Business Or Pleasure?

Every year, college basketball teams hit the road for various regular-season tournaments. Some destinations are close by in the case of the Titan men’s basketball team, which opened the CBE Classic at Notre Dame before playing three subregional games at Bowling Green.

For the women’s basketball team, preseason tournaments have taken the Titans to Indiana State and Akron for the Preseason WNIT. UDM now finds itself in Texas for the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio.

The opportunity to travel is always a perk for coaches, student-athletes and administrators, but head coach Autumn Rademacher has made it clear that this Holiday weekend is “A Business Trip”.

The Titans got into San Antonio on Wednesday night after their normal practice routine at Calihan Hall. The work continued on Thanksgiving as after the Titans had the morning and a little of the afternoon to sight see, they practiced from 4-6 at the UTSA Convocation Center. For two hours, Detroit put the Holiday out of its’ mind and went to work in preparation for this weekend’s games against Utah and host UTSA.

After practice, it was time for celebration as the squad got together for Thanksgiving Dinner on the famed Riverwalk. The journey to the restaurant gave everyone a chance to check out one of San Antonio’s biggest attractions, while spreading the word that the Titans are here. So many spectators came up asking the team what school it was and surprisingly, there were quite a few Michigan transplants here in the Lone Star State.

After dinner, the team decided to get on the Riverwalk boat for a tour of the famous waterway that really brings out downtown San Antonio.

Now as game day is here, it is back to work for the Titans and while everyone had fun playing the “tourist role”, Detroit is ready because while traveling is fun, this is after all “A BUSINESS TRIP”.

GO TITANS!!!!

Women's Soccer Keeps Eyes on the Prize

Junior Sarah Dzuris

Nov. 11, 2011
By Sarah Dzuris 

The 2011 season didn’t exactly end the way we wanted it to, but looking back at the whole season, I am so proud of the things we have accomplished this year. We were ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Regional Poll for the first time, we placed second in our league, finished with 44 goals during the regular season, competed with teams like Michigan State and Milwaukee, and there were numerous girls who won Horizon League honors. Despite our loss in the semifinal round, we still have a very good soccer team and have become very good friends.

With the season just ending, for now we are getting some rest and girls are getting treatment for their injuries. Offseason training, consisting of weight training, conditioning and futsal are coming up pretty soon. We are going to stay in shape, get stronger, technically better and work on whatever things we need since we have the time. Along with going to classes, getting good grades and working out, we are doing something more this year. We are going to help the people in our community who are less fortunate than we are. We are going to get closer to God and our team will become even closer and stronger than it was before (if that’s possible).

With all of this being said, we are staying busy with numerous things during the offseason. We are going to keep working throughout the winter, spring, and during the summer months in order to prepare for next season and become the best soccer team we can be. With all the effort we have and will be giving combined with the team we have, I KNOW that next year we are going to be ready to have an amazing year. WAC!

Women's Basketball Live Chat - Nov. 11, 2011 at Indiana State

Dick Vitale Talks College Hoops on National Media Conference Call

ESPN’s 2011-12 men’s college basketball coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, ESPN Regional Television and ESPN FULL COURT will feature a network record 1,450 games.  Hall of Famer Dick Vitale, in his 33rd season with ESPN, will continue to call top games from various conferences, the weekly Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV series and will provide postseason studio analysis. He will primarily work with play-by-play voice Dan Shulman.

Vitale covered many topics during the conference call including the changes to the Big East Conference, the highly talented recruiting class heading to Arizona, and how the NBA lockout affected college basketball.  Some thoughts from Dickie V on Detroit-related topics brought up during Wednesday’s media conference call:

* Vitale shared his thoughts on the Dick Vitale Court Dedication game being played at Calihan Hall on Monday, Dec. 5 against Steve Lavin and the St. John’s Red Storm.  He mentioned that he is very blessed and honored that the court will be named after him.  He is humbled to think that his kids and grandkids will be able to see his name on the court forever.  Vitale went on to say that seeing the court may bring him to tears on that night and that he is thankful for Detroit giving him a great opportunity during his career.

*After fielding some additional questions about the SEC and ACC, Vitale’s final question was to discuss some mid-major teams that could have a Cinderella season.  Vitale named off four teams: Davidson, Creighton, Harvard, and Detroit.

*Vitale explained that he is excited to attend the game between Detroit and St. John’s and that the Titans will be a tough team in the Horizon League with Ray McCallum leading the team at point guard.

