Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 32

2C WWW.FREEP.COW THURSDAY, DEC 10, 2009 Even more coverage at freep.com TIGERS Live from Indianapolis: Updates from the end of the winter meetings, plus today's Rule 5 draft. WOLVERINES Hey, Utes guys: Full coverage, plus a photo gallery, from Wednesday night's hoops game at Utah. REDWINGS Blues news: Expanded coverage, plus a photo gallery, from Wednesday's game against St. Louis. PISTONS Iverson sighting: Expanded coverage, plus a photo gallery, from Wednesday's game at Philadelphia.

LIONS Jamie Samuelsen's blog: Development of players such as Louis Delmas makes season relative success. SPARTANS Photo gallery: Get familiar with Alamo Bowl opponent Texas Tech's key players and season history. Your favorite teams every day Check back for daily coverage of your favorite Michigan teams, in the Free Press print and online editions. rj RedVVings Hockey Tigers Baseball Lions Football LEAVING IS TOUGH' If the season started today Without Curtis Granderson, the Tigers' everyday lineup likely would have only switch-hitting Carlos Guillen batting from the left side against a right-hander. A look at 2009 stats (totals for Jackson and Sizemore are from minor leagues): 1 PLAYER BAT VS.

RHP VS. LHP 1. Ryan Raburn, LF .305 .278 2. Austin Jackson, (F .299 .301 3. Magglio Ordonez, RF .291 .352 4.

Miguel Cabrera, IB .327 .315 5. Carlos Guillen, DH .241 .244 6. Brandon Inge, 3B .225 .243 7. Scott Sizemore, 2B .317 .289 8. Gerald laird, .218 .248 9.

Adam Everett, SS .217 .273 mm i i aT ii 1 Cunningham: Tackles really hit home Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham was impressed by the Lions' tackling Sunday at Cincinnati. "It was probably the first time this team has tackled that way," Cunningham said Wednesday. "I looked at tapes last year and never saw that. There were some not just difficult tackles, but some big-boy tackles." Cunningham said the Lions blasted running back Cedric Benson a couple of times, as they held him to 3.1 yards per carry. Although the Lions allowed wide receiver Chad Ochocinco nine catches for 137 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown, safety Louis Delmas blew him up on one play.

"I think the finish by Delmas on Ocho's attempted catch where he almost killed him shows you the kind of explosion that he has," Cunningham said. "It's been improving week by week." I INJURY UPDATE: Tight end Casey Fitzsimmons did not practice because of concussion symptoms. "We have a close monitor on it," coach Jim Schwartz said. Schwartz said linebacker Ernie Sims and safety Kalvin Pearson are "trending up." The Lions will gauge the progress of their hamstring injuries, as well as the weather and field conditions Sunday at Baltimore. "They will probably still be game-time decisions because of those things," Schwartz said.

"You have to be able to wake up and be able to go out on the field and feel good warming up." Punter Nick Harris practiced with a left knee injury. He said once he got used to tape and a brace, he felt normal and kicked well. I ROSTER MOVE: Offensive lineman Maurice Williams failed his physical after the Lions claimed him off waivers from Jacksonville. The Lions signed Corey Hilliard off Cleveland's practice squad. -NICHOLAS J.

COTSONIKA Granderson says he had fun, praises Tigers fans By JOHN LOWE FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER INDIANAPOLIS Poised and polite. The words capture Curtis Granderson's conduct throughout six seasons as a Tiger. They also describe Granderson on Wednesday night in his first interview after the Tigers traded him to the team of "Jeter, Teixeira, A-Rod, Robinson Cano" as he rattled off some of his Yankees teammates. Asked to give a message to Tigers fans, Granderson said: "It's been a great relationship. I'm glad I got to start my career there.

I had a lot of fun, learning a lot about Detroit. The fans are very loyal and diehard. If you play hard, they respect you." Leaving all that, he said, "is going to be tough." He, said it will be difficult to leave his educational efforts in Detroit. But he found a positive: "One of our goals was to (go) nationwide, and what better market to do that in than New York?" Two winters ago, Granderson signed a five-year contract, $30-million contract. That deal seemed to promise security with the Tigers.

Instead, it caused him to be traded, because the Tigers felt they had to reduce payroll. "You put yourself in a situation to make stability for your career," Granderson, 28, said of his contract. "But at certain times you've got to make moves. The good thing is that Pistons Basketball UiLS KIRTHM0N F. DOZIERDetrolt Free Press Curtis Granderson called Tigers fans very loyal and diehard.

