Michigan adjusting to new No. 1 ranking (The Associated Press)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former players are sending support from afar, and even Tom Izzo has offered his grudging respect. Michigan is ranked No. 1 in basketball for the first time in two decades, and no matter how much the players downplay it, the spotlight will be shining on Ann Arbor for at least the next few days. Michigan hosts Northwestern on Wednesday night before going on the road for a weekend showdown at No. 3 Indiana. The Big Ten will offer few chances for a breather. The Wolverines are not even halfway through a conference schedule that still includes two games with Michigan State and a trip to Wisconsin. Michigan’s only loss of the season came at Ohio State. The Wolverines host the Buckeyes next Tuesday night.
Trey Burke trying to rekindle the fire not seen at Michigan since the Fab Five (Yahoo! Sports)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In the coaches’ locker room of the newly renovated Crisler Center, there are floor-to-ceiling murals of two former University of Michigan greats.
No. 5 Michigan trying to rebound from first loss (The Associated Press)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Trey Burke and Michigan can put aside for now the idea of being ranked No. 1 in the country. An undefeated start to the season? That too is over after the Wolverines sputtered last weekend at Ohio State. Now the focus is on a Big Ten schedule that will test Burke and his teammates plenty over the next few weeks. No. 5 Michigan plays at No. 9 Minnesota on Thursday night, part of a nine-game stretch for the Wolverines that began with the loss to the Buckeyes and will eventually include six road games. ”The level of intensity that we had in practice (Tuesday) was very high,” said Burke, Michigan’s star point guard. ”We know just from watching film that we had a lot to learn, a lot to get better, a lot of adjustments to make.” The Wolverines (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) were…
Michigan’s Hoke expects Gardner to get 5th season
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan coach Brady Hoke had some good news to share two days after a regular season-ending loss to rival Ohio State. Hoke said on Monday a medical-redshirt request is being sent to the Big Ten on Devin Gardner ‘s behalf. If a medical hardship is granted, Gardner will be eligible to play during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. ”I would expect that would go through,” Hoke said. Gardner started the last four games of the regular season at quarterback. He was limited to three games as a freshman under former coach Rich Rodriguez at least in part because of a back injury. Gardner was recruited by Rodriguez as a QB and moved to receiver this year to get on the field with Denard Robinson . When Robinson hurt his right elbow, Gardner went back under center and had success until the then-20th-ranked Wolverines lost 26-21 Saturday at No. 4 Ohio State. ”I know how terrible he feels right now, but there is some momentum and things to learn from,” Hoke said…
Former walk-on Kovacs living his dream at Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jordan Kovacs was stuck in the stands as a fan at Michigan Stadium as a freshman, stewing about having his dream delayed by a lingering knee problem. ”It ate at me because I knew I was so close to making it on the team,” Kovacs recalled recently in an interview with The Associated Press. ”It made me hungrier.” Four years later, Kovacs will start the 45th game of his storybook career Saturday when the 20th-ranked Wolverines travel to his home state to play No. 4 Ohio State. ”I’m still pinching myself,” Kovacs told The AP. ”It’s quite a story and it’s been quite the ride, but I don’t want it to end and thankfully the story isn’t over yet.” He grew up in Curtice, Ohio, about 15 miles southeast of the Michigan state line, hoping to follow his father’s footsteps onto the field at the Big House. College football’s winningest program, though, didn’t recruit him. Smaller schools such as Hillsdale, a Division II program in Michigan, didn’t…
Robinson ends Michigan career with new position
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Denard Robinson has electrified crowds and broken records as a quarterback. Now he’s winding down his college career in a way that could prepare him to play in the NFL. When the 20th-ranked Wolverines wrap up the regular season Saturday at No. 4 Ohio State, he likely will see more time at running back or receiver than QB. Changing positions doesn’t bother him a bit. ”I’ll do whatever it takes for the team,” Robinson said after helping Michigan beat Iowa 42-17 Saturday. ”If I can go, I’m going to go and not hold back.” Robinson was held off the field for two-plus weeks with nerve damage in his right elbow. The injury limits his ability to grip and throw the ball, but it hasn’t slowed his fast-moving feet. He lightly lobbed short passes more than an hour before playing the Hawkeyes, but…
The Game: No. 4 Ohio State to host No. 20 Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Let The Game – and the gamesmanship – begin. Michigan coach Brady Hoke won’t even say Devin Gardner will stay at quarterback against Ohio State after flourishing in three straight starts in place of banged-up Denard Robinson . Even if it’s obvious, Hoke thinks acknowledging that fact would give the rival Buckeyes a bit of information to help them prepare for Saturday’s game at the Horseshoe. No. 4 Ohio State (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) will host the 20th-ranked Wolverines (8-3, 6-1) in its finale with a shot to win The Associated Press national title. The Buckeyes, though, can’t play for the conference championship because they’re ineligible to play in the postseason as part of sanctions stemming from a memorabilia-for-cash scandal under ex-coach Jim Tressel.
Robinson passes torch to Gardner
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Denard Robinson waited patiently, flanked by media relations representatives one last time in Michigan Stadium. He remained on the field for his final time for a few more minutes….
No. 23 Michigan tops Iowa 42-17 with Gardner’s TDs
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Devin Gardner accounted for six touchdowns to help No. 23 Michigan rout Iowa 42-17 Saturday. The Wolverines (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) weren’t stopped on offense by the hapless Hawkeyes (4-7, 2-5) until Gardner threw an interception early in the fourth quarter. Gardner threw three touchdowns and ran for three scores. He became the first Michigan quarterback to account for six TDs since 1983 when Steve Smith had as many passing and rushing scores in a game at Minnesota. Denard Robinson played after missing two-plus games with nerve damage in his right elbow. Robinson started at running back and took some snaps at QB, but didn’t throw a pass. Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint appeared to break his left leg on his team’s first drive. The Wolverines didn’t need Toussaint to beat Iowa, but it will be more difficult to beat Ohio State for a second straight year without him…
Instant analysis: Michigan 42, Iowa 17
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan football team handily put away Iowa 42-17 behind an explosive performance from junior quarterback Devin Gardner. The victory capped the second consecutive perfect home season for Brady…
