The Wolverine

April 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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24 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2019 For someone already playing with an edge, Simpson found himself handed a scythe. The junior chooses his words care- fully when discussing the situation. Sure, he felt the doubt coming his way, but he also felt the need to han- dle it properly. "Yeah, it definitely made me feel like I was getting challenged," Simp- son said. "At the end of the day, I didn't want to do anything to that person to make him look bad, because we're teammates." He also didn't discuss the situation with Beilein, he assured. "No," Simpson said. "I didn't want to do that to him. At the end of the day, Coach is doing what's best for his team. He's been doing it for a while. He's a great coach, and I believe in him. He didn't have the trust in me he thought he should have, so that just comes with it. "He picked up a guard he thought could gain that trust. I felt like it all worked out. We went to the national championship. Coach did what he was supposed to do." What Simpson did — and after- wards, said — would have made an iconic coach from another sport smile. "Definitely, it motivated me," he said. "Of course. At the same time, it had to be controlled. We're on the same team, and it's about The Team, The Team, The Team, not about who's the starting point guard. "I felt I showed a lot of maturity during that situation." He's been showing that, and more, this year, according to his teammates. "We all knew he was an animal last year, but he's a beast this year," sophomore forward Isaiah Livers noted. "He's doing everything. He's finally knocking the shots down that he worked on all of last season. "He's finding guys, dribbling to the basket. He's just making the right play every time he touches the ball, and you can't forget about his defense." "What he's doing right now is not really surprising me," redshirt junior wing Charles Matthews added. "I al- ways knew what a hell of a player he was. He's more in command now. Last year, he never second-guessed himself, but he's a coach on the floor right now. "Coach B does a great job of coach- ing us, but Zavier runs the show. He's got the keys to the engine. He's done Simpson Climbs The List Of Michigan Ironmen Zavier Simpson appears well on his way to playing in more basketball games than anyone ever to pull on the uniform for Michigan. He entered NCAA Tournament play with 113 games under his belt, never failing to answer the bell in a single contest during his three seasons at Michigan. With the NCAA Tournament at hand, he'll be adding to that total. Expected back for a fourth year in a Michigan uniform, Simpson could be- come the Wolverines' all-time ironman even before tournament time rolls around in 2020. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman climbed to the top of Michigan's games played list last year, finishing his career with 144 appearances for the Wolver- ines. Two other John Beilein players, Zak Irvin and Jordan Morgan, are tied for second with 142. Those three all parlayed extended schedules and Michigan's tournament success over the past few years into lofty numbers. Here's a look at the Wol- verines making up the top 25 in terms of seeing the court over their careers: All-Time Michigan Games Played Rk. Name (Years) GP 1. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (2015-18) 144 2. Zak Irvin (2014-17) 142 Jordan Morgan (2011-14) 142 4. Stu Douglass (2009-12) 136 5. Loy Vaught (1986-90) 135 6. Zack Novak (2009-12) 134 Glen Rice (1986-89) 134 8. Courtney Sims (2007-10) 133 9. DeShawn Sims (2007-10) 132 Michael Griffin (1989-90) 132 Louis Bullock (1996-99) 132 12. Dion Harris (2004-07) 131 13. Jimmy King (1992-95) 130 14. Ron Coleman (2005-07) 129 14. Gary Grant (1985-88) 129 16. Derrick Walton Jr. (2014-17) 127 16. Antoine Joubert (1984-87) 127 18. Maceo Baston (1995-98) 126 18. Eric Riley (1990-93) 126 20. Ray Jackson (1992-95) 125 20. Travis Conlan (1995-98) 125 22. Matt Vogrich (2010-13) 124 22. Richard Rellford (1983-86) 124 24. Roy Tarpley (1983-86) 122 25. Josh Asselin (1998-2001) 121 — John Borton Simpson has never missed a game during his Michigan career going into the NCAA Tournament, a span of 113 contests. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL

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