INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 11-18; 5-11 in Big Ten (Tied 8th) Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1998. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Blanchard 14.8 Rebs: Blanchard 6.3 Assists: Queen 3.3 FG: Bailey 53.8% 3pt: Ingerson 41.9% FT: Blanchard 83.2% 01-02 Stats: Michigan | Big Ten KEY LOSSES Chris Young | 11.4 ppg Leon Jones | 5.8 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Dom. Ingerson | Soph G | Daniel Horton | Fresh C | Chris Hunter | Fresh F | B. Robinson Jr. | Junior F | L. Blanchard | Senior Player to Watch LaVell Blanchard Senior Forward A shame the nation never got to know the talents of Blanchard. DATE TO REMEMBER Dec. 7 What was once a very interesting non-conference game has become very one-sided. Michigan has been routed by Duke in each of the last two seasons. And this year, the Wolverines get to return to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time since losing by 43 to the Blue Devils in 2000. That was when Duke went on a 34-2 run to start the game.

 

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

The job of Wolverines coach Tommy Amaker became a little more difficult when Michigan self-imposed a postseason ban because of the Ed Martin fiasco. While the Wolverines will certainly try to play hard, there is no longer a tangible goal out there. Regardless of whether Michigan wins or losses, it isn't going to the postseason. By the time the Big Ten season becomes a grind in February, that is going to be a factor. It's a move that prematurely ends LaVell Blanchard's quest to return Michigan to the NCAA Tournament. When Blanchard, an Ann Arbor kid who went to high school across the street for Michigan Stadium, committed to Michigan, he wanted to be the player who helped return Michigan to glory. While the Wolverines can't play in the postseason, they have more talent than many of the recent Michigan teams. Blanchard and Bernard Robinson Jr. are a good frontcourt duo, Dommanic Ingerson is a talented guard who didn't see the court as much as he should've as a freshman and freshman guard Daniel Horton was a McDonald's All-American.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Blanchard and Robinson comprise one of the better Big Ten duos. Blanchard is extremely strong for his 6-7 height and can post players up or hit jump shots. Robinson is more of a slasher type of player. Together they averaged nearly 27 points per game last season.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Will Amaker be able to keep this Michigan team playing hard? Or will the Wolverines simply quit playing hard? While Amaker is a tremendous recruiter - his incoming class at Michigan is very talented, especially considering the cloud that's hung over the program - he hasn't been as good as he needs to become at shaping team chemistry. That might be harder this season.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
This will be a challenging year for the Michigan program. Some players will probably feel like they they're punished for something they had nothing to do with. The cloud of impending NCAA penalties will continue to hang over the program. And some would say they have nothing to play for. The result will likely been fewer wins than under normal conditions.