.:
Chip Armer:
Transfer of big import
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Sam Mitchell: Finally holds court
"Sam Mitchell is a little ahead
of the others in terms of
everything," coach Steve Fisher
said of his 6-foot-9 forward in
comparison to the other rookies.
Mitchell should see action
early in the season alongside
Wolverine center Eric Riley. He
can score from either the
perimeter or inside. He also can
jump fairly well. On a team that
lacks big-men, Mitchell will see a
lot of time at the power forward
and center spots.
Mitchell is a Kalamazoo
native who was one of the
nation's top 50 players his senior
year at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
High School. During his three
seasons there, he averaged 18
points and 13 rebounds per game.
In addition, he garnered All-City
and All-League honors.
Last year, Mitchell decided to
Mitchell
skip a season before coming to
Michigan. He attended Brewster
Academy in New Hampshire to
polish his athletic and academic
skills.
"The year at prep school did
him anworld of good," Fisher said.
"Sam matured as a person, and
his game improved. So he's really
coming in as a freshman, but we
expect more of him than we do of
a normal freshman.
"He's got talent and good
inside-outside skills. He's going to
play. How much? How soon? I
don't know. He's got Big Ten size
and he's going to be a good player,
we just hope that it comes
quickly," Fisher said.
But Mitchell is in no rush to
crack the starting lineup. He is
concentrating more on learning at
the moment.
"I have to learn the team, the
coaching staff, and just get into
the flow of things," Mitchell said.
"I have to work mostly on the
defensive end. I feel that I can
play defense to a certain extent,
but sometimes I get mentally
tired."
If Fisher utilizes a three-guard
offense, Mitchell is the likely,
player to fill the sole forward slot.
He is big enough to handle
himself underneath and fast
enough to run with the quick
offense. Mitchell is no stranger to
this style of play. In high school
and prep school, he frequently
took part in a lineup that
contained three guards.
"I love to run the floor; that
was my style in high school,"
Mitchell said. "I feel comfortable
about it. As long as they can fast
break, I can go right along with
them. My responsibilities on the
court would be greater in terms of
grabbing rebounds, boxing out,
and outlet passing. That's why I
keep thinking mentally rather
than going out there thinking
about being the top scorer."
Another adjustment Mitchell
must make is the switch from
being a perimeter shooter to a
post-up player. In the past, he.has
been an outside shooter for the
most part, but the Wolverines are
overloaded with jump shooters.
Mitchell will need to post-up and
work with the ball on the inside
more.
At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Chip
Armer is Michigan's biggest
player. The junior transfered to
Michigan from Santa Fe
Community College in
Gainesville, Fla. He broke the
school's career record for blocked
shots by swatting away 120.
Armer's main place of
business will be under the basket.
He will have to perfect boxing
out, setting screens, grabbing
rebounds and defending.
Armer's major role will be
backing up starting center Eric
Riley, who has had foul problems
in the past. Armer is Michigan s
only other true center, so he must
also stay clear of foul trouble.
Armer must rebound
effectively, especially on offense;
since the Wolverines are generally
a perimeter team.
"Chip's biggest asset has to be
size and strength," coach Steve
Fisher said. "I look for him to
rebound and defend more than
anything else. If he can provide us
with some stability there, he'll
play. I don't think he has to score
Armer
Mclver
Rich Mclver:
Lone Star rising
"Rich McIver is playing, practicing,
thinking, and acting like a freshman," coach
Steve Fisher said.
It is hard to say just how the 6-foot-9, 215
pound rookie will do this season. He comes to
Michigan as last year's Texas Class-4A Player of
the Year. As a high school senior, he averaged 20.9
points and 14.1 rebounds per game. He also set the
Brazosport High School record for blocked shots.
"Rich is athletic, but he's raw," Fisher said.
"Rich needs to be like a sponge and just soak it up
and come back for more. You're going to see a guy
two years from now that you're going to say,
'Man, is that the same guy who walked in as a
freshman?' The only good thing for Rich right
now is the weather."
MvcIe could be one of those players who is a
coach's nightmare - brilliant one game and
terrible the next. He is an emotional player who
certainly has the talent, but is far from ready for
Big Ten competition.
"I'm learning new things each day, so I'm
coming along pretty well," McIver said. "Back at
home, I normally play with my back toward the
bucket; I'm having to learn to play facing the
goal for the first time."
