In the Lane with John Andrews

Life certainly has changed for sophomore John Andrews. After playing only 11 minutes as a walk-on freshman, Andrews has played 60 minutes in four games, including his first ever career start against No. 3 Georgia Tech. Against the Yellow Jackets, Andrews set a new career high with five points.

The West Bloomfield, Mich., native played at Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School, where he finished his prep career averaging 12.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks. While at St. Mary's, Andrews was named to 2003 Detroit Free Press Class B All State Second Team, 2003 Detroit Free Press All-North First Team, and the 2002 and 2003 Class B Academic All-State. Currently on academic scholarship, Andrews plans on applying to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the end of the winter semester.

Andrews took the time to sit down and discuss his increased role on team, his feelings of playing in Madison Square Garden, and his favorite basketball memory.

On being in the playing rotation
"I've played basketball since I was a little kid, and to be back out there is a lot of fun. To hear the crowd, play in that type of atmosphere, and be out there competing against some great teams is a lot of fun."

On playing in front of a national audience in the Preseason NIT
"At first, going out there in warm-ups in Madison Square Garden against Arizona, I was thinking, 'Wow! This is unbelievable,' but once you get out there and you start competing, start diving for loose balls, start banging underneath the basket, you realize basketball is just basketball."

On attending the University of Michigan on an academic scholarship
"At the end of the semester I will be applying to the business school, and I want to major in accounting. My GPA is currently a 3.17"

On his decision to come to Michigan
"I had some other opportunities with other programs that were interested, but I decided to come to Michigan because I feel very comfortable here. It's close to home, my parents are here to give me great support, and I really like the camaraderie of this team. Once we leave the arena, it's not like we don't see each other; we're friends and we hang out. It's really a close-knit group."

On only playing 11 minutes last season
"I was a walk-on freshman, so I was basically at the bottom of the barrel. It was tough, because as an athlete you want to get out there and perform, but I was not needed. That was the situation I had to deal with last year."

On the transition from last year to this year
"I look at where I am now and where I came from and I shake my head in disbelief. It's a great opportunity to get out there and play at the highest level and I'm very thankful for it."

On mentors/role models growing up
"My family has always been a great role model for me. Especially my father, which was a strong male figure in my life and that is who I strive to be like."

On work during the off-season
"I stayed here over the summer to work on my body, to improve my quickness and strength. Our strength and conditioning coach, Jim Plocki, and I worked very hard on my overall fitness, which has paid dividends."

On his greatest basketball memory
"I was in kindergarten, I was about five years old at the time, and I beat a fifth-grader in a shootout during halftime at a middle school basketball game. I won a Scrabble board that I actually still have."

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Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423

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John Andrews

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