LIVE from the city that never sleeps
By Ruth Lincoln, written on Nov. 20, 2008
NEW YORK — If you consider Bob Knight and Dick Vitale famous, we’ve already had a few celebrity sightings as we’re far from the Midwest. We caught an upclose glimpse of “Dickie V” before the Duke-So. Illinois tipoff. At 69, he still looks sharp. Knight is providing game analysis for tonight’s semi final games of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Is this lucky number seven for Michigan? Tonight’s game against No. 4 UClA is the seventh straight meeting between the two teams. The Wolverines beat UCLA in back-to-back season (2002-03 and 2003-04), but a lot has changed since Bruins coach Ben Howland took over in 2003. UCLA has made it to the last three Final Fours and is favored to make a fourth trip this season.
UCLA squeaked by Miami (Ohio) 64-59 last week in second round of the tournament. The Bruins have a talented freshman class headlined by guard Jrue Holiday, but they will rely heavily on seniors Darren Collison and Josh Shipp. Collison is a quick defender, a tremendous 3-point shooter and a preseason All American.
Last season, Michigan looked like it could upset UCLA at Crisler Arena with an eight-point lead at halftime, but the Bruins would go on a 41-18 run in the game’s final 14 minutes to ruin Michigan’s hopes.
Freshman Stu Douglass and redshirt sophomore Anthony Wright have shot well from 3-point range early this season. Both have started every game, and Wright has been particularly effective knocking down the long ball early.
This is the first big test for Michigan after easily beating Michigan Tech and Northeastern by at least 20 points last week. Sophomore Manny Harris played seamlessly and averaged 28.0 points per game. But no other scorer really emerged behind Harris. The Bruins excel at shutting down an opposing team’s best player and making the rest of the team work. Michigan went 2-3 last year at neutral sites which included the Great Alaskan Shootout and the Big Ten Tournament.
No. 5 Duke and So. Illinois just finished up their game (the Blue Devils won 83-58), and the seats are finally starting to fill up. I had no idea the Garden was so small with a capacity just under 20,000. I heard rumors that the Garden offered “Buy one get one free” tickets for tonight’s game. My suspicion is the Duke fans in attendance will support Michigan simply to see a potential Final Four matchup tomorrow night.
A Michigan band just walked in 10 minutes before tipoff. They look pretty young, though, maybe high schoolers. With The Game in Columbus this Saturday, it seemed doubtful that many fans would make the long trip, but there’s a fair number here, including some students.
Starting Linups
Michigan
Stu Douglass G
David Merritt G
Manny Harris F
Anthony Wright F
Zack Gibson C
UCLA
Darren Collison G
Jrue Holiday G
James Keefe F
Josh Shipp F
Alfred Aboya C
15:36 Michigan 1 UCLA 9
The key to Michigan coach John Belein’s offense is strong shooting especially from long range, and Michigan has missed its first four shots. The only point coming off Harris’s free throw (after he missed the first). The Wolverines have gone to 1-3-1 defense and are giving up the three point shots like usual, but unlike Northeastern last week, the Bruins are on.
14:25 Michigan 5 UCLA 9
Harris just scored on the last two possessions. If UCLA can’t shut him down, Michigan has a chance to be in this game.
11:19 Michigan 7 UCLA 14
UCLA is playing Michigan man-to-man with Holiday guarding Harris. Holiday is playing him well and blocked Harris at the 3-point line. UCLA continues to shoot the ball better and Collison is demonstrating his speed and agility. Currently UCLA is shooting 46.2 percent and Michigan with 25 percent.
7:40 Michigan 12 UCLA 18
Michigan fan in the stands: “The fact that Michigan is in this game is the highlight of my life.” Mind you, he’s holding beer, but this game could look a lot worse for Michigan. The Bruins have turned the ball over with a couple steals and mindless steps out of bounds. The Wolverines are still shooting poorly, but their defense is picking up.
3:47 Michigan 19 UCLA 22
Wow. Michigan is playing very physical and making an effort to shut down Collison. The Wolverines took two charges in the last two minutes. The intensity level has increased and Michigan clearly took notice of UCLA’s early scoring. Michigan has been stronger on their own glass, but need to box out more in the Bruins’ end.
1:51 Michigan 19 UCLA 29
The Bruins just scored seven unanswered points.
