competition with victories over Alma, Oak- land and Eastern Michigan to move to 6-12. "It…

… battle, we're proud of them." The Wolverines had to sweat out the first game on Friday against Division-III Alma. Despite a strong performance on the mound from redshirt sophomore Tyler Mills, Alma…

… game with a run-scoring single to give the Wolverines the 4-3 win. Saturday's game marked another pitching duel. Redshirt sophomore Bobby Brosnahan traded zeroes with Oakland's Aaron Wick for much of…

… drive," Biondi said. "He kind of left it up a little bit and I put a good swing on it." The Wolverines added an insurance run in the seventh to put Michigan ahead, 5-2. Clark came out after 7.1 innings…

… and sophomore Ben Ballantine closed the door with the Wolverines' second straight five-out save. He struck out four of the five hitters he faced. "Three quality starts, it's out- standing," Maloney…

… Sunday's game. But Irving looked fresher than ever against the Wolverines. After not seeing much action in the first half, Irving finished with 11 points and three rebounds. More signifi- cant than…

… teammates. I didn't want to lose." ZONE DEFENSE From Page 1B contingent, which normally moves the ball with military-like precision, to just seven assists. In comparison, the Wolverines' guards, who faced…

… and kick the ball out, but Duke's outside shooting was affected by the zone - it only shot 5-for-20 from long range. In addition to foring the Blue Devils into low-percentage shots, the Wolverines' 1…

…, and opposing players are able to crash the boards with more ease. This was exactly the case on Sunday, as the Blue Devils dominated the Wolverines on the boards, 33-22. However, with Duke's inher- ent…

… out on top and he can run the point from inside." And though one can blame or praise Morris for attempting that shot, the Los Angeles native is one of the biggest reasons that the Wolverines were in…

…. "We were that team last year, coming in as a seven seed. You've gotthat desperation in your game." But the Wolverines were their own worst enemy, turning in a Jekyl and Hyde performance at Joe Louis…

…, but now he was the story of the weekend for all the wrong reasons. The Wolverines poured on 13 shots in the third period, but could only muster a single goal - a redirection goal from Sparks. "We were…

…The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com March 14, 2011 - 3B NO.8 SEED From Page 1B pegged the Wolverines as solidly in the tournament after their victory over Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament…

… lost to the Fighting Illini. Beilein explained his team's surprising seed by pointing to the strength of the Big Ten - seven conference squads made the tournament - and the fact that the Wolverines…

… sea- son, Aaron Palushaj left Michigan and is still toiling around in the American Hockey League (maybe that wasn't the best choice, eh?). The Wolverines also said, "Bye, bye," to Kevin Quick and Tris…

…: an NCAA title. And the run to St. Paul, Minn. begins next Friday in the CCHA Tournament semifinals. The Wolverines have won games this year in every imagin- able way, which is certainly key come…

… Arena once again. So here we are. It's mid-March and Michigan is back at the Joe contending for another CCHA Tournament championship. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if Wolverine nation was cheering for an…

… expected., INegrly everything went as planned for the No. 5 Michigan hockey team in its CCHA quar- terfinal series. The Wolverines swept Bowl- ing Green by rattling off a 5-1 win on Friday and a 4-1 win on…

…'s toe-drag-to- top-shelf highlight reel goal - to put the Wolverines up three and the game out of reach. Bowling Green had scored three goals just one time in their last 17 games. It was more of the same…

…. As the top seed, the Wolverines are the obvious favorite. But you know what they say. Sophomores pace 'M' offensive attack SAMMI TRAUBEN/daily Forward Matt Rust and the rest of the senior class has…

… forward Louie Caporusso - who suffered alower-body injury two weekends ago against Northern Michigan - the fifth-ranked Wolverines lost leadership and two top-tier forwards. But in the seniors' last series…

… Fal- cons on Friday. Michigan was up 3-0 on Bowling Green, but Sparks's goal set the tempo for a dominant third period for the Wolverines. "I'm glad (Sparks) scored a goal," Berenson said on Friday…

…-ice pass from fresh- man defenseman Mac Bennett, beat the Falcon defenders and buried the puck for his third tally of his sophomore season. Treais, the center on Sparks's line, scored the Wolverines' sec…

… season away last Thursday, the irony of the situ- ation began to creep up on me. The Wolverines were losing to an undersized team from EVERETT Ypsilanti who COOK were wearing green jerseys onskeon and…

…, yet it finished third for the first time since 2001. At one point, the Wolverines beat three-straight ranked opponents, which includ- ed their 2-0 start in conference play. Perhaps most importantly…

