SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013
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FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
THESE SANTAS RUN AROUND (BUT IT’S OK)
TODAY’S MUST�READS Anthony Dirrell supplied this photo of himself in Brooklyn the week before his Saturday match. Read more in Local Sports, C1-2.
FLINT A flower is placed in front of a mural of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Los Angeles. (AP) FLINT
Remembering Nelson Mandela Area residents are expressing sadness about the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela. “Nelson Mandela’s perseverance in the face of oppression inspired millions around the world, myself included,” U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee said. More on the anti-apartheid leader’s legacy, A7 and A15 FLINT
Towers’ implosion affects churches The date for Genesee Towers’ implosion raises concerns among clergy members. The Towers are set to fall the Sunday before Christmas, affecting services at downtown churches. Details, A4
Students look at a photo of a sinking battleship at Pearl Harbor. (Zack Wittman/MLive.com) GRAND BLANC
Survivor looks back at Pearl Harbor A lesson on Pearl Harbor came alive for area students, thanks to a survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack. More on Pearl Harbor, A7 and A17
Boxer Anthony Dirrell overcomes setbacks on his way to first shot at world crown
Rocky path to title bout Ä
By Eric Woodyard
ewoodyar@mlive.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Anthony Dirrell was on the cusp of greatness Saturday night. A roller coaster career that has been marked by years of turmoil and setbacks stalled Saturday night with a draw against Sakio Bika for the WBC super middleweight crown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. After years of seemingly fighting in the shadow of his older brother and Olympic bronze medalist, Andre Dirrell, the other Dirrell — known as “The Dog” — had hoped to capitalize on the biggest moment of his career with a title. But it was not to be. Dirrell arrived in New York on Monday from a tough training camp in Florida for what he considers to be a business trip. “I’m just ready to go,” Dirrell said. “When I saw Sakio for the first time on Monday, ever since then, the nervousness went out of it and the butterflies were gone. I’m never nervous or scared of nobody, but I’m just anxious to fight.”
VIDEO View an interview with Anthony Dirrell at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn: mlive.com/flint
Just five years ago, it looked as if Dirrell might not reach that day. CANCER
Dirrell first major setback came in December 2006, when he was diagnosed with nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer, after experiencing chest pain while training in Las Vegas. Dirrell told The Flint Journal/MLive.com months later the diagnosis hit him hard. “When you think cancer, you think death,” he said. “It’s the biggest battle of my life, but I’m fighting it.” The disease kept him away from boxing for almost two years before he SEE DIRRELL, A5 (Courtesy of Anthony Dirrell)
FLINT
Career Alliance saga: No jail time over misuse of $550K By Gary Ridley
episode,” was ordered to pay A scandal that took down the head $586,000 in restituof a public agency, a Flint police chief tion after she admitand his father, as well as a former ted to embezzling Flint School Board member, has come taxpayer money and to end with more than $550,000 in funding a program taxpayer money misused and not a led by a relative Loving single day of jail for anyone involved. without approval of Pamela Loving, former head of the federal government. Career Alliance who a federal judge U.S. District Judge Mark A. called the leader of the “criminal Goldsmith, however, spared Loving gridley@mlive.com
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It’s going to take us from a regional scale to a national scale.” BACK TO THE BRICKS PROMOTIONAL TOUR OFFICIAL ON GM’S DONATION TO ANNUAL EVENT. DETAILS, A3
from more than a year in prison and instead placed her on five years’ probation with a year of house arrest. Loving, who is unemployed, has filed for bankruptcy. The fact that Loving and the other three people convicted in the Career Alliance case were not given any jail time upset Genesee County Commission Chairman Jamie Curtis. “What kind of message do you send to the county for committing crimes
INDEX Advice................ F5 Business ............ G1
like that?” Curtis asked. “If you can put them in jail, then they should be in jail.” Josh Hauxhurst, head of the FBI’s Flint office, said although he is happy there were convictions in the case, he would have liked to see stiffer sentences handed down. Goldsmith declined to comment on the Career Alliance case. SEE ALLIANCE, A2
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 / THE FLINT JOURNAL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
COMPLETE MSU COVERAGE AT MLIVE.COM Ç MORE COVERAGE ONLINE Saturday night’s Red Wings game and the Big Ten Championship Game ended after press time. For complete coverage, go to mlive.com/sports
STATE
NAT IONAL SPORT S / D3
U.S. DRAWS TOUGH GROUP IN WORLD CUP
LIONS
Rookie of the year?
LIONS
Slay out, Greenwood signed, Spurlock cut The Detroit Lions have announced through their website that injured cornerback Darius Slay did not make the trip to Philadelphia for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. They signed corner Chris Greenwood off the practice squad to take his place, and released receiver/return man Micheal Spurlock in the corresponding move. Slay reportedSlay ly tore his meniscus during practice Thursday and could be out multiple weeks. Starting corner Chris Houston also is battling a foot injury and is listed as questionable, leaving Detroit shorthanded at the position. Greenwood was selected by the Lions in the fifth round of last year’s draft, but has not developed as the club would have liked and has been relegated for most of this season to the practice squad. He was signed briefly by the Cowboys, but returned to Detroit’s practice squad after getting released. Spurlock began the season as Detroit’s starting kick returner, but was surpassed by Jeremy Ross at the position and was inactive the past two weeks. WOLVERINES
Stauskas: Ankle still not 100 percent Despite scoring almost a quarter of Michigan’s 107 points against Houston Baptist, sophomore Nik Stauskas says he still is not 100 percent. “I felt pretty good,” Stauskas said Saturday, following the Wolverines’ 107-53 win at Crisler Center. “It’s not 100 percent yet, but it’s getting there. It’s getting there.” Stauskas has Stauskas been limited with a sprained ankle suffered in a loss to Charlotte in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 24. He missed a Nov. 29 win over Coppin State with the injury. Returning for U-M’s trip to Duke on Tuesday, he struggled through a 34-minute outing that produced only two shot attempts. He looked like his old self Saturday. Stauskas poured in 25 points in 28 minutes against Houston Baptist on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 3-pointers. Michigan gets back on track, D5
Detroit defensive end Ezekiel Ansah sacks Green Bay’s Matt Flynn in the second quarter of their Thanksgiving Day game. Ansah has seven sacks through 12 games this season, three short of tying Ndamukong Suh’s NFL record of 10 sacks by a rookie. (Mike Mulholland/ MLive.com)
Ansah quickly stating his case to be in the running for individual award By Justin Rogers
jrogers@mlive.com
ALLEN PARK — With four sacks in the past two games, Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has thrust himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation. There’s some stiff competition for the honors, primarily from defensive tackles Sheldon Richardson and Star Lotulelei and linebacker Kiko Alonso. Ansah admits it would be nice to be recognized for his individual accomplishments, but only if it’s a byproduct of the team’s success. “It would be fun to win it, but I wouldn’t say that’s my main focus right now,” Ansah said. “I’m doing
whatever I can just to help my team win. I just make plays on the field, and if I’m Rookie of the Year, that’s great.” Ansah leads all rookies with seven sacks through 12 games. He is a halfsack short of Tracy Scroggins’ team record for a firstyear defensive end Ansah and has a legitimate shot to catch Ndamukong Suh for the most by a rookie at any position. Suh tallied 10 sacks and was named Rookie of the Year in 2010. Ansah said there has been no particular reason for his recent burst,
other than an increased comfort level with each passing week. He also admitted an ankle injury, which cost him two games, allowed the rest of his body to heal. “My (position) coach always told me, it’s a blessing in disguise,” Ansah said. “I take it as a positive.” Coach Jim Schwartz rejected the notion that Ansah suddenly is coming on strong. Schwartz is quick to point out that the rookie had three sacks, all of which caused fumbles, negated by penalties earlier in the season. “He just has those instincts,” Schwartz said. “He’s around the football and he’s very comfortable in our defensive scheme. ... There
MORE LIONS COVERAGE Four downs, staff predictions and breaking down today’s matchup against Philadelphia, D6
is an adjustment period sometimes where rookies or young players go through where they are sort of thinking about the call or something like that. I think it’s pretty automatic with him.” This week, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Ansah will match up with five-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters. “I hear he’s pretty good,” Ansah said. “I’m trying to devise my own plan for him.”
MSU FOOTBALL
Terry, scout team survive another week of live practice By Josh Slagter jslagter@mlive
INDIANAPOLIS — Damion Terry was throwing passes with the other Michigan State quarterbacks during Friday’s walkthrough at Lucas Oil Stadium. No body cast, crutches or otherwise visible damage on the freshman from the Spartans’ defense this week. Terry and the rest of the Michigan State scout team were live again in practice against the nation’s No. 1 defense, with the hopes of keep tackling sharp in advance of Saturday’s game against Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde. “You’re trying to put yourself in as many game-like situations, safe, not getting injured, so you can
“You’re trying to put yourself in as many game-like situations, safe, not ge�ing injured, so you can simulate as close to what you’re going to see.” MSU COACH MARK DANTONIO ON FULL TACKLING IN PRACTICE
simulate as close to what you’re going to see,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. “I think we pushed the envelope there a little bit to try to do that.” Dantonio said practice was live Tuesday and some of Wednesday. He has relied heavily on Terry to help prepare for other dual-threat quarterbacks this season, including Michigan’s Devin Gardner. “Terry did a tremendous job, but he’s not Braxton Miller yet,”
Dantonio said. “There’s no question in my mind that Braxton Miller is the most physical quarterback that we have played this year in terms of his physicality, in terms of taking hits and running with power as a quarterback.” Miller averaged more than 100 yards per game on the ground during Big Ten play, and rushed for 136 yards in the Buckeyes’ 17-16 win in East Lansing last season.
Damion Terry warms up with Michigan State’s other quarterbacks during Friday’s walkthrough at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Terry posed as Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller while preparing for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game. (Josh Slagter/MLive.com)
D2 / SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 / THE FLINT JOURNAL
Wolverines Football: Year in Review OVER ALL RECORD
BIG TEN RECORD
OFFENSE R ANK ING
DEFENSE R ANK ING
7-5 3-5 84th 37th
2013 SCHEDULE Aug. 31 vs. Central Michigan, W 59-9 Sept. 7 vs. Notre Dame, W 41-30 Sept. 14 vs. Akron, W 28-24 Sept. 21 at Connecticut, W 24-21 Oct. 5 vs. Minnesota, W 42-13 Oct. 12 at Penn State, L 43-40 (4OT)
WHAT WENT RIGHT
WHAT NEXT?
Can the young Wolverines mature into a winner in 2014? Nick Baumgardner gardner nbaumgardner@ rdner@ mlive.com m
A
NN ARBOR — At lot went wrong and a lot went right for Michigan football in 2013, as is often the case when a team finishes 7-5 during a regular season. So, what happens now? What does Michigan need to do in order to turn several close losses into victories? And what about Devin Gardner? What about the staff? On we go. DEVIN GARDNER WILL “BE BACK?”
Coach Brady Hoke basically stopped the question before it was even finished earlier this week in Detroit. Will Devin Gardner be back next season? “He’ll be back.” Have you talked with Gardner about this then? “No. But he’ll come back.” Well, OK then. I suppose we will have to wait to hear from Gardner, specifically, on the matter here. Until then, let’s keep in mind that this is a player who already has been graduated for a year, who already has been in college for four years, who took an absolute beating this year and still will have a season that finishes with more than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes. Would he have any shot at being drafted right now? Probably not. But, hey, you never know, I suppose. Different people have different motivations. In any event, assuming Hoke’s right and Gardner will be back for a final year at Michigan, what needs to happen for him to eliminate some of the errors that haunted him in 2013? Well, an improved offensive line wouldn’t hurt. But there also is plenty for Gardner to work on as well. What are Gardner’s strengths at this point? He can throw an accurate deep ball more often than not. When healthy, he’s incredibly elusive and becomes a difficult dual-threat player to defend. When his feet are set and he’s calm, there aren’t many throws he can’t make. And, he’s tough — like, sacked 34 times and still standing tough. What are his weak spots? He stares down primary targets far too often. He doesn’t always read coverages properly. He hangs onto the ball too long in the pocket. He doesn’t get to the line fast enough, which doesn’t allow him time to
Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, center, is sacked by Iowa’s Christian Kirksey, left, and Carl Davis during the Wolverines’ 24-21 loss Nov. 23. A season that started with Heisman hype ended with too many turnovers, a slew of sacks, and Gardner looking at a fifth year in Ann Arbor instead of the NFL. (AP file)
survey the defense. He has a hard time forgetting about bad plays. So, basically — Gardner still has the physical tools he needs to become a very, very good college quarterback. And, the general experience he gained from all the “bad stuff” that happened this season should go a long way in helping him turn the corner.
SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF
Michigan spoke quite a bit this season about how many points it was away from winning 10 or maybe even 11 games. That four of the team’s five losses came by a combined 11 points. And, in turn, critics responded by screaming that the Wolverines also were a handful of points away from winning just three or four games. WHAT ABOUT THE COACHING STAFF? Both sides are right. So, Michigan just Hoke wasn’t about to speak in comwent ahead and met everyone in the plete sentences earlier this week when middle and went 7-5. he was asked about the future of his Michigan routinely was a few plays coaching staff. away from glory, and a few plays away Here is, exactly, how the questionfrom disaster in just about every game it answer session went down between played — save for the Central Michigan Hoke and three reporters earlier this win and the Michigan State loss. Even week in Detroit. Michigan’s lopsided win over Minnesota Q: Are you happy with your staff, do wasn’t really as uneven as it seemed. you anticipate any (changes)? This is, like it or not, the mark of a A: Yeah. I anticipate the staff (being young football team. But, it’s also the here). mark of a team that wasn’t quite preQ: So, no changes, you don’t expect any pared to do whatever it took to win a changes? football game. A: Correct. Look at Michigan State, as an example. Q: You do not expect any changes? The Spartans went 7-6 last season. And A: That’s what I just said. they were in the same boat. Five of the So, after about a minute of back and team’s six losses came by a combined 12 forth, Hoke said that — as we live and points. And, at the same time, four of the breathe right now — he does not anticiteam’s wins were by four points or less. pate any coaching staff moves prior to MSU coach Mark Dantonio talked next season. about “inches” after the season ended. However, he will go through an evalu- Finding up all the missing inches that ation process with the staff (and every make up the difference between winning player on the roster), as he does every and losing. And, while it seemed like he season. That process will be underway was stealing a line from Al Pacino, he soon, and may well last beyond the end of was right. the bowl game. His team turned close losses into close So, will Michigan’s coaching staff wins, and close wins into convincing vicremain the same next season? I guess tories. It took the next step. we’ll just have to wait and see. Michigan needs to do the same.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Offense missing identity, a cohesive O-line By Nick Baumgardner
nbaumgardner@mlive.com
A
NN ARBOR — So, what went wrong? When breaking down Michigan’s 2013 regular season, the answer to that question is relatively simple on the surface. A lot. But we don’t really care about the surface, do we? If you dig beneath the surface and look at the fundamental reasons why Michigan failed this season, some of them are repeat issues from a year ago, some of them are new. But all of them are relevant. And all of them were costly.
A CONFUSED OFFENSE
“The Cheesecake Factory” offense. I saw that on Twitter (apologies to who wrote this, I cannot remember for the life of me) earlier in the season and thought that was about the best way to describe
Oct. 19 vs. Indiana, W 63-47 Nov. 2 at Michigan State, L 29-6 Nov. 9 vs. Nebraska, L 17-13 Nov. 16 at Northwestern, W 27-19 (3OT) Nov. 23 at Iowa, L 24-21 Nov. 30 vs. Ohio State, L 42-41
what Michigan was doing on offense in 2013. It was a team with an incredibly large number of menu options, but nothing to really hang its hat on. Michigan never found an identity on offense this season. And it wasn’t because Devin Gardner was throwing interceptions. It wasn’t because the offensive line went through hiccups. It wasn’t because a true running back never emerged. Those are parts of the equation. But, at its core, Michigan never really found an identity on offense this season because it was trying to do way too much, way too many times with players who were just trying to figure out how to put one foot in front of the other. They went spread. They went double tight. The went I-formation. They went shot-
gun two-back. They went pistol. They went bunch. They went pro-style, west coast and option. And nothing ever really seemed to work more than once. If there was predictability to this offense, it was because Al Borges eventually started to scale back the rather thick formation book in an effort to call what his team understood how to run well. Which, in the end, wasn’t a whole lot. In football, an offense works best when it figures out how to do one thing extraordinarily well — no matter what. When it has one thing it can hang its hat on. One thing in which it is elite. From there, it can start to tinker. But it can’t get crazy or wild before it has a calling card. Three years in, Borges’ offense still is looking for that calling card. In 2011 and most of 2012, that card lived in the
legs of Denard Robinson. Well, now Robinson’s gone. So, what else ya got? A CONFUSED LINE
The head-scratching nature of Michigan’s offensive gameplans throughout the year were one thing, but they could have been saved or at least salvaged if the offensive line had ever found a way to play as a cohesive unit. Michigan did exactly what you don’t want to do with an offensive line this season — it tinkered with it beyond the point of recognition, shuffling and changing parts to the one group you absolutely cannot piecemeal together. In one season, Michigan started nine different offensive linemen, and used five different combinations to do so. And people wonder why this team couldn’t run the football?
