The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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He'll be even better when the game slows down for him, Alexander said, which comes with time and reps. And Bielfeldt? Though he's only played in 19 games, averaging 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds, he's shown signs of being able to compete bigger than his 6-7 frame. Part of that is strength, Alexander said, but it's also about smarts. "He has a very, very nice ability to create and find windows in the post," he said. "Post play is about geometry. He knows the proper angles to get the defense to move and create windows for himself offensively. "His play has been typical for a redshirt freshman. What people don't know is that Max had chronic tendonitis last year that limited his reps on the floor, so he's still catching up." Or a work in progress, as Alexander puts it, just like the rest of his group. There's a long way to go for each, but the progress is evident. ❏ Michigan's Best Big Men Of The Last 25 Years Michigan has boasted a number of outstanding big men over the last few decades, including Tim McCormick and Roy Tarpley in the mid-1980s. Here are the best of the best from the last 25 years: 1. Chris Webber — A prep All-American and a once in a decade type recruit, the Detroit Country Day product lived up to the hype in earning AllAmerica honors as a sophomore. He averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds as a true freshman and helped the Fab Five to a second straight national title game appearance in averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 boards as a sophomore. The Ed Martin scandal sullied his reputation, but there was never any denying his immense talent. Webber became the NBA's No. 1 overall pick in 1993, and he enjoyed an All-Star career before his knees finally failed him. 2. Robert Traylor — The Detroit native didn't look the part in high school physically — frankly, he more resembled an overweight offensive lineman — but there was no stopping him in the post. He was impossible to guard when he got it down low, and when he returned for his junior year in the best shape of his life, he was simply dominant. He averaged 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds as a junior and led U-M to the inaugural Big Ten Tournament title in 1998, earning MVP honors. The former McDonald's All-American tragically passed away of a heart attack on May 11, 2011, in Puerto Rico, where he'd spent two seasons playing. He was a sevenyear NBA veteran. 3. Juwan Howard — Howard would have been the elite big man on any other team in the country, but he didn't mind sharing the spotlight with Webber and the rest of the Fab Five. His unselfishness was a big part of the reason for the back-toback national title game appearances. His post game and his mid-range jumper became deadly by his freshman season, and it was clear he was