The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? skills in rebounding, shot blocking and defending caused many to see him as saner Dennis Rodman. Some considered his freshman class — including Maurice Taylor, Jerod Ward, Willie Mitchell and Travis Con- lan — to be perfect for carrying on the deep NCAA Tournament runs of their predecessors. But in 1994-95, only Jimmy King and Ray Jackson re- mained from the Fab Five, and rough waters awaited. Western Kentucky booted the Wol- verines from of the first round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament, 82-76. Michigan led by three with a dozen seconds remaining, but couldn't hang on, leaving King and Jackson — along with the freshman class — feeling awfully empty. "That was bittersweet," Baston re- called. "It was my first time of living that dream, getting to the NCAA Tour- nament. Losing in the first round made it bitter. That was a team we should have beaten, but they played their butts off. "I didn't get the experience of go- ing deep into the tournament like I wanted. But to be on the court with Jimmy and Ray, and to be coached by Coach [Steve] Fisher, my dream was coming true before my eyes." Almost unfathomably, Baston and his teammates never knew a deep NCAA run. They lost in the first round to Texas the following year, 80-76. They didn't make the NCAA Tournament in 1997, but won the NIT. After winning the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in 1998 by beating Pur- due, the Wolverines lost to UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tour- nament. Baston's most vivid recollec- tion occurred in Chicago at the confer- ence gathering. Michigan Accomplishments: Played four seasons for the Wolverines, av- eraging between 7.7 points as a freshman in 1994-95 and 12.7 as a senior … Averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds for his career … Played in three NCAA Tournaments, and on the NIT championship team in 1997 … Helped lead the Wolverines to the title at the first Big Ten Tournament in 1998. Professional Accomplishments: Played 13 years professionally, with Indiana and Toronto in the NBA, in the CBA with the Quad City Thunder, and on over- seas stops in Italy, Spain, Ukraine and Israel … Was a member of two European Championship teams while playing in Israel … Started Taste Love Cupcakes in Royal Oak, Mich., in 2012. Education: Earned a Bachelor's degree in general studies in 1998. Michigan Memory: "Our standard of how we look at things is just different. We're a research university, open minded, and really thorough. I really try to be that in all things in life — do it to a Michigan standard. From the block M, to the colors, to all sports, doctors, education, business … we are on another level." Family: Has two children: Maceo II, 19, and Marion, 11. The Maceo Baston File