The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2019 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2 Former Michigan players were dubbed future Pro Bowlers by NFL.com expert Bucky Brooks prior to the NFL Draft. Brooks listed both linebacker Devin Bush Jr. and defensive end Rashan Gary in his second tier of projections, behind an elite group of seven, which he deemed future All-Pros, noting the 18 pros- pects in his Pro Bowl projections "are regarded as difference makers based solely on their talent. They should make immedi- ate contributions as rookies and rank among the top 10 at their position within two to three years." Brooks did order the players by how he graded them, and listed Bush fifth among his Pro Bowl grouping and Gary 15th. 3 Former Wolverines made SI.com's big board of the top 100 prospects for the NBA Draft, updated April 23: No. 45 Ignas Brazdeikis, No. 55 Jordan Poole and No. 60 Charles Matthews. It's worth noting that the draft only has 60 picks over two rounds, but the website's mock draft — posted by the same writer, Jeremy Woo, and last updated April 9 — does have all three as late second-round picks, with Poole coming off the board first at No. 51 to the Charlotte Hornets, followed by Brazdeikis 54th to the Philadelphia 76ers and Matthews 56th to the New York Knicks. Brazdeikis is the only one who may still return, as of April 29. 4 College basketball programs, including Michigan, have won 30 or more games in each of the past two seasons. It's a first in program history for U-M, which has posted a mark of 63-15 during that span, while Virginia has gone 66-6, Gonzaga 65-9 and Michigan State 62-12. 12 Is where WatchStadium.com's college basketball expert Jeff Goodman listed the Wolverines in his way-too-early top 25, which he updated April 23 to say: "There are question marks — all three of Charles Matthews, Iggy Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole could leave Ann Arbor. But if one of the three return, the Wolverines are a top-25 team." Others from the Big Ten to make the top 25 included: No. 1 Michigan State, No. 13 Maryland, No. 16 Ohio State and No. 25 Purdue (tied with Marquette). 12 Michigan alums made the NHL playoffs, which led all colleges across the country. 24 Big Ten championship-winning teams mentored by women's gymnastics coach BEV PLOCKI, a new league record for any sport. She was previously tied with Indiana swimming coach James "Doc" Counsilman. 31 Times in 37 games this basketball season one of Brazdeikis (14.5), Matthews (8.5) or Poole (eight) led the Wolverines in scoring, with each player earning half a game if they shared the scoring lead. Matthews (seven) and Brazdeikis (six) combined to lead the team in rebounding 13 times. 912.75 Points U-M had accumulated through the final winter stand- ings for the Learfield IMG Directors' Cup, an annual competi- tion for the top overall athletic department, to rank second nationally. The Wolverines were given credit for finishing third in the land for women's swimming and diving, fourth in men's gymnastics, fifth in women's gymnastics and wrestling, ninth in men's basketball, 13th in men's swimming and diving, 17th in women's basketball, 47th in men's indoor track and field, and 53rd in women's indoor track and field during the winter. Only perennial Directors' Cup champion Stanford (1,158.75 points) stood higher nationally. Big Ten squads make up half of the top 10, and follow Michigan in third, fourth, fifth and seventh places. 1,608-515-5 Is longtime softball coach Carol Hutchins' career record as of May 2. She is the first coach in college softball his- tory to reach 1,600 victories, and has spent 35 of her 36 years as a head coach at U-M. By The NUMBERS PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY