- -m -u -u 10B - The Michigan Daily-- TIPOFF 2000 - Thursdayovember 9, 2000 -- w s V w w The Michigan Daily - TIPOFF 2000 - w I V ........... A hole 77, Y Last December, Maize Ragers and fans of all ages thought they caught a glimps of the future. Before a sellout crowd, a national television audience ar a season full of expectations,; still-undefeated Michigan squ took No. 13 Duke to the wire before losing 104-97. The loss was a setback, but the performance of the Wolverines' backcourt gave eager Michigan backers a visi of a slashing, scoring, run-anc shoot offense - a scoring machine that had Michigan's future look- ing bright.s Just one season later that outlook has changed. Michigan is going inside - and they're going there often. With the Wolverines' back- court again reload- ing, expect offensive duties to fall on the shoulders of Michigan's experi- enced players down low. Building things around vet- eran post players Josh Asselin and Chris Young, e .nd a ad it on d- EBaIIgam &e Michigan is hoping the addition of 7-2 big man Josh Moore can give their post rotation the depth it needs to become one of the- most feared post trios in the Big Ten And while the propensity for post play may surprise some fans, Young says the combina- tion of big men will give Michigan a variety of weapons in the paint. "Our offense will definitely be dif- ferent this season, we'll be looking to the post and I think we got some people that can do a great job down there," Young said. "A guy like Josh Moore is so big and imposing that it's going to be tough to bang around with him and Josh Asselin is adding to his game. Expect him to step out and shoot more -- he'll play almost like a small forward at time." Couple that with the experience and physical presence of Young, who added 5 points a game last year, and Michigan is poised for a strong show- Chris lYoung,,, ing on the blocks. "It's different than any other year," Young said. "We are all so incredibly excited and anxious to get out there and start play- ing. Expect some things to be a lot dif- ferent." Pos. Ht. Wt. CI./Elig. Nov. 7 *Grand Rapids Hoops Nov.12 *Wayne State Nov.17 Oakland Nov.21 Western Michigan Nov. 25 Wagner Nov. 28 Wake Forest Dec. 2 Maryland Dec. 3 St. John's/Geo. Wash Dec. 9 Duke Dec.13 Bowling Green Dec. 23 Morris Brown Dec.27 Towson Dec. 30 Eastern Michigan Jan. 3 Purdue W Jan. 9 Indiana Jan. 13 Illinois Jan. 18 Ohio State Jan. 20 Iowa Jan 25 Illinois Jan. 27 Northwestern Jan. 30 Michigan State Feb. 3 Wisconsin Feb. 7 Penn State Feb. 11 IndianaF Feb.14 Iowa Feb. 17 Minnesota Feb. 24 Purdue Feb 28 Northwesterte Mar, 3 or 4 Michigan StateI Ann Arb Ann Arb Roches Ann Arb Ann Ark( No. WolverineI 0 1 3 4 10 12 20 21 23 25 Leon Jones Avery Queen Maurice Searight Colin Dill Herb Gibson Mike Gotfredson Ron Garber Bernard Robinson Gavin Groninger Josh Asselin LaVell Blanchard Josh Moore Chris Young Rotolu Adebiyi G G G F F G F F G F/C F C F/C F 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-7 6-5 5-11 6-8 6-6 6-5 6-11 6-7 7-2 6-9 6-5 195 150 205 225 205 175 205 185 190 230 205 315 220 210 Jr/Jr. Fr/Fr Fr./Fr. Fr/Fr, Jr/Jr. Sr/Sr. Jr./Jr. Fr./Fr. So./So. Sr/Sr. So/So. Fr/Fr. Jr./Jr Jr./Jr. Unlike last year, when the young Michigan basketball team enjoyed a nonconference schedule filled with pushovers, this year's youthful squad will have little time to et acclimated, facingq three potent A C opponents - Maryland, Wake Forest, and Duke, "Wake Forest is probably the most mature and experienced team in the country," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "Maryland possibly has the No. 1 draft pick in the N BA draft next year... Then you follow up with Duke. So there's going to be competition for us every year, itjust happens to be those teams this year." The Wolverines will also confront these early challenges without last season's starting backcourt - Kevin Gaines and Jamal Crawford. Guard Leon Jones says the Wolverines