Funchess, LBs appear poised to break out By Nick Baumgardner
But there was progress there, most notably the NN ARBOR — You know Indiana game and the Ohio all the sayings by now. State game — where he went It’s always darkest a combined 53-of-74 for before the dawn. The sun 954 yards and six touchalways rises. With every downs. dark cloud, there’s a silver Gardner now has the two lining. best single-game passing Apparently, optimists really performances by a Michigan love meteorology. quarterback in the program’s In any event, you get the 134-year history. point. A lot went wrong for YOUTH IS SERVED — Michigan during the regular FOR BETTER OR WORSE season. But to simply look at one side of the coin and not Michigan had a young the other wouldn’t be fair. football team in 2013, and as Some bright spots hapa result, was forced to play pened, too. Yes, really. They younger players all over the did. field. Here’s a look at four pretty In some spots, this was a big ones. problem — most notably the offensive line. FUNCHESS IS UNIQUE But in others, it was a posiMaybe the best offensive tive. coaching move of the season Derrick Green and De’Veon came when coach Brady Smith are now the team’s Hoke and offensive coorditop running backs. No one nator Al Borges opted to let really knows what the future Devin Funchess become a holds, but they’ve both gained real part of this offense, not valuable experience when it just a complementary piece. comes to the overall speed of When the Wolverines college football and what they pushed Funchess, a tight end have to do to be successful. by name Channing Stribling and only, to the Jourdan Lewis both played outside this a lot at corner, in important season — it situations during important opened up a games. They made some plethora of plays, they made some misoptions vertakes, but they won’t enter tically. their sophomore years with For one, wide eyes — they’ll know Funchess in the short what it’s like to play on term, it allowed Jeremy Saturdays when they’re called Gallon to work against more upon. one-on-one coverage, and it Same for guys like Taco gave Devin Gardner a legit Charlton, who pushed for pass-catching threat outside more time later in the year, of Gallon. and Willie Henry — a redRemember, this team lost shirt freshman defensive lineAmara Darboh before the man who, at this point, might year began, and went into the be Michigan’s best defensive season without a serious deep tackle. threat. Funchess is now that LINEBACKERS ON THE RISE guy. Michigan finally started Anyone who read my weekto almost exclusively use ly grades or weekly matchup Funchess as a split receiver previews this season already against Minnesota (the fifth is aware that I think Michigan game of the year) — he made has a pretty darn good lineseven catches for 151 yards. backer corps. And while he went through And, what’s more — if his hiccups at times, notayou’re a Michigan fan — bly a one-catch day at Iowa, they’re all coming back. Funchess finished with no Jake Ryan only played half fewer than four receptions in of a season, and the linebackseven of the team’s final eight ers were still — without a games. doubt in my mind — the most stable unit on a defense that GARDNER GROWS UP (outside of two games) was It’s been quite a ride for pretty solid this season. Gardner this season. Filled The Ohio State game with flashes of brilliance and exposed Michigan in sevfits of frustration. eral areas, notably up front Gardner’s first year as a against the run and from full-time starter didn’t result a general organization in the standpoint on the back end. number of Michigan’s linebackers wins fans weren’t perfect either, but this anticipated, is a really good core of playbut there ers to build a defense around was plenty next season. of growth. In Desmond Morgan quietly more areas had a strong regular season. than one, Don’t believe me? Look what Gardner and none happened when he left the more notable than the tough- Iowa game due to injury, and ness category. look what happened when First, the turnovers. he wasn’t 100 percent for the Gardner’s biggest problem Ohio State game the following during the first half of the sea- week. son were interceptions. He He almost always is in threw 10 of them over the first proper position, he always six games. And he got away runs to the football and he with countless other close packs a lot of power for a calls due to poor footwork. guy who is only 6-foot-1, But, over the final six 228 pounds. games of the year, Gardner James Ross, Michigan’s threw just one interception. leading tackler and possibly Now, some of that came from brightest defensive star, also a pretty scaled-back offense, was hurt against Iowa and and the lack of turnovers did did not play against Ohio not translate into on-field State. Would he have made a success — as Michigan went difference? I have to think so, 2-4 in those games. And, one even on a small level. could argue that — at times Ben Gedeon and Joe Bolden — Gardner looked gun-shy, appear to be quality players playing with fear of possibly that fit well in the defensive throwing another pick. system. nbaumgardner@mlive.com
A
THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 / D3
National Sports
College Football NO. 3 AUBURN 59, NO. 5 MISSOURI 42
Auburn’s offense comes out on top in shootout The Associated Press
ATLANTA — If offense was the only requirement, Auburn would be a shoo-in for the BCS championship. Tre Mason rushed for 304 yards and four touchdowns, leading No. 3 Auburn to a wild 59-42 victory over No. 5 Missouri in a Southeastern Conference title game Saturday. Auburn (12-1) kept alive its hopes of playing for the national championship, though the Tigers likely needed either top-ranked Florida State or No. 2 Ohio State to lose in their respective conference title games, which ended after press time. Auburn set an SEC championship game record with 677 yards, including 545 on the ground. Mason had scoring runs of 7, 3 and 1 yards before bursting up the middle on a 13-yard touchdown that clinched the victory with 4:22 remaining. He carried the ball a staggering 46 times, even striking a Heisman pose on a night when his longshot candidacy got a huge boost. In a game where neither team played a lick of defense, Auburn finally stopped Missouri on fourth-and-1 deep in its own territory, setting up Mason’s final score.
Auburn running back Tre Mason, left, stiff arms Missouri defensive back Randy Ponder during Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta. (AP)
Chris Davis broke up the pass, not quite as thrilling as his 109-yard return of a missed field goal to beat Alabama, but another huge play for the nation’s biggest turnaround team. Auburn, which was 3-9 a year ago and didn’t win a conference game, claimed the title in its first year under coach Gus Malzahn. The Tigers didn’t even need a dramatic finish to do it, holding Missouri scoreless in the final quarter while Mason notched two more scores to break open a game that was close most of the way. Missouri (11-2) had its own
impressive bounce-back after struggling its first year in the SEC. But coach Gary Pinkel’s team was denied a quick championship in its new league after leaving the Big 12. James Franklin passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and Dorial GreenBeckham hauled in six passes for 144 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Missouri piled up 534 yards — the teams combined for 1,211 yards in a conference supposedly known for defense — but it wasn’t nearly enough against Auburn’s hurry-up spread offense.
Auburn gives Malzahn raise, extension Auburn didn’t bother waiting until after the Southeastern Conference championship game to give football coach Gus Malzahn a new six-year contract worth $3.85 million annually. Athletic director Jay Jacobs announced the firstyear coach’s new deal Friday night. Malzahn has led Auburn
to an 11-1 season after taking over a team that won three games and lost all eight SEC conMalzahn tests in 2012. “As I’ve said before, we want coach Malzahn to be at Auburn for a long time,” Jacobs said. “The new contract includes a raise and
extension and is our statement that Auburn is committed to coach Malzahn for the long haul. While this season has been remarkable, I’m equally excited about the future of our program under his leadership. The future of Auburn football is very bright.” Auburn hired Malzahn last December and gave him a five-year contract worth $2.3 million annually.
BGSU 47, NO. 16 NIU 27
Americans’ odds of winning World Cup double after draw If the U.S. reaches the second round of next year’s World Cup, it would be quite an accomplishment. The Americans wound up with the potentially punishing group they feared and will play Ghana, Portugal and Germany in June during a 9,000-mile zigzag journey across Brazil. “It’s going to be difficult for them to advance, but not impossible,” former U.S. coach Steve Sampson said. While Ghana eliminated the Americans in 2006 and 2010, the Black Stars won’t do it again. The U.S. opens its seventh straight World Cup appearance against Ghana on June 16 at Natal. The U.S. meets Portugal and 2008 FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo six days later in the Amazon rain forest city Manaus. The Americans have just three off days to recover before closing Group G on June 26 in Recife against three-time champion Germany. “I think we have the quality — if we play our best ball — to get out of the group,” U.S. captain Clint Dempsey said after Friday’s draw set the eight four-nation groups. “You can’t think about, ‘Am I the favorite? Am I the underdog? What’s it going to be like playing in the heat? What’s it going to be like with the travel?’ Those are factors that come into it, but at the end of the day, both teams have to deal with it.” After having the shortest group-play travel in South
GERMANY
The Associated Press
BCS shakeup Oklahoma wide receiver Jaz Reynolds celebrates with fans after the No. 18 Sooners upset rival No. 6 Oklahoma State 33-24 on Saturday. (AP)
ROUNDUP No. 9 Baylor 30, No. 23 Texas 10: A third-quarter surge gave Baylor the edge, keeping its BCS bowl hopes alive. Bryce Petty led the Bears (11-1, 8-1 Big 12 Conference) with 287 yards passing and two touchdowns. Baylor’s defense proved just as formidable, holding Texas (8-4, 7-2) to just 217 yards, including a 12-for-34 passing effort from Case McCoy, who finished with 54 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. No. 15 Central Florida 17, Southern Methodist 13: Blake Bortles ran 15 yards
for the game-winning touchdown to keep UCF’s BCS hopes alive and an outright American Athletic Conference title. Bortles finished 24-for-35 passing, but his two rushing touchdowns were the key to victory. Rice 41, Marshall 24: Using a potent rushing attack, Rice (10-3) clinched its first conference title since 1957 with Saturday’s win against Marshall. The Owls gained 489 yards, 250 of the on the ground, en route to a Conference USA title. — MLive.com
Africa, the U.S. will have the longest in Brazil. The Americans will be based in Sao Paulo and face trips of 1,436 miles to Natal, 1,832 miles to Manaus and 1,321 miles to Recife. They will play all three games in the tropics, with the second and third matches in the afternoon. “I think guys who have played in MLS are used to taking 3,000-mile trips across the country to play,” midfielder Sacha Kljestan said. The U.S. group has the best average FIFA world ranking. Odds on the Americans winning their first World Cup more than doubled after the draw, from 60-1 to 150-1. “It’s definitely one of the tougher groups, if not the toughest, but at the same time, this is what the World Cup’s all about. You go there to play against the best,” American forward Jozy Altidore said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “I think the boys will be excited, will be up for it.”
2
PORTUGAL
Cano signs deal with Sea�le
Johnson outperforms Heisman candidate Lynch in upset victory
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke holds the ticket for the United States during Friday’s draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. (AP)
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who replaced Bob Bradley 21/2 years ago, played for Germany’s 1990 World Cup championship team and coached his native country to third place at home in the 2006 tournament, commuting to Europe from his California house in Orange County. “It couldn’t get any more difficult or any bigger,” he said at the draw in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. “It’s a real challenge. And we’ll take it. We’ll take it on, and hopefully, we’re going to surprise some people there.” The U.S. and South Korea were the last remaining teams in draw pot three. While the Americans landed in a group with an average FIFA ranking of 11.25, South Korea wound up in Group H, creating a group with the poorest average at 28.25. “I think the team’s mentality is that we can go and play with anybody,” American defender Matt Besler said. “Now, we’re going to have to prove it.”
