Published Mar 15, 2012
Michigan Newsstand - March 15
Kevin Minor
TheWolverine.com Staff
FEATURED HEADLINE
Kyle Meinke • AnnArbor.com
Putting the bow on a top-10 recruiting class for 2012, and getting off to one of the best starts in school history for 2013, probably helps put his mind at ease. But that relaxed exterior can be misleading. Hoke remains guarded. He knows just how fleeting success can be.
FOOTBALL
Kyle Meinke • AnnArbor.com
The Michigan football team returns all four starters to its defensive secondary. It's all good, right? Not quite.
Kyle Meinke • AnnArbor.com
But despite all that has changed in the past 12 months, one thing has held constant: Coach Brady Hoke's concern about the health and depth of his offensive and defensive lines.
Angelique S. Chengelis • The Detroit News
For Van Bergen, the time since his last collegiate game has been a challenge. While he watched three teammates, former roommate David Molk, Mike Martin and Junior Hemingway, participate in the NFL Combine last month - those three will work out at pro day, too - he patiently rehabbed an injury. Two weeks ago, he finally was cleared to run, and a week ago, during training with former Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Van Bergen was able to complete every pro-day drill.
The Associated Press • AnnArbor.com
The "Cradle of Coaches" title revered by the Miami University football program for more than half a century has been trademarked by the southwest Ohio school. The university on Monday said the nickname was approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last month, capping a two-year effort by school attorneys.
BASKETBALL
Nick Baumgardner • AnnArbor.com
Shortly after finding out who he'd be playing this week, Michigan basketball senior co-captain Zack Novak gave a congratulatory call to his friend and former AAU teammate, Ohio junior guard Walter Offutt.
Mark Snyder • The Detroit Free Press
Guard Stu Douglass, who was crushed by his lack of college basketball options before Michigan gave him a chance, will become the program's all-time leader in games played with 136, breaking his tie with Loy Vaught (1986-90).
Rod Beard • The Detroit News
As No. 4 seed Michigan prepares to open the NCAA Tournament on Friday against No. 13 Ohio, Morgan is looking to turn things around and provide a post presence for the Wolverines, who are labeled as a 3-point-shooting team. For Morgan, that means contributing on offense and supplementing the outside shooting with some inside presence.
Nick Baumgardner • Ann Arbor.com
Shortly after the NCAA Tournament brackets were announced, one of the sexier upset picks involved the Michigan basketball team. Only this time, the pick had the Wolverines on the losing end.
Rod Beard • The Detroit News
A freshman, Burke is Michigan's leading scorer and captain-in-waiting. And he's also Michigan's barometer for success.
Nick Baumgardner • AnnArbor.com
President Barack Obama revealed his official NCAA Tournament selections Wednesday, and has the fourth-seeded Wolverines making their way past No. 13 Ohio and No. 5 Temple during the first weekend of Midwest Regional play in Nashville, Tenn.
FROM THE OTHER SIDELINE
Kyle Meinke • AnnArbor.com
Hoke has called the Buckeyes "Ohio" since he was a 10-year-old in Dayton, Ohio. He started doing it to irk buddies, who were Buckeyes fans, he said. Even then, growing up in the heart of Ohio, he was a Michigan fan.
RECRUITING
Chris Balas • TheWolverine.com
Midway through March, only one Michigan signee or pledge - Harper Woods (Mich.) Chandler Park Academy's Derrick Walton - is still playing. Walton and his teammates will face Detroit Country Day tonight in Class B regional action. Plus, more honors for Trey Burke, more recruiting notes ?
Josh Helmholdt • Rivals.com
Here are a few players who are starting to blow up on the scene as we approach the May Evaluation Period.
WRESTLING
Carlos Monarrez • The Detroit Free Press
Michigan wrestling coach Joe McFarland has little proof, but he promises he has seen Kellen Russell get angry and animated.
AROUND THE NATION
Scott Tunstall • Yardbarker.com
The Madness tips off in less than 24 hours. While feverishly filling out brackets and feebly attempting to identify this year's Cinderellas, it's always a good idea to amass as much relevant information as possible. Sure, Kentucky's Anthony Davis, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and the Jayhawks' Thomas Robinson are studs, but it takes more than a single superstar to cut down the nets. Second fiddles and role players are just as important. Brian Zoubek's rebounding was vital for Duke in 2010 as was UConn freshman Jeremy Lamb's clutch shooting last year. Here are ten under the radar players to keep an eye on this March Madness.
The Associated Press • ESPN.com
Penn State's trustees are considering structural changes to improve transparency including the addition of an outreach committee and increased advisory roles for faculty, students and alumni.
Dana O'Neil• ESPN.com
The Syracuse coach took his turn at the podium for his required media session on Wednesday, the day before his top-seeded Orange face UNC Asheville in the second round of the NCAA tournament. But, he could offer little in the way of clarification on Melo's ineligibility.