Thank you, Seniors.
I just wanted to take this opportunity on Senior night to thank the seniors for what they have done for Michigan Basketball. It wasn't always pretty, or flashy, but these young men gave their everything for 4 years to help restore Michigan Basketball to its once proud state. It's a shame that their last home game was a loss, but they should know they will ALWAYS be appreciated and loved by Michigan fans. They are true Michigan Men.
Now let's win this thing with house money.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:39 PM ^
For walking the Mall every morning and buying coffee, thus keeping my idiot cousin employed.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
They deserved better tonight for sure.
I think too much emotion on our part ran into too much desparation on Purdue's part. They were kind of playing with house money tonight.
Go Blue!
February 25th, 2012 at 10:40 PM ^
hats off to them both... it feels like yesterday that i drunkenly turned around at skeeps and noticed that we were beating (then ended up beating) #4 UCLA. i need to buy a novak jersey.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
February 26th, 2012 at 4:09 AM ^
I'm currently 16, and started following Michigan football when I was 13. You must know exactly how I feel about it.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
February 26th, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^
February 26th, 2012 at 4:08 PM ^
February 26th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
DON'T SAY BIG BLUE CORSO SAYS BIG BLUE. BIG BLUE IS NOT MICHIGAN. YOU MAKE ME ANGAR!!!111!
/s
/but only a little
February 26th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
February 25th, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
When Michigan wins another National Championship or a Big Ten Championship.
Hell, if they win the conference tournament this season I would be in favor of Novak andD Douglass having a banner in Crisler along with the honored 5.
Keep in mind, only one of the five numbers hanging in the rafters are actually retired. #33 for Cazzie. Colton Christian sports #45 and McClimans wears #22.
Here is perfect example: If you watched Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey, there was a former player from the early 90s which the name escapes me who said "When they won that 1996 NCAA championship. That wasn't just one group of guys in Cinncinati that night, that was all of us. I was a national champion." Michigan Hockey was in the dark ages in the 80s and the guys on Red's early 90s teams helped build what we now have today.
I think that's how Zack & Stu will feel when Michigan eventually wins it. As they should. They set the foundation and brought the program out of the darkness.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
I want to say that hockey quote was Brian Wiseman, but I'm not 100%. Anyways, Novak and Stu definitely deserve a lot of thanks for everything they put into this program.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
If it was Wise I would definitely remember. I think the guy was a white helmet-era player around when Michigan won the 1988 GLI which was their first championship of ANY kind in 13 years.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
It was coach Wiseman. It is amazing that his career has come full circle as a captain of the hockey to now being an assistant coach.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
It was Brenden Morrison who said that. He scored the OT game winning goal. Interestinly he also wore the same number Red did while at UM, number 9.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
I like this idea as well. These guys came to a broken down program that hadn't seen success in a long time stemming from a scandal. They were lowly rated recruits, the not-so-athletic, white guys that could stroke it from Indiana and have turned the program around. They truly are the differences makes for this program, not just this team and I don't think we could've gotten any two better players that stuck with it for four years and battle adversity like they did. Just looking at Novak's play against 6'10 centers signifies this the most to me.
I need a Novak jersey as well. Feel bad for Stu for being left out but Novak's play against the huge disadvantages that he has just constantly amazes me.
February 26th, 2012 at 4:45 AM ^
i believe we won back-to-back big 10 titles in the mid 80s yet I don't believe any of those players numbers are retired. i like zach and stu but let's be realisitc.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:02 AM ^
It's the fact that any championships we win in the near future would not have been possible without them. There have been plenty of great players, but legends are so much more than what they do on the court. Bo never won a MNC, but he is still considered one of the greatest coaches in Michigan history because of what he did for the program. I think their heart and dedication should be noted in some way, though maybe not that.
EDIT: Meant as a reply to umchicago's other post. Weird.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
It was Brendan Morrison. Book it.
http://www.michigandaily.com/article/money-bank-brendan-morrisons-lasti…
February 25th, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
When we beat Duke during Novak's freshman year (my junior year), I drunkenly bet my housemate that his number would be retired. I got a lot of flak from my housemates over that bet throughout the years, but I think in many ways Novak (and Douglass) were far more important than the star player that gets his number retired.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:58 AM ^
Ridiculous suggestion.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^
I love Zach and Stu . . . but they'd be the first to tell you they're not quite that good.