Halftime Michigan 23 UCLA 29
DeShawn Sims last four points were crucial. If the Wolverines are to stay in the game, they needed to close out the half down by less than 10. On the glass, Michigan looked stronger towards the end of the half. Intensity and physicality were clearly emphasized, and the Wolverines currently have four offensive boards, and UCLA has six. It’s fair to say the Michigan fans are louder than their UCLA counterparts. Maybe there are former Maize Ragers in New York?
16:39 Michigan 33 UCLA 31
The Wolverines have their first lead of the game thanks to five points apiece from Harris and Douglass. After making 1 of 12 three point shots in the first half, they have already made two this half.
11:50 Michigan 38 UCLA 36
The Wolverines have five fouls compared to UCLA’s three. This could hurt Michigan in the game’s final minutes. Michigan’s guards like Kelvin Grady and Zack Novak have used their speed to create steals and fast breaks for the Wolverines.
10:20 Michigan 40 UCLA 36
Sims just hit an outside jumper. Jevohn Shephard is playing strong off the bench with two rebounds and two points after seeing his first minutes this half.
7:51 Michigan 42 UCLA 41
Collison hit a big three and brought the Bruins closer, but Michigan won’t go down. The Wolverines continue to be physical and quick on defense. They’ve had two fast break opportunites and connected on one.
4:38 Michigan 46 UCLA 47
Two offensive fouls later, and the Wolverines find themselves down. The Michigan and UCLA cheers are competing against one another in the waning minutes.
2:20 Michigan 51 UCLA 48
Harris, Sims and Douglass are really playing team ball. On the last possession, Harris stole the ball from UCLA, bounced it to Douglass to layed it in for Sims.
14:1 seconds Michigan 53 UCLA 49
Sims just made a huge dunk and UCLA called a timeout
FINAL MICHIGAN 55 UCLA 52
Overshadowed by Ohio State…
By Nicole Auerbach, written on Nov. 20, 2008
Though most of the Michigan sports world will focus its attention on Columbus this weekend for The Game, there are plenty of other intriguing matchups across the country.
Michigan football is 3-8. Ohio State is a three-touchdown favorite, and the Buckeyes are playing for a trip to the Rose Bowl. Worth watching? Well…yeah.
But there are certainly other (probably more enjoyable) Michigan sporting events to keep an eye on this weekend, too. The Michigan basketball team, fresh off a huge win over No. 4 UCLA, will take on Duke tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. And hey, they looked good tonight. People will have to pay attention to the Wolverines this year.
The No. 9 Michigan hockey team travels to Oxford to play Miami (Ohio) tomorrow night and Saturday. The RedHawks are currently ranked as the best in the CCHA, and though the matchup lacks the luster of its 1-2 showdown last season, it’ll still be a crucial series for the Wolverines.
And for the smaller-sports enthusiasts, the Michigan wrestling team action should keep you occupied. In their first dual meets of the season, the Wolverines will challenge top-25 competition, Lehigh and Penn, on the road this weekend.
Wolverine fans, it’s time to look past the football field.
Women’s basketball vs. Texas A&M
By joe stapleton, written on Nov. 20, 2008
Tipoff Alright we’re ready to get started. Texas A&M comes into the game ranked No. 7 in the country. This could be a big win for Michigan early in the season, and would definitely get the taste of Akron out of its mouth. Starting for the Wolverines — Melinda Queen, Carly Benson, Jessica Minnfield, Stephany Skrba and Veronica Hicks.
18:24 Minnfield scores a very nice drive. The Wolverines look confident and are moving the ball well on offense so far.
17:46 A&M is clearly trying to run on Michigan and use their superior athleticism. So far, it’s working. Texas has already forced a turnover and a foul on a layup.
17:18 A&M is applying some full-court press, and it is clearly bothering the Wolverines. They need to find a way to break the press, and Borseth calls a timeout to address it.
15:49 Skrba is playing strong in the post, working hard for rebounds. It’s going to be a war down there, and Krista Phillips is again riding an exercise bike. Score: 7-4, Michigan.
14:02 Michigan shows it can run too, getting a fast-break bucket from freshman Kalyn McPherson, who just entered the game.
13:12 Pretty back-door cut by Texas A&M. That’s Phillips’ job to recognize that.
11:22 A&M collapses on any Michigan player cutting to the basket. They are forcing the Wolverines to know where the open pass is. So far, Michigan has responded well-Queen drew two defenders and had a nice dish to Phillips who put it in. If they can get that going the whole game, the Wolverines have a chance to pul off the upset.
