Tomjanovich averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds per game in his senior season, earning him All-American honors. As a three-time letterwinner, he pulled down 1,039 rebounds, the highest career total in Michigan history.
Tomjanovich also holds Michigan records for single-game scoring and field goals (48 points and 21 field goals) and single-game rebounding - 27 in Michigan's first game at Crisler Arena on Dec. 2, 1967.
Tomjanovich was drafted second overall in 1970 by the San Diego (now Houston) Rockets, where he played his entire 11-year career with the organization. Now, as the team's coach, 'Rudy T,' as he is called, pilots a team with three of the NBA's 50 greatest players - Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley.
The Daily's Jordan Field recently sat down with Rudy T. to talk about his career at Michigan, his job with the Rockets and the changes in college basketball since the '70s.
Daily: After all these years, do you still feel you have ties to the University?
Tomjanovich: Very much so. I still get goose bumps when I hear the 'Hail to the Victors.' I have to admit I don't watch many sporting events during the season because I feel I can use that time to watch tapes for us, but I should probably do that a little more.
But I am very proud of the football team and also the basketball team. I watched that game against Duke this year and I thought that was a very emotional game.
D: I saw that the Rockets had three days off at the end of the year. Did you find the time to watch the Rose Bowl?
T: Oh, no. I couldn't because we had practices and all that stuff. But I was proud that I was associated with the University of Michigan at that time, and it's always been a great university.
What drew me there was the basketball program, and it just keeps building. It's a great institution.
D: How do you feel about the football team sharing the title with Nebraska?
T: Well, it's always something. I thought we were No. 1, but I don't get involved with the politics of the whole thing.
D: How do you think the college basketball game has changed since your days in college?
T: Well, there are different jerseys that are much baggier now. But the game of college basketball is a great game. It's a lot different from when I played, and it's a lot different from the NBA game, but it is a great, very exciting game. I look forward to the time of the NBA Draft because that's when I can sit down and watch a lot of film from the college basketball season.
D: What are your best memories from college?
T: Well, we never really won too much when I was there, and we never had any tournament play. But, my junior year, I believe we played the nation's hardest college schedule, and then my senior year we played the second-hardest schedule.
I really got to play against some good ballplayers and teams. Our first game at Crisler Arena was against Kentucky and they blew us out, but that was a great memory of going against Adolph Rupp and those guys. I was even really happy to see the success the Michigan program had after I left.
Guys like Johnny Orr, who was really good to me - I was happy to see them win even if I wasn't there. My roommate, Dan Fife, whose son recently played at Michigan, was a good friend of mine. So I have a really warm feeling thinking about it there, and many good memories from the years I had at college.
D: Is Johnny Orr someone you would credit for your knowledge of the game that has helped your success as a coach?
T: Well, everybody that I came in touch with, player or coach, has really helped me. I can't really pick just one, but he was certainly a major influence on me.
- For question or suggestions about future or past Q&As, the Daily's Jordan Field can be reached over e-mail at jmfield@umich.edu.
02-16-98
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