Tommy Amaker Talks Michigan

Share

Tweet

Print

Email

Former Michigan basketball coach Tommy Amaker was available for a conference call today and I was able to hop on and see what he had to say about the upcoming game on Saturday at Crisler. Amaker coached Michigan from 2001-2007. Amaker’s 5-1 Harvard team is on a bit of a roll, winning their last five games after dropping their first game on the road against George Mason. Their best win to date is the 82-66 drubbing of Colorado at home. Here’s what Amaker had to say about his team, what he’s seen from Michigan this year, and coming back to Ann Arbor.

• Thinks Michigan is coming off its best win of the season. Had time to watch some of the game and thought the Wolverines played very well.  Looked confident and shot the ball well, will “certainly be a handful for us.”
• With the talent Michigan has, should be a team that does well this year.
• Not worried about crowd reception, doesn’t think about and doesn’t notice it.
• The game was scheduled before he got to Harvard. Had it not been, playing at Michigan probably wouldn’t have been “high up on anybody’s list,” but “these things happen.”
• Thinks his team is playing well and is coming off their own “best win of the season thus far.” Thinks this game could be very competitive.
• His team has some experience against “BCS opponents”, having already played Colorado at home and beaten them badly.
• Looks at the Michigan game as an opportunity for his team to make a statement early in the season and also looking for the Crimson to gain some confidence.
• Said his team needs to play well in order to win — not good enough yet to play poorly and still eke out a victory.
• He feels no bitterness toward Michigan, understands how the business works. Always loved the opportunity to represent Michigan. His Michigan teams tried their best, that’s all anyone could ask for. Feels good to have had a chance to be at Michigan.
• Harvard is young (like Michigan), still trying to find themselves. Feels like they’re gaining ground and getting better.
• Need junior forward Keith Wright’s production in the post in order for them to have “good balance.”