The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/510942
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK HATCH GOES ON MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP The Austin Hatch story has taken another twist. The freshman guard, who overcame a pair of plane crashes that took all of his immediate family members, is moving from a regular scholarship to a medical one, becoming a student as- sistant for head coach John Beilein. Beilein noted it was time for Hatch, who is intent on medical studies, to make the move. "It broke my heart this year, knowing he had a test coming up, and that there were 10 to 15 minutes of practice he'd be a part of, then it got really live, really active, and that was not a thing he was ready to tackle yet," Beilein said. "For him to stand around for two hours and to think he could far better [use] his time … we did see this rise in his academics when he did have more time." Asked if this marked a tough transition for him, Hatch waved off the no- tion. "It was not hard," Hatch said. " The fact of the matter is, my academics are my priority. I'm not going to be a pro basketball player, obviously. I'm going to have to learn and become a pro at something in life. I'm excited for the opportunity to focus on my studies." Hatch noted he will always remember the free throws he shot against Coppin State in December, including a make from the line to a thunderous Crisler Center ovation. "Those are memories I will have for the rest of my life," he said. WOLVERINES TO HOST GAVITT GAME Michigan has its Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Now John Beilein's Wolverines and other Big Ten teams will be squaring off against a lineup of Big East squads come November. U-M will be hosting Xavier in the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games Nov. 20 at Crisler Arena. The battle against the Musketeers represents the final contest of an eight-game series, spread over four days. Times and television have yet to be announced. The Wolverines have never lost to Xavier, holding a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. U-M hasn't seen the Musketeers since dispatching them 92- 87 on the way to the 1989 national championship. The Gavitt Tipoff Games begin the college basketball season, and are set to run through 2022, via an eight-year agreement. Each conference gets to HATCH