Like everyone else, McIver will get some
playing time. How much depends on how well he
plays, and how his endurance holds up.
"That was the reason why I came to
Michigan, because the opportunity to play was
here," he said. "I wanted to go, somewhere where I
had the opportunity to play my freshman year."
Fans will recognize McIver fairly quickly. He
supports a haircut that is a few inches high in a
downward fade. It took him roughly a year to
grow, and because of its height, McIver appears
to be the tallest athlete on the roster.
"The players on the team joke about my hair
because it's so high, but it's me," he said.
double figures or anything like
that. He's got Big Ten size, now
we have to get Big Ten
performance out of him."
If Armer does especially well,
Fisher said he might play him
alongside Riley. This would free
Riley offensively and spread out
his own game.
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9901Men's Freddie Hunter:
Basketball£h ul CCRB. to Cri~sler
Jason
Bossard:
Shooting
for a sta
"You're going to like hi:
coach Steve Fisher said. "I
a tough quality about him.
Bossard has a toughness a
him that I think you have
to play at this level."
The 6-foot-4 first-year gi
a scorer, and is proficient fr
beyond the three-point line
won't start, as there are fv
guards ahead of him that h
more experience.
"The competition here
tough and everybody is goi
each other day in and dayo
Bossard said. "It's good to s
because on a lot of teams,
just sit back and say 'Well
got the starting spot or he's
in before me.' Here, every
goes at each other day in a
out. It doesn't matter who
starting that day. It has n
impact on any of us, we
each other's throats every
practice."
The
Charlotte,
Mich., native
averaged 30
points, five
rebounds and
five assists per
game his senior
year in high
school. He was
also a first team
All-State
selection by the
Associated
Press. But like all the othe
rookies, he has a lot to lea
"Right now is just a le
situation for me," Bossard
"There is so much that yc
to learn as a freshman, es]
in my case - a lot of the d
strategies, offensive conc
Hopefully, as things keep
t, progressing and I keep lea
playing time will fall alor
Bossard is as high o F
is Fisher is on him.
"Fisher reminds me qu
're of my coach in high scho
r said. "I think they have a
e the same qualities. They'r
e to criticize you and get or
when things aren't going
of when you're not doing th
re, fundamentally right. But
do something right they a
an there saying, 'good job, ke
st but this is what you got
on.'
The biggest question
y Bossard plays solid defens
does, he might find himse
d floor instead of being on t
bench this season.
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i:
Freddie Hunter is an incredible
story. This is his fourth year at
Michigan after graduating from
University of Detroit Jesuit High
School. His only competitive
basketball action the last three
years has come at the CCRB, the
NCRB, and the IM Building. He
knew he was good, and he had
always wanted to try out for then
Michigan basketball team.-
Finally, this fall, he decided he >
was ready.
"I talked to the coaches, and
they had heard a little about me,"
Hunter said. "They just said, '
'come out here and earn your
stripes. If you impress us, you'll
be on the team.' So that's what
happened."
Hunter,' who wasn't on the
roster until a week after practice
began, has junior standing in
terms of academics and eligibility.
At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, he is one
of the fastest players on the team.
He will probably be utilized at
the small forward position, and
don't think his only purpose is to
take up space at the end of the
bench.
"You like him too?" Fisher
said with a big gleam in his eye
and a smile from ear to ear when
asked about Hunter.
Hunter does all the little things
that coaches harp on time and
time again. He is an excellent
screener, passer, and defender, he
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Hunter
can box out as well. He also hay
an endless supply of energy. Ye
Hunter still recognizes the
toughness of Big Ten play.
"Competition at the CCRB
like, 'Hey, here's Fred. Oh my!
And then I come here, and they
like, 'Who's this guy?"' Hunte
said. "It's helped me because I'v
had to elevate my game and I'v
had to change my game. At the
CCRB I might have been more
an offensive player. Coming he
it's a different thing. I have to
find my niche and see what I c
do well and what I can't. If I jL
go out there, work hard in
practice, work on my defense,
concentrate on that, and for m
offense make sure I'm smart,
don't turn the ball over, I coul
see some time."
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s&3. by Theodore Cox
Jose Juarez/Weekend
Rookie Sam Mitchell, left, joins sophomore Tony Tolbert for a breather
during practice. Mitchell is being counted on to fill vacancies left by Loy
Vaught and Terry Mills.
12
r PY
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0
: 4 i -% - i i y
NOVeINm r 15,.1990