… game of their final On Ice Hockey campaign as Wolverines. They scored on the power play, at even strength and even netted a shorthanded tally. But, in this critical first game, the seniors - and the rest…

… of the team - made a crucial mistake. There were still 30 minutes of hockey remaining - a memo the Mercyhurst Lakers received, but one the Wolverines forgot to open. Shawn Hunwick let up four…

… core of the Wolverine bigs early in nonconfer- ence play. Slowly, though, Horford began to crumble against more elite Big Ten competition, as his lack of experience, compounded with recurring knee issues…

… Northwestern. Senior Jordan Taylor took the The Wolverines dropped both loss in that decision, her sec- - a sweep that would account and of the season. for two of their three confer- "(Taylor) alone can't win…

… work." verines on the road to the Big And by maintaining that Ten championship. focus, the Wolverines have In fact, entering arguably enjoyed an opening half of the its biggest weekend of the sea- season…

… Red Berenson said. "So we might have played a little better defen- sively just in respect for their team." Against the Mavericks on Fri- day, the Wolverines entered the first intermission trailing 2…

…. Louis beating Colorado College 2-1 to reach the Frozen Four in St. Paul. It is Michigan's first appearance since 2008, when the current seniors were fresh- man. The Wolverines carry seven seniors and the…

… postseason tournament - the WNIT. The Wolverines might have been disappointed Michigan after finding out they would not be playing in the Michigan NCAA tourna- Matchup: ment, but they Michigan quickly shifted…

…-6 MAC, 22-12 overall) in its first test since losing to last-place Illi- nois in the Big Ten Tournament. And Michigan coach Kevin Borseth knows the Wolverines can't look past the Eagles. "Eastern is hot…

… difference is that Charlie Sheen has been winning for two weeks - the Wolverines have been winning at Yost for four straight months. Saturday's victory marked exactly four months since the Wolverines last lost…

… until power play. Bowling Green gave the last game," Rust said Satur- the Wolverines 12 man-advan- day. "Tonight was kind of a dif- tage situations, and Michigan's ferent story, it was the last game…

… Wolverines' surprising season culminated on Sunday, when they were announced as a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan willl take on Tennessee in the second round this Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "It…

… being pleased with the season no mat- ter what the outcome of the selection show was. It was a rather pessimistic take, considering most experts See NO.8 SEED, Page 3B TEAM, TEAM, TEAM the Wolverines…

… CCHA with just three wins dur- ly healthy. This year, he's played they've had," Michigan coach ing the regular season. And the very well. He's a frontline play- Red Berenson said after prac- Wolverines…

…- When: Friday And the Wolverines prob- ines' lone game 2 P ably like their chances against the against the Illini Where: Fighting Illini (9-9,19-12) this time in the regular Conseco around. Their shooting…

… 2 Defense has EASTERN 8 been the culprit on other occasions. This time, brains were the problem. Frequent mental lapses and a lack of focus hurt the Wolverines (6-16 overall) Wednesday night…

… that bad of hitters. It's in their psyche. It's too bad that it's got- ten to that point with so many guys." The game started off promis- ing enough for the Wolverines. In the second inning, Michigan…

… defense. Sparks got his chance in the second game of the Wolverines' second-to-last series of the sea- son against Western Michigan. The good news is that he played well, providing a spark on the third line…

… Beilein looked to install a more guard-heavy offense. And the move worked - the Wolverines racked up its high- est point total in over a month in the victory over the Wildcats (75). In turn, Smotrycz has…

… or so postseasons, Michigan had already gone through its run as a Cinderella last year, when the Wolverines rode a pint-size goalie to alate-season hot streak 0 Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka…

… Smart and his team have epitomized the underdog this March. and a regional final berth. This year, the pint-size goalie thing wasn't as cute and the Wolverines had serious expec- tations. Then, they lost…

… Decem- ber against Michigan and three of four against Boston College a day earlier. It was killed. The Wolverine penalty kill averaged under two shots against for the whole regional. "I talked to coach…

… the Tigers' comeback hopes, sending the Wolverines back to the Fro- zen Four for the first time since 2008. The buzzer sounded with Colorado College swarming around the net in one last des- perate dash…

…, effectively ending the Tigers chase of a national championship. The Wolverines will travel back to Ann Arbor and await the outcome of the Midwest Region- al final between No. 1 seed North Dakota and No. 2 seed…

…'t work exclusively five-on-zero. According to senior forward Louie Caporusso, the initial drill is just to get the "blueprint" in, before adding defenders. With or without opposition, the Wolverines need…