On The Road With Titan Tennis; Behind the Scenes at Michigan State

Senior Amanda Cornwell

Nov. 9, 2011
By Amanda Cornwell

Well this past weekend five of us girls went to Michigan State to compete against five other schools. It was a very long weekend since it lasted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday wasn’t too bad because matches started at 2pm so we got to sleep in but on the other two days we had to leave at 6am and 6am comes fast! If you were to look in the van at the time, girls are bobbing their heads and fluttering their eyes trying not to fall asleep because we are not allowed to sleep on the way to a match. But as soon as we get to Tim Hortons we all wake because we look forward to getting our coffee and muffins. One of the days we stopped at Timmy’s (Tim Hortons) and there was a gentleman there who was a die-hard sports fan. He came up to us and chatted away about sports and what sports he liked and acted very interested to what sport we played and wished us luck as we were leaving. I loved taking 10 minutes out of my day to talk to this man because I know it made his day.

On the first day of the tournament during the warm up I twisted my ankle, I couldn’t believe that it was happening to me because I have shin splints and my legs are already in enough pain. At first I didn’t think I could move my foot so Raina (Halabi) had to pull me up, but a few minutes later I got up and started hitting balls and played in all my matches later that day. The next day I played doubles just for Julia (Fernandes) because her parents came to support us and I wanted her parents to see their daughter to play as much as possible. After my doubles matches I defaulted the rest of my matches. On a better note the rest of the team did a fantastic job. In one of the doubles matches I have never seen Julia run so hard and fast ever in my life and was probably one of the best points I have seen! That point was the highlight of the weekend! There was also a robbery on the last day of the tournament in the State locker room and thankfully none of our stuff was taken. With that match over our fall season has come to an end which is probably for the best because there was starting to be too much estrogen in the group and we all need a little time apart even though we all love each other.

Titan Tennis,

AC

Women’s Basketball: Know Your Foe - Part I

The season is just a week away for the Titans’ women’s basketball team. Detroit will open the season at Indiana State in the Preseason WNIT, with the outcome of that game deciding its next few opponents.

The Preseason WNIT is a 3-4 game format depending on how far a team advances and will feature the likes of Baylor, Notre Dame and UCLA. Overall, 12 teams in the 16-team field made a NCAA postseason tournament last year.

All told, the known non-conference opponents on the schedule combined for a 184-138 (57%) record a year ago with six teams earning postseason bids, including three to the NCAA tournament.

Here are some tidbits on the Titans’ non-conference opponents:

Indiana State (Nov. 11 in Terre Haute, IN): ISU was 16-16 a year ago, but 11-4 at home. The Sycamores return eight letterwinners and four starters to a team that reached the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Indiana State was picked to finish fifth in the MVC preseason poll and has six of its top seven scorers from last season back. That group is led by senior Shannon Thomas, who was a preseason MVC selection after averaging 13.1 points and a conference-best 8.6 rebounds per game last year. Detroit is 3-2 all-time against Indiana State.

Bowling Green (Nov. 22 in Detroit): The Falcons have been the class of the MAC and are coming off a 28-5 campaign, winning the Mid-American Conference championship and reaching the NCAA tournament. BGSU lost four starters from last season, but return nine letterwinners and was the preseason pick to win the MAC East Division. Bowling Green is led by junior preseason All-MAC pick Chrissy Steffen, who tallied 10.4 ppg., and 4.1 rpg., last season. Detroit trails the all-time series, 12-10, and has lost six in a row to the school from Ohio

Utah (Nov. 25 in San Antonio, TX): The Utes have a lot of experience coming back in 11 letterwinners, including four starters. Utah was 18-17 last season, but won the Mountain West Conference tournament to advance to the NCAA’s big dance. Utah was picked to finish sixth in its first season in the Pac-12 and will have its leading scorer and one of the top shooters in the nation back in junior Iwalani Rodrigues. The sharpshooter posted 14.9 points and ranked fifth in the nation in three-point field goals per game (3.1) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (44.9). This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

University of Texas at San Antonio (Nov. 26 in San Antonio, TX): The host of the Thanksgiving Classic that the Titans will participate in, UTSA was picked to win the Southland Conference’s West Division in the league’s preseason poll. The Roadrunners have two starters and eight letterwinners back from a squad that went 16-15 last year. UTSA lost its two leading scorers from last season, but will bring back Ashley Gardner who averaged 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. It will be the first meeting between the two schools that have each hosted a men’s Final Four in recent years with UTSA in 2008 and UDM in 2009.

