Exhibition Game #1
11/10/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Michigan Wolverines vs.
California All-Stars
- When: Wednesday, November 10, 1999
- Where: Crisler Arena (13,562), Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Officials: Tom Rucker, Jerry Sauder, Jim Ferrari
- Television: None
- Radio: WTKA (AM 1050)
(Doug Karsch play-by-play; Jim Moore color)
- Flagship Station: University of Michigan/TBC Radio Network
WJR Detroit (50,000-watts clear channel, AM 760)
(Dan Dickerson play-by-play; Dugan Fife color) - Local Affiliates: WTKA (AM 1050), Ann Arbor
- Tickets: Available (Blue $15; Gold $12)
- Head Coaches: Michigan -- Brian Ellerbe (Third season)
California All-Stars -- Price Johnson
- Rankings:: Michigan is not ranked.
Season Begins with Pair of Exhibition Contests
The Wolverines will kick off the 1999-2000 season with a pair of exhibition contests, against the California All-Stars (Nov. 10) and Team Prestige (Nov. 14), at Crisler Arena. Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
Both exhibition teams are made up of former collegiate players who travel around the country playing different universities. The California All-Stars, comprised mainly of West Coast collegiate and professional players, come in having played eight games already, including three against Big Ten schools -- Michigan State (L, 115-66), Wisconsin (L, 95-65) and Northwestern (L, 57-53).
Mainly made up of Midwest players, Team Prestige brings former Big Ten stars Guy Rucker (Iowa, 1997-99) and Loren Clyburn (Purdue, 1989-90) along with former Georiga Tech star Katu Davis to Crisler on Sunday.
The Wolverines start the regular season in Crisler Arena against Oakland on Friday (Nov. 19) at 7:30 p.m..
Asselin Leads Maize Team to 52-39 Victory in Scrimmage
The Wolverines kicked off the 1999-2000 season with the first-ever Maize and Blue scrimmage, Saturday, Nov. 6. Junior Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) led the Maize team to a 52-39 victory over the Blue squad as he finished the night with a scrimmage-leading 18 points, along with five rebounds and three assists.
Freshman Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) also helped lead the Maize to victory with his 12 points as he hit 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc. Senior Peter Vignier (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck HS) also poured in 12 points as well as two rebounds and an assist.
For the Blue team, freshman Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS) led the way with 16 points and four assists. Fellow freshman Leland Anderson (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro HS) had 11 points and three rebounds.
Smith Unveil New Uniforms
The Wolverines will enter the new millenium sporting a brand new look as junior Brandon Smith (Amarillo, Texas/Palo Duro HS) unveiled a newly designed uniform for the 1999-2000 season at the Maize and Blue scrimmage (Nov. 6). The new Nike-designed jersey sports a Michigan block 'M' on the front and new side panels. Michigan and North Carolina will be the only schools to wear the new style Nike jerseys for the 2000 season.
Asselin's Summer Capped Off in Hawaii
Josh Asselin took the offseason to polish many aspects of his game as he traveled to several skill camps during the 1999 summer months. After going to several smaller camps for big men during early summer, Asselin worked on developing more post moves around the basket and an interior shooting game.
Those early camps helped Asselin's confidence and helped him become one of 16 finalists for a roster spot on the USA Basketball Men's National Team that competed at the World University Games July 3-12 in Palma De Mallorca, Spain. Asselin was one of the last cut, but training and competing with several of the top players in the country only boosted his confidence.
Following the USA tryouts, Asselin finished off the summer going to the Nike Camp, Michael Jordan's camp and Pete Newell's Big Man Camp in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Smith Ahead of Schedule
Brandon Smith's summer has not been exactly what he expected. After gaining 15 pounds during the early offseason, Smith injured his right knee during a pick-up basketball game in June and partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
He underwent reconstructive surgery on the ACL of his right knee June 23, performed by U-M orthopedic team physician Dr. Ed Wojtys at the University of Michigan Hospital. In addition to the reconstruction of the ACL, Smith also had his lateral meniscus cartilage repaired.
Since the surgery, Smith has been in rehabilitation with U-M athletic trainer Steve Stricker every day and has been progressing rapidly. As of Oct. 25, Smith is ahead of schedule, lightly jogging and shooting. He has not done lateral work, but should be close to light practicing in late November. Smith could possibly return to full practice and the lineup in January for the start of the Big Ten Conference season.
Vignier Continues to Grow
After a breakout junior season, Pete Vignier has continued where he left off with his summer workouts. The 6-11 Vignier added 15 more pounds and attended several big man camps during the summer to round out his game, including the Pete Newell Camp in Honolulu, Hawaii, with teammate Josh Asselin. Concentrating more on the offensive end, Vignier continues to develop his game in the post and his shooting from inside the arc.
During the 1998-99 season, he shattered every career and seasonal statistical category. He averaged 6.5 points and he grabbed 221 total boards for a 7.4 average, which makes him the top returning rebounder in the Big Ten.
