0 Friday April 2, 2004 sports.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com OReTicSan Bilu 10 4 New York s Finest NIT championship is Robinson's swan song Blue completely shuts down red-hot Douby By Bob Hunt Daily Sports Writer NEW YORK - After the final sec- onds ticked away, one Michigan player celebrated a little differently than every- one else. Instead of jumping around at center court, Bernard Robinson held his right fist up in stoic elation. Instead of sitting in front of the team picture at center court grasping the trophy, Robinson snuck in the right corner. Instead of rushing to cut down the net, Robinson waited his turn, and ended up cutting down the final threads and then draping the net around his neck as he left the floor. "It was the weirdest feeling," Robin- son said. "I'd never thought I'd be in that position." For the senior, the ending was bitter- sweet. On one hand, Robinson had helped the Wolverines bring home their first banner (besides those taken down by sanctions) since 1989. But last night's victory signified the end of Robinson's college career after being Michigan's "Mr. Everything" for four years. Robinson has always been one of the Michigan's most consistent players, with a scoring average in double digits every season. The Washington native played through a couple of the bleakest seasons in Michigan basketball history. The Wolverines finished 10-18 and 11-18 in Robinson's first two years. Weeks before his junior year, the program was placed on probation, and handed a one- year postseason ban. Then, this past summer, the postseason ban was extended for another year. It was later revoked, giving Michigan a chance to play beyond the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2000. But a few disappointing losses down the stretch left Robinson and his teammates in the NIT. But the Wolverines took advantage of their opportunity to play this March, winning five straight while playing as well as they have all season. Robinson's shooting, passing ability and defense was a major part of the run. "I appreciate the team staying and fighting," Robinson said. "Believing, no matter what happened all year." Now he and fellow senior and roommate Colin Dill get to go out as winners. "It's something that we've talked about;' Dill said. "We've been through a lot here in our four years, and to be able to end it as a champion is special. To win (his) last game is something every player thinks about and wants to do." Robinson didn't play one of his best offensive games last night, scor- ing just nine points with two assists. But Robinson did star on the defen- sive end, spending the majority of the game on Rutgers star guard Quincy Douby. Douby came alive in the NIT and scored a career-high 35 points in Tuesday night's semifinals. But Douby was dormant last night, going 1-for-13 from the field with just two points. By Daniel Bremmer Daily Sports Editor RYAN WEINER/Daily Michigan players celebrate, holding up the NIT trophy following last night's 62-55 win. "We have the quickness and size to be able to contain guys like that," Michigan guard Daniel Horton said. "And Bernard did a great job." But Robinson said that the fact that it was his last game didn't enter his mind at all. "I was thinking we have to win this game, it's the championship," KNIGHTS Continued from Page 1 attempt. In total, Lamizana finished just two blocks shy of a triple-double - he had 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight rejections. On the offensive end, the Ivory Coast native repeatedly faked jump shots along the perimeter to gain a step on Michigan's defenders and get into the paint for a shot. Michigan did manage to shut down Quincy Douby, the Scarlet Knights' leading scorer on Tuesday. The 6- foot-3 guard had 35 against Iowa State in the semifi- nals, but found few good looks all night against the Wolverines, shooting a dismal 1-for-13. He finally located the bottom of the net four minutes into the sec- ond half on a runner from the baseline to cut Michi- gan's lead to 41-31. The freshman finished with just two points. "I knew they were going to focus on me," Douby said. "I know they watched film and they've seen some of my weaknesses, and they (exploited) my weaknesses." The New York crowd was largely behind Rutgers, located in nearby New Jersey, creating a hostile road environment for the Wolverines. At points, it seemed to rattle Michigan, but the team found a way to remain level-headed. "We were talking at halftime and throughout the sec- ond half about poise," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "I think