Michigan Legend Russell Named Big Ten Icon
9/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 12, 2010
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Big Ten Network has named University of Michigan men's basketball legend Cazzie Russell (1964-66) as the 29th-most iconic student-athlete in the history of the conference as part of its series "Big Ten Icons," a program that is counting down the top-50 student-athletes in the history of the Big Ten, based solely on their collegiate playing careers.
In three seasons as a Wolverine, Russell led the Maize and Blue to three Big Ten titles and a pair of Final Four appearances. He was a first team All-American during all three of his seasons in Ann Arbor and was twice named the Big Ten Player of the Year. With Russell leading the way, the popularity of Michigan basketball exploded, resulting in the construction Crisler Arena, known as "The House that Cazzie Built."
A native of Chicago, Russell graduated from Michigan as the owner of nearly every offensive statistical record at U-M. He still holds the all-time scoring average record for the Wolverines, scoring 27.1 points per game during his career. During his senior season, Russell averaged 30.8 points per game, which also still stands as a U-M single-season record. Russell is currently fifth in all-time scoring at Michigan with 2,164 career points.
After leaving Michigan, Cazzie was the first player selected in the 1966 NBA draft and played for the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, winning an NBA title with the Knicks in 1970.
On Dec. 11, 1993, Russell became the first player in program history to have his jersey retired when his number 33 went into the rafters at Crisler Arena.
In an essay for www.BigTenIcons.com, former Chicago Tribune sports editor Dan McGrath wrote that Russell "had a watch-maker's touch on his shot, a blacksmith's strength in his hands, a gymnast's spring in his legs and a coach's sense of the floor." To read the full essay and to watch a video feature on Russell, visit his Big Ten Icons locker at www.BigTenIcons.com.
Icons 50 through 21 are being unveiled through Sept. 16 at www.BigTenIcons.com. The website also features essays, video and other key facts about each student-athlete's career. Viewers can also participate in the "Talk of the Locker Room" contest with a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize. Weekly winners will take home a 55-inch Phillips HD television.
The television show, hosted by legendary college sports broadcaster Keith Jackson, debuts Sept. 18 following a Big Ten Network football telecast in which Icon No. 20 will be revealed. The countdown continues at 9 p.m. every Tuesday night through the end of football season and into the spring. The No. 1 Big Ten Icon will be revealed around the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