are ready to move on and focus on the players they have now. "I think it's behind us now, the junior said. "I think everyone realizes that we are under a microscope now and that you have to do everything by the books. "Hopefully, everything will be behind us and we can carry on with the sea- son." The focus for Michigan this year will be on senior forward Josh Asselin and sophomor "Those alysts in to whatever reach," EIIE in the top answer a I season ple "If you'r league in i have a ch. son." As the s will be Ass mates on Michigan 1 Asselin wil "I'm tryir help the o learned ar have taugr do whatev members While sc the No. 1c make a tni for the firs "I don't a goal," Ell it, that's w to be one teams, wE home. ' Wasn. u.C . Wash. D.C. Durham Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Vest Lafayette Ann Arbor Champaign Columbus Iowa City Ann Arbor Evanston Ann Arbor Ann Arbor State College Bloomington Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ann Arbor AnE An g East Lansing Head Coach: Brian Ellerbe Associate Head Coach: Scott Trost Assistant Coach: Kurtis Townsend Assistant Coach: Terence Greene After two seasons of solid contribution, Leon Jones enters the 200O-2001 cam- paign as the bona fide veteran in the Wolverines' backcourt - a position he accepts with no reservation, but one he hopes to balance with his objectives on the court. - "I think a leader first has to take care of his business. First you have to take care of your game and your responsibilities before you can lead anybod else. I'm going to try tolead by example and then as the year goes on I'll try to take it a bit fur- ther.' But before he does that, Jones has his sights set on '98-9 G ts Ava growin as a player. 3 4 "Myfrst year I was a defensive player. The second year '99-001 Ike to bring some offense." the table. This year I would '9-!1-P Avg like to bring the two together."2921 .7 FILE PHOTO J Shooter . .: the new Blue FILE PHOTO ' A year after scoring his first collegiate poii a three-pointer against Oakland, Mich long range bomber returns for his s, more season a bit older, a b stronger and a bit more deter- mined to see his Wolverines defy expectations. "We're all anxious to prove that we're a good team," Groninger said. "I definitely think this is a tournament team." After averaging 7 points per game a year ago, Groninger spent the summer in the weight room where he A bigger Groninger is added 15 pounds. But don't back - and he's anx- expect the pure shooter ious to show dispel to lose the soft touch doubt in this season's that helped him shoot Michigan team. FILE PHOTO 38 percent from three- point range last year when he tallied 48 triples. Blend'ing a mix of size and athleticism, Michigan again acdsexciting faces to its roster. S quick floor general and a giant of a past threat ---- Michigan's new clas: I qickflor gnerl ad gint f apos thea - ichgan~s ew l- I Guard 6-2 205 pounds Third in Mr. Basketball voting last year in Michigan, Maurice Searight hails from Orchard Lake and joins the Wolverines as an athletic slashing guard. Averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists as a senior, Searight was rated by Preps Spotlight as the No. 3 prospect in Michigan last season. Center 7-2 305 pounds josh An imposing figure in the post, Josh Moore spent a year away from the game training in Southern California. Prior to that the Newark, N.J. native aver- aged 17 points, 10 rebounds a game for St. Thomas More Prep in Oakdale, Conn. - that year Prep Spotlightranked Moore the No. 3 center in America. Forward s-6 185 pounds An explosive swing-man and native of Washington, D.C., Bernard Robinson joins the Wolverines after averaging 23 points 5 assists and 8 rebounds a game as a senior at New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire. Ranked No. 8 in the nation among recruits at the small forward position by The Sporting GL 150 p Aver r Un pernard b * iition I i I 1 .. i