Big Ten/ACC Challenge Series Begins
The inaugural ACC/Big Ten Challenge Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 will match nine teams from each league. This year, Michigan will take on Georgia Tech Dec. 1 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge series will be contested on the first Tuesday and Wednesday following Thanksgiving at seven campus sites and two neutral sites. ESPN and ESPN Regional will manage and market the event, which is a multi-year arrangement with the two conferences. With the ACC having only nine members, Ohio State and Indiana are not part of the inaugural challenge series.
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge Match-Ups
| GAME | DATE | TV |
| Virginia at Minnesota | Nov. 30 | ESPN2 |
| Wisconsin at Wake Forest | Nov. 30 | ESPN |
| Iowa at Maryland | Nov. 30 | ESPN2 |
| Illinois vs. Duke@ | Nov. 30 | ESPN |
| Michigan vs. Georgia Tech* | Dec. 1 | ESPN |
| North Carolina State at Purdue | Dec. 1 | ESPN2 |
| Florida State at Northwestern | Dec. 1 | ESPN2 |
| Michigan State at North Carolina | Dec. 1 | ESPN |
| Clemson at Penn State | Dec. 1 | ESPN+ |
@ played at United Center, Chicago, Ill. * played at Philips Arena, Atlanta, Ga. | ||
Irony Could Lead to Success ... Maybe
The last time the Wolverines played 17 home contests at Crisler Arena was during the 1988-89 season when the Wolverines "shocked the world" by winning the program's first national championship. The Wolverines went 15-2 at home during that season. The most games the Wolverines have played at Crisler is 19, which they did back-to-back during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.
Schedule Filled with Tournament-Tested Opponents
After boasting the toughest scheduled in the country last season, the Wolverines continue this season with 13 of their 21 opponents having played in a postseason tournament last year. Ten teams participated in the NCAA Tournament and three in the NIT. In addition, the Wolverines have three of the four NCAA Tournament Final Four teams slated on the schedule -- Duke (Dec. 11), Michigan State (Feb. 1 and Mar. 4) and Ohio State (Feb. 6).
The Breakdown
| OPPONENT | TOURNAMENT | DATE |
| Detroit | NCAA | Nov. 23, 1999 |
| Georgia Tech | NIT | Dec. 1, 2000 |
| Kent State | NCAA | Dec. 8, 1999 |
| Duke | NCAA (Final Four) | Dec. 11, 1999 |
| Colorado State | NIT | Jan. 2, 2000 |
| Minnesota | NCAA | Jan. 5, 2000 |
| Purdue | NCAA | Jan. 8 and Feb. 24, 2000 |
| Northwestern | NIT | Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2000 |
| Iowa | NCAA | Jan. 22 and Feb. 29, 2000 |
| Indiana | NCAA | Jan. 25 and Feb. 13, 2000 |
| Michigan State | NCAA (Final Four) | Feb. 1 and Mar. 4, 2000 |
| Ohio State | NCAA (Final Four) | Feb. 6, 2000 |
| Wisconsin | NCAA | Feb. 16, 2000 |
Michigan to Hit the Millenium Twice
The men's basketball program has played 1,974 total games in its 84 storied years. With 27 regular-season games slated for this season, the Wolverines will enter the new millenium on Jan. 2, 2000, against Colorado State and then play their 2,000th game against Iowa in a game that is still waiting to be scheduled because of TV. It is slated for Feb. 29, March 1 or March 2.
Ellerbe Faces Six New Foes, One New Program
U-M coach Brian Ellerbe faces six new opponents during the upcoming season -- Boston College, Colorado State, Duquesne, Georgia Tech, Kent and Oakland. As a head coach Ellerbe has faced 54 different opponents during his five years (three at Loyola of Maryland, two at Michigan) and carries a 71-75 career mark.
In addition to Ellerbe facing Oakland for the first time in his career, it also marks the first time the two programs will face each other. Oakland moved up to the NCAA Division I level last season and finished the season with a respectable 12-15 overall mark and 8-8 mark in the Mid-Continent Conference.
"Maize Rage" Continues for Second Season
For the second year in a row, at all the Wolverine home games this season, the university will continue its "Maize Rage" program, intended to get the crowd -- especially the student section -- more involved during the games. Students who occupy the sections closest to the court will be given yellow t-shirts bearing the "Maize Rage" slogan and other prizes throughout the season to help create more of a sixth-man atmosphere in Crisler Arena.
Groninger First Player from Indiana Since 1982
Freshman Gavin Groninger is the first Indiana player to don the Maize and Blue in 17 years. The sharpshooting forward replaces former U-M all-star Thad Garner (1979-82) on the list of Indiana players to travel to Ann Arbor. Garner was from Gary, Ind., where he played at Bishop Noll High School.
