The Wolverine

February 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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12 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2019   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS IGNAS BRAZDEIKIS LANDS ON MIDSEASON WOODEN AWARD WATCH LIST On Jan. 9, Michigan freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis was placed on the Wooden National Player of the Year Award Midseason Top 25 list, which is given annually to college basketball's most outstanding player and is tabbed as the sport's "most prestigious honor" (according to the accolade's website). As of Jan. 21, the freshman was leading the Wolverines in scoring at 14.8 points per game, while his 5.2 rebounds ranked second. Brazdeikis was actually one of just five fresh- men in the country to make the list, joining Duke forward R.J. Barrett, Kentucky guard Keldon Johnson, Indiana guard Romeo Langford and Duke forward Zion Williamson. The Big Ten placed seven players on the list, which was two more than any other conference (the ACC was next with five). The other six league players were Purdue junior guard Carsen Edwards, Wisconsin fifth-year senior forward Ethan Happ, Langford, Minnesota senior forward Jordan Murphy, Nebraska fifth-year senior guard James Palmer and Michi- gan State junior guard Cassius Winston. The winner of the accolade will be revealed during the ESPN College Basketball Awards April 12, just four days after the national championship game April 8. If Brazdeikis winds up taking home the honor, he will become just the second Wolverine ever to do so, joining Trey Burke (2013). RED BERENSON TO RECEIVE JOHN MACINNES AWARD On Jan. 18, the America Hockey Coaches Associa- tion announced that former Michigan ice hockey coach Red Berenson was the win- ner of the prestigious John M acI nnes Award, which honors the coach who has shown great concern for amateur hockey and youth programs. In addition, the past win- ners of the prize have had "outstanding graduating percentages among their former players" and have "helped young men grow not only as hockey players, but more importantly, as men." Berenson will be hon- ored at either a luncheon during the Frozen Four April 11 in Buffalo or during the AHCA Convention May 1-4 in Naples, Fla. The legendary coach led the Wolverines to a 848-426- 92 (.654 winning percent- age) record from 1984-2017, including the 1996 and 1998 NCAA national championships. The Maize and Blue's streak of 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1991-2012 also marks the longest streak in college hockey history. Berenson not only shined as a coach at Michigan, but also as a player (1959-62). He won All-America honors as both a junior and senior, and his 43 goals and nine hat tricks in 1962 still stand as school records. Since retiring from coaching in 2017, the 79-year-old has served as a special advisor to U-M director of athletics Warde Manuel. TY LAW AND STEVE HUTCHINSON NAMED FINALISTS FOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Two former Wolverine football players — offensive guard Steve Hutchinson and cornerback Ty Law — were each an- nounced Jan. 3 as two of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hutchinson played 12 seasons in the NFL following a ten- ure in Ann Arbor (1996-2000) that saw him earn All-Big Ten status four times, as well as All-America recognition during his final two years, while also taking home the league's Of- fensive Lineman of the Year award in 2000. He was then chosen by the Seattle Seahawks 17th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft, and went on to play with the Min- nesota Vikings (2006-11) and Tennessee Titans (2012) after that. He made seven consec- utive Pro Bowls from 2003- 09 and was also a five-time first-team All-Pro selection (2003, 2005, 2007-09). Law, meanwhile, enjoyed a three-year career at Michi- gan from 1992-94 that cul- minated with first-team All- America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foun- dation in 1994. The New England Patriots selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, and he played with them until 2004, before moving on to the New York Jets (2005, 2008), Kansas City Chiefs (2006-07) and Denver Broncos (2009). Law finished his professional career with 53 interceptions, twice lead- ing the NFL in that category (1998, 2005), and was a five- time Pro Bowler (1998, 2001- 03, 2005) and a two-time first-team All-Pro selection (1998, 2003). The Hall of Fame inductees will be revealed Feb. 2, one day prior to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. — Austin Fox MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Former U-M offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson was a five-time first- team All-Pro and two-time second-team All-Pro during his 12-year NFL career. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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