The greatest players in Michigan men's basketball history

Oosterbaan is probably best known for being one of college football's first stars, but he was also a fine basketball player for the Wolverines. An All-American during the 1926-27 and 1927-28 seasons, Oosterbaan was the first Michigan basketball player to receive such an honor. As a senior in '27-'28, Oosterban led the Big Ten in scoring with 170 total points produced. He also recorded a pair of double-doubles with the Wolverines.

A prized prep recruit back in his day, Tidwell hit the ground running at Michigan. In his first college game, Tidwell scored 22 points versus Pittsburgh, then had 24 against Tennessee in his next contest. When Tidwell's three seasons at Michigan had finished, he put up 1,386 points. Which entering the 2022-23 campaign, still ranked within the top 30 on the school's all-time scoring list. His 20.0 career average ranks seventh in program history.

In 1964, Michigan reached the Final Four for the first time. A year later, the Wolverines played for their first NCAA Tournament national championship. Buntin was a big reason for that success. The 6-foot-7 Buntin was a third-team All-American by The Associated Press in 1964 and a consensus second-team choice in 1965. His 1,037 rebounds are second-most by any Wolverine for a career, and Buntin is one of only two Michigan players to reach the 1,000-rebound mark. Buntin's 21.8 career points per game average ranks four in school history, while his 1,725 total points are seventh all-time. Buntin's 58 career double-doubles are the most in school history. He's one of four players to have his uniform honored by the University of Michigan.

A Chicago product, Russell is often considered the best player in the history of Michigan basketball. Along with the aforementioned Bill Buntin, Russell fueled the Wolverines' success during the mid-1960s. He was also one of college basketball's great superstars and Michigan's all-time leader averaging 27.1 points. During the 1965-66 season, Russell averaged 30.8 points to win national player of the year honors. His 48 points against Northwestern on March 5, 1966, share a single-game record at Michigan. Russell is one of five Michigan players to score more than 2,000 career points -- ranking fifth with 2,164. The two-time All-American, who also totaled 676 career rebounds, is the only player in Michigan history to have his number retired.

Bill Buntin and Cazzie Russell were gone, but the greatness at Michigan did not subside. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten pick and member of various All-American honors in 1970, Tomjanovich is Michigan's all-time leader in rebounds (1,039) and rebounding average (14.4). Oh, Tomjanovich could also score. His 25.1 points per game average is second-best among all Wolverines, and he ranks seventh in school history with 1,808 points. On Jan. 7, 1969, Tomjanovich scored 48 against Indiana to match Russell's single-game record. He went on to become a five-time NBA All-Star and win two NBA titles as head coach of the Houston Rockets, he also had his number honored at Michigan.

Another one of Michigan's great scorers, Wilmore, sits third on the school's career list with a 23.6 career average. A two-time Big Ten first-teamer and twice-named consensus second-team All-American, Wilmore's best season, from a statistical standpoint, came as a sophomore when he averaged 25.0 points on 47.7 percent shooting. Wilmore totaled 1,652 points for the Wolverines, which is 11th-most for the program, and shot 45.2 percent for his career.

One of seven Wolverines to average at least 20.0 points for a career, Michigan's "other" Russell (21.1 ppg) did it during a span of just 51 games and two seasons. Russell earned consensus second-team All-American honors for his final 1973-74 campaign when he averaged 23.7 points. For his career, Russell totaled 1,082 points and recorded six games with at least 30 points. He also pulled down 531 rebounds during his career, and his 10.4 average per contest ranks sixth all-time.

Green began his college career at Vincennes University but became a star after transferring to Michigan. Where he ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points per game average (19.7). Green averaged 19.9 points and shot 49.1 percent during his first with the Wolverines, the famed 1976-77 season, under legendary coach Johnny Orr, when they finished 25-7 and lost to undefeated Indiana in the national championship game. The next season, when Green averaged 19.5 points, he was named a first-team All-American. Green finished his Michigan career with 1,184 points.

Another Wolverine to have his jersey honored by the university, Hubbard is one of the great rebounders in the history of Michigan basketball. He ranks fourth all-time in both total boards (979) and rebounding average (11.1). But Hubbard could also score, totaling 1,455 during his career. Hubbard averaged 16.5 points and 53 percent from the field during a career that included him missing the entire 1977-78 season due to a knee injury. Hubbard's 53 career double-doubles rank second at Michigan.

When it comes to pure scorers in the history of the college game, McGee's name needs to be mentioned. He's the first player at Michigan to lead the team in scoring for four straight seasons. Twice, the two-time All-Big Ten pick averaged more than 22.0 points, highlighted by his 1980-81 season, when he put up 24.4 and shot 51.5 percent. His 732 points that season rank as the third-most in school history. For his career, McGee totaled 2.439 points -- second-most at Michigan. His 21.3-point career average ranks fifth among all Wolverines, and his 1,010 made field goals and 2,078 attempts remain school records.