"It's been a great relationship," the newest Yankee said. no matter where I go, I still get to play. That's the good thing about the contract." I NOTEBOOK: Manager Jim Leyland said Granderson's exit makes the Tigers "a little lopsided right-handed" in the batting order and leaves him without any idea who the team's leadoff hitter will be. That would explain why the Tigers have talked to the Dodgers about a trade for Juan Pierre, who like Granderson is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who can lead off. Were the Tigers to acquire Pierre, they'd apparently either have to trade Carlos Guillen for him or move Guillen to DH (not his favorite spot) so Pierre could play left.

That all presumes that Tonight: Nuggets Matchup: Pistons 9-12; Denver 16-6. Tip-off: 7:30, Palace. TVradio: FSD, WXYT-FM (97.1). Line: Nuggets by 6'2. ment for the ankle that was nearly broken.

He has started taking part in lay-up drills (along with Prince) and is getting closer to participating in all stages of practice. Hamilton missed his 20th game in a row Wednesday night; Prince missed his 18th straight. Ben Gordon also sat out Wednesday with a left ankle sprain. I MANY THANKS: Goach John Kues-ter already has gotten a first-hand look at the effectiveness of Chaun-cey Billups, who returns to the Palace tonight with the Denver Nuggets. Hamilton anticipates he'll return to Wolverines YJ Foothall KIRTHM0N F.

DOZIERDetroit Free Press Detroit's Patrick Eaves and St. Louis' Jay McClement fight during Wednesday night's game. Dramatic improvement for Draper By HELENE ST. JAMES FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER Kris Draper, 38, would look at his personal trainer and ask for more. Having spent the summer working out as hard as ever, Draper came to camp in prime shape, put on skates and hasn't slowed down.

His Line helped put the Wings on a power play during Wednesday's 1-0 loss to St. Louis at Joe Louis Arena, and Draper has three goals in his past six games. Whereas last season he finished with seven goals among 17 points and a mi-nus-13 in 79 games, he has six goals among 11 points and a plus-five this season. I was going to do every-- thing I could to make sum, what happened last year doesnlhappen again," Drap4 er said. "Getting off to a good start early, in Sweden, felt good.

After we lost out in the playoffs, my groin was beat up pretty good, so I had to give it two weeks to hold up. But then I worked out with my trainer as usual, and there were days I was looking at him, asking for more. So coming to camp, I felt as strong and as healthy as I had been in years." Being moved from center to wing helped, too, and over the past month Draper has helped spark the Wings' most consistent line, with Darren Helm in the middle and Patrick Eaves on the other wing. Helm's speed and willingness to shoot have made Draper focus on going to the net more, to be there for rebounds. "It's something I enjoy," Draper said.

"We've got a good little fit going now with our line. We feel we can outwork whoever we're playing against and do some good things." Coach Mike Babcock moved Draper to the wing to allow Helm and Justin Ab-delkader to play at their natural center positions. "He seems to have relished that," Babcock'said of Drap-, er. "I think he's a better winfr er at this point in his career, We think he's playing he's skating better there, and he seems to be more relaxed in that position." I STUART THRIVING: From being the team's top penalty-killing skater to big hits to newfound time on the power play, Brad Stuart has looked in playoff mode these past two months. "He's been excellent," Babcock said.

"He's a physical presence for us, he can fill in on the power play, he can move the puck. ie's been our best D-man night in and night out this year." I CONTACT HELENE ST. JAMES: 313-222-2295 OR HSTJAMES9FREEPRESS.COM. newcomer Austin Jackson wins the Tigers' centerfield job. For the second straight year and third time in his career, Edwin Jackson goes to a new team in a trade.

"It's not tough," Jackson, 26, told the Arizona Republic. "I've always been one of those guys (that) as long as a team wants me, it's never a bad thing. When a team doesn't want me, then we'd have a problem. I understand it's a business and that teams have to make adjustments." Granderson's number as a Tiger was 28, and manager Joe Girardi intends to switch from No. 27 to No.

28 signifying the Yankees' quest for a 28th World Series title. Growing up, Granderson also wore Nos. 2 and 8. "Those numbers aren't options either," Granderson said, knowing the first belongs to Derek Jeter and the latter retired for Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey. action by Jan.

1 Kuester was an assistant under Larry Brown in 2004, when the Pistons won the NBA title, and he still marvels at Billups. "Chauncey was one of the consummate point guards," Kuester said before the team's morning shoot-around Wednesday. "In '04 he continually got better with Coach Brown in running the team, a focus on what he wanted to get accomplished defensively, and he had a presence about him on the court that made it very comforting for all the players." I NOTEBOOK: Kuester has many ties to the Philadelphia area, including his daughter, Katie, who is a sophomore on the St. Joseph's women's team. She wasn't able to attend the game against the Sixers because she had a game.

