The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
Stauskas — might just be the best combo of all. Here's a look at some numbers, along with observations provided by former Wolverine and ESPN college basketball analyst Tim McCormick. 1. 2012-13 Burke, Hardaway and Stauskas — Through Jan. 22, Burke was averaging 18.0 points and 7.2 assists per game. Some are calling him the best point guard in college basketball, while Hardaway's 16.4 scoring average, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists provide a strong complement. Stauskas, meanwhile, is shooting 49.5 percent from three-point range. McCormick: "They share the job very well. Hardaway will take over for a while, and Burke seems good with that. They seem to like each other. I've seen many star combinations where guys would get jealous of each other, and that's not the case with this group." 2. 1993-94 Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson — Rose ran the show, averaging 19.9 points and 3.9 assists per game for a team that made the Elite Eight, while King tossed in 12.3 points per game and Jackson defended fiercely and averaged 11.4. McCormick: "They were the most athletic guards that Michigan's ever had. They were probably the most confident as well." 3. 1975-76 Rickey Green and Steve Grote — Green was the quickest, fastest guard Michigan ever produced, leading the Wolverines to the NCAA championship game against Indiana. He averaged 19.9 points and 4.1 assists per game, while the tough, tenacious Grote added averages of 10.5 points and 3.5 assists to the mix. McCormick: "I fell in love with Michigan basketball with Steve Grote and Rickey Green. Green was the fastest guy I had ever seen. Grote was so tough and physical and smart. They seemed to have a synergy that made life so easy for everybody else. They were great defensively, they were great leaders — to have two catalysts in the same backcourt was really special." 4. 1987-88 Gary Grant and Rumeal Robinson — Grant proved a tough, defensive-minded distributor who still averaged 21.1 points and 6.9 assists per game. Robinson, a year prior to helping the Wolverines win a national title, chipped in with 9.7 points and 4.8 assists each time out. McCormick: "They were very good defensively. They had two point guards on the court at the same time, providing really good ball handling." 5. 1986-87 Gary Grant and Antoine Joubert — Grant averaged 22.4 points and 5.4 assists per game. Joubert did his share of scoring (15.6), but also dished out 3.7 assists per game. McCormick: "They were not as good as the Grant-Robinson combo, but they were very good at passing, also. I don't think people realized, since Antoine Joubert was known as a scorer in high school, that he left Michigan as their all-time assists leader." — John Borton