One of the top big men of the 1980s. The 6-foot-11 Tarpley was a member of various All-American teams during his four-season run at Michigan. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year for the 1984-85 campaign when he averaged career highs of 19.0 points, 10.4 boards, and 2.9 blocks. Tarpley ranks among the top 15 at Michigan for career points (1,601) and is fifth all-time with 953 rebounds. Tarpley, who totaled 41 double-doubles with the Wolverines, is also the school's leader in blocks for a career (251), season (97), and game (10).

"The General" certainly knew how to lead, especially on the basketball court. He's among the school's all-time leaders in career starts (128) and points (2,222). And, when it comes to his 731 career assists and 300 steals, nobody at Michigan has yet to catch Grant, who teamed with Antoine Joubert for a bit to make up one of the Big Ten's best backcourts at the time. Grant, who shot 52.8 percent during his career, was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1988 when he averaged 21.1 points, a career-high 6.9 assists, and 2.4 steals.

In Rice's first season at Michigan, he averaged 7.0 points and didn't start a game. By the time his four seasons with the Wolverines concluded, Rice was, and remains, the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,442 points -- and a national champion. Rice, who averaged 17.9 points on his career, was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1988-89 and averaged 30.7 points, and went 27-of-49 from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament to earn Most Outstanding Player honors during the Wolverines' improbable run to their only national championship that campaign. Rice's 51.6-percent 3-point shooting as a senior is the best in school history, and his 48.0 career percentage from beyond the arc ranks second. He's the most recent Wolverine to have his jersey honored.

Robinson's post-basketball life might have been rough, but Michigan fans still consider him a hero for helping the Wolverines win their lone national title in 1989. Robinson had 21 points with 11 assists, and hit perhaps the two of the biggest free throws in program history to send Michigan to that 80-79 overtime victory against Seton Hall in the national final. Robinson then averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 1989-90. He ranks among the school's all-time top 10 in assists (575) and steals (150).

It's rather easy for Vaught to get lost in the shuffle amid great Michigan big men, but he's certainly worthy of this notoriety. Vaught only averaged 10.8 points for his Wolverines' career, but he scored more than 1,400 points. However, the 6-foot-9 Vaught, a somewhat forgotten member of that '89 national championship squad, made his mark around the rim. His 993 rebounds are third-most in school history. During the 1989-90 season, Vaught averaged career highs of 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds. 

We begin the "Fab Five" portion of the list. Webber spent two seasons at Michigan, but nobody close to the Michigan basketball program will forget his time spent there. One of the best high school players in the state of Michigan, Webber was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1991-92, when he averaged 15.5 points with 10.0 rebounds and helped the Wolverines reach the national title game. The next season, he put up 19.2 points and pulled down 10.1 boards per contest, as Michigan again reached the national final. Where Webber requested the infamous time out the Wolverines did not have, Of course, those memorable accomplishments involving Webber and Co., are not officially recognized due to the Ed Martin scandal. All that said, nobody can argue the dominant player he was for the Wolverines.

Cocky, brash and undeniably talented. Those are just a few words to describe Rose. Chris Webber might have been the most talented member of the "Fab Five," but Rose was undeniably the leader of the group. The guy who embraced the phenomenon the most. Rose, a career 46.4-percent shooter, ranks eighth on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,788 points, and 10th in both average points (17.9) and assists (401). In his final 1993-94 campaign, Rose earned consensus second-team All-American honors for averaging career highs of 19.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. 

Before Howard became head coach of the Wolverines, he was another integral member of the "Fab Five." Another Chicago product, Howard earned various All-American recognition during his playing days with the Wolverines, including a second-team nod from The Associate Press for the 1993-94 campaign. That season, Howard averaged 20.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals -- all career highs. For his Michigan career, Howard totaled 1,526 points and 745 rebounds.

Also, part of the Ed Martin scandal, Bullock's collegiate accomplishments have been erased from the annals of the NCAA because of those findings. In reality, Bullock's 339 made 3-pointers are the most in school history for a career. Meanwhile, his 2,224 points are the third-most by a Wolverine. For his 132-game Michigan career, Bullock averaged 16.8 points and shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range. As a senior in 1998-99, Bullock averaged a career-high 20.7 points.

Burke spent just two seasons and played 73 games at Michigan, but he certainly left his mark in Ann Arbor. He joins Cazzie Russell as the only Wolverines to win national player of the year honors. For Burke, that came in the 2012-13 season, when he averaged 18.6 points on 46.3-percent shooting (38.4 percent from 3-point range), 6.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while helping Michigan to a 31-8 record and spot in the national championship game. He scored 24 during that 82-76 title-game loss to Louisville. Entering the 2022-23 campaign, Burke ranked among the school's all-time top 10 with 416 steals, and his 35.7 average minutes are tops at Michigan.