the crowd made it a very electric atmos- phere. That makes you play faster than you want to." It's been almost seven months since Michigan won its appeal to the NCAA, negating its second year of post- season probation. After failing to make the NCAA Tour- nament, it looked like the Wolverines would fail to capitalize on the decision. But Amaker wasn't about to let that happen. "To learn that we became postseason eligible at the beginning of the year, we tried to make a move this sea- son," Amaker said. "And I think our players have done that in a fine fashion to make our University proud." Robinson said. But now, it's over. And through it all, Robinson said he wouldn't have it any different. "I've enjoyed my time here at Michi- gan," Robinson said. "I'm glad I didn't go anyplace else. I'm glad I've been able to be a part of this." YESTERDAY'S GAME Michigan (62) FG FT REB MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS Hunter 21 2-5 0-0 4-7 1 2 4 Sims 26 3.9..3-5 2-7 0 1 9 Abram 19 1-5 3-6 0-5 1 3 5 Horton 36 4-10 4-8 0-5 3 2 14 Robinson 32 3-10 3-4 2-5 2 3 9 Harris 33 4-8 3-4 2-4 5 3 13 Petway 7 1-6 0-0 3-4 0 1 2 Brown 26 3-6 3-4 2-5 1 2 6 Team 5-8 Totals 200 21-59 16-2717427 24 62 FG%: .356. FT%: .593. 3-point FG: 4-16, .250 (Horton 2-6, Abram 0-3, Harris 2-5, Robinson 0-1, Hunter 0-1). Blocks: 6 (Sims 2, Hunter 2, Horton, Petway). Steals: 6 (Hor- ton 3, Abram 2, Robinson). Turnovers: 15 (Horton 3, Harris 3. Robinson 3, Sims 2, Hunter, Abram,rBrown Petway). Technical fouls: none. RUTGERS (55) FG FT REB MIN M-A M-A 0-T A F PTS Lamizana 38 9-18 1-2 2-10 1 4 19 Axani 22 3-5 0-1 5-9 0 4 6 Webb 30 1-5 2-2 0-7 2 4 4 Shields 36 6-18 1-2 2-4 1 2 16 Douby 37 1-13 0-0. 0-3 3 5 2 Wiggan 17 2-3 0-2 3-3 0 2 4 Joynes 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Hill 16 2-5 0-0 2-2 0 2 4 TEAM 3-4 Totals 200 24-67 4-9 17-42 7 24 55 FG%: .358. FT%: .444. 3-point FG: 3-19 (Shields 3-11, Douby 0-3, Webb 0-3, Lamizana 0-2). Blocks: 9 (Lamizana 8, Hill). Steals: 5 (Shields 2, Lamizana 1, Axani 1, Wiggan 1). Turnovers: 13 (Lamizna 3, Douby 3, Shields 2, Wiggan 2, Axani, Webb, Hill). Technical fouls: none. Michigan.........32 30 - 62 Rutgers..........25 30 - 55 At: Madison Square Garden, New York,NY Attendance: 16,064 Officials: Larry Rose, Duke Edsall, Bryan Kersey. NEW YORK - Michigan knew heading into last night's NIT final that the key to beating Rutgers would be slowing down red-hot guard Quincy Douby. But nobody figured Michigan would nearly stop him altogether. Douby, a freshman from Brooklyn, had been on a tear since entering Rut- gers's starting lineup at the start of the NIT. Douby scored 96 points since the start of the tournament, including 35 in theat Scarlet Knights' win over Iowa State in the semifinals. But Michigan held Douby to just two points for the game on 1-for-13 shooting behind a solid effort by Bernard Robinson and great help defense in a number of situations. "A couple of times I had a pretty good look at the basket, and kind of rushed it," Douby said. "But I've got to give them credit. They did a really good job. They contested all my shots." The Wolverines couldn't have done better against Douby in the first half. Guarded primarily by Robinson, the Rutgers freshman was shut down com- pletely - missing all eight of his shots in the first frame. Even when Robinson wasn't guarding Douby, the Wolverines prevented the freshman from getting any good looks at the basket by switching off on screens. "We had a good defensive team effort," Michigan coach Tommy Amak- er said. "You can't have one player think that they're gonna stop one other guy. It takes a group of guys and a team effort, and certainly our players did that." Douby missed his first field-goal attempt in the second half before con- necting on a baseline leaner with 16:22 to play in the game, bringing Rutgers BURKE Continued from Page 1 season in years. But this Michigan team may have accomplished more in a post- season NIT than any team ever has. In a mere two weeks, the Wolverines made everyone forget about the Ed Martin scandal, the seasons that ended with blowout losses in the Big Ten Tour- nament and the departures and dis- missals of players from the program. This week allowed the Michigan pro- gram and its fans to put all that aside and focus on - (GASP!) - basketball. OK, it wasn't a great game. Michigan turned the ball over 15 times, shot 35 percent from the floor and 59 percent from the free throw line. The Wolverines did everything they could in the second half to let Rutgers back into it, and there's no question they looked more like an NIT champion team