Catching Up with Guard Matt Vogrich
7/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 8, 2011
From rebounding to defense to three-pointers, University of Michigan men's basketball sophomore Matt Vogrich has done it all.
Only a 6-4 guard, Vogrich has become a strong presence off the bench for the Wolverines, bringing an aggressive style of play, scrapping for boards and playing his part on defense while shooting a team-leading 38.7 percent from behind the three-point arc during the 2010-11 season.
Vogrich is the definition of a true sixth man, having been the only Michigan player from the past season to average double-digit minutes per game (14.0) without getting a start. Heading into his third season in Ann Arbor, the Lake Forest, Ill., native looks to continue playing his role to help lead another young team to future success.
Vogrich sat down with MGoBlue.com for an exclusive interview to discuss everything from his role on the team for the upcoming season to his battles with teammates over his favorite professional sports teams.
On scoring a career-high 15 points in his first-ever college game ... "It was exciting because I was nervous before the game. Once you get in a rhythm, it makes the rest of the shots easier, and once I saw that first shot go in I knew I had my first college points. My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball when I was open. It was just a fun game; we played really well."
On three-point shooting ... "Coach (Beilein) loves shooting threes. Every team that coach Beilein ends up coaching fires a lot of threes. He likes the guys that can shoot and that's a big part of the reason I get on the floor. Making shots is just something that I have the ability to do and Beilein plays me knowing that I'm going to make threes for him. Now I'm just trying to work on the rest of my game, pick up my defense and rebounding and being able to put the ball on the deck so that I'm not one-dimensional."
On aggressive-style of play ... "I've always had a part of this type of game in me. Watching (Zack) Novak every day, he is the definition of scrappy. Watching him play and giving everything he has on the court for Michigan, he leads by example. Watching him play has made me more scrappy and getting on the floor and doing whatever I can to win games."
On offseason workouts ... "I lifted a ton and I gained 8-10 pounds. I weigh 197 pounds now, which is the most I've ever weighed in my life. I worked out with Josh Oppenheimer, who works out with the 'A Guys' and works out with the (Chicago) Bulls. So I worked with him, and we would do that about four times a week either in Chicago or the North Shore area. We worked on skill work and my ball handling and that sort of thing."
On motivation that the 2011 NCAA Tournament bid provides ... "It's big. Everyone on the team understands how close we were to the Sweet 16 -- that one shot against Duke in a two-point game -- and now everyone has a chip on their shoulder. We understand how good we can be and know the sky's the limit. We believe we can win a championship this year if we stay focused and listen to coach Beilein and work hard in the offseason."
On role for the upcoming season ... "Whatever coach Beilein tells me to do, I'm going to do it. He's had me play the 1-4 in my first two years and with Darius (Morris) gone, there's a lot more minutes available in the backcourt. We have good freshmen and everybody came back a year stronger and a year better. It's just whatever coach Beilein has me do. I'm a versatile player and I can play in the backcourt or on the wings. Wherever he needs me I'll play. I've learned the offense at all spots."
On balancing Michigan's Business School with Division I basketball ... "It's tough, but Michigan gives you so many opportunities. There are tutors. Everyone is so helpful and if I need anything, there is always someone to ask. Sometimes on the road I'm studying on the plane. Novak's in the business school also, so we study together and help each other out. It's not easy, but Michigan gives you every opportunity to be successful. It's a lot about time management and that's something I've learned to deal with."
On volunteer experience ... "It's amazing (working at Mott's Children's Hospital). The stuff that we're able to do with the kids looking up to us is amazing. When we go to Mott's our whole team goes. Every Thursday or every other Thursday we go along with the football team, and we talk to the kids and sign autographs and just hang out. We'll give them a smile when they're down, whatever we can do. Also, the basketball team has been going to Mitchell Elementary school every now and then to talk to the kids about what it takes to get to this level, what it takes to get into the University of Michigan, working hard and studying. It's just fun knowing you're a mentor and having the kids look up to you. It's something I've never done before, and it's a cool experience."
On roommate Blake McLimans ... "He's one of my best friends. We really get along. He's been my roommate for three years. We get in fights every now and then about stupid things. His nickname's 'Bird' because he kind of looks like Big Bird a little bit, and that's what I said to him when he was a freshman. So then I tried to change his Facebook picture to Big Bird and he freaked out on me one day, and it was the dumbest fight we ever had. It was just something stupid, but it is little things like that we do."
On his Sunday NFL fan battles with Zack Novak ... "(Zack) Novak is a big Packers fan and I'm a big Bears fan, so that doesn't go well when they play each other. One time, he brought in a (Brett) Favre or a (Aaron) Rodgers jersey and hung it in his locker right next to mine when the Packers beat the Bears in the playoffs. We always watch the game together and he's got a temper, so if the Packers are losing he'll tackle me and I'll have to run out of the room because he's kind of crazy for the Packers. It's just so fun to watch the games with him because we end up yelling at each other and arguing about the dumbest stuff."
2011 Summer Basketball Q&A Series: Catching Up with the Wolverines
• Catching Up with Forward Colton Christian (7/1/2011)
• Catching Up with Forward Jon Horford (6/24/2011)
• Catching Up with Forward Jordan Morgan (6/17/2011)
• Catching Up with Captain Zack Novak (6/10/2011)
• Catching Up with Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (6/3/2011)
Contact: Tom Wywrot, Whitney Dixon (734) 763-4423