GROUP G FIFA R ANK INGS
BASEBALL
Bowling Green ends NIU’s BCS hopes
DETROIT — Matt Johnson was motivated by the hype surrounding Jordan Lynch and wanted to be the best quarterback in the Mid-American Conference title game. Without a doubt, Johnson was better than Lynch on Friday night. Johnson threw four of his career-high five touchdown passes in the first half to help Bowling Green rout No. 16 Northern Illinois 47-27 to win the MAC championship and knock the Huskies out of a spot in a marquee bowl. “There was a lot of talk about Jordan Lynch being up for the Heisman,” Johnson said. “It’s well-deserved, but I did take it a little personal.” Johnson was 21-of-27 passing for a career-high 393 yards, connected with five teammates for scores and didn’t throw an interception. Lynch ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns to break his own single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback in major college football, but he didn’t take advantage of an opportunity to impress Heisman Trophy voters.
Group of death? The Associated Press
AUBURN, ALA.
The Associated Press
SOCCER
Robinson Cano is trading pinstripes for the Pacific Northwest. The free agent second baseman and the Seattle Mariners reached agreement on a deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Cano Friday. ESPN reported earlier Friday that the contract was worth $240 million for 10 years. Cano had spent his entire career with the New York Yankees and was a five-time All-Star. The Yankees had offered $175 million over seven years. OLYMPICS
IOC threatens to expel India India faces the ultimate sanction of expulsion from the Olympics unless it keeps corruption-tainted officials out of its ranks, IOC President Thomas Bach said in an interview with The Associated Press. Bach said the IOC is prepared to withdraw recognition of the Indian Olympic Association if it fails to comply with “rules of good governance” by Tuesday, a punishment that would leave the world’s second-most populous
5
UNITED STATES
14
nation out of all Olympic competitions. NBA
Bryant to return tonight Kobe Bryant will make his long-awaited return from a torn left Achilles tendon when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Toronto Raptors tonight. The Lakers went 10-9 without Bryant to start the season. BASEBALL
Beltran signs with Yankees Carlos Beltran is coming back to New York, this time to the Bronx. The All-Star outfielder and the Yankees agreed Friday to a $45 million, three-year contract, two people familiar with the deal said. Beltran’s agreement came on the same day pitcher Hiroki Kuroda agreed to return for 2014. Beltran, 36, is an eight-time All-Star who played for the Mets from 2005-11.
GHANA
24
He’s leaving after an unprecedented run of success at Boise State: five conference titles, 92 victories and two Fiesta Bowl wins. BASEBALL
Granderson staying in NYC, signs with Mets Former Yankee Curtis Granderson is heading across town, where the New York Mets hope his home run swing won’t suffer at Citi Field. The free-agent outfielder agreed to a $60 million, fouryear contract with the Mets, according to a person familiar with the situation. NFL
Texans fire Kubiak Houston fired Fary Kubiak on Friday, one day after the Texans lost 27-20 at Jacksonville and continued their stunning fall for a team that expected to make a Super Bowl run. Houston (2-11) has lost 11 consecutive games. Kubiak, 52, led the Texans to AFC South titles in 2011-12.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Petersen leaving Boise for Washington Notre Dame headed to Pinstripe Bowl After all of the other schools that called over the years and were sent away, it was Washington that finally hooked Chris Petersen. Petersen will be the Huskies’ football coach, making the decision to leave Boise State after eight seasons as the Broncos head coach.
Notre Dame officially has accepted an invitation to the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28. The Irish (8-4) will make their fourth straight bowl appearance and will play an American Athletic Conference opponent. — The Associated Press
D4 / SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 / THE FLINT JOURNAL
TV TODAY
BASKETBALL Noon — Women’s College: Gonzaga at Ohio State. Big Ten Network 12:30 p.m. — College: Virginia Tech at Miami. ESPNU 1 p.m. — College: BB&T Classic, George Mason vs. Oklahoma. FSD 3:30 p.m. — College: BB&T Classic, George Washington vs. Maryland. FSD 4 p.m. — Women’s College: Duke at Oklahoma. Fox Sports 1 5 p.m. — College: Oregon at Mississippi. ESPNU 6 p.m. — NBA: Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons. FSD 6 p.m. — College: Nebraska at Creighton. Fox Sports 1 8 p.m. — College: Seton Hall at Rutgers. ESPNU
FOOTBALL 1 p.m. — NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals. CBS 1 p.m. — NFL: Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles. Fox 4:25 p.m. — NFL: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers. Fox 8:20 p.m. — NFL: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints. NBC
GOLF 4 a.m. — Golf: Nedbank Golf Challenge. Golf Channel 1 p.m. — Golf: Northwestern Mutual World Challenge. Golf Channel 3 p.m. — Golf: Northwestern Mutual World Challenge. NBC
Scoreboard 7 p.m. — College: Maryland at Boston College. ESPNU 7 p.m. — Women’s College: Kentucky at DePaul. Fox Sports 1 8 p.m. — NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets. TNT 9 p.m. — College: Florida Atlantic at DePaul. Fox Sports 1 10:30 p.m. — NBA: Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers. TNT
GOLF 6:30 a.m. — European PGA: Nelson Mandela Championship, First Round. Golf Channel 11:30 p.m. — Golf: Thailand Golf Championship. Golf Channel
HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning. FSD
SOCCER 1 p.m. — FC St. Gallen vs Swansea City AFC. Fox Sports 1 3 p.m. — Tottenham Hotspur FC vs Anzhi. Fox Sports 1 FRIDAY
BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. — NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Detroit Pistons. FSD 8 p.m. — NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN 9:30 p.m. — College: Iowa at Iowa State. ESPNU 10:30 p.m. — NBA: Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors. ESPN
BOXING
SKIING
10 p.m. — Josesito Lopez vs. Mike Arnaoutis. Fox Sports 1
3 p.m. — Audi Birds of Prey: Men’s Giant Slalom. NBC Sports Network
FOOTBALL
SOCCER 8:30 a.m. — Fulham FC vs. Aston Villa FC. NBC Sports Network 11 a.m. — Arsenal FC vs Everton FC. NBC Sports Network Noon — Women’s College: NCAA College Cup, Final: UCLA vs. Florida State. ESPNU
WRESTLING 2 p.m. — College: Wisconsin at Michigan State. Big Ten Network MONDAY
8 p.m. — College: NCAA Division I, Quarterfinal: Teams TBA. ESPN2
GOLF 6:30 a.m. — European PGA Tour: Nelson Mandela Championship, Second Round. Golf Channel 1 p.m. — Golf: Franklin Templeton Shootout, First Round. Golf Channel 11:30 p.m. — Golf: Thailand Golf Championship. Golf Channel
HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — College: Colorado College at Wisconsin. NBC Sports Network
BASKETBALL
SOCCER
7 p.m. — College: Fairleigh Dickinson at Iowa. Big Ten Network 7 p.m. — College: Gotham Classic, Bryant at Notre Dame. ESPNU 8 p.m. — College: Manchester at Butler. Fox Sports 1
5 p.m. — College: NCAA College Cup, First Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPNU 7:30 p.m. — College: NCAA College Cup, Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPNU
FOOTBALL 8:25 p.m. — NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears. ESPN
HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins. NBC Sports Network
SOCCER 3 p.m. — Swansea City AFC vs Hull City AFC. NBC Sports Network TUESDAY
BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — College: Kansas at Florida. ESPN 7 p.m. — College: Oakland at Indiana. ESPN2 7 p.m. — College: Evansville at Xavier. Fox Sports 1 8 p.m. — College: South Dakota State at Minnesota. Big Ten Network 9 p.m. — College: Boise State at Kentucky. ESPN 9 p.m. — College: Gonzaga at West Virginia. ESPN2 9 p.m. — College: NJIT at Seton Hall. Fox Sports 1
HOCKEY 7:30 p.m. — NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers. FSD 7:30 p.m. — NHL: Nashville Predators at New York Rangers. NBC Sports Network
SOCCER 2:30 p.m. — SL Benfica vs Paris Saint-Germain FC. FSD 2:30 p.m. — Manchester United vs Shakhtar Donetsk. Fox Sports 1 WEDNESDAY
BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — College: Gotham Classic, North Dakota State at Notre Dame. ESPNU 7:30 p.m. — College: Bryant at Ohio State. Big Ten Network 8 p.m. — NBA: Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks. ESPN 8 p.m. — NBA: Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Pelicans. FSD 10:30 p.m. — NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors. ESPN
GOLF 11:30 p.m. — Golf: Thailand Golf Championship. Golf Channel
HOCKEY 8 p.m. — NHL: Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks. NBC Sports Network
SOCCER 2:30 p.m. — FC Barcelona vs Celtic FC. FSD 2:30 p.m. — Napoli vs Arsenal. Fox Sports 1 THURSDAY
BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — High School: Whitney Young (Ill.) at Apple Valley (Minn.). ESPN2
SATURDAY
BASKETBALL Noon — College: Arizona at Michigan. CBS Noon — College: Western Kentucky at Louisville. ESPN2 Noon — College: Virginia Commonwealth at Northern Iowa. ESPNU Noon — College: St. Peter’s at Seton Hall. FSD 2 p.m. — College: Princeton at Penn State. Big Ten Network 2 p.m. — College: Tennessee at Wichita State. ESPN2 2 p.m. — College: Louisiana Tech vs. Oklahoma State. ESPNU 3 p.m. — College: IUPUI at Marquette. Fox Sports 1 3 p.m. — College: Northern Illinois at Massachusetts. NBC Sports Network 3:15 p.m. — College: Notre Dame vs. Indiana. ESPN 4 p.m. — College: Arkansas State at Nebraska. Big Ten Network 4 p.m. — College: Oakland at Michigan State. ESPN2 5:15 p.m. — College: Kentucky at North Carolina. ESPN 6 p.m. — College: Crossroads Classic, Butler vs. Purdue. Big Ten Network 7 p.m. — College: Kansas City Shootout, Kansas vs. New Mexico. ESPN2 8 p.m. — College: Cincinnati at Xavier. Fox Sports 1 8:15 p.m. — College: Gotham Classic, North Dakota State at Ohio State. Big Ten Network 9 p.m. — College: Illinois at Oregon. ESPN2
BOXING
HOCKEY
SPORTS CALENDAR
NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC Montreal Boston Detroit Tampa Bay Toronto Ottawa Florida Buffalo Metropolitan Pittsburgh Carolina Washington N.Y. Rangers Philadelphia New Jersey Columbus N.Y. Islanders
GP 30 28 31 28 29 29 30 29 GP 30 30 28 29 29 30 29 29
W 18 18 15 17 15 11 9 6 W 20 13 14 15 13 11 12 8
L OT Pts 9 3 39 8 2 38 9 7 37 10 1 35 11 3 33 14 4 26 16 5 23 21 2 14 L OT Pts 9 1 41 12 5 31 12 2 30 14 0 30 14 2 28 13 6 28 14 3 27 16 5 21
GF GA 82 63 76 57 85 82 79 68 80 79 83 95 68 98 49 88 GF GA 94 67 71 84 83 82 65 72 64 73 65 74 72 80 75 101
WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts Chicago 31 20 6 5 45 St. Louis 27 19 5 3 41 Colorado 27 20 7 0 40 Minnesota 31 17 9 5 39 Dallas 28 14 9 5 33 Winnipeg 30 13 13 4 30 Nashville 29 13 13 3 29 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts San Jose 29 19 5 5 43 Anaheim 31 19 7 5 43 Los Angeles 29 18 7 4 40 Phoenix 29 16 8 5 37 Vancouver 31 16 10 5 37 Calgary 28 10 14 4 24 Edmonton 30 10 18 2 22
GF GA 110 87 96 61 81 62 74 74 81 80 80 87 65 83 GF GA 100 72 96 82 76 62 94 93 83 80 76 97 83 103
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Friday’s Games Anaheim 3, Chicago 2, SO Detroit 3, New Jersey 1 Carolina 5, San Jose 3 Columbus 4, Minnesota 0 Colorado 3, Calgary 2 Vancouver 3, Phoenix 2, OT Saturday’s Games Dallas 5, Philadelphia 1 Florida 2, Detroit 1 Pittsburgh at Boston, late Buffalo at Montreal, late Toronto at Ottawa, late Winnipeg at Tampa Bay, late Nashville at Washington, late New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers, late Anaheim at St. Louis, late Calgary at Edmonton, late N.Y. Islanders at Los Angeles, late Today’s Games San Jose at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m. Washington at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Florida at Chicago, 7 p.m. Colorado at Vancouver, 8 p.m. Monday’s Games Philadelphia at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Carolina at Vancouver, 10 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Anaheim, 10 p.m.
PANTHERS 2, RED WINGS 1
at New Orleans, 8 p.m., FSD
at Florida, 7:30 p.m. FSD
W
L
T
11
1
0 .917 340 186
Pct
PF
PA
San Francisco
8
4
0 .667 297 197
Arizona
7
5
0 .583 275 247
St. Louis
5
7
0 .417 279 278
x—clinched playoff spot WEEK 14 Thursday Jacksonville 27, Houston 20 Today Atlanta at Green Bay, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Kansas City at Washington, 1 p.m. Buffalo at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Miami at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. Detroit at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Cleveland at New England, 1 p.m. Oakland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Denver, 4:05 p.m. Seattle at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at San Diego, 4:25 p.m. St. Louis at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. Carolina at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. Monday Dallas at Chicago, 8:40 p.m.
GB
Boston
9
12
.429
—
Toronto
6
12
.333
1½
Philadelphia
7
14
.333
2
New York
5
13
.278
2½
Brooklyn
5
14
.263
3
Southeast Division W
L
Pct
GB —
Miami
14
5
.737
Atlanta
11
10
.524
4
Washington
9
10
.474
5
2
Charlotte
9
11
.450
5½
0
1
Orlando
6
13
.316
8
Central Division
W
L
Pct
GB
Detroit New Jersey
0 1
1 0
2 0
3 1
FOOTBALL
NFL
AMERICAN CONFERENCE Pct
PF
East
W
L
T
New England
9
3
0 .750 322 261
PA
0 .500 252 248
Buffalo South
4 W
8 L
0 .333 267 307 T Pct PF PA
Indianapolis
8
4
0 .667 285 274
Tennessee
5
7
0 .417 264 267
Jacksonville
4
9
0 .308 201 372
Houston North
2 11 W L
0 .154 250 360 T Pct PF PA
Cincinnati
8
4
0 .667 292 216
Baltimore
6
6
0 .500 249 235
5:30 a.m. — European PGA Tour: Nelson Mandela Championship, Third Round. Golf Channel 1 p.m. — Golf: Franklin Templeton Shootout, Second Round. Golf Channel 2 p.m. — Golf: Franklin Templeton Shootout, Second Round. NBC 11:30 p.m. — Golf: Thailand Golf Championship, Final Round. Golf Channel
Pittsburgh
5
7
0 .417 263 278
Cleveland West
4 W
8 L
0 .333 231 297 T Pct PF PA
10
2
0 .833 464 317
Kansas City
9
3
0 .750 298 214
San Diego
5
7
0 .417 279 277
4
8
0 .333 237 300
Dallas
7
5
0 .583 329 303
HOCKEY
Philadelphia
7
5
0 .583 300 281
N.Y. Giants
5
7
0 .417 237 297
Washington South
3 W
9 L
0 .250 269 362 T Pct PF PA
New Orleans
9
3
0 .750 312 230
Carolina
9
3
0 .750 285 157
Tampa Bay
3
9
0 .250 217 285
Atlanta North
3 W
9 L
0 .250 261 340 T Pct PF PA
Detroit
7
5
0 .583 326 287
Chicago
6
6
0 .500 323 332
Green Bay
5
6
1 .458 294 305
Minnesota
3
8
1 .292 289 366
Denver
Oakland East
NATIONAL CONFERENCE W L T Pct PF
Indiana
17
2
.895
—
Detroit
10
10
.500
7½
Chicago
8
10
.444
8½
Cleveland
7
13
.350
10 ½
Milwaukee
4
15
.211
13
WESTERN CONFERENCE Pct L Southwest Division W
GB
San Antonio
15
3
.833
—
Houston
14
7
.667
2½
Dallas
12
8
.600
4
New Orleans
9
10
.474
6½
Memphis
9
10
.474
6½
Northwest Division W
L
Pct
GB
Portland
17
3
.850
—
Oklahoma City
14
4
.778
2
Denver
12
8
.600
5
9
10
.474
7½
Utah
4
17
.190
13 ½
Pacific Division
W
L
Pct
GB
L.A. Clippers
13
8
.619
—
Golden State
12
9
.571
1
Phoenix
11
9
.550
1½
L.A. Lakers
10
9
.526
2
Sacramento
4
13
.235
7
Minnesota
1st PERIOD: 1, New Jersey, Greene 4 (Elias), 13:43 (pp). Penalties—Smith, Det (cross-checking), 1:24; Franzen, Det (high-sticking), 13:06. 2nd PERIOD: 2, Detroit, Andersson 4 (Miller, Alfredsson), 19:24. Penalties—Bernier, NJ (interference), 5:32; Ericsson, Det (holding), 12:25. 3rd PERIOD: 3, Detroit, Franzen 9 (Nyquist, Tatar), 12:40. 4, Detroit, Tatar 6, 18:57 (pp). Penalties— Ryder, NJ (hooking), 1:59; Zidlicky, NJ (tripping), 5:15; Emmerton, Det (hooking), 9:39; T.Zajac, NJ (slashing), 14:51; Schneider, NJ, served by Loktionov (delay of game), 18:52. SHOTS ON GOAL: Detroit 8-8-5—21. New Jersey 4-4-3—11. POWER-PLAY OPPORTUNITIES: Detroit 1 of 5; New Jersey 1 of 4. GOALIES: Detroit, Gustavsson 8-0-1 (11 shots-10 saves). New Jersey, Schneider 4-6-4 (21-18). A:13,223 (17,625). T: 2:24. Referees: Frederick L’Ecuyer, Brad Meier. Linesmen: Ryan Galloway, Andy McElman.
PA
At Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., FSD
vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. FSD
21. UMass 6-0 274 24 22. Michigan 5-2 223 22 23. Iowa 7-1 171 23 24. San Diego St. 5-1 150 — 25. Dayton 6-1 90 — Others receiving votes: Indiana 74, Virginia 73, New Mexico 71, North Carolina 62, Florida St. 40, Boise St. 36, Pittsburgh 36, VCU 30, Charlotte 20, Colorado 17, Creighton 17, Missouri 16, Harvard 10, Illinois 10, Cincinnati 8, Mississippi 3, George Washington 2, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 2, Xavier 1.