It doesn't matter. We shouldn't need a banner hanging to remember their contribution to the program.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
If we don't win the big ten regular season championship then winning the BTT would be huge for the program.
February 25th, 2012 at 10:55 PM ^
I don't want to think about #0 and #1 leaving...I just get really sad
:(
Sad Panda Sad
The team won't feel the same next year w/o those two
February 25th, 2012 at 11:12 PM ^
do like Zack do, be a thug
February 25th, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^
seniors exemplified how Michigan Men should be. Strong, hardworking, and never quitting. Ben Cronin and Corey Person are 2 players overlooked a lot. Cronin lost his knees and Person has been riding the pine since they got here. They didn't leave, they didn't whine, they continued along the path of education and getting a degree. Stu and Zach will forever live in my basketball heart for their play, Stu's ridiculous 3's at Uconn to keep us in the game, Zach's ridiculous work ethic up and down the floor. Love these guys and the way the prgoram is headed. GO BLUE!
February 25th, 2012 at 11:01 PM ^
February 25th, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
Novak said that he was grooming Burke to be a captian next year. Hopefully Burke can be just as good or suprass Novak and Douglas as a great captain/leader.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:04 PM ^
February 25th, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
in the bottom right seems like a perfect place for the aneurysm of leadership.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:08 PM ^
Thanks to the seniors for leading this program back to the top group in the country and this team 104 far into the post-season.
Get er done, fellas. GO BLUE
February 25th, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
THANKS FELLAS!!
February 25th, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
I started watching Michigan in the late 70's when I was a young young pup. I went to Michigan 89-93 which many considered the glory years. I was a varisty athlete at Michigan during those years. But these two seniors (Novak and Douglas) are the two athletes that I have the most respect for of any Michigan Men that I can remember. Two studs who demonstrate what a Michinga Man is all about. No entitlement amongst these two.
Thanks
February 25th, 2012 at 11:26 PM ^
Novak is my all-time favorite michigan basketball player. Kid's a baller - I think he could play in the NBA given the right opportunity on the right team. If not there, then 100% overseas somewhere.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:27 AM ^
Although I'm sure his B-school degree and academic all-american status will serve him far better than an overseas basketball career.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^
They can be complementary. An overseas basketball career can give him insight into foreign cultures/markets, which will later serve his business career well.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:27 AM ^
Although I'm sure his B-school degree and academic all-american status will serve him far better than an overseas basketball career.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:27 AM ^
Although I'm sure his B-school degree and academic all-american status will serve him far better than an overseas basketball career.
February 25th, 2012 at 11:55 PM ^
Thanks Stu and Zac for bringing back my childhood. The days when Michigan basketball meant something and is back to stay.. Thanks to you.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:16 AM ^
When its all said and done it was these two kids who led the way in the process of: "bringing Michigan back". It wasn't Manny Harris, Courtney Sims, nor Deshawn Sims it was Zack Novak and Stu Douglass... They will be sorely missed next year not only for their 3-pt shooting but for their great defending (incredible at taking charges) and most of all their leadership... I know we have a great class coming in but they have HUGE shoes to fill if we want to maintain this level of competitiveness
February 26th, 2012 at 1:00 AM ^
Michigan will be better next year. This is still a relatively poorly constructed roster. Next year we get SIZE.
February 26th, 2012 at 4:52 AM ^
not sure why you were negged, but this is a true statment. i love zach and stu but manny and deshawn were better players. and i hope mcgary and grlll are better still.
February 26th, 2012 at 7:34 AM ^
He was negged because we can tell which formerly banned user it is.
February 26th, 2012 at 7:53 AM ^
There's a lot of that going on this week. Professor X seems familiar, as well.
February 28th, 2012 at 11:43 PM ^
You are a dreadful piece of shit.
February 26th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
Maybe they were better players, but they definately weren't better team mates. Team chemistry and leadership is more important than mere athleticism.