New Floor Generals Ready to Run the Team
After the loss of the backcourt duo of Louis Bullock and Robbie Reid, the Wolverine coaching staff has filled the space with two interchangeable guards -- freshmen Kevin Gaines and Jamal Crawford (Seattle, Wash./Rainer Beach HS). Gaines and Crawford have already made their presence felt during practice, running the offense and showing their talented passing ability. In the opening Maize and Blue scrimmage, Gaines finished the night with 16 points and four assists and Crawford chipped in five points and an assist.
Soft Touch and Speed Impress
Coming in as a freshman, Leland Anderson was looked to for his strength as he can bench press up to 365 pounds, but what has been impressive is his speed and soft touch around the rim. The 6-8 forward is one of the fastest players on the squad in the early practices, running the fastbreak to perfection. He also has added a turnaround jump and hook shot to his already dangerous shooting range.
Basketball Jones' Big Ten Foreign Team Tour
Sophomore guard Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) made the most of his summer workouts as he competed with the 1999 Big Ten Conference Foreign Touring team, helping the all-star team go 3-3 during the 10-day trip through Austria.
Jones was one of 11 Big Ten players selected to the all-star team, coached this summer by Wisconsin's Dick Bennett. The all-star team traveled from Aug. 5-15 and played five different Austrian clubs. After going 3-3, the Big Ten team extended its overall record to 71-30 in 10 years of foreign tours. Jones finished the tour averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds a game. He had a tour-high seven points against the Montan Basket Bears on Aug. 10 and eight rebounds against the Steiner Basketball Team on Aug. 15
Workhorse Ready for Sophomore Season
Sophomore Chris Young (Plymouth, Mich./Catholic Central HS) made the most of the 19 minutes per game coming off the bench as a freshman and is ready to continue that trend during his sophomore season. He added 15-20 pounds during the off-season and played in former Ohio State standout and current Atlanta Hawk Jimmy Jackson's summer league. Last season, he averaged just 2.6 points and 3.4 rebounds a game as a freshman, but he became the workhorse off the bench. His strong physical play in the paint and rebounding last season will help him become a key contributor for the Wolverines' inside game this season.
Adebiyi Walks On to the Wolverine Squad
Sophomore Rotolu Adebiyi (Row-to-low Adda-bee-ee) has been added to the Wolverine roster as a walk-on player. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, the 6-5 forward played high school basketball at Ann Arbor Huron, where he earned two all-area selections and was the River Rats' leading rebounder during his senior season.
Adebiyi joins former teammate Ramal Hunter (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), Herb Gibson (Taylor, Mich./Truman HS) and manager/transfer Mike Gotfredson (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South HS/Calvin College) as the scout team for the Wolverines.
Bullock Drafted by Minnesota, Traded to Orlando, Then Let Go
Former U-M standout Louis Bullock was taken as the 42nd pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1999 NBA Draft, which took place June 30 at the MCI Center in Washington D.C. Bullock was then traded to the Orlando Magic for cash considerations. After playing in preseason, Bullock was let go and could possibly be playing in the CBA or overseas.
Bullock, a 6-2 guard, was a four-year starter for the Wolverines, starting all but three games in his 132-game career. He finished his career as the No. 3 all-time scorer with 2,224 points and is Michigan's all-time free throws made and free throw percentage leader. The three-time second team All-Big Ten selection made his mark from the three-point line as he closed out his career as the Michigan and Big Ten all-time three-point leader with 339.
Last Season Highlights ...
Seven Top 25 Wins
The Wolverines defeated seven top 25 teams during the 1998-99 season. On the Wolverines list of upsets were: No. 22 Clemson (Nov. 23) at the Maui Invitational, 59-56; No. 19 Wisconsin (Dec. 30) at Crisler, 59-55; No. 8 Indiana (Jan. 5) at Crisler, 82-70; No. 21 Ohio State (Jan. 16) at Crisler, 84-74; No. 18 Minnesota (Feb. 7) at Crisler, 75-65; No. 15 Wisconsin (Feb. 27) at the Kohl Center; and No. 25 Purdue (Mar. 4), 79-73 in overtime at the Big Ten Tournament.
Win Makes It 16 Straight Seasons
With the 75-65 win over No. 18 Minnesota (Feb. 7), Michigan extended its streak of seasons with 10 or more wins to 16 straight. The Wolverines have enjoyed the stretch since the 1981-82 season when Bill Freider's Wolverines finished 8-19 overall. Since then, the Wolverines have a 385-167 overall mark and a 182-116 mark in the Big Ten. They have 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament, three to the NIT, a national championship (1989), two NCAA runner-ups (1992, 1993), two NIT championships (1984, 1997) and a Big Ten Tournament title (1998).
Michigan Say Goodbye to Four
The Wolverines said goodbye to four players last season as Louis Bullock, Robbie Reid, Ron Oliver and Erik Szyndlar finished their careers in the Maize and Blue. Together they have a 81-51 record with an 1997 NIT championship title, a 1998 Big Ten Tournament title and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