NO. 22 MICHIGAN 107, HOUSTON BAPTIST 53
1
FRIDAY
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
AP TOP 25
vs. Oakland at Auburn Hills, 4 p.m. ESPN2 (BB)
West x—Seattle
SAT
vs. Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. FSD
MICHIGAN STATE
0
RED WINGS 3, DEVILS 1
FRI
vs. Arizona noon CBS (BB)
1
First Period: 1, Detroit, Cleary 2 (Abdelkader, Emmerton), 4:06. Penalties—Boyes, Fla (hooking), 1:26; Abdelkader, Det (cross—checking), 5:48. Second Period: 2, Florida, Hayes 3 (Matthias, Olsen), 2:59. Penalties-Bertuzzi, Det (goaltender interference), 8:04. Third Period: 3, Florida, Huberdeau 7 (Gilbert, Matthias), 3:29. Penalties-Fleischmann, Fla (hooking), 10:02; Upshall, Fla (hooking), 15:58. Shots on Goal: Florida 9-17-11-37. Detroit 9-5-9-23. Power-play opportunities: Florida 0 of 2; Detroit 0 of 3. Goalies: Florida, Thomas 8-10-1 (23 shots-22 saves). Detroit, Gustavsson 8-1-1 (37-35). A-20,066 (20,066). T-2:20. Referees: Eric Furlatt, Kelly Sutherland. LinesmenGreg Devorski, Brad Kovachik.
THU
MICHIGAN
1
0 .417 189 310
7:45 a.m. — Manchester City FC vs Arsenal FC. NBC Sports Network 10 a.m. — Chelsea FC vs Crystal Palace FC. NBC Sports Network 12:30 p.m. — Hull City AFC vs Stoke City FC. NBC Sports Network VOLLEYBALL 4 p.m. — Women’s College: NCAA
DETROIT RED WINGS
vs. Minn. 7:30 p.m. FSD-plus
0
6
SOCCER
vs. Miami 6 p.m. FSD
Detroit
7
7 p.m. — NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings. FSD
DETROIT PISTONS
WED
Florida
6
GOLF
at Phila. 1 p.m. Fox
EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct
5
Noon — College: NCAA Division I, Quarterfinal: Teams TBA. ESPN 3 p.m. — College: Army vs. Navy. CBS
DETROIT LIONS
TUE
BASKETBALL
N.Y. Jets
FOOTBALL
MON
NBA
Miami
8 p.m. — Amir Mansour vs. Kelvin Price. NBC Sports Network 8 p.m. — Adrien Broner vs. Marcos Rene Maidana. Showtime
SUN
Friday’s Games Milwaukee 109, Washington 105, OT Charlotte 105, Philadelphia 88 Boston 106, Denver 98 Atlanta 108, Cleveland 89 New York 121, Orlando 83 Houston 105, Golden State 83 Oklahoma City 109, New Orleans 95 Phoenix 106, Toronto 97 Portland 130, Utah 98 L.A. Lakers 106, Sacramento 100 Saturday’s Games Denver 103, Philadelphia 92 Cleveland 88, L.A. Clippers 82 Detroit 92, Chicago 75 Golden State 108, Memphis 82 Miami at Minnesota, late Brooklyn at Milwaukee, late Indiana at San Antonio, late Sacramento at Utah, late Dallas at Portland, late Today’s Games Boston at New York, 12 p.m. Miami at Detroit, 6 p.m. Orlando at Houston, 7 p.m. Indiana at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. Toronto at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m. Monday’s Games L.A. Clippers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Denver at Washington, 7 p.m. Golden State at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Orlando at Memphis, 8 p.m. Portland at Utah, 9 p.m. Dallas at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
THE AP TOP 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 1, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking: Record Pts Prv 1. Michigan St. (63) 7-0 1,623 1 2. Arizona (2) 7-0 1,547 4 3. Kentucky 7-1 1,473 3 4. Syracuse 7-0 1,375 8 5. Ohio St. 6-0 1,340 7 6. Kansas 6-1 1,240 2 7. Louisville 6-1 1,139 9 8. Wisconsin 8-0 1,094 10 9. Oklahoma St. 7-1 1,070 5 10. Duke 6-2 1,021 6 11. Wichita St. 8-0 911 12 12. UConn 7-0 836 13 13. Oregon 7-0 801 14 14. Villanova 7-0 785 — 15. Florida 6-1 758 15 16. Memphis 5-1 748 21 17. Iowa St. 5-0 623 17 18. UCLA 7-0 548 19 19. Gonzaga 7-1 380 11 20. Baylor 7-1 377 18
HOUSTON BAPTIST (3-6) Joyce 2-6 1-2 5, Vilde 5-5 0-0 10, Smith 4-10 0-0 9, Russell 3-10 0-0 8, Crayton 1-4 0-0 2, Stetler 1-4 0-0 2, Barton 1-3 0-0 3, Turner 1-2 0-0 2, Lewis 4-9 2-2 10, Chukwujekwu 0-2 0-0 0, Lasher 0-2 0-0 0, Fountain 1-1 0-0 2, Gonzalez 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-59 3-4 53. MICHIGAN (6-3) Robinson III 6-9 3-3 17, McGary 5-7 2-3 12, Walton Jr. 3-3 5-6 14, Stauskas 7-11 5-5 25, LeVert 1-4 2-2 4, Albrecht 1-1 0-0 3, Dakich 1-2 0-0 3, McConnell 0-1 1-2 1, Anlauf 0-0 0-0 0, Horford 3-6 0-0 6, Lonergan 0-1 0-0 0, Irvin 5-7 1-2 14, Bielfeldt 2-2 0-0 4, Morgan 2-2 0-2 4. Totals 36-56 19-25 107. Halftime—Michigan 60-34. 3-Point Goals—Houston Baptist 4-17 (Russell 2-4, Barton 1-2, Smith 1-5, Turner 0-1, Crayton 0-1, Lewis 0-2, Lasher 0-2), Michigan 16-26 (Stauskas 6-9, Walton Jr. 3-3, Irvin 3-5, Robinson III 2-4, Albrecht 1-1, Dakich 1-1, McConnell 0-1, LeVert 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Houston Baptist 26 (Stetler 5), Michigan 33 (McGary 9). Assists—Houston Baptist 10 (Russell 4), Michigan 26 (Albrecht, McGary 6). Total Fouls—Houston Baptist 20, Michigan 9. A—12,579.
MEN’S SCORES EAST Army 67, St. Francis (NY) 54 Brown 72, American U. 67 Bucknell 57, Columbia 52 Buffalo 78, St. Bonaventure 73 Drexel 75, Tennessee St. 61 Georgetown 61, Colgate 55 Hartford 90, Holy Cross 78 Harvard 79, Boston U. 68, OT La Salle 65, Stony Brook 57 Lafayette 86, Sacred Heart 79 Lehigh 70, UMBC 68 Mount St. Mary’s 70, Loyola (Md.) 58 N. Dakota St. 66, Bryant 62 NJIT 55, Mass.-Lowell 44 Penn St. 90, Marshall 77 Princeton 77, Fairleigh Dickinson 55 St. Francis (Pa.) 72, Cornell 62 St. John’s 104, Fordham 58 Syracuse 93, Binghamton 65 Texas 81, Temple 80, OT Toledo 80, Robert Morris 77 UAB 74, Northeastern 69 UMass 105, BYU 96 Villanova 98, Saint Joseph’s 68 Wagner 75, Penn 69, OT Yale 71, New Hampshire 61 MIDWEST Akron 73, Cleveland St. 61 Butler 79, North Dakota 64 Cent. Michigan 65, SIU-Edwardsville 64 Chicago St. 90, Wis.-Parkside 81 Evansville 78, Miami (Ohio) 65 Green Bay 75, Virginia 72 IPFW 80, Dartmouth 64 IUPUI 71, NC Central 65 Indiana 89, North Florida 68 Iowa St. 91, N. Iowa 82, OT Loyola of Chicago 73, Ill.-Chicago 70 Michigan 107, Houston Baptist 53 Milwaukee 73, Bradley 67 Minnesota 80, New Orleans 65 Missouri 80, UCLA 71 Northwestern 51, W. Michigan 35 Notre Dame 80, Delaware 75 Oakland 73, Ohio 56 Ohio St. 74, CCSU 56 Purdue 69, E. Michigan 64 UMKC 88, Youngstown St. 80 W. Illinois 77, Grace Bible 43 W. Kentucky 69, S. Illinois 60 Wisconsin 70, Marquette 64 Xavier 85, Bowling Green 73, OT SOUTH Coppin St. 73, Delaware St. 54 Davidson 105, Johnson & Wales (NC) 63 E. Kentucky 76, Longwood 67 FAU 83, Jacksonville 63 FIU 72, Florida Gulf Coast 61 Furman 74, Presbyterian 59 Gardner-Webb 67, The Citadel 55 Georgia Southern 79, SC State 61 Georgia Tech 87, ETSU 57 Hampton 72, Florida A&M 62 Liberty 84, Greensboro 47 Louisville 113, Louisiana-Lafayette 74 Memphis 96, Northwestern St. 76 Mercer 64, Denver 63, OT Morgan St. 87, Howard 58 Murray St. 73, Lipscomb 69 NC State 76, Long Beach St. 66 Norfolk St. 59, Bethune-Cookman 45 North Carolina 81, UNC Greensboro 50 Radford 72, NC A&T 52 SE Missouri 74, SE Louisiana 73 Samford 85, Austin Peay 63 Southern Miss. 75, Georgia St. 65, OT Tennessee 84, Tennessee Tech 63 Troy 85, Alabama St. 69 Tulane 70, Jackson St. 65 UCF 77, Stetson 58 UT-Martin 79, N. Kentucky 66 VMI 94, Wright St. 74 Wake Forest 76, Richmond 66, OT William & Mary 63, Wofford 60 SOUTHWEST Arkansas 74, Clemson 68 WEST Colorado 75, Kansas 72
WOMEN’S SCORES SOUTH Coppin St. 80, Delaware St. 75 Davidson 88, Wofford 74 Liberty 70, Radford 49 Mercer 56, Samford 52 Mississippi 72, MVSU 60 Murray St. 88, New Orleans 47 Richmond 64, UNC Wilmington 49 SC-Upstate 67, UNC Asheville 66 South Alabama 66, Tennessee Tech 58 Southern U. 91, Spring Hill 60 Virginia Tech 72, Michigan St. 66 EAST Army 68, Yale 56 Canisius 61, Bryant 59 Fordham 75, Holy Cross 49 Hofstra 76, UC Davis 57
New Hampshire 54, Dartmouth 37 Niagara 81, Robert Morris 70 Pittsburgh 69, Wagner 55 Rhode Island 57, NJIT 42 Saint Joseph’s 63, Villanova 60 Siena 64, Buffalo 60 St. Bonaventure 63, Binghamton 54 St. Francis (NY) 78, Cornell 68 Towson 68, George Washington 67 VCU 75, UMBC 55 West Virginia 94, Fairleigh Dickinson 47
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 30, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking: Record Pts Pv 1. Florida St. (58) 12-0 1,498 2 2. Ohio St. 12-0 1,418 3 3. Auburn (2) 11-1 1,387 4 4. Alabama 11-1 1,294 1 5. Missouri 11-1 1,281 5 6. Oklahoma St. 10-1 1,197 7 7. Stanford 10-2 1,067 8 8. South Carolina 10-2 1,066 10 9. Baylor 10-1 1,020 9 10. Michigan St. 11-1 1,002 11 11. Arizona St. 10-2 843 13 12. Oregon 10-2 815 12 13. Clemson 10-2 813 6 14. LSU 9-3 690 15 15. UCF 10-1 621 17 16. N. Illinois 12-0 596 18 17. UCLA 9-3 510 22 18. Oklahoma 9-2 503 20 19. Louisville 10-1 482 21 20. Duke 10-2 348 24 21. Wisconsin 9-3 299 14 22. Texas A&M 8-4 186 19 23. Texas 8-3 156 NR 24. Fresno St. 10-1 124 16 25. Georgia 8-4 111 NR Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 45, Southern Cal 28, Miami 26, Notre Dame 26, Iowa 23, Vanderbilt 16, Washington 6, Minnesota 2, N. Dakota St. 1.
