By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor
The Michigan men's basketball season, above all, was as unpredictable as the proverbial box of chocolates.
The Wolverines (9-9 Big Ten, 24-11 overall) experienced a season, on and off the court, filled with everything: ranking as high as No. 4 after an 8-0 start - including victories over Duke and Arizona - then losing 11 of their next 22 games to miss the NCAA tournament, accepting a National Invitational Tournament bid and winning the tournament title.
Regardless of all the problems and speculation off the court - Maurice Taylor's decision to enter the NBA draft and the NCAA investigation - the highlight of the season came on the court in March.
Although not selected to enter the 64-team field for the NCAA tournament - even after a gutsy overtime victory over Ohio State in the season finale - the Wolverines accepted their NIT bid, to the surprise of some.
Michigan went on a tear through tournament, thanks to a resurgent Robert Traylor. The 6-8, 300-pound center led the Wolverines with 26 points against Florida State, to secure NIT title, 82-73.
Traylor's 18.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the NIT earned him the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
The five straight victories by the Wolverines gave Michigan its first post-season title since 1989, but the surge might have come a few games too late.
The Wolverines were in a position to make a late run for an NCAA bid, but key losses to Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois prevented that invitation.
But along the way, the Wolverines had several notable moments. Even before the season started, sophomore swingman Albert White was dismissed from the team for unspecified reasons.
Against Ball State in the first home game of the season, Traylor provided some excitement and national recognition for himself after shattering a backboard on a breakaway dunk.
But it was Louis Bullock, Michigan's standout sophomore guard, who rewrote the record books on a 3-pointer against Penn State. The shot gave the 6-2 guard the all-time record for 3-pointers made, breaking Glen Rice's old career mark of 135. Bullock finished with 171.
Still, the biggest news following the season is the current NCAA investigation into allegations that a booster provided money and gifts to players.
The potential of NCAA-imposed sanctions has placed a shroud over Michigan's future and has marred its recent success.
Summer Orientation 1997
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