The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/99673
Down, But Not Out U-M Has Struggled But Believes It Can Make A Run In Time To Save NCAA Streak T By Michael Spath wenty-four hours before their matchup with Cornell Nov. 24, the Wolverines tweeted pictures of famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, home to the Thanksgiving weekend contest, expressing awe over being in such a historic venue. The Maize and Blue had reason to play with passion beyond exacting revenge on the Big Red following an upset loss to Cornell in last year's NCA Tournament. Instead, Michigan suffered one of its worst losses of the season, a 5‑1 defeat. U-M thought it had hit rock bottom, but less than a week later, at Ferris State, the Wolverines fell 5‑0 to the Bulldogs, suffering their second loss this year of five goals or more (they also lost 7-2 to Michigan State Nov. 10). The Maize and Blue haven't dropped a pair of games by such a wide margin twice in the same season since 1995-96, having lost just five times total in the past 16 years by five goals. But then, this hasn't been a typical season for Michigan. U-M enters its two-week hiatus before the Great Lakes Invitational Dec. 29-30 at 6‑9‑2, under .500 at that point for the first time since going 8-9-3 before the GLI in 1988-89. That season, the Wolverines would actually finish with a 22‑15‑4 mark but would not make the NCAA Tournament until the 1990‑91 campaign — the start of a 22-year streak that is in greater jeopardy than in any season other than when Michigan needed to win the CCHA Tournament in 2010 to qualify. It appears likely the Maize and Blue will need another conference run to make the NCAA Tournament. "Certainly there is a legitimate concern," said radio analyst Bill Trainor, who played forward for U-M from 1998‑2001. "They're not even on the radar in the Pairwise rankings. Now, we've seen them make a pretty special run to make the tournament, and that's what they're facing again. These coaches know how to motivate, but 58 the wolverine January 2013 Freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba compiled five goals and six assists for 11 points during Michigan's 6-9-2 start to the season. photo by lon horwedel