WHY M WILL WIN! Wolverines Are Due for College Basketball's Biggest Triumph
April 7, 2013
3 Comments
|
|||||||||||||
| Printer Friendly Story View |
Milt Mead is seated second from right on the 1954 University of Michigan basketball team.
Forward Mitch McGary in a Wolverine photo.
Michigan, not Louisville, will cut the nets down Monday night in Atlanta.
The Wolverines have the most vital element -- motivation.
Not that the Cardinals won't give them a tussle; but the Michigan team just won't be denied.
M has the big M -- Momentum.
And, don't forget the biggest M of all -- McGary.
And Trey Burke is due, too, to return to high scoring ranks after bench players helped out against Syracuse.
That's the way this columnist sees it after 60 years of covering sports.
Keep in mind if you were writing about basketball when players shot free throws underhand, you have an edge.
I don't go back to the peach basket days, but pretty far, anyway, to George Mikan's time, and Bob Cousy, and Milt Mead.
Remember Milt Mead? He was 6-10, the same height as Michigan's Mitch McGary -- in fact he, too played for the Wolverines. And as a freshman starter on the varsity, like McGary.
Milt was on the track team, too. He could high jump his height; try it some time.
Milt was NCAA high jump champion in 1953.
When Milt was inducted into the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame a few years ago he surprised everyone since his career has been a minister in California, a mild-mannered, soft-spoken gentleman of the old school.
When Mead scored 23 points helping the Bay City Central High Wolves to defeat Owosso in 1949, the newspapers called him the tallest prep cager in the state. The sportswriter said he was 6-8, but he must have grown a couple inches, and least in legend, when he reached college.
Milt's record of 269 points in the Saginaw Valley League in 1949 stood for more than 10 years, until broken by Ernie Thompson of Saginaw in 1961.
Those were the days, some may remember, the box score in the paper included free throws missed, yup, that's right, free throws missed, along with a complete box score for the junior varsity and the names of the referees.
As a Wolverine, the sportswriters reduced his height to 6-7, but he scored 17 to lead Michigan to its first win of the 1951-52 season over Colorado. They had lost to Central Michigan, Butler and Pennsylvania until Mead stepped up and a 58-55 victory ensued.
No doubt McGary, who played prep ball at a private academy in New Hampshire, was not the tallest in that state, or in his home of Indiana.
At Brewster Academy McGary was coached by Jason Smith. He played three seasons at Chesterton High School before enrolling in Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)
Averaging 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals, McGary led Brewster to a 33-1 record. Brewster defeated Hargrave Military Academy (87-76) in the National Prep Championship, with McGary posting 12 points and 12 rebounds. McGary played for East team at All-American Championship in New Orleans during Final Four weekend (2012) ... Played for USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team at Nike Hoop Summit in Portland (2012).
His given name is Mitchell Neil William McGary. Son of Valerie and Tim McGary he was born June 6, 1992 in Chesterton, Ind.
At Michigan McGary is enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts as undecided major. He is left-handed. He grew up and played with former Wolverine Zack Novak.
| Printer Friendly Story View |
"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers! |
|
jklei Says:
On April 08, 2013
at 03:54 AM
Dave,
Right on spot. Go Blue. As a dyed in the wool Wolverine watched the last few minutes of the game with high pitched excitement. M go Blue. Joan |
|
RickPitinoDestroyedUofM Says:
On April 09, 2013
at 10:20 AM
Way to hit that prediction Dave. Not!
|
|
|
Dave Rogers |
|
|
|
Printer-Friendly Story View
0200 Nd: 04-20-2024 d 4 cpr 0
12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm
SPONSORED LINKS
12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm