The previous competitions may have been losses, but it can only get better when the Michigan men's gymnastics team faces Illinois-Chicago at Cliff Keen Arena on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Wolverines will be meeting the Flames for the first time since the Windy City Invitational in January. Michigan is coming off of a Feb. 8 loss in a double-dual meet to Minnesota and Michigan State in which the Wolverines' score slipped below their usual standards - opening the door for a Michigan State victory. Consistency was one of the team's main focuses during the first half of the season.
Since facing its Big Ten rivals, the team has had a weekend off from competition and has used the time to work out some new routines, which will finish upgrading the level of difficulty in their events.
After posting its highest score of the year against Ohio State in its last home meet, Michigan will be seeking to improve once again this weekend at home.
"We're looking to go higher," Michigan sophomore Randy D'Amura said. "We're looking for 220."
The No. 16 Wolverines will have to go higher than their previous scores if they want to upset Illinois-Chicago - which is currently ranked 13th in the nation.
"We're capable of that," Michigan coach Kurt Golder said. "They're a cut above us and I have a lot of respect for their team. But we're within striking distance."
The Wolverines have been moving closer to a quality victory against a top-flight opponent. Last year, their highest score was 20 points behind that of the national champions.
This year the team hopes to cut that difference in half. Of Golder's goals for the team, 8.8 points have been achieved. The other 1.2 points are yet to be gathered.
This may be the deciding weekend.
Despite what happens, Golder already feels "pretty good" about his team's accomplishments thus far.
One thing that they want to improve, however, is their hit percentage. Over the past few meets they have been below 60 percent.
Another of the team goals is to improve to the point where they can complete 85 percent of their events.
Michigan's Jose Haro, who is tied with Illinois-Chicago's Shannon Welker for 12th-place nationally in the floor exercise, will lead the Michigan charge this week.
Haro placed 19th in the all-around in Chicago with a score of 56.350. He can expect a challenge from Welker, who is 21st with a 56.15 in the same event.
The Wolverines can expect a difficult competition this weekend, but hope its record of continuous improvement will lead to a check in the win column.