… bunches. After starting off the season strong, late in October the Wolverines began their first of two streaks in which the power play was scoreless in 20-plus chances. But now, three weeks after ending the…

… Michigan."' That coach was Al Renfrew. Just months later, Renfrew replaced Heyliger at the helm of the Wolverines - and Watt, Renfrew's former North Dakota recruit, was the first to greet him. "I met him at…

… Michigan hockey team lacked its usual luster. What's more, the Wolverines hadn't skated a product of St. Mike's since Polonic and three others played on the 1964 cham- pionship team. Berenson understood the…

… general man- ager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and three current NHLers - that 9 Wolverine team knew success. It wasn't just a hockey team, Sakala asserts, it was the perfect combination of education and…

… the seasrn der returned to his hometown to the Wolverines' play for the University of Detroit- ie hands of Duke, Mercy. At UDM, he was under the ned to have con- tutelage of Perry Watson, who the…

… a very good teacher." Alexander was offered the job and knew he would be coming into nearly the same situation as when he was an assistant at West- ern Michigan. The Wolverines had two red- shirt…

… process to gather more Wolverines - yet. information about his potential Michigan coach John Beilein landing spot. As long as Mor- announced Monday that Morris ris doesn't hire an agent at any has submitted…

… for the rigors of the NBA. It's a situation the Wolverines encountered just last year when Beilein initiated a similar process with two players - guard Manny Harris and forward DeShawn Sims. Harris…

… Chad Langlais, that ques- tion was answered within his first season in Ann Arbor. The line charts go up on the board prior to any contest for the Wolverines - 18 players and two goalies. During Langlais…

…, Langlais was the lone Wolverine on the back end who earned a spot in the lineup every night. "When the coaches write the lineup on the board, you don't even glance, you expect to be there," Pearson said of…

…8A -- Wednesday, March 30, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Muckalt comments on 15th anniversary of '96 NCAA title 0 By MARK BURNS of the Wolverines' success that Powers: "It was one…

… today, as a fifth-year player for the Edmonton Oilers - he didn't take the fast track. He traded his light blue St. Mike's No. 7 sweater for No. 9 as a Wolverine, and never regretted it. "Michigan was…

…: Wolverine Tower WHERE: University Hospi- WHAT: Under the direc- WHAT: Doctors will dis- icy of law enforcement agen- WHEN: Sunday at about tal Emergency Room tion of Renneth Keisler, cuss pelvic pain in women…

…, 'Hey, you know, we can win the big game. We are one of the top programs."' Press the fast-forward button to 2011, and these Wolverines are headed to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2008, fol…

….com STUDYING OVERSEAS '' 'students abroad,in A2 reflect on Japan quake CHANTEL JENNINGS/Daily Michigan point guard Darius Morris is consoled by teammate Corey Person after the Wolverines' 73-71 loss to Duke…

… will hether used to find an still display a University mem- uctor's e-mail address, ber's name, unigname, title and e a professor's office or affiliation as listed on Wolverine Access, but it will…

… third of Michigan's scor- F Asvt ing this season. Morgan has to stay out of foul trouble - some- thing he struggled with for the first half of the season - so the Wolverines will at least have one big…

… Saturday, March 5. Freshman guard Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Wolverines with 20 points in their victory over the Spartans. For more coverage of the game see SportsMonday, inside. CHANGES FROM LANSING Mich igan…

… Regional draw against Nebraska- Omaha, senior forward Louie Caporusso said that in order for Michigan to make it to the Fro- zen Four in St. Paul, Minn. the younger Wolverines would need to mask their youth…

… their game, they've got to leave their comfort zone. That's how you win games, getting out of your comfort zone." And now that they've made it to St. Paul, the Wolverines are set- ting even higher…

… all. FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE WOLVERINES IN CHARLOTTE: LOG ON TO WWW.MICHIGANDAILY.COM/SPORTS AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @MICHDAILYSPORTS …

… given the reins of the reinvigorated "Star Trek." Hiringdirectors like Dar- ren Aronofsky ("Black Swan," "Requiem for a Dream") for the next "Wolverine" film and Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Memoirs of a…

… affiliations, will come from official University sources (like Wolverine Access)," she wrote. "Individuals will not be able to change this information in the directory; they must update it at the source." Witte…

… out of the Xcel Energy Center with the national title. The Wolverines have won games every way imaginable in 2010-11. The crazy bounces that just cannot seem to be explained (Chad Langlais, I'm looking…