SCHEDULE
(Subject to change) FRIDAY Mid-American championship Bowling Green 47, N. Illinois 27 SATURDAY EAST UConn 45, Memphis 10 South Florida at Rutgers, late SOUTH Conference USA championship Rice 41, Marshall 24 SEC championship Auburn 59, Missouri 42 Louisiana-Lafayette at South Alabama, late ACC championship, Duke vs. Florida St., Charlotte, N.C., late MIDWEST Big Ten championship Ohio St. at Michigan St., at Indianapolis, late SOUTHWEST Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma St. 24 UCF 17, SMU 13 Baylor, 30, Texas 10 SWAC championship Southern U. 34, Jackson St. 27, 2OT FAR WEST Pac-12 championship Stanford, at Arizona St., late Mountain West championship Utah St. at Fresno St., late
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND SATURDAY New Hampshire 45, Lafayette 7 Furman 30, South Carolina State 20 Coastal Carolina 48, Bethune-Cookman 24 Fordham 37, Sacred Heart 27 Tennessee State 31, Butler 0 Sam Houston State 51, Southern Utah 20 South Dakota State 26, Northern Arizona 7 Jacksonville State 55, Samford 14 SECOND ROUND SATURDAY Towson 48, Fordham 28 Coastal Carolina 42, Montana 35 New Hampshire 41, Maine 27 Eastern Illinois 51, Tennessee State 10 North Dakota St. 38, Furman 7 Eastern Washington 41, South Dakota State 17 Jacksonville State at McNeese State, late Sam Houston State at Southeastern Louisiana, late QUARTERFINALS Friday, Dec. 13 or Saturday, Dec. 14 Coastal Carolina (12-2) vs. North Dakota State (12-0), TBA New Hampshire (9-4) vs. Sam Houston State—Sutheastern Louisiana winner, TBA Jacksonville State-McNeese State winner vs. Eastern Washington (11-2), TBA Towson (11-2) vs. Eastern Illinois (12-1), TBA SEMIFINALS Friday, Dec. 20 or Saturday, Dec. 21, TBD CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, JAN. 4 At FC Dallas Stadium Frisco, Texas TBD, 2 p.m.
GLANTZ�CULVER LINE NFL
FAVORITE Kansas City at Baltimore at New England at N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati at New Orleans at Philadelphia at Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay at Denver at Arizona at San Diego at San Francisco at Green Bay at Chicago
TODAY OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 3 3 (44 ½) at Washington 7 6 (42) Minnesota 10 ½ 10 (OFF) Cleveland 3 3 (40) Oakland 5 ½ 6 ½ (43 ½) Indianapolis 3½ 3 (46) Carolina 2 ½ 2 ½ (52 ½) Detroit 3 ½ 3 ½ (40 ½) Miami 2 ½ 2 ½ (42 ½) Buffalo 12 ½ 12 (49) Tennessee 7 6 ½ (41 ½) St. Louis 3 3 ½ (47) N.Y. Giants 2 ½ 2 ½ (41) Seattle 5 3 ½ (45) Atlanta MONDAY Pk PK (48 ½) Dallas
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Agreed to terms with OF Francisco Peguero on a one-year contract. BOSTON RED SOX — Agreed to terms with RHP Edward Mujica on a two-year contract. NEW YORK YANKEES — Agreed to terms with RHP Hiroki Kuroda on a one-year contract. National League MIAMI MARLINS — Agreed to terms with INF Rafael Furcal on a one-year contract.
FOOTBALL National Football League BALTIMORE RAVENS — Activated TE Dennis Pitta from injured reserve. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Signed TE Dominique Jones from the practice squad. Released WR Chad Hall. OAKLAND RAIDERS — Signed CB Chance Casey, S Shelton Johnson and LB Marshall McFadden from the practice squad.
HOCKEY National Hockey League ANAHEIM DUCKS — Reassigned G Igor Bobkov from Utah (ECHL) to Norfolk (AHL). CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Reassigned F Joakim Nordstrom to Rockford (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS — Reassigned F Michael St. Croix from Hartford (AHL) to Greenville (ECHL). PHOENIX COYOTES — Reassigned G Louis Domingue from Gwinnett (ECHL) to Portland (AHL). American Hockey League ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS — Loaned F Doug Clarkson to Reading (ECHL). BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS — Released D Mike Banwell from a professional tryout agreement. ECHL READING ROYALS — Placed F Ethan Cox on the reserve l. Released emergency back-up G Josh Watson. Signed emergency back-up G Matt Tendler.
THE FLINT JOURNAL / SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 / D5
State Sports PISTONS
MSU BASKETBALL
Can Spartans rebound? MARGIN OF ERROR
By Diamond Leung dleung@mlive.com
EAST LANSING — Michigan State big man Alex Gauna started against North Carolina and, in 69 seconds of action, played his way to the bench for good. He committed two fouls, a lane violation and a turnover in that time before giving way to freshman Gavin Schilling, who proceeded to struggle as well. Coach Tom Izzo gave them chances, but in the end was forced to play Matt Costello for 17 minutes — because a man who had been sick for a week and a half was providing the most energy. That’s the state of Michigan State’s five position, the only one Izzo had to worry about replacing after center Derrick Nix was the only player lost from last year’s team. Izzo agreed it was surprising to him that consistency hasn’t developed at the position eight games into the season. That frustration was boiling after the top-ranked Spartans’ 79-65 loss Wednesday. “I told Alex that when you play in big games, I don’t care how cool you are, how casual you are,” said Izzo, who started Gauna in hopes of resting Costello. “If you’re not
SEASON
REB.
