Feb. 1, 2011

Well just a little has changed since I last blogged. We happened to beat some team in East Lansing that a lot of people seem to care a great deal about. All I have to say is ...

What a game!

It was crazy to be a part of and I really wish all of our fans could have been in the locker room after the game. We went into a very hostile environment where the fans know way more about you then they should and when we left all I heard was a lot of silence.

As a player, that is the best feeling when you see the fans with their hands over their heads not saying a word. We have worked so hard and everyone wanted to win that game, not just for all 15 players on our team but also all of our great fans. We talked all week about how Maize and Blue nation needed this win and we got it for all of you.

I was really happy for Coach Beilein. He has worked so hard and we could all tell how much this win meant for him. He was even a little speechless after the game, but we got him to sing "The Victors," which was a great moment.

For me, if someone asked me what the best part of my basketball career has been since I arrived on campus -- it would be it seeing Coach singing "The Victors" at Michigan State.

We then beat Iowa at home, a game in which we showed off our great passing and shooting. It also helps when Darius (Morris) plays like Magic Johnson and picks up a triple-double. It was like a replay over and over, Darius to Jordan for a dunk, Darius to Tim for a three, back to Jordan for a dunk and then to Evan for a three.

I heard the little dribblers put in a terrific show at halftime of the game, so congrats to all of them for a job well done. We will see you on Friday for the pizza party.

Lastly, before I try to answer as many questions as possible, we get to play our other rival school in Ohio this week.

As I told my teammates, does it get any better than going to play the undefeated No. 1 team in the country on the road who happens to be your rival? This is what we all dreamed about growing up and now we have to go live it out Thursday night!

Onto your questions... sorry it has taken so long

» From Brad

Who chooses what color uniforms you are going to where and how often do you get new shoes? Can you get a different color/style before every game?

ANSWER: Great question Brad. I get this question a lot. Our equipment manager Bob Bland chooses what uniforms we wear, but we get some say on what color. We can't wear blue at home or white on the road, but maize can be worn all the time. So depending on the color of jersey we then pick what color shoes. We have maize, black and white shoes and multiple versions of each color. I know we are very spoiled, but we all appreciate how much adidas gives us. So yes the styles do change from game to game, if I had to guess you will see maize on Thursday.

» From Drew

Are you guys coached to try to put offensive rebounds back up, or is it an individual decision? I've noticed that most of the time the rebounder puts it right back up, instead of kicking it back out to run the offense again.

We are coached, if you can score right away, then go back up with it, but we have such great shooters that if you are double-teamed kick it out and we can get a great shot from your rebound. A lot of people don't realize one of the best ways to get an open three is off a missed shot. Coach Alexander has a done a great job helping everyone with rebounding and how to get the ball back out.

Do the coaches emphasize following your shot, especially on a long three-pointer? I've noticed that some of the U-M players are better at it than others. Are there some cases where the shooter is supposed to get back on defense instead of following his shot?

ANSWER: It depends on who shoots the shot. If a guard shoots the ball, we need him to get back on defense to prevent transition, but if a wing or big guy shoots the ball, he better go after that rebound because that is his job.

Does Zack Novak hustle as hard in practice as he does in games? He has the most hustle of any player I've seen in the last 35 years, except maybe Thad Garner (U-M 1978-1982).

ANSWER: Novak only knows one way to play and that is hard. Every day no matter game or practice he goes all out and it is contagious to our team. When you see one of your best players and captains going that hard, it sets a tone and message that this is how we do things here at Michigan.

How many different pairs of shoes do you guys have? Do you like the fancy maize-and-blue ones?

ANSWER:Yes, we have a lot of shoes and the fancy new maize ones are my favorite.

» From Joseph

This probably seems like a joke, but I don't mean it to be a joke. It's my understanding that your father is a sports agent. As I know it, the NCAA generally frowns on contact between student-athletes and sports agents. To ask my question in a joking way, are you allowed to talk to your dad? In a more serious way, does the NCAA have exceptions for your situation? Do they just have a VP of Common Sense (copyright Bill Simmons) who recognizes that it would be absurd to punish you? And what if you bring friends home for Hanukkah, like Novak took you home for Christmas? Would your athlete friends be allowed to talk to your dad?

ANSWER: Interesting question Joseph. I talk to my dad everyda,y so I sure hope that isn't breaking any NCAA rules. I guess when I go to the NBA I will already have an agent picked out. I think the NCAA would have some common sense, but yes my teammates talk to my dad just like he was some sort of normal guy with a normal job. It isn't a big deal and I don't think ever will be.

» From Katie

Hi, I'm a high school senior, and I will most likely be attending the University of Michigan next year. My question is... what has been your best Michigan memory, sports related or not?

ANSWER: I already told you my best basketball memory, with Coach B singing The Victors at MSU. My best non-related sports memory has to be just meeting all the alumni and fans who love Michigan. Whether it is walking around campus or just sitting in the hotel lobby on the road, it is great to see so many people bleed Maize and Blue. Coming into college I didn't realize much people love Michigan; I sure do now.

» From Brent

What kind of ball-handling drills do you guys do during practice and what is the best way I can develop my left-handed dribble?

ANSWER: We have some great ball-handling drills. I'm a big fan of dribble around cones and simulating them as defenders. To work on your left hand, just pound the ball with your left hand and dribble all around the court with just that hand. The thing with ball handling is, if you spend 15 minutes everyday working on it, you will see dramatic improvements really fast. You just got to be consistent with it.

Also, how excited is the team about the new basketball specific practice facility being built next door? What will this allow you guys to do differently next year?

ANSWER: I can't wait. We our going to have our own state-of-the-art, well, everything. From a new locker room to swimming pools to a new weight room to just about anything you could imagine will be in the new facility. It will allow us to practice whenever we want because there will no longer be conflicts with the women's team and 24-hour access to shoot on our own. It is really coming along nicely now. Actually resembles a building and not just a hole in the ground.

» From Laura

Two questions for you... Lately the entertainment has been expanded from just halftime to also during the longer media timeouts. Do the players usually have any idea what's going on? Are you distracted or amused? Second, how aware are the players on the bench and the players on the court aware of what the crowd is chanting and shouting?

ANSWERS: We can't really pay attention to the court during timeouts because we must be focused in the timeout. I'm sure some guys take a peek to see what is happening when the crowd is going crazy, but overall we are all focused on the game. We can hear people chanting, but a lot of the time it is hard to make out what they are exactly saying.

» From Lawrence

Do the players get the same educational assistance in the offseason as during the season?

ANSWER: Yes, as long as we are in school, we have great academic assistance. Tommy Jones is our academic counselor and he provides everything from tutors to book to scheduling appointments. We are very lucky to have him and he makes a huge difference. Athletes even have their own study center that really helps us out with everything being centrally located.

» From Tommy

QUESTION: Hey Josh, Why does Smotrycz wear what looks like pads on his legs?

ANSWER: I think Evan is going for the Walt Williams look if any of you know who that is. In all seriousness, he has some serious bruised knees and those pads prevent him from making them any worse. At the same time, I make fun of him all the time for looking like a ballerina.

I almost forgot, but thanks to everyone who told me where to get a haircut. From the media to fans to even some players I got a ton of suggestions.

Some gave me places in A2, others in Ypsilanti, a place in Ohio and some people even offered to come to my house and cut it themselves. I even got a girl saying if I took her out on a date she would give me a haircut for free. I have a tough choice to make.

Keep sending in your questions at askjbart20@gmail.com.

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