Rudy gets Michigan jersey retired today on ESPN-Plus

11:00 am Houston time
Channel 621 Time Warner Cable (PPV)





U-M Basketball Great Tomjanovich to Have Jersey Retired


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan Athletics Director Bill Martin has announced the U-M men's basketball program will honor former U-M All-American Rudy Tomjanovich and retire his jersey in a halftime ceremony during the Wolverines' Feb. 8 home game against Iowa. The Feb. 8 date falls during the NBA All-Star break for Tomjanovich, head coach of the Houston Rockets.

Tomjanovich will be just the second player in Michigan basketball history to have his jersey retired, joining former U-M All-American and 1966 NCAA Player of the Year Cazzie Russell (1964-66), whose jersey hangs in Crisler Arena following a retirement ceremony held Dec. 11, 1993.

"It is an honor to highlight the accomplishments of Rudy Tomjanovich and what he has meant to Michigan," said Martin. "We take great pride in the what he has accomplished in the past and we could think of no better way than to hang his jersey for our players, fans, and students to see every time they step into Crisler Arena."

"We are extremely pleased to recognize Rudy Tomjanovich," said Michigan basketball coach Tommy Amaker. "We at Michigan basketball have a very rich tradition, and Rudy is one of the cornerstones of our celebrated past. He has been a tremendous success as a Wolverine player, in his professional life and as a representative of this university."

A 1970 All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection, "Rudy T" was a center for the Wolverines from 1967-70. He ranks sixth on the school's career scoring list with 1,808 points and holds the career record for most rebounds with 1,039. He owns U-M single-game records for field goals made (21) and rebounds (30) and shares with Russell the single-game scoring record (48). He also holds the Crisler Arena records for points (48) and rebounds (27), setting the latter mark in the first game played in the facility, against Kentucky on Dec. 6, 1967.

Following his years at Michigan, Tomjanovich spent his 11-year NBA playing career with the Rockets, and he ranks third on the club's all-time scoring list with 13,383 points and fourth on the rebounding list with 6,198. Tomjanovich retired from the NBA in October 1981, and his jersey was retired by the Rockets on Jan. 28, 1982.

After a nine-year tenure as an assistant coach with the Rockets, he has spent the last 11 years as head coach, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in coaching victories. He has led his team to seven playoff appearances, including back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. Tomjanovich also served as the head coach for the gold medal-winning United States team in the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The Wolverines' game against the Hawkeyes is scheduled for a 12:17 p.m. tipoff and will be aired on ESPN-Plus.

 

It's coming on right now at the half. I didn't know it but I actually have ESPN Plus on ch 621.