The 1996–97 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1996–97 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 Steve Fisher, the team finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten Conference. The team earned an invitation to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament where it emerged as champion. The team was ranked for sixteen of the eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll, starting the season ranked ninth, peaking at number fourth and ending unranked, and it also ended the season unranked in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 3–4 record against ranked opponents, including the following victories: December 8, 1996, against #10 Duke 62–61 on the road, December 21, 1996, against #6 Arizona 73–71 in overtime at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and on January 9, 1997, against #25 Illinois 88–74 at home.
Robert Traylor and Travis Conlan served as team co-captains, while Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock shared team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Louis Bullock (569 points), Robert Traylor (460 points), and Maurice Taylor (433 points). The leading rebounders were Robert Traylor (271), Maceo Baston (231), and Maurice Taylor (218).
Bullock led the Big Ten Conference in three-point field goals made in all games (101) and free throw percentage in conference games (89.3%). The team led the Big Ten in scoring average with a 73.3 average in conference games.
Bullock set school records for single-season three-point field goals (101) made and single-season free throw percentage (84.48), surpassing Glen Rice (99, 1989) and Cazzie Russell (84.27, 1964), respectively. Both marks continue to be school bests but carry an asterisk due to Bullock's participation in the University of Michigan basketball scandal. Bullock would surpass his free throw percentage mark two years later. The team set a new school record for single-season three-point shots made (203), which they would rebreak the following season. This surpassed the 196 total set in 1989.
National Invitation Tournament West Michigan 76, Miami 63 Second Round Michigan 75, Oklahoma State 65 Quarterfinal Michigan 67, Notre Dame 66 Semifinal Michigan 77, Arkansas 62 Final Michigan 82, Florida State 73
Statistics The team posted the following statistics: Name GP GS Min Avg FG FGA FG% 3FG 3FGA 3FG% FT FTA FT% OR DR RB Avg Ast Avg PF DQ TO Stl Blk Pts Avg Louis Bullock*3535116933.41813960.4571012140.4721061280.82822831053.0762.26516038556916.3 Robert Traylor*353595227.21903420.55600 801760.4551211502717.7330.9117599403646013.1 Maurice Taylor*3533105230.11743420.509150.200841170.718841342186.2401.195471263143312.4 Maceo Baston341183024.41152010.572010.0001221820.6701061252316.8150.497465293535210.3 Brandun Hughes34293927.61082750.39326880.29557780.7311947661.9792.3944802002998.8 Jerod Ward352581323.2982790.351461340.34350710.70451721233.5270.8661641792928.3 Travis Conlan3534112232.1561480.37828790.35426450.57839921313.71574.5814855441664.7 Peter Vignier240853.53110.27300 140.25097160.710.0 051470.3 Ron Oliver230602.6290.222111.000221.0001120.120.117054170.3 Tai Streets130362.8111.00000 240.5003470.510.110020140.3 Ryan DeKuiper90131.4150.200030.000020.0003030.320.20020020.2 Darius Taylor6061.0130.33300 00 1010.200.0 000020.3 Josh Palmer1011.0111.00000 00 0000.000.01020022.0 Erik Szyndlar100131.300 00 00 0220.2 0001000.0 Nick Haratsaris7091.3040.000030.00000 0330.4 0030000.0 TEAM35 52701223.5 4 Season Total35 93120170.4622035280.3845308090.655511790130137.2 23547230126259574.1 Opponents35 87020550.4232006110.3274406670.660494710120434.448914.07011955023291238068.0 * Denotes players whose individual records, awards and other honors have been vacated due to NCAA and U-M sanctions
Rankings
Team players drafted into the NBA Four players from this team were selected in the NBA draft.
Year Round Pick Overall Player NBA Club 1997 1 14 14 Maurice Taylor Los Angeles Clippers 1998 1 6 6 Robert Traylor Dallas Mavericks 1998 2 29 58 Maceo Baston Chicago Bulls 1999 2 13 42 Louis Bullock Minnesota Timberwolves
See also 1997 National Invitation Tournament List of vacated and forfeited games in college basketball University of Michigan basketball scandal
References