9:40 Minnfield looks out of synch. She has already turned the ball over twice and just picked up her first foul. Borseth may put freshman Courtney Boylan in soon.
8:40 Michigan has tried the high screen-and-roll a few times, with limited success. It’s the drive-and-dish that’s working for them. Score: 19-13, Michigan.
8:14 Boylan comes in for Veronica Hicks. It will be interesting to see how she responds after the Akron game.
7:14 A&M just grabbed four offensive rebounds in a row, much to the chagrin of coach Borseth. With Phillips relegated to the exercise bike, the Wolverines are having a hard time working the ball inside.
6:40 A&M has switched to a 2-3 zone, undoubtedly to cut off Michigan from driving to the basket, which is how they have gotten most of they’re points. However, the Wolverines can shoot, so this strategy may backfire.
5:34 Boylan draws a charge, then quickly turns the ball over. Kind of mirrors the way the game has been going for Michigan, although they are clinging to a slim 20-19 lead.
4:11 Minnfield catches a bump on her way to a lay-in and finishes the and-1. Nice play. Michigan is playing well-they’re not panicking with a lead (23-19), making smart passes, and playing absolutely suffocating defense. Very impressive so far.
3:16 Michigan goes with a very small lineup in the backcourt, with Minnfield, Hicks and Boylan. It is a stretch to think they can out-quick the Aggies, but it looks like they’re trying.
1:45 Big answer thee from Phillips to make it 28-22. It came from a nice kick-out from Boylan. The drive-and-dish formula is working for the Wolverines, and there is no reason to stray from it.
Halftime 30-26, Michigan. The Wolverines have got to be very happy with this lead at halftime. This is the seventh-ranked team in the country, and this same Michigan team recently lost by too much to Akron. The good news for the Aggies is that they have a lot of room for improvement, and chances are they will come out swinging in the second half. The question: will Michigan be ready?
Still Halftime Stats are in, and Michigan held the Aggies to 28 % shooting and outrebounded them. However, the Wolverines also have 12 turnovers, and the Aggies have half that. If Michigan ends the game with these kinds of numbers, they game is theirs.
18:19 So far, Michigan has come out strong, and A&M looks flustered. They probably weren’t expecting this. Score: 35-30, Michigan
17:03 A&M has gone back to man. It’s better than zone, but Benson has already taken advantage of it by taking her defender off the dribble and scoring easily. Minnfield and Phillips look to be on the same page. They’ve combined for 18 points, and most of Phillips’ have come on assists from Minnfield.
15:10 It’s a time out, and TCF Bank has unveiled a new promotion, the hamster ball race. Two contestants race down the court and back in huge hamster balls. Yes, it is as entertaining as it sounds. One of them, some male Ann Arbor resident, fell numerous times. Hilarious. The other contestant, a female Michigan student, looked like she had actually practiced. That has to be cheating in some way. Back to the game.
14:38 Very impressive drive by Melinda Queen. She used a nice hesitation move and completely froze her defender.
14:22 A&M takes their first lead of the game, 40-39. It will be very interesting to see how Michigan responds to the challenge, and it will tell us a lot about the team.
13:03 Michigan is playing great defense right now, the best they’ve played all season. They just forced A&M into a shot-clock violation, and they have been deflecting passes all over the place, especially Minnfield. Speaking of which, she just nailed a huge three to put the Wolverines up by two.
10:11 Aggie Tyra White just exited the game with a leg injury-didn’t look too serious, and that should help the Wolverines; she is A&M’s leading scorer with 11. Michigan holds a slim lead, 43-42.
8:21 A&M is already in the bonus. During the rebound for an A&M free throw, Aggie Sydney Colson was called for a technical and Boylan nailed two free throws for the Wolverines. This could be a momentum shift.
6:58 On a rare fast break opportunity for the Wolverines off of a deflected pass, Boylan draws a foul on a tough drive to the basket. Right now, the Aggies hold a three-point lead. All Michigan needs to do is keep it close until the end, and it feels like they can pull it out. Right now, they are doing everything they can.
5:26 Aggie Takia Sparks nails a heartbreaking three-pointer to put A&M up four, but Minnfield comes right back down the court and draws a foul on her way to the basket. She makes both free throws.
