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Posted on Wed, Oct 13, 2010 : 7:52 p.m.

No Midnight Madness for Michigan basketball, rotation decisions and injuries

By Michael Rothstein

When the Michigan basketball begins its season, it will do so without fanfare or glitzy entrances.

Junior guard Zack Novak won’t be able to defend his slam dunk contest title and the only competition that’ll take place will be among teammates vying for playing time.

After joining the Midnight Madness trend of starting basketball practices across the country a season ago, Michigan will do nothing this year. The Wolverines will just start practice at 5 p.m. Friday, go for two hours and be done.

michiganmadness.jpg

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein shows off his dance moves as he is introduced during last year's Michigan Madness at Crisler Arena. The team won't hold the event this year, Beilein announced at Wednesday's media day.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

“That was my decision,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “It is homecoming weekend and I just wanted to go to work. I’ve never been a big fan of that, especially when it has been at midnight.

“Last year we had a pulled hamstring in it. We just all want to go to work and we hope there will be more hoopla as we watch this team grow and people come to games to do it as opposed to start off the season.”

Michigan will not unveil itself to the public until an exhibition against Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 5, the day before the Michigan-Illinois football game.

Going With The Rookie(s) Beilein said Wednesday -- and this isn’t surprising, considering the amount of youth Michigan has on its roster this year -- that at least one true freshman will be in the starting lineup.

If anything, it is out of necessity. Both Evan Smotrycz and Colton Christian are competing for minutes at one of the forward spots and appear to be the only two competitors.

“May the best man win and the other will back the other one up,” Beilein said. “They are good friends at the same time.”

Smotrycz was Michigan’s most highly-touted recruit in the Class of 2010. Christian was a late signee after decommitting from Tulane. The 6-foot-9 Smotrycz was able to play for Michigan in Europe while Christian, who is 6-foot-6, had to sit out with a hamstring injury.

“I think I’m in a pretty good spot,” Smotrycz said. “After the trip I got my conditioning back and had a chance to improve my skills and play with the team so personally I think I’m in a good spot.

“Just taking things in stride.”

Beilein said he might tweak lineups more this season than he has in years past, although he hopes it’ll eventually settle into what could be as much as a 10-man rotation.

“You don’t want it to be an unhealthy looking over your shoulder, am I coming out,” Beilein said. “It has to be healthy competition, but we haven’t always had some of those situations.”

This year, Michigan will have the depth -- albeit young depth -- to do that.

One thing you won’t see, though, is Jordan Morgan, Blake McLimans and Jon Horford on the court at the same time.

“We may try to get all three centers in at one time,” Beilein said. “Not one time, but one half.

“God help us if we put all three in at one time.”

Healthy Michigan For the first time in a couple years, Michigan is entering a season pretty much healthy.

A year ago, center Ben Cronin was fighting a hip injury that would eventually end his career and both Manny Harris and Anthony Wright had lingering hamstring strains.

This year, Christian was hurt in the preseason but said Wednesday he’s healthy. Jordan Dumars is expected back in about a week after a minor knee surgery, but he won’t be eligible to play under NCAA transfer rules until after the first semester. Walk-on Corey Person also has a slight knee injury, but should be fine.

“We’re as healthy as we’ve been in a long time,” Beilein said.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein

Comments

H.

Thu, Oct 14, 2010 : 6:14 p.m.

Don't worry, everyone gets invited to the Big Ten tournament, even as an eleven seed.

trigg7

Thu, Oct 14, 2010 : 9:04 a.m.

Yea, 10th place would be great!

Rodie

Wed, Oct 13, 2010 : 7:29 p.m.

I hope the team suprises us this season