Game #7

MICHIGAN wolverines (2-4, 0-0 Big Ten)
vs.
DUKE blue devils (8-0, 0-0 ACC)

Saturday, December 9, 2000, 9:05 p.m.
Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,134), Durham, N.C.

Complete Release in PDF (18 pages, 207 KB)    

Radio Coverage: WJR (760 AM Detroit) will originate the game on the Michigan Basketball Network. Fred Heumann will handle the play-by-play and Dugan Fife will be the color analyst for the Wolverines.

Television Coverage: The game will be broadcast on ESPN. Dave Sims will handle the play-by-play and Len Elmore is the color analyst.

Game Day Live: All Michigan men's basketball games can be followed live with Game Day Live on the Michigan website (mgoblue.com). Features include live audio for all games and live stats and a shotchart for home games.

Tickets: Sold out

Coaches: Michigan is coached by Brian Ellerbe, who is in his seventh season as a collegiate head coach. He carries a 54-46 record in his four years with Michigan. Duke is coached by Mike Krzyzewski, who is in his 25th season as a collegiate head coach. He carries 505-160 record in his 21 years with Duke.

Rankings: Michigan is not ranked. Duke is the No. 1-ranked team in the country by both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today polls.

Officials: Ed Hightower, Donnee Gray, Sid Rodeheffer

Duke Website: GoDuke.com

Michigan and the ACC
The University of Michigan carries a 30-25 overall record against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. With the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game against Wake Forest (Nov. 28), the Wolverines have now played every school in the conference.

Michigan vs. the ACC

Team	W	L	Pct.		First Meeting
Clemson	2	0	1.000		1987
Duke	7	14	.333		1964
Florida State	1	0	1.000		1997
Georgia Tech	3	3	.500		1967
Maryland	3	1	.750		1927
North Carolina	2	3	.400		1986
North Carolina State	1	2	.333		1950
Virginia	2	1	.667		1952
Wake Forest	0	1	.000		2000
Totals	30	25	.545

Michigan Against Duke
The Wolverines carry a 7-14 overall mark against Duke. After winning three straight contests, the Wolverines have been on the losing end of the last two games against the Blue Devils.

Wolverines vs. the Blue Devils

Date	Opponent	Site	W/L	Score	Margin
Dec. 21, 1963	Duke	H	W	83-67	16
Mar. 20, 1964	Duke	1	L	80-91	-11
Dec. 5, 1964	Duke	A	W	86-79	7
Dec. 21, 1965	Duke	2	L	93-100	-7
Dec. 3, 1966	Duke	A	L	75-96	-21
Dec. 6, 1967	Duke	H	L	72-93	-21
Dec. 9, 1968	Duke	A	W	90-80	10
Dec. 10, 1969	Duke	H	L	68-73	-5
Dec. 7, 1970	Duke	A	L	74-95	-21
Dec. 9, 1989	Duke	H	W-OT	113-108	5
Dec. 8, 1990	Duke	A	L	68-75	-7
Dec. 14, 1991	Duke	H	L-OT	77-85	-8
Apr. 6, 1992	Duke	3	L	51-71	-20
Dec. 5, 1992	Duke	A	L	68-79	-11
Dec. 11, 1993	Duke	H	L	63-73	-10
Dec. 10, 1994	Duke	A	L	59-69	-10
Dec. 9, 1995	Duke	H	W	88-84	4
Dec. 8, 1996	Duke	A	W	62-61	1
Dec. 13, 1997	Duke	H	W	81-73	8
Dec. 12, 1998	Duke	A	L	64-108	-44
Dec. 11, 1999	Duke	H	L	97-104	-7

1 -- NCAA Final Four, Kansas City, Mo.
2 -- Cobo Arena, Detroit, Mich.
3 -- NCAA Championship, Minneapolis, Minn.

Four More Years
Michigan and Duke, two of college basketball's most prominent programs, have extended their men's intersectional series four more years, through the 2004-05 season. The two universities, which have met during the regular season every year since 1989-90, have agreed to play on Dec. 8, 2001, at Ann Arbor; Dec. 14, 2002, in Durham; December 13, 2003, at Ann Arbor; and Dec. 11, 2004, in Durham. All dates are subject to change. The schools already were scheduled to meet during the 2000-01 season, on Dec. 9, 2000, at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium. Michigan and Duke have played each other 12 times since 1989 -- including the 1992 NCAA championship game -- and have met 21 total times in the series history, with Duke leading 14-7.

School Ties
Michigan freshman Colin Dill and Duke senior Shane Battier played together at Birmingham's Country Day in 1997, when they won the Michigan Class B state championship title and finished with a No. 6 national high school ranking.