than a team that should challenge Duke or Connecticut. But what the Wolverines also looked like was a team that finally came together and finally learned how to win. If that was the only thing that Michi- gan took from the NIT, then the postsea- son trip would have been well worth it. But it obviously wasn't the only thing the Wolverines managed to accomplish at Madison Square Garden. In one five- game postseason run, this year's Michi- gan team brought respectability back to this program. The Wolverines won a national title (I know, not the national title) on national television in the "world's most famous arena." "It wasn't just for us," Horton said. "There were a lot of guys on the team that (won the 1997 NIT title) that weren't a part of the scandal, and they had to watch the banner that they worked hard for get taken down. "We wanted an opportunity to put another one back up." Thanks to the win, Michigan gets to refill the vacancy left in Crisler's rafters after the self-imposed sanctions. There's no telling how big something like that could be for this team next year, and for this program in the future. 0a 00 within 10 at 41-31. The Douby field goal - his only one of the game - was the start of a 13-2 Rutgers run over the next six minutes, which pulled the Scarlet Knights within three. But a solid defensive effort by Robin- son and the Wolverines kept Douby quiet for the rest of the contest, as he was unable to get free for any more good looks at the basket. "I think us as a team did a great job on him," Robinson said. "When he got past me, there was always a guy there to help him in rotation. I think that a key part of us winning the ballgame today was slowing him down." GET THAT OUTTA HERE: Rutgers senior Herve Lamizana - the team's second- leading scorer - gave Michigan fits on both ends of the floor, finishing the game with a jam-packed box score. The senior made the most of his last game for Rutgers, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks. "I thought he was absolutely terrific tonight,"Amaker said. Lamizana was all over the place in the first half, scoring 11 points and adding five rebounds and five blocks. The senior kept Michigan from several layups with his stuffs, which included a huge rejection on a dunk attempt from Michigan high-flyer Brent Petway. Lamizana continued his rim-guarding in the second half, sending back three more Michigan shots. On several series under the Michigan basket, Lamizana recorded multiple blocks to keep Michi- gan away from the rim. "He's a great player, and he played well today," Michigan sophomore Gra- ham Brown said. "He altered a lot of shots, but we did a good job finishing when we needed to." Last night, this team - this program - took a huge step forward. And the Wolverines did so by putting aside not only the internal problems this team has had in the past, but also by forgetting about those devastating road losses ear- lier this year. And because of all of that, Michigan heads into the offseason with something this program and this young team need- ed more than it ever did in the past. Victory. QM' NOTE Bowman takes over for Urbanchek in pool Yesterday, Athletic Director Bill Mar- tin announced that Bob Bowman will take over as the new Michigan men's swimming coach. Bowman, who replaces the retiring Jon Urbanchek, has coached at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club since 1996. He served as the club's High Performance Coach for all but his first three years there. He is currently the coach of Michael Phelps, an 18- year-old member of the U.S. National Team who is considered by many to be the country's top swimmer. In 2000, Phelps - the current world record holder in four men's events - became the youngest male to compete in the Olympics in nearly 70 years at age 15. Previously, Bowman coached former Michigan swimmer Eric Wunderlich, a 1996 Olympian. Bowman, who swam for Florida State until 1987, has won USA Swimming Coach of the Year honors twice, most recently last year. He is currently a final- ist for the USOC National Coach of the Year award. Bowman will formally take over as the program's eighth coach in September, following the conclusion of the Olympic Games in Athens. Until that time, Urbanchek will prepare Michigan swimmers for the Olympic trials in July and the subsequent Olympics. In 22 years at Michigan, Urbanchek has cap- tured 13 Big Ten titles, as well as the 1995 NCAA Championship. PJS RECORDS & USED CDS 617 Packard Upstairs from Subway Paying $4 to $6 for top CD's in top condition. Also buying premium LP's and cassettes. I t l Di414I f, y %o '