1997–98 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1997–98 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
team represented the University of Michigan
in intercollegiate college basketball
during the 1997–98 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference
. Under the direction of head coach
Brian Ellerbe
, the team finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference. The team emerged victorious in the inaugural 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
. The team earned an invitation to the 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
as a number three seed where it was eliminated in the second round. The team was ranked for twelve of the eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll
, starting the season unranked, peaking at number twelve where it ended the season, and it also ended the season ranked twelve in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 4–3 December 13, 1997 against #1 81–73 at home, December 26, 1997 against #19 Syracuse
93–61 at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, Eugene Guerra Sports Complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, February 1 against #16 80–66 on the road, March 8 against #9 76–67 at the 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
at the United Center
. The victory over Duke was one of only two victories over the number one ranked team in the country in the history of the school.
Robert Traylor
and Travis Conlan served as team co-captain
s, while Robert Traylor
and Louis Bullock
shared team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Louis Bullock
(580 points), Robert Traylor (552 points) and Jerod Ward (445 points). The leading rebounders were Traylor (347), Maceo Baston (227), and Jerod Ward (206).
Bullock let the Big Ten Conference in three point field goals made in conference games (51) and all games (93). He also led the conference in three point field goal percentage in conference games (48.1%) and free throw percentage in all games (91.1%). The team led the Big Ten Conference in three point field goals made in conference games (121) and three point field goal percentage (40.1%).
Maceo Baston
ended his career with the current Michigan record for career field goal percentage
, with a 62.72%, surpassing the 61.70% mark set by Loy Vaught
in 1990. On February 22, 1998 against , the team made 15 three point field goals, establishing a new school single-game record that would last until December 13, 2008. The team also broke the single-season three point shot record of 203 set the prior year by making 260, which was a record that would last until 2009.
In the 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
at the United Center
from March 5–8, Michigan was seeded fourth and earned a first round bye
. In the second round, they defeated number five 77–66. In the semifinals, they defeated number eight 85–69. In the championship game, they defeated number three 76–67.
.
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
team represented the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in intercollegiate college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
during the 1997–98 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena
Crisler Arena
Crisler Arena, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, is the home arena for the University of Michigan men's and women's basketball teams. Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 13,751 spectators. It is named for Herbert O...
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Under the direction of head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Hersholt Ellerbe is an American basketball coach, currently an assistant at DePaul.The Seat Pleasant, Maryland native served as head men's basketball coach at Loyola-Maryland from 1994 to 1997, and then at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2001, where he posted a 62-60 record...
, the team finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference. The team emerged victorious in the inaugural 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1998 Big Ten tournament was played from March 5, 1998, to March 8, 1998. The tournament was held at the United Center in Chicago, and won by the Michigan Wolverines....
. The team earned an invitation to the 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
as a number three seed where it was eliminated in the second round. The team was ranked for twelve of the eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, starting the season unranked, peaking at number twelve where it ended the season, and it also ended the season ranked twelve in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 4–3 December 13, 1997 against #1 81–73 at home, December 26, 1997 against #19 Syracuse
2010–11 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Jim Boeheim, serving for his 35th year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York and are members of the Big...
93–61 at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, Eugene Guerra Sports Complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, February 1 against #16 80–66 on the road, March 8 against #9 76–67 at the 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1998 Big Ten tournament was played from March 5, 1998, to March 8, 1998. The tournament was held at the United Center in Chicago, and won by the Michigan Wolverines....
at the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
. The victory over Duke was one of only two victories over the number one ranked team in the country in the history of the school.
Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...
and Travis Conlan served as team co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
s, while Robert Traylor
Robert Traylor
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...
and Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
shared team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
(580 points), Robert Traylor (552 points) and Jerod Ward (445 points). The leading rebounders were Traylor (347), Maceo Baston (227), and Jerod Ward (206).
Bullock let the Big Ten Conference in three point field goals made in conference games (51) and all games (93). He also led the conference in three point field goal percentage in conference games (48.1%) and free throw percentage in all games (91.1%). The team led the Big Ten Conference in three point field goals made in conference games (121) and three point field goal percentage (40.1%).
Maceo Baston
Maceo Baston
Maceo Demond Baston is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, Baston played college basketball at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that...
ended his career with the current Michigan record for career field goal percentage
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
, with a 62.72%, surpassing the 61.70% mark set by Loy Vaught
Loy Vaught
Loy Stephen Vaught is a retired American professional basketball player who spent ten seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Los Angeles Clippers....
in 1990. On February 22, 1998 against , the team made 15 three point field goals, establishing a new school single-game record that would last until December 13, 2008. The team also broke the single-season three point shot record of 203 set the prior year by making 260, which was a record that would last until 2009.
In the 1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
1998 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1998 Big Ten tournament was played from March 5, 1998, to March 8, 1998. The tournament was held at the United Center in Chicago, and won by the Michigan Wolverines....
at the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
from March 5–8, Michigan was seeded fourth and earned a first round bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
. In the second round, they defeated number five 77–66. In the semifinals, they defeated number eight 85–69. In the championship game, they defeated number three 76–67.
Team players drafted into the NBA
Three players from this team were selected in the NBA DraftNBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
.
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1998 1998 NBA Draft The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors.... |
1 | 6 | Robert Traylor Robert Traylor Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:... |
Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
| 1998 | 2 | 29 (58) | Maceo Baston Maceo Baston Maceo Demond Baston is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, Baston played college basketball at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that... |
Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center... |
| 1999 1999 NBA Draft The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University... |
2 | 13 (42) | Louis Bullock Louis Bullock Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain.... |
Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
See also
- 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
- List of vacated and forfeited games in college basketball
- University of Michigan basketball scandalUniversity of Michigan basketball scandalThe University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...