Asselin Steps Up for Wolverines

by Andrew Golding

Steve Fisher is smiling and perhaps marveling at the play of his former recruit, a 6’11” forward formerly regarded as a beanpole. For Josh Asselin, once considered a project, now poses a legitimate scoring threat as a vital member of this year’s Michigan basketball team.

In an 84-74 victory over Ohio State on January 16th, Asselin posted career-bests for a third straight game: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists. In the process, he proved himself a solid scorer, complementing veteran guards Louis Bullock and Robbie Reid.

Versus OSU, Asselin was all over the floor, terrorizing the Buckeyes. Asselin blocked shots by guards Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd as they entered his paint area, performed a near chin-up while dunking, fed Reid for an open trey, and nailed a jumper to seal the contest. Currently sans nickname, Asselin’s performance should inspire some to call him “Mr. Ubiquitous.”

The improvement of the sophomore forward is epitomized by his hair, which he transformed from a dyed-dirty blond rug to a threatening, shaved-to-the-core, Demi Moore “G.I. Jane” getup. Displaying consistent effort, Asselin now battles for rebounds and position in the post, and sets hard screens. Early in the 2nd half, Asselin fought for inside position, and rebounded a Bullock miss. His subsequent attempt was off and he again grabbed the rebound. After another miss, he controlled the board and finally laid the ball in. Overall, three attempts, three offensive rebounds, and two hard-earned points for Asselin.

Justifiably overshadowed by Asselin, Bullock contributed 19 points and held Redd, a bigger, stronger player, to 3 of 12 shooting. Both guards have pro-potential and the matchup may be among the first of many.

Redd attempted to isolate and post the smaller Bullock, but such tactics rarely succeed in the college game, where zone defenses and off-the-ball double-teaming are allowed. Bullock received help from teammates, and Redd’s own oft-wayward shooting. Years from now, Redd will likely dominate Bullock if they are matched up, as the OSU guard is simply too big for U-M’s star. On this day, though, Bullock dominated, hitting four treys and leading his team to victory.

U-M’s win places them at 9-9 overall and 3-2 in the Big 10, squarely in the middle of the pack. Chances of a NCAA Tournament berth are long forgotten, but an NIT appearance remains a possibility, considering U-M’s national prominence and alumni support.

U-M’s .500 clip is not buzzworthy, nor was their embarrassing 44-point loss at Duke on December 12th. Yet, this year’s team has made remarkable strides. Only months ago, center Peter Vignier was hitting the basket when attempting to feed Asselin in the post. Against OSU, Vignier hit him square in the hands, leading to easy conversions.

Many wondered how U-M would score points this season, as their only proven threats were Bullock and Reid. In November, December, and parts of January, the answer was: they didn’t. But recently, Asselin stepped up as U-M’s third cog and a much-needed inside presence to offset the guards’ outside bombing. Michigan has also improved its ball movement, rarely leaving Reid and Bullock to fend for themselves when setting up the offense; U-M’s 84-points versus OSU was among the highest of the season.

Home victories over top 25ers Wisconsin, Indiana, and OSU have led the crowd to deem each opponent, “O-ver-ra-ted…O-ver-ra-ted.” For the first time since Dugan Fife, U-M students and fans seem energized at games. One can no longer hear Coach Brian Ellerbe screaming for his players to screen, or Vignier’s groans as he lumbers up the court. Indeed, the “Maize Rage” may be more than just putrid yellow t-shirts.

Of course, not everything has improved. U-M remains a different team on the road, and a hesitant one at that. Vignier still seems robotic when shooting, though in fairness his progress is evident. Freshman Leon Jones has trouble finding his shot, handling the ball, and staying out of foul trouble; his turnovers (5) and fouls (4) against OSU were his only notable statistics. And U-M is not in the top 25 or even close, so no one can deem them “O-ver-rated.” Such a designation is an honor, in a sense.

Ellerbe stated this October that “We’ll give it a fight.” To date, he is a man of his word. MR

This article was published in the 20 January 1999 edition of The Michigan Review (Volume 17, Number 6).
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