Ball State (Dec. 1 in Muncie, IN): The Cardinals have nine letterwinners and three starters returning to a team that was 9-21 a year ago. BSU lost its top two scorers from last season leaving sophomore Brandy Woody as the highest returning scorer at 5.5 ppg. Ball State was tabbed to finish fifth in the MAC West Division and enters the year looking to end a 10-game losing streak. Detroit is 2-1 all-time against the Cardinals after the programs met for the first time since 1987 last year.

Michigan State (Dec. 6 in East Lansing): The Spartans lost three seniors to graduation, but still return a lot of firepower as they enter the year ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll, while receiving votes in the Associated Press poll. The team was also tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten by the media in the league’s preseason poll. Senior Lykendra Johnson – a preseason All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media as well as the conference’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year – is MSU’s top returner after averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds. Michigan State leads the all-time series, 17-7, and has won 12 in a row over the Titans.

Michigan (Dec. 8 in Detroit): What many will call the “revenge game”, Michigan returns to Calihan Hall after the Titans went into Crisler Arena last season and defeated the Wolverines, 67-48. Michigan returns nine letterwinners and four starters from a group that went 17-13, earning a trip to the postseason WNIT. Michigan lost its top point-producer from last season, but do have two players who averaged double figures in scoring back in Rachel Sheffer (11.0) and Carmen Reynolds (10.0). UDM leads the all-time series 12-9 following last year’s victory on the road.

IPFW (Dec. 18 in Detroit): The Mastodons are coming off a 20-win season and an appearance in the Women’s Basketball Invitational postseason tournament. IPFW lost six letterwinners and three starters from that squad and enters the year with just five returning letterwinners. The Mastodons were picked to finish fourth in the Summit League’s preseason poll, while senior Stephanie Rosado was selected to the preseason All-League first team after topping the squad in both scoring (16.5) and rebounding (7.4) last year. Detroit is 5-1 all-time against IPFW, although the one loss came on the road last year.

Eastern Michigan (Dec. 20 in Detroit): The Eagles posted a 24-13 record last season, advancing to the third round of the postseason WNIT. EMU lost six letterwinners and three starters, but eight players return from that squad, including its leading scorer in Tavelyn James (17.4 ppg.). Eastern Michigan was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division, while James garnered preseason All-MAC accolades. Detroit is 12-8 all-time against EMU after downing the Eagles, 62-60, last year on the road thanks to a 17-3 run to end the game.

Western Michigan (Dec. 22 in Kalamazoo): The Broncos have seven newcomers to go with seven returning letterwinners and two starters from last year’s 9-21 squad. WMU lost its top two scorers from last year, but brings back preseason All-MAC selection senior Miame Giden, who tallied 11.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a junior. UDM ended a four-game losing streak to the Broncos last season with a 66-53 victory and will look to even the all-time series at 13-apiece this year.

For the team's full schedule, click here

Live Blog - Women's Soccer vs. Wright State Friday at 5pm

DETROIT -- Follow a live blog during the Horizon League Women's Soccer Semifinal Match Friday at 5:00 p.m. (EST). The game will be at Engelmann Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisc. as the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Panthers are serving as host for this year's tournament.

Senior Lauren Roffey

The No. 2 seed Titans take on the No. 5 seed Wright State Friday. Detroit is in the semifinals for the second straight year and are looking to advance to the Horizon League Championship Match Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (EST) Advancing to Sunday's game and winning it would give Detroit an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Titans Keep In-State Talent in Michigan

It's no accident that the Detroit Titans men's basketball roster is filled with local, home-grown talent from Detroit and outlying areas. This Titan squad is backboned by seven native Michiganders, all of whom have decided to stay local and help put UDM program back on the map nationally.

Bankhoops.com writer Stephen Bell broke down the state's top talent of prep alums and it's littered with Detroit Titans. Headlining the group is Preseason Horizon League Player of the Year Ray McCallum (Detroit/Country Day HS), part of four Titans listed among the top players currently playing collegiately from Michigan.

Also among the top 25 players are junior Doug Anderson (Kalamazoo/Central HS), LaMarcus Lowe (Flint/Northwestern) and Chase Simon (Detroit/Community). All told, the Titans had the most players listed (4), ahead of Michigan State (3), Western Michigan (3) and Michigan (1).

View the article and the entire list here: http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/2011/11/michigan_prep_alumni_college_a.html