W-L
2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04
+3.4 +7.5 +8.0 +4.0 +8.5 +9.3 +6.7 +7.0 +5.1 +6.8 +1.6
7-1 27-9 29-8 19-15 28-9 31-7 27-9 23-12 22-12 26-7 18-12
MSU was +46 rebounding in its opener vs. McNeese State. Since then, the Spartans have been outrebounded in four of seven games.
excited about that, if you’re not visibly excited, then this is not a good place for you because I need guys that are excited about it.” The three players have combined to average only 6.5 rebounds per game this season, with Costello deservedly getting most of the starts and playing with fire off the bench against the Tar Heels,
despite looking haggard. Izzo used forward Adreian Payne inside more in the game, but he had been sick earlier in the week as well, got winded, and was bothered by a leg cramp throughout the game. In absence of a formidable inside presence, the Spartans ended up getting out-rebounded 49-38 on
their home floor, giving up 19 second-chance points. “It’s just not acceptable, especially here at Michigan State,” Payne said of the rebounding. “That’s one of our things that we’re known for.” NEXT GAME What: Michigan State at Oakland When: 4 p.m. Saturday TV: ESPN2
DETROIT — Many Detroit Tigers fans hope the team finds an outfielder like Shin-Soo Choo. There still is a chance the Tigers will sign an outfielder like Matt Tuiasosopo. The Tigers expected Nick Castellanos to carry most of the load in left field next season, but that plan changed when the Tigers traded Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers. Miguel Cabrera will move back to first base with Castellanos moving back to third. That leaves a hole in left field. That spot currently is filled by Andy Dirks. “The ideal situation is Andy Dirks would play like he did two years ago,” Dombrowski said Wednesday afternoon following a news conference to announce the signing of free-agent closer Joe Nathan. “He didn’t have a good year last year. I know his knee bothered him. He admitted it more after the year that it bothered him all year long, so I’m looking for Andy Dirks to come back. “We think he’s a good big-league player. But am I ready to say for sure he’s our left fielder and we can’t get better by matching and mixing and doing something? No, I’m not prepared to do that at this point.” The Tigers mixed and matched in left with Dirks and Tuiasosopo last season before starting Jhonny Peralta there for
Andy Dirks hit .322 in 2012 but just .256 last season. (AP file)
most of the postseason. Arizona claimed Tuiasosopo on waivers and Peralta signed a long-term deal to play shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals since the season ended. The Tigers clearly did not feel that either one of them was a long-term option in left. Dirks hit .322 with an .857 OPS in more than 300 at-bats in 2012 but saw those numbers fall off drastically in 2013, when he hit .256 with a .686 OPS after
GM sees Rondon as setup man By Chris Iott
ciott@mlive.com
DETROIT — Bruce Rondon will head to spring training with an inside track on a key role in the bullpen for the Detroit Tigers. Again. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday afternoon that he doesn’t expect Joaquin Benoit to return and that Rondon could be the setup man for the Tigers during the 2014 season. The Tigers announced Wednesday that they have agreed to a two-year contract with Joe Nathan to be their closer. “The person we’re hoping to really step up for us once again — and we really think he’s capable of doing it — is Bruce Rondon,” Dombrowski said. “He’s healthy. Feeling good. We look at him as a potential eighth-inning guy, and the rest of the bullpen will fall into place after that.” Benoit was an excellent setup man for the Tigers after signing a three-year contract prior to the
2011 season. He stepped into the closer’s role during the 2013 season and fared well. Benoit went 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA, 24 saves and a 1.030 WHIP last season, but Dombrowski believes it was his last with the Tigers. “I don’t see Joaquin coming back as a setup guy. No,” Dombrowski said. “I think somebody will sign him, by all indications, as a closer, so I don’t see that as a fit for us.” So, how does the bullpen fall into place? Beyond Nathan and Rondon, right-hander Al Alburquerque and left-handers Ian Krol and Phil Coke appear to be locks to start the 2014 season in the bullpen. Right-hander Luke Putkonen is a strong candidate to make the team, while guys like Evan Reed, Luis Marte, Jose Ortega and Melvin Mercedes also could be in the mix. Of course, the Tigers still could sign or obtain another piece or two for the bullpen. Winter meetings begin Monday in Orlando.
NO. 22 MICHIGAN 107, HOUSTON BAPTIST 53
Wolverines get back on track vs. Houston Baptist bquinn@mlive.com
Bounce back by Dirks would be ‘ideal solution’ ciott@mlive.com
and 19 rebounds, became the first NBA player with three MILWAUKEE — The consecutive 18-rebound question took Detroit Pistons games this season, and the center Andre Drummond by first Piston to do it since Ben surprise. Wallace had nine straight in Does he think USA March 2003. Basketball, which has him Drummond and Greg on its long list for the 2016 Monroe — another U.S. Olympics, has taken notice Olympic candidate, who had of how he is dominating NBA 18 points and 17 rebounds — centers? became the first two Pistons “I didn’t even think of that, with at least 17 rebounds to be honest,” Drummond in the same game since Bill said. “I didn’t think about it Laimbeer (20) and Dennis but that’s a good thought to Rodman (17) on Feb. 13, 1990. have in your head.” “I’m just happy and thankIt wasn’t foremost, howful that the hard work I’m ever. putting in is starting to come “I’m just focused on these to light now,” Drummond wins, and I’m really excited said. “I can’t be satisfied about it. I’m excited about the with what I’m doing. I’ve got whole thing,” Drummond said. to keep pushing and keep He should be. working hard each and every The Pistons have their day.” first three-game win streak of the season and first threegame road win streak in Ç GO TO MLIVE five seasons after a 105-98 Saturday’s game against win Wednesday over the Chicago ended after press Milwaukee Bucks. time. For game coverage, Drummond, with 24 points go to mlive.com/pistons.
By Brendan F. Quinn
TIGERS
By Chris Iott
By David Mayo
dmayo@mlive.com
Michigan State is on pace for its worst rebounding season since 2003-04. The team’s rebounding margin and record the past 11 seasons:
Michigan State’s Adreian Payne grabs a rebound against North Carolina’s Joel James on Wednesday. (AP)
Drummond, Monroe making some noise
hurting his knee during spring training. If the Tigers don’t bring in a full-time left fielder to replace Dirks, they certainly will bring in an outfielder who hits right-handed to share time with him. The only other outfield options currently on the roster are Don Kelly, who like Dirks hits left-handed, and Steve Lombardozzi, who the Tigers obtained in the trade Monday for Doug Fister. But the Tigers see Lombardozzi, a switch hitter, more as a replacement for Ramon Santiago than as a part-time outfielder. Dombrowski said the Tigers don’t have candidates in the minors who could fit the bill. Not at this point. “I don’t think (Tyler) Collins or (Daniel) Fields are ready for that,” he said. “We could settle in where we get a guy (similar to Tuiasosopo). We have some names and some thought processes. ... We’ve had some discussions, but I don’t think it’s going to come internally.” Dombrowski said he and the Tigers have been so focused on obtaining a closer that the situation in left field has been on the back burner a bit. He said the only logical position the Tigers can expect to improve prior to Opening Day is left field, since the rest of the starting lineup is set. “If we opened the season today, he would be (the starter),” Dombrowski said of Dirks. “But again ... we’ve got a lot of time to go.”
ANN ARBOR — Houston Baptist entered Crisler Center on Saturday with the unpleasant distinction of being sandwiched between Duke and Arizona on the Michigan schedule. Poor, poor Houston Baptist. Coming off a 79-69 loss at Duke that exposed some scars on this Michigan team, the Wolverines needed a bounce-back effort. Baptist got bounced. Fueled by a 60-point first half featuring 23 made field goals on 18 assists, No. 22 Michigan (6-3) rolled to a 107-53 victory Saturday. After combining for 27 points on Tuesday against Duke, U-M’s trio of Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas joined forces for 54 against the hapless Huskies. Robinson snapped out of a shooting funk, scoring 17 points on 6-of-9 field goals and 2-of-4 3-pointers. He added four assists against no turnovers for good measure.
Red Wings outskated, outplayed by Florida By Ansar Khan
New Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler is far better against left-handed pitching in his career.
DETROIT — One night after holding the New Jersey Devils to a franchise-low 11 shots on goal, the Detroit Red Wings had no zip on Saturday. The Red Wings spent much of the night watching the Florida Panthers, who outskated and outworked them. The Panthers prevailed 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings continue to struggle. It would have been much worse if not for the strong play of goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. It would have been more one-sided if they were playing a better team than the Panthers. Florida (9-16-5) outshot the Red Wings 37-23. Jonathan Huberdeau snapped a 1-1 tie at 3:29 of the third period. Flint native Tim Thomas made 22 saves in his 14th consecutive start for Florida. The Red Wings (15-9-7) could not capitalize on two power plays in the third peri-
akhan1@mlive.com
Here are the numbers of the past three seasons: IAN KINSLER (2011-13) vs. Left vs. Right BA OBP SLG
.306 .389 .505
.246 .324 .415
SHIN-SOO CHOO (2011-13) vs. Left vs. Right BA OBP SLG
.220 .333 .293
New Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler. (AP)
.308 .414 .512
NEXT GAME What: No. 22 Michigan vs. No. 2. Arizona, noon Saturday at Crisler Center TV: CBS
PANTHERS 2, RED WINGS 1
DOING THE SPLITS Meanwhile, left fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who many Tigers fans are hoping the team will acquire, is far better against right-handed pitching in his career.
McGary moved as well as he has all season, leading multiple fastbreaks as a 6-foot-10 quasi-point guard and finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in 23 minutes. Stausksas, after scoring four points on 0-for-2 shooting in 34 minutes on Tuesday, posted a game-high 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 3-pointers. The Wolverines shot 64.3 percent from the field (36-56), including 16 made 3-pointers — tying the second-most made 3s in program history. Michigan surpassed 100 points for the third time since 1998 (2012 vs Slippery Rock, 2007 vs Oakland) in the win. Houston Baptist (3-7) was led by 10 points apiece from Rob Lewis and Richmonds Vilde.
od, going 0 for 3 in the game. Daniel Cleary’s first-period goal was the only offense mustered by Detroit, which again played without its top three centers – Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Darren Helm. DATSYUK BACK TUESDAY
Datsyuk will return to the lineup Tuesday in Florida, general manager Ken Holland said. Datsyuk missed the past seven games due to a concussion suffered Nov. 23 on an elbow to the chin from Ottawa defenseman Jared Cowen. Datsyuk has skated a few times this week and said Wednesday that he is symptom-free. He just needed a few good practices to get his conditioning back. NEXT GAME What: Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday TV: FSD