ACC/Big Ten Challenge Deja Vu
For the second straight year, the ACC and Big Ten played the nine-game challenge series for the Commissioner's Cup. For the second straight year, the ACC claimed the Cup, winning 5-4, after N.C. State defeated Penn State, 84-76 in the final series match-up to claim the Cup. The ACC won the inaugural Commissioner's Cup, 5-4, after Florida State defeated Northwestern, 60-46 in the series final match-up.

2000 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Results

Date	Challenge Games
Tuesday, Nov. 28	Wake Forest 71, Michigan 60
	Clemson 57, Northwestern 44
	Duke 78, Illinois 77
	Iowa 85, Georgia Tech 67
Wednesday, Nov. 29	Virginia 98, Purdue 79
	Michigan State 77, North Carolina 64
	Minnesota 76, Florida State 71
	Wisconsin 78, Maryland 75 OT
	North Carolina State 84, Penn State 76

Robinson Jr. Named to BB&T Classic All-Tournament Team
Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. was selected to the BB&T Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in Michigan's Classic games against Maryland (Dec. 2) and St. John's (Dec. 3). Robinson Jr. hit for a career-high 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds against the Terrapins, and followed that performance with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists against the Red Storm. Joining Robinson Jr. were George Washington's SirValiant Brown (MVP), St. John's Anthony Glover and Maryland's Juan Dixon and Byron Mouton.

Robinson Jr. and Queen Have Career Nights
Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. continues to reset his career-best totals in almost every game he plays. In the BB&T Classic against Maryland (Dec. 2) he scored a career-high 20 points while tying his career best with seven rebounds. His previous scoring high was 19 points at Oakland (Nov. 17). He leads the team with 17.0 points a game and is averaging 5.7 rebounds a contest. Freshman Avery Queen collected a new career high with 14 points against St. John's (Dec. 3) in the consolation game of the BB&T Classic. His previous best was 10 points against Wagner (Nov. 25). For the season he is averaging 7.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds a game.

Blanchard Hits 500
Sophomore LaVell Blanchard scored his 500th career point on a 15-foot jumper against St. John's in the BB&T Classic (Dec. 3). He currently stands at 505 career points for a 14.9 career average. Blanchard has scored in double figures in 26 career games and has led the team in scoring in 16. He had a career-high 25 points at Boston College (Dec. 19, 1999) and has eight total games with 20 or more points.

Senior Closing in on Career Numbers
Senior Josh Asselin surpassed the 650-point career barrier on a free throw against St. John's in the BB&T Classic (Dec. 3). He currently has 651 career points for the Maize and Blue. Asselin is just 42 rebounds away from becoming the 30th Wolverine in the history of the program to surpass the 500-rebound barrier. Rudy Tomjanovich (1968-70) holds the all-time Michigan mark with 1,039 career rebounds. In addition, Asselin is just two blocks away from becoming the sixth Wolverine to surpass 100 blocks in a career. He has 98 total swats. Roy Tarpley (1983-86) holds the all-time mark with 251.

Make That Six in a Row
Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. has scored in double figures in six straight games. He leads the team with 17.0 points a game. Fellow freshman Avery Queen has followed suit but on the defensive end as he has collected at least one steal in the first six games. He leads the team with nine total, for a 1.5 per game average.

Passing out the Freebies
The Wolverines' new backcourt, freshmen Avery Queen and Maurice Searight, has been gaining experience running the Maize and Blue offense and the continual adjustments have paid dividends for the Wolverines. So far this season the two have been close in most statistical categories, but have been neck-and-neck in passing out the freebies. Both have collected at least one assist in the first six games, but Queen has the slight edge with 20 total on the year, for a 3.3 per game average. Searight has 19, for a 3.2 per game average.

Getting to the Line
LaVell Blanchard and Bernard Robinson Jr. have made a habit of getting to the free throw line in the six games played this season. Blanchard has a team-leading 42 trips to the free throw line and is shooting 73.8 percent. Robinson Jr. has gone to the line 39 times and is shooting 79.5 percent. But senior Josh Asselin leads the team with an 81 percent clip on free throws, making 17-of-21. Sophomore Gavin Groninger is right behind with an 80 percent mark, hitting 12-of-15 on the season. As a team, the Wolverines are shooting 71.3 percent (119-of-167).

Carbon Copies
Freshman Bernard Robinson Jr. and sophomore LaVell Blanchard have become the dangerous duo for the Wolverines. Both have almost identical stat lines as they have led the Wolverines all season long. Robinson Jr. leads the team with 17.0 points a game, with Blanchard right behind with 16.8. "B-Rob" is shooting 40.2 percent from the field while "L.B." is hitting 37.5 percent. Both are playing 30 minutes a game and have started five games apiece.

