1998–99 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1998–99 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
team represented the University of Michigan
in intercollegiate college basketball
during the 1998–99 season
. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference
. Under the direction of head coach
Brian Ellerbe
, the team finished tied for ninth in the Big Ten Conference. The team earned a tenth seed and advanced to the second round of the 1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
. The team failed to earn an invitation to either the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
or the 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. The team was unranked for all eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll
, and it also ended the season unranked in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 6–11 record against ranked opponents, including the following victories: November 23, 1998 against #24 59–56 in the Maui Invitational at Lahania Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii, December 30, 1998 against #19 59–55 at home, January 5, 1999 against #13 82–70 at home, January 16, 1999 against #21 84–74 at home, February 7, 1999 against #18 75–65 at home, February 27, 1999 against #16 51–39 at home.
Louis Bullock
and Robbie Reid served as team co-captain
s, while Louis Bullock
earned team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Louis Bullock
(643 points), Robbie Reid (418 points) and John Asselin (275 points). The leading rebounders were Peter Vignier (229), John Asselin (183), and Bullock (117).
Bullock led the Big Ten Conference in free throw percentage in all games (86.4%). Reid led the conference in three point field goals made in conference games (49) and three point field goal percentage in conference games (45.8%).
Bullock established the current Big Ten Conference record for career three point field goals made (339). The record carries an asterisk in the Big Ten Media guide and Pete Lisicky's (332, 1998) name is below Bullock's with a 1 next to it signifying it is the highest recognized total. There is a similar asterisk in the Michigan record book where his name is above Dion Harris's 268 total in 2007. Bullock also ended his career with the highest total number of free throw
s made (505) in Michigan history, above Cazzie Russell's 486 total set in 1966. Bullock's career free throw percentage of 86.03 surpassed Russell's 82.65 from 1966 and still is above Lester Abram
's 82.93 from 2007. Bullock surpassed his 1997 single-season free throw record with a 91.11%.
The team surpassed the 1987 team’s 75.0% mark as the best free throw shooting team in school history with a 75.2% average. This stood as the best in school history until 2002. On December 9, 1998, it set the school single-game record by making 34 free throws against the . This surpassed the 33 made on January 23, 1971 and was surpassed twice the following season.
Bullock set the career records for minutes played (4356) and games started (129), surpassing Gary Grant
’s 1988 totals of 4231 and 128. Both continue to be school bests with Grant holding the highest untarnished totals.
In the 1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
at the United Center
from March 4–7, Michigan was seeded tenth. In the first round they defeated number 7 79–73 in overtime
. In the second round, they lost to number two 87–69.
.
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
team represented the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in intercollegiate college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
during the 1998–99 season
1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament whose finals were held at Tropicana Field in . The Connecticut Huskies earned their first national championship by defeating the Duke Blue Devils 77–74 on March 29, 1999...
. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena
Crisler Arena
Crisler Arena, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, is the home arena for the University of Michigan men's and women's basketball teams. Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 13,751 spectators. It is named for Herbert O...
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Under the direction of head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Hersholt Ellerbe is an American basketball coach, currently an assistant at DePaul.The Seat Pleasant, Maryland native served as head men's basketball coach at Loyola-Maryland from 1994 to 1997, and then at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2001, where he posted a 62-60 record...
, the team finished tied for ninth in the Big Ten Conference. The team earned a tenth seed and advanced to the second round of the 1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1999 Big Ten tournament was played from March 4, 1999, to March 7, 1999. The tournament was held at the United Center in Chicago, and won by the Michigan State Spartans....
. The team failed to earn an invitation to either the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
1999 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Xavier 106, Oregon 75...
or the 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
. The team was unranked for all eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, and it also ended the season unranked in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 6–11 record against ranked opponents, including the following victories: November 23, 1998 against #24 59–56 in the Maui Invitational at Lahania Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii, December 30, 1998 against #19 59–55 at home, January 5, 1999 against #13 82–70 at home, January 16, 1999 against #21 84–74 at home, February 7, 1999 against #18 75–65 at home, February 27, 1999 against #16 51–39 at home.
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
and Robbie Reid served as team co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
s, while Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
earned team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock
Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
(643 points), Robbie Reid (418 points) and John Asselin (275 points). The leading rebounders were Peter Vignier (229), John Asselin (183), and Bullock (117).
Bullock led the Big Ten Conference in free throw percentage in all games (86.4%). Reid led the conference in three point field goals made in conference games (49) and three point field goal percentage in conference games (45.8%).
Bullock established the current Big Ten Conference record for career three point field goals made (339). The record carries an asterisk in the Big Ten Media guide and Pete Lisicky's (332, 1998) name is below Bullock's with a 1 next to it signifying it is the highest recognized total. There is a similar asterisk in the Michigan record book where his name is above Dion Harris's 268 total in 2007. Bullock also ended his career with the highest total number of free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
s made (505) in Michigan history, above Cazzie Russell's 486 total set in 1966. Bullock's career free throw percentage of 86.03 surpassed Russell's 82.65 from 1966 and still is above Lester Abram
Lester Abram
Lester C. Abram, Jr. is an American basketball player .Abram was named team captain during his senior year at University of Michigan, making him the Wolverines' first three-time captain. He averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in his 21 appearances. He has made quite a...
's 82.93 from 2007. Bullock surpassed his 1997 single-season free throw record with a 91.11%.
The team surpassed the 1987 team’s 75.0% mark as the best free throw shooting team in school history with a 75.2% average. This stood as the best in school history until 2002. On December 9, 1998, it set the school single-game record by making 34 free throws against the . This surpassed the 33 made on January 23, 1971 and was surpassed twice the following season.
Bullock set the career records for minutes played (4356) and games started (129), surpassing Gary Grant
Gary Grant
Gary Grant is a retired American professional basketball player at the point guard position in the NBA.Gary "The General" Grant played for Canton McKinley High School and collegiately at the University of Michigan....
’s 1988 totals of 4231 and 128. Both continue to be school bests with Grant holding the highest untarnished totals.
In the 1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
1999 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1999 Big Ten tournament was played from March 4, 1999, to March 7, 1999. The tournament was held at the United Center in Chicago, and won by the Michigan State Spartans....
at the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
from March 4–7, Michigan was seeded tenth. In the first round they defeated number 7 79–73 in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. In the second round, they lost to number two 87–69.
Team players drafted into the NBA
One player from this team was selected in the NBA DraftNBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
.
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1999 1999 NBA Draft The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University... |
2 | 13 (42) | Louis Bullock Louis Bullock Louis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain.... |
Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
See also
- List of vacated and forfeited games in college basketball
- University of Michigan basketball scandalUniversity of Michigan basketball scandalThe University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...