Off-season conditioning keeps Wolverines in shape

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Robbie Reid and the Michigan basketball team have been working hard in the offseason to improve their games. They will likely need to use all of that effort this season, as the Wolverines have to replace four key players from last year's team.

By Josh Kleinbaum
Daily Sports Editor

Robbie Reid walked from booth to booth last Friday, stopping at the big investment banking firms to pick up literature. At most other booths, he simply walked by.

It was Meet the Firms day at the School of Business Administration, and Reid, like most other Business students, had a job to find.

But, when the fair was over and most of the students went to the library to hit the books or the bar to hit the tap, Reid went to the gym to the hit the weights.

The basketball season is still a month-and-a-half away and official practice doesn't start for more than two weeks. But Reid, along with the rest of the Michigan basketball team, still has a rigorous practice schedule to keep.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays the players hit the gym for a captains practice, followed by a stint in the weight room. On Tuesdays and Thursdays it's a team run.

"The conditioning program is a little more upscale this year," Reid said. "We're not going to be beat upcourt."

Although the schedule is not too much different than it was a year ago, everything surrounding it is. Last year at this time, the NCAA released the results of a lengthy investigation into the Michigan basketball program, finding three minor rules violations. Just days later, athletic director Tom Goss fired coach Steve Fisher and gave Brian Ellerbe the interim job.

Instead of going to Meet the Firms, Reid went to the Sheraton and stood alongside his teammates at a pseudo-press conference as Fisher claimed his innocence. Fisher spoke out, players spoke out - and even Robert Traylor's grandmother spoke out.

With Ellerbe firmly in place as the coach, this go-round has been much smoother.

"Without the distractions, it's been a real good thing for us," Reid said. "We're stronger, a pretty close-knit group. We've been through some pretty trying times together."

Well, most players have been through some trying times. But some, mainly the frontcourt, didn't make it all the way.

With would-be senior Traylor opting for the riches of a locked-out NBA over another year of college ball, and Maceo Baston and Jerod Ward's graduation, the rest of the Big Ten is licking its chops, waiting for a crack at what's left.

"We've got some pretty big shoes to fill," Reid said. "We've got some guys who will hopefully pick it up and try to fill those shoes."

One of those guys if freshman Chris Young, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward who will likely see lots of playing time right of the bat.

"I'm impressed with Chris' conditioning," Reid said. "And he moves pretty well for his size. He jumps well and has a real high release point."

But the backcourt, led by Reid and senior shooting guard Lou Bullock, is different story. Both are proven outside threats, and Bullock developed an excellent penetration game last season. Reid has been looking to do the same this year.

"I've been working on my offensive skills," Reid said. "Penetration and my mid-range jump shot. People know I can shoot the three, and they'll be looking for that, so I'm going to try to dish the ball and get the big man involved."

The backcourt-oriented team is a new look for Michigan.

"That's going to be the focal point of the team," swingman Brandon Smith said of the backcourt. "That's a change from the past. We've always been a front-court team, with Robert and Maceo. The times are changing."

The Wolverines are upbeat. Suddenly viewed as a second-division team, Michigan is out to surprise some people.

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