16 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 21, 1997 I t Rice Former Michigan basketball star Glen Rice discusses his career at Michigan and his meteoric rise with the Charlotte Hornets As the most prolific scorer in Michigan basketball history, Glen Rice led the Wolverines to their only NCAA Championship in 1989. After an NCAA record 184 points in the tournamenthe was not only named the tournament MVP but was also given All-America honors. Drafted in 1990 by the Miami Heat with the fourth overall pick, Rice spent five seasons in Miami before being trad- ed to the Charlotte Hornets. Now in his second season with the Hornets, Rice is again living up to the nickname tattooed onto his bicep: "G-Money. " As in his days at Michigan, Rice has been money on the court, ranking third in the NBA in scoring at 26.8 points per game. The Michigan Daily's Jordan Field recently had the opportunity to speak with Rice about current Wolverines, his days at Michigan, and about the newest award in his trophy case: 1997 All-Star game MVP. DAILY: In the '89 championship sea- son with the Wolverines, you were able to play your best and carry the team pretty much through the tournament. Now with the NBA playoffs just around the corner, do you feel this is again a time to elevate your game and that your team will look to you as a leader? RICE: I feel that any time is a time for me to go out and raise my game to the next level. I always ty to go out and play as hard as possible. If I'm out on the floor, I'm always giving 110 per- cent, and if you first do that, a lot of good things will happen. I'm going to try to continue doing that, because I really feel that I have to give this team my best effort every night for us to get to where we're trying to go. D: You have definitely picked up your game this season, especially since the All-Star break. What do you feel are the reasons for you being able to raise your scoring average almost seven points? R: Well, I'm just getting good looks at the basket. I'm able to create my own shot more often and have been able to get to the free throw line. My confi- dence is at a greater high and it's much easier when you have a lot of other guys on the team that are considered a threat. When a team faces us, and their number one goal is to stop Glen Rice, then that opens up so much else for our team. Then not only do they have to watch me, but also everyone else so that makes it easier for me to get open. I really think I've been blessed. I need to give praise to God for making it possible to have a good jump shot and the skills I have. I really feel that any time I shoot the ball it's going to go in. As long as I continue to believe that, my confidence will still be high. D: I understand you have started a team superstition in singing before each game. Is there any truth to this catching on in the lockerroom and helping you guys on the floor? R: It's very true. I really feel that ever since we started singing, "I Believe I Can Fly," we've really been going out and believing we can fly, and believing we can do anything on the floor to come out with a win. We're at the point now where everyone joins in on the singing and we're becoming very attached to the song. D: What is it like going up against your former Michigan teammates, like facing Terry Mills tonight against the Pistons -and how are your relation- to sit down and watch the games on TV. D: Did you get a chance to watch any of the NIT tournament? R: A little bit of it. I was very proud that they were able to go out and win that tournament since they weren't invited to the Big Dance. That just goes to show that if you keep working hard, things will come to you. It's definitely an achievement for the team and for the University winning a title such as that. D: Speaking of winning a title, as Rumeal (Robinson) stepped to the free throw line at the end of OT in the cham- pionship game, what were you thinking as you watched from half-court? R: I was thinking that Rumeal was going to hit (the free throws). I remem- ber earlier in the year when we were playing against Wisconsin and he had the chance to win the ball game for us and he missed the free throws. Most of the guys on the team were telling him, 'Look, you will have the chance to redeem yourself,' and once he had that chance, I knew he wasn't going to let us down. D: Would you have rather had the game been in your hands, rather than watch your championship hopes riding in someone else's hands? R: Of course I would have rather had the game in my hands and been up at the line. But considering that (Rumeal) was the one up there, I had to support him. D: How do you think the college game has changed since your days at Michigan? R: I really don't think it's changed that much. I think there aren't as many guys that can really stick the jump shot. Everyone seems to be more concerned with dunking. But back when we were in college, people were able to really knock down the jump shots. Other than that, I don't think it has really changed. D: What about as far as the game get- ting younger with so many underclass- men .leaving early for the NBA draft? R: Well, yes, a lot of guys are leav- ing early now. The only thing I can say about that is that if the opportunity pre- sents itself for them to go pro, and they pursue it, then that's their decision. But they are really missing out on a great experience - going through college and finishing up. D: What are your feelings toward (Michigan forward) Maurice Taylor's decision to forgo his senior year and enter the NBA draft? R: Well, I think I would always say I wish guys would stay and finish out their college career. Whatever decision he made, as a former Michigan Wolverine myself, I would have to stand behind him..But again by leavin he will certainly be missing out on final year, not only playing ball, but also just living life at the college level. D: You spoke about guys in college now not being able to knock down the jump shot as they did when you were in school. One current Wolverine, Louis Bullock, recently broke your record for most three-pointers at Michigan, and he can certainly knock down the open jumper. Does he remind you at allo yourself when you were a Wolverine. R: He broke my record? I didn't know that. Well, I wish him the best and congratulate him on breaking my record - I guess records are meant to be bro- ken. He can absolutely shoot the ball, but I think he is more of a set-shot shoot- er. I don't really remember myself at school as really much of a set-shot shooter as much as just a shooter off the dribble or off a pick; but he can defi- nitely stroke the ball. D: Growing up in the Detroit area ant playing your college ball in the area, I'm assuming you grew up a Pistons fait. What is it like coming back to Detroit the past couple years, playing against your old home team? R: I've always watched the Pistons through my years at college and grow- ing up in Flint. I was always very sup- portive of them, but they weren't my favorite team. I was always in love wi* Philadelphia for the simple fact that Dr. J played there. And after he stopped playing, I really didn't have a favorite team anymore. D: You won the MVP this year at the All-Star game. How does that fit in the scheme of things as far as your goals in this league? R: It was a great accomplishment. Individually I was very proud of that award and of what I have done this ye I just want to continue playing well, a really continue winning as a team. It was a great honor, but the main goal is always to win the championship. ships with those guys now that you are competing against them at this level? R: It's fun going against Terry. Ever since I've known him he's been a com- petitor, like Loy Vaught, Gary Grant - it's always good to see them. But they're not on my team anymore and now I have to go out and do my job against them. D: Loy Vaught has talked about dar- ing you to shoot more three pointers when you guys were here at Michigan, and about your friendship off the floor. How is your relationship with him and the other guys from Michigan now, off the court? R: Well, there is definitely a mutual respect between myself and Loy and the other guys from U of M. I've been fol- lowing Loy's career since he came to the NBA and I think he's an been doing a tremendous job considering the team he's been with all these years. He is an outstanding shooter for such a big man. As far as off the court, I really haven't had enough time to spend with those guys. I saw Gary (Grant) a lot over the summer because he is down in Miami (Rice's off- season residence) now, but that's been about it. D: How about following Michigan basketball, have you been able to follow Michigan basketball since graduating? R: The only chance I really have to follow Michigan has been on television. Every chance I get to watch them, I try l_________________________________N I 1 Think all bookstores are the same? NNUMOM - --------------- . WE Et BUYING BACK MORE BOOKS AND GIVING MORE 6 CASH THANEVR BEFORE! A.. Check us out before you sell your used textbooks f0off selected clothing! 0 Don't forget your Can & Gowns. free movies " ie I I