3:57 Michigan has had a harder and harder time stopping A&M as the half has progressed. Right now, they still hold a four-point lead. Michigan is scoring with them, but the issue is stopping them. One thing Michigan is doing is slowing the game down by drawing a lot of fouls, which favors their style of play. This game could come down to free throws. If it does, Michigan has to hope Boylan is at the line; she’s 6-6 tonight.
2:42 While the Wolverines are drawing fouls, they have gone ice-cold from the field. A&M holds a three-point lead.
2:06 Quite a game so far. There is a lot at stake for both of these teams. This was clearly a trap game for A&M-they never expected to get this kind of a game from Michigan.
1:22 A&M has scored to go on top by five (57-52). Queen draws a foul. These free throws have to go in or it could be the ball game.
1:02 Queen makes them both. Very clutch. Michigan down by three.
0:21 Borseth calls a time out. There are 14 seconds left on the shot clock. It’s unclear wether he wants a quick two or a three to tie. Phillips gets a wide-open layup off an assist from Minnfield. The Aggies’ lead is now one.
0:13 57-56 A&M. Michigan is pressing full-court, and foul as soon as the ball is inbounded to get the ball back. Aggie Danielle Gant makes the first, and Borseth calls time out to ice her before the second.
End of Game Gant made the second, Michigan pushed the ball up court and Benson missed a long three. A tough loss, but the fact is the Wolverines took on the No. 7 team in the country and played them down to the wire. They were one or two shots away from winning, and at this point, the team can accept moral victories.
Four “permanent” captains named for football team
By Nate Sandals, written on Nov. 20, 2008
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez named four “permanent” captains for this year’s football team. They are fifth-year seniors, tight end Mike Massey, defensive linemen Tim Jamison, Will Johnson and senior nose tackle Terrance Taylor. The four captains were elected by a vote of their teammates. Massey is the lone senior on Michigan’s offense. Jamison, Johnson and Taylor make up three quarters of Michigan’s starting defensive line.
While the quartet will go down in Michigan history, they haven’t been captains in the traditional sense. Rodriguez doesn’t elect team captains until the end of the season, so each week there are four “game captains.” This is the first time in its 129-year history that the Michigan football team has had four captains.
The four “permanent” captains will represent the Wolverines at midfield in Columbus on Saturday. For more coverage of Michigan football versus Ohio State, keep reading michigandaily.com.
Hutchins signs three recruits
By Jason Kohler, written on Nov. 20, 2008
Michigan signed three recruits in the early signing period Tuesday — infielders Amy Knapp and Ashley Lane, and pitcher Stephanie Speierman.
“I am very excited about this class,” Hutchins said through the athletic department. “It is a small class, but it’s a good, solid class. I think they are a really good fit for Michigan; they’re all good Michigan kids. It is a versatile group, and we’re looking for them to come and contribute right away.”
Last year, pitcher Jordan Taylor led a talented freshman class in her All-American campaign, helping the Wolverines advance to the super regionals. This season, Michigan’s roster includes three freshman — Stephanie Kirkpatrick, Bree Evans and Amanda Chidester. The young players will help add power in their lineup after losing two Michigan softball legends in Alessandra Giampaolo Samantha Findlay.
Across the Nation: Part I
By Nick Coston, written on Nov. 18, 2008
No. 17 Ball State at Central Michigan
In any other year, it would be fitting that the Mid-American Conference’s most important game of the season would be decided on a Wednesday night, but this year, it probably deserves prime-time Saturday coverage. Ball State is one of just five undefeated teams remaining in the country, thanks to the stellar play of quarterback Nate Davis. But the unheralded Chippewas are also undefeated in the conference and 8-2 overall, largely due to exceptional quarterback Dan LeFevour.
This contest could either propel Ball State into the BCS mix or merely send the MAC champions to the Motor City Bowl.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 footballs
Check The Michigan Daily later this week for more Across the Nation.
Babb off the team
By Dan Feldman, written on Nov. 18, 2008
In today’s weekly Big Ten teleconference, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said sophomore Zion Babb was no longer with the team. Rodriguez said the wide receiver hasn’t been with the team since Sunday.
Babb played in six games this year, starting one. He had two catches for 45 yards.
Harris nabs Player of the Week honors
By Ruth Lincoln, written on Nov. 17, 2008
Sophomore forward Manny Harris was named the Big Ten Player of the Week today. This is the second time in his career that he earned the honor.
In Michigan’s two blowout wins last week over Michigan Tech and Northeastern in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic, Harris averaged 28.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He set a new career high for points against Michigan Tech (30 points) and was named the MVP of the Ann Arbor Regional.
