Detroit News: Article by Angelique Chengelis

Angelique S. Chengelis: Michigan basketball

Practice makes perfect sense at U-M

ANN ARBOR -- The temptation was to sit in the back of the room, slouch in the chair and start passing notes.

What a rebel.

But when John Beilein stood before us, a motley bunch of undersized, and, how can this be said politely -- under-exercised -- media members in the confines of the Michigan basketball locker room, suddenly the inclination was to move forward in the chair, notebook in hand and actually pay attention and study the breakdown of the game film.

This wasn't physics class, no -- hence the lack of desire to slouch and pass notes; it was, essentially, a day in the life of a Michigan player, dumbed-down, of course, for those of the media who never have endured countless hours of strength-and-conditioning programs, wind sprints, film breakdown, practice and more practice, and listening to a coach tell you how much more work you need to even thinkabout getting better.

It was a condensed version of a college basketball player's routine, and it was an enjoyable look into their lives Tuesday afternoon as the season nears its tipoff with practice Friday.

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