Young Continues Strong Play
Chris Young has continued with his breakout junior season. He has started and scored in double figures in four of the first six games this season and is averaging 11.0 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. In addition to nearly doubling his career averages, Young is shooting a Big Ten-leading 70.3 percent from the field as he is 26-of-37 on the season. He recorded his first career double-double against Western Michigan (Nov. 21) with his 14-point, 13-rebound performance and his second against Wake Forest (Nov. 28) with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Young's 13 boards in both games destroyed his career best of nine recorded at Northwestern (Feb. 26, 2000). In addition to the rebounds, Young set new career bests against Wake Forest in minutes, logging 33 against the Demon Deacons.

Moore Continues to Shake the Rust
Freshman Josh Moore continues to shake the rust after missing a year of basketball. Against Wagner College (Nov. 25), Moore had a strong night, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds -- both career highs. He then had a solid BB&T Classic, providing a strong defensive presence against Maryland (Dec. 2) and finishing with three rebounds and a block in 14 minutes of action. He followed that with an eight-point, seven-rebound performance against St. John's (Dec. 3). For the season, he is averaging 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Blanchard Does It Again
Sophomore LaVell Blanchard recorded his 11th career double-double with 24 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds against Wagner College (Nov. 25). He now has collected 13 rebounds four times in his Michigan career, including twice in three games this season (at Oakland, Nov. 17). He is second on the team with 16.8 points a game and leads the Wolverines with 9.0 rebounds a game.

Blanchard's Double-Dips

Date	Opponent	Points	Rebs.
Dec. 1, 1999	vs. Georgia Tech	18	13*
Dec. 19, 1999	at Boston College	25*	10
Dec. 23, 1999	Duquesne	16	10
Jan. 2, 2000	Colorado State	11	11
Jan. 8, 2000	at Purdue	21	10
Jan. 25, 2000	at Indiana	19	13*
Feb. 13, 2000	Indiana	23	12
Feb. 19, 2000	Penn State	16	11
Mar. 1, 2000	Iowa	15	11
Nov. 17, 2000	at Oakland	19	13*
Nov. 25, 2000	Wagner College	24	13*
* career highs

Asselin Collects Eighth Career Double-Double
Senior Josh Asselin collected his eighth career double-double with his 12 points and 11 rebounds against Wake Forest (Nov. 28) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. His last double-double was against Iowa (Jan. 22, 2000) with 22 points and 11 rebounds. His 11 rebounds also gave him his 10th career game with double-digit rebounds.

Asselin's Career Double-Dips

Date	Opponent	Points	Rebs.
Jan. 5, 1999	Indiana	16	10
Jan. 16, 1999	Ohio State	22*	10
Jan. 28, 1999	Illinois	12	10
Mar. 4, 1999	vs. Purdue	19	10
Nov. 19, 1999	Oakland	10	10
Jan. 16, 2000	Illinois	13	10
Jan. 22, 2000	at Iowa	22*	11
Nov. 28, 2000	Wake Forest	12	11
* career highs

Young Adds Second Double-Dip
Junior Chris Young collected his second career double-dip in four games with his 10 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds against Wake Forest (Nov. 28) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Young had his first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds in the win against Western Michigan (Nov. 21).

Young's Career Double-Dips

Date	Opponent	Points	Rebs.
Nov. 21, 2000	Western Michigan	14	13*
Nov. 28, 2000	Wake Forest	10	13*
* career highs

Continuing with the Marathon
Senior Josh Asselin has played in 98 consecutive games for the Wolverines and has played in 99 total career games, missing only one game due to illness during his freshman season at Towson (Nov. 24, 1997). Juniors Leon Jones and Chris Young have played in every game in their Michigan careers, a stretch of 66 consecutive games. Now, the Wolverines add sophomore Gavin Groninger to that list, as he has not missed a game in his young career, playing in 35 consecutive.

The Tall and the Short of It
Freshmen Josh Moore and Avery Queen have already made an impact in the Michigan history books. Moore comes to Ann Arbor one of the tallest players in Michigan history. The 7-2 Moore ties Jon Antonides (1981, '83-84) as the tallest player in history. Conversely, Queen comes to Ann Arbor as the shortest player ever. His 5-7 frame beat out 5-8 Dave Hart (1971-72) for the honor.

Wolverines Put Up the Numbers Against Wagner
Six Wolverines scored in double figures in the Wolverines' 98-83 defeat of Wagner College (Nov. 25). LaVell Blanchard led the way for the Wolverines, collecting his 11th career double-double with a 24 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds. Bernard Robinson Jr. followed with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Josh Asselin had 12 points, four rebounds and four blocks; Chris Young had 12 points and five rebounds; Avery Queen had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists; and Josh Moore had 10 points and nine rebounds. The last time Michigan had six players score in double figures was eight years ago (Jan. 25, 1992) vs. Wisconsin. The last Wolverines to accomplish that feat were Chris Webber (25), Jimmy King (15), Jalen Rose (13), Juwan Howard (12), Michael Talley (12) and Eric Riley (10).