The Preseason first team All Big Ten honoree will lead Michigan this Thursday in the semifinal of the 2K Sports Tournament when the Wolverines take on No. 4 UCLA at Madison Square Garden.
Michigan Football Press Conference Notes
By Courtney Ratkowiak, written on Nov. 17, 2008
There are predictably more media members here for the pre-Ohio State press conference.
Rodriguez
Steven Threet has a slight separated shoulder and is “doubtful,” and Rodriguez said he will see how Threet responds in the next 48 hours. Unlike what was said after the game, Threet doesn’t have a head or knee injury. Rodriguez said Brandon Minor, Nick Sheridan and Michael Shaw will be ready to go for Saturday. McGuffie had a death in the family and he may miss the Ohio State game.
When asked to name his biggest pre-Michigan rivalries, Rodriguez said playing against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia were tough. Later in the press conference, Rodriguez said while playing at West Virginia, the team had two rivals: Pitt and Penn State. He called the rivalry with Pitt the “backyard brawl” and an intense rivalry. The national scope of the Michigan-Ohio State game is what separates that rivalry from the others he’s experienced.
Rodriguez fielded multiple questions about to what extent the players and coaches sense the importance of this game: “As i told them last night, I don’t think I need to explain to them the importance of the game and the rivalry,” he said. “I think if you follow college football at all, you’ll understand it.”
The timeline for a transition is “not just year 1, but year 1 and year 2.”
He feels if the team gets a little confidence early and focuses on the next play, not the scoreboard or rivalry, the Wolverines will have a good chance: “I don’t want to be in a situation where we’re ever looking at the scoreboard or ever worrying about what just happened.” He says that’s a danger for younger players, and that singlemindedness hasn’t yet been grasped by the entire team.
When asked if a win over Ohio State would salvage the team’s season: “It would at least make you feel good for a few days, obviously, and give you some confidence. … A win would at least help a little bit, but it wont erase everything and it shouldn’t erase everything.”
When talking about how much both teams have to play for, Rodriguez said Ohio State has “got a lot at stake, but I like to feel like we do, too.”
Rodriguez watched last year’s game and said some of his current players have had “moderate success, but not much success.”
“I watched last year’s game and we got 5 NFL players on offense and we got less than 100 yards against them. And we have to go and compete? That’s a daunting challenge.”
When asked if the team focuses more on Ohio State than on other opponents, Rodriguez said the Wolverines don’t designate a day in spring practice to breaking down them, but they do spend a little more time on the Buckeyes during spring and summer months.
“Last time I was there was for a JV game my freshman year in college, so things are a little different now,” Rodriguez said about the last time he played in Columbus.
Rodriguez also fielded multiple questions about former Michigan recruit and current Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor. “Once a guy signs and goes to another school, our focus is on the guys who play for us,” he said when asked if he wonders what could have been if Pryor would have been a Wolverine. “We do the what-if hypotheticals while we’re recruiting for the next class.”
When asked if Threet and Sheridan’s progress was better or worse than Rodriguez had hoped, he said he was “probably more optimistic than normal.” Both have mentally grasped the system well and continued to play better, though the weather last game hurt Sheridan’s play and injuries have hurt Threet’s.
For next year, Rodriguez said every position is wide open, including the quarterback position. There might be some attrition next year, with graduation and then if a few underclassmen possibly leave, but Rodriguez hopes there is competition at every position.
Rodriguez met Tressel at Youngstown State, and both coaches are members of the AFCA. Former Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith was one of the quarterbacks that visited Rodriguez and his staff to learn aspects of the spread offense. The two coaches exchanged ideas, and Rodriguez said, “If I knew I was going to be here, that trip wouldn’t have happened.”
His first day on the job, Rodriguez was sent a “Beat Ohio State” button.
“I knew after the spring game that, ‘Boy, this could be tough at times,’ ” he said about the team’s progress.
Rodriguez was asked about Bo Schembechler’s successful first year and how people may compare Rodriguez’s first year to 1969. He was visibly defensive and answered, “I don’t know, I can’t answer the people thing, but that was 40 years ago? There are a lot of things that are different now. It’s not the same thing. It’s not the same thing as 10 years ago, 5 years ago, it’s certainly not the same as 40 years ago. If people want to make comparisons now, fans are fans, but it’s a whole other year now.”
