The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN BASKETBALL around to keep the good times roll- ing, in concert with Michigan's younger players. They never really got the chance. LeVert spent his final two Big Ten seasons languishing on the bench, with a broken foot as a junior fol- lowed by an undisclosed lower leg injury this season. Out of 36 possible regular-season Big Ten games played during his final two years, LeVert participated in eight. Albrecht labored his way through as a junior, on hips that would both require postseason surgery. He tried to come back as a senior, but never really did, closing down his career — barring a shot at a fifth year next season. Neither wants to take anything away from their present teammates. Both feel like they could have made a difference. "As you can see, seniors are a big part of college basketball this year," LeVert said. "I really think Spike and myself could have helped the team out a lot this year, had we been healthy." "It stinks," Albrecht expanded. "It was a similar situation last year, with Derrick [Walton Jr.] and Caris [in- jured]. Just seeing the guys log such heavy minutes this year, wanting to get out there and help but knowing I can't. It definitely doesn't sit well. "I think it would have been a lot different. I can't make any remarks regarding our record, where it would be or anything like that. But I just know from experience, I think it's a lot different. The teams are a lot dif- ferent when you have senior leaders out there. "The fact that we don't have any seniors playing this year … I think our young guys have done a great job. They're in there growing and getting better every day. But it's just tough when you don't have seniors playing big-time college basketball." LeVert is convinced — despite the disappointments of the last two sea- sons — that Michigan basketball re- mains on very solid ground. It just didn't get the breaks it needed … or at least the right ones. "I think we're still moving in the right direction," LeVert said. "We've had to adjust to a lot — me and Spike being injured the last couple of years. That's a huge blow to the team. "A lot of people don't see that, but we're the two oldest guys on the team. We've had the most experience on the team. We've played the most games. I think we've adjusted well to those circumstances." "I think we're in a good spot," Al- brecht concurred. "The coaches and the guys, considering what we've gone through the past couple of years, in terms of injuries … I'm not using that for an excuse. But I don't think we've really flinched, in terms of attitude and effort." Albrecht might flinch a little, hearing that lineup full of seniors announced in the back of his mind. Then again, he's got plenty of com- pany there. So it was that on March 5, Michi- gan went through the pre-game cer- emonies with its seniors, giving out