Prince made the short trip to Philadelphia. I CONTACT VINCE ELLIS: 313-222-6479 OR VELUSOFREEPRESS.COM. score a point (against The Citadel), and we can't have that. I think Kalin could play better. You're really going to go as your best players go.

Even Ray (Raymar Morgan) had good numbers, but he needed more ener- gy." Oakland always provides a challenge for MSU, and the Golden Grizzlies have several players including Jones and Derick Nelson (Lansing Everett) who are from the Lansing area. "They've got 2-3 players from this area we recruited both of them at one time I always think they have something to prove, but they're both great guys," Izzo said. "This is a good basketball team that plays a terrific schedule. They've been to Kansas, been to Wisconsin so when you do that, you're not afraid of being on the road. When you're playing the home-state team, that gives you a little motivation." By VINCE ELLIS FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER PHILADELPHIA From online chats and e-mails, it's apparent that Pistons conspiracy buffs are working overtime.

They seem to think the prolonged absences of Rip Hamilton (severely sprained right ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (ruptured disk) are evidence of an impending trade. They point to the fact that Hamilton doesn't sit with the team during games and say that's proof. Well, Hamilton said before Wednesday night's game against the 76ers that there's a good reason for that he's getting treatment for the injury he suffered in the opener at Memphis. "It's 24-7," he told the Free Press. And he had some more good news he's feeling a lot better, and he expects to be back in the lineup by Jan.

1. Meanwhile, he is getting treat- Spartans Basketball Lucas still has a By SHANNON SHELTON FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER EAST LANSING Michigan State junior point guard Kalin Lucas still is steaming at Oakland University senior point guard Johnathon Jones for what he did in 2006. Jones' Okemos team beat Lucas' Orchard Lake St. Mary's team in the Class A state basketball semifinals by one point. "Me and him have been competing for the last couple of years," Lucas said, laughing.

"In summer leagues, too. I most definitely hold that grudge because we were supposed to win that game and we lost by one." Lucas has been on the winning end since coming to MSU, though, as the Spartans have beaten Oakland twice since Lucas arrived and every season since 2005. The Golden Grizzlies visit MSU tonight. MSU coach Tom Izzo said after the Spartans returned from The 0 DE Graham earns spot in U-M lore When Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham won the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football Award on Tuesday, sharing it with Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark, he cemented his spot in Michigan history. Already there by numbers by being second in career tackles for loss and sacks, Graham now has hardware.

As the bright spot on the Big Ten's worst defense, Graham turned in one of the great individual defensive seasons for the Wolverines. Where does it rank in the past 30 years among U-M defenders? 1 1. Charles Woodson, 1997 (Heisman Trophy, Bednarik, Nagurski, Thorpe awards): Woodson's season was unparalleled. He swept the awards and had eight interceptions, leading U-M to the national championship. 1 2.

LaMarr Woodley, 2006 (Lombar-di, Hendricks awards): Woodley was the unblockable force on the edge, tying the school sack record with 12 (for 119 yards) and, though he had only 16Vz tackles for loss, they totaled 131 lost yards. He forced four fumbles and had 54 return yards on them. 1 3. Graham, 2009: He finished with 26 tackles for loss (for 127 yards), 10' sacks, two forced fumbles, two punt blocks and one returned for a touchdown, Michigan said his 21 tackles for loss in Big Ten play is believed to be a record. 1 4.

Mark Messner, 1985: He had 26 tackles for loss for 120 yards and 11 S3cks 1 5. Shawn Crable, 2007: He had 90 tackles, 28' for loss, TA sacks, four forced fumbles. 1 6. Leon Hall, 2006: Hall finished the season with 15 pass breakups, three interceptions, two recovered fumbles (one for a touchdown), 45 tackles and one sack. MARK SNYDER score to settle with old foe from OU MSU vs.

Oil Matchup: No. 12 MSU 7-2; Oakland 4-4. Tip-off: 7 tonight, Breslin Center, East Lansing. TVradio: Big Ten Network, WJR-AM (760). Line: Spartans by 21'2.

Citadel that he still wasn't happy with the direction of the team to some degree, although the 7-2 record was close to what he expected. "I honestly hoped we would win that tournament and hoped we'd be 8-1," Izzo said. "I thought that would be a best-case scenario. I thought the worst-case scenario could be 6-3. We're close where I thought we'd be in wins and losses, but not as close as I thought we'd be getting our chemistry together.

"We're not playing as well as a group. Durrell (Summers) didn't.