Talked about how in the past, Schembechler and Lloyd Carr had built the program to the point where playing at home was worth 10 or 14 points, but now, it’s not the case. The team needs to get to the point where putting on the winged helmet means something. “When we deserve to win more games, we’ll win more games,” he said.
When asked if there were points during the season where the Wolverines have played the way he wants them to play against Ohio State, he named the first quarter and a half of the Penn State road game, some of the Minnesota game and, for the defense, parts of the Northwestern game.
Rodriguez was asked if the fact there’s no bowl game motivates his players more. “I hope in a way that the finality of it gives our players a little (motivation),” he said. “What are we saving it for? It’s not like we’re saving it for the spring game.”
While talking about the attention on the coaches, Rodriguez compared coaching to politicians: “They choose to have that public scrutiny. As coaches, we know its part of the job but we don’t choose to have it. Most of us would rather not.”
He continued talking about personal comments directed at the coaches and players made by fans, saying, “You almost want to tell them, ‘Get a life.’ There are a lot bigger problems.”
When talking about what Rodriguez has and hasn’t changed, he said, “You don’t change tradition.” Rodriguez named the winged helmets as an example of tradition and something he wouldn’t change. But Rodriguez defined “culture” as the mentality of the team, and said his ideal culture that included a strong work ethic.
As in past press conferences, Rodriguez said he knows what he has to do to get the team winning and the fans happy and reiterated he has a plan to get it done.
The team voted on permanent captains last night and they be announced Thursday.
–
Sheridan
When asked if this game will be like the Super Bowl of the season because the Wolverines don’t have a postseason, Sheridan said, “It’s the Super Bowl every year. It’s no different this year. Every year’s always huge.”
Mathews
When talking about the rivalry, Mathews said, “Just the passion and the hate we have for each other, you can just feel it in pregame warmups and on the field.”
Moosman
When asked about his reaction when Justin Boren transferred to Ohio State, Moosman paused and asked for the next question, saying he didn’t want to talk about it. He said some of his teammates still talk to Boren but Moosman doesn’t.
Moosman said he likes being the underdog because nobody thinks they have a chance. They have experience in a loud stadium at Penn State and they started off well there, so they know they can do it.
Taylor
Taylor said one of the main reasons he came back this year was to try and beat Ohio State since he hasn’t had the opportunity to experience a win against the Buckeyes. “I want to finish,” he said. “And the only way I can finish is going into that game and playing my heart out and beating them.”
When asked about his memories from two years ago in Columbus, he said he remembers the grass was terrible and the Crable penalty shouldn’t have been a penalty - “that’s the only two things I remember.”
“If you don’t get pumped for this game, you don’t have a pulse.”
When asked what type of trash talk happens on the field during the game, Taylor just laughed and shook his head.
Minor
Minor said he was “day-to-day” but he’s definitely playing against Ohio State.
Jerry Wright has a change of heart
By Colt Rosensweig, written on Nov. 16, 2008
For the last few years, Jerry Wright of the College Gymnastics Association seems to have had it in for the Michigan men’s gymnastics team. In 2007, infamously, he said that the “available material” on the team didn’t justify hopes of making Super Six. The 2007 squad finished fourth in the NCAA, in case you were wondering, and Wright’s words remained fresh in their minds all year.
But this year, Wright suddenly thinks the Wolverines might be a team to watch. In the nationwide poll, gymnastics coaches ranked Michigan sixth. Wright, after a brief inner struggle in which he toyed with the idea of picking the Wolverines to win it all, ranked them third, behind Stanford and Oklahoma. Placing Stanford and Oklahoma 1-2 was just about the only place where Wright agreed with the coaches’ poll. He recognized that Michigan hasn’t had to deal with losses of the same magnitude of other teams’, and thought that could be a huge advantage, along with hosting Big Tens.
The entire season preview can be found here–just click on the link to the PDF. (The rotating team pictures are fun, too.) Wright certainly has some interesting thoughts. And the quote from Oklahoma coach Mark Williams is priceless. Oklahoma has won three NCAA championships in the last four years (2005, 2006, 2008), and despite losing their big guns Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, they’ve still got talent coming out their ears–Steve Legendre, anyone? All Williams said, though, was that they’ve got a good team and should make Super Six. Make Super Six?! If this team doesn’t make Super Six, start looking for pigs flying through the sky.
Neither Wright’s preview nor the preseason poll actually means anything once the season starts. But until then, it should be great material for gymnastics arguments!