The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/614487
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Zack Novak File Michigan Accomplishments: Played in 134 career games (tied for third all time) … Started 122 career games (third all time) … Started 93 straight games to close career … Scored 1,082 career points (40th all time) … Grabbed 609 career rebounds (25th all time) … Became 28th U-M player to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds in a career … Made 214 career three-point field goals (fourth all time) … Played 4,357 career minutes (first all time) … Second U-M player to serve as captain for three seasons, joining Lester Abram … Became just the second sophomore captain for the Wolverines, joining the late Robert Traylor … Helped U-M make NCAA Tournament in three of four seasons … Aided in U-M return to NCAA Tournament in 2009 after an 11-year absence … Helped U-M win the Big Ten title in 2012, its first crown in 26 years, sharing it with Michigan State and Ohio State. Professional Accomplishments: Novak played one year in the Netherlands, leading his team and finishing in the top three in the league in scoring. Education: Graduated with a business degree in 2012 from the Ross School of Business. Michigan Memory: Michigan was 1-6 in the Big Ten heading into a game at Michigan State in 2011, but the Wolverines pulled out a 61-57 win. "We lose that game, things are going south quickly … that would probably be the straw that breaks the camel's back," Novak said. "I don't know if we'd have come back, and I don't think we'd make the tourney that year. "We all stepped up that game. Stu [Douglass] hit the huge shot [a three down the stretch], Darius Morris was really good, Jordan Morgan. The guys played really well." Novak, though, was the catalyst. He made three straight triples after U-M had fallen behind 16-11, and six of eight overall en route to 19 points. "We took the bus to the game and were late because of snow," Novak recalled. "Normally we got there an hour and a half before the game to warm up — but this time it was only 40 minutes, which for that team was a Godsend. The last thing we needed was guys like Tim Hardaway, playing his first game in the Breslin, sitting there with their crowd for an hour and a half. "It worked out in our favor. We went in, got a quick warm-up in, very uncon- ventional. The coaches always talk about sticking to a routine, but sometimes it's good to break it, especially when you're 1-6. "I always liked playing there. It was always a big basket and the ball went in. It was one of those days I felt like I couldn't miss." Family: Novak is single and resides in Chicago.