Fansided

Michigan basketball: All-time starting 5 – Fab Five well-represented

By Mike Phillips

8 Mar 1992: Michigan Wolverines forward Juwan Howard, guard Jalen Rose, and forward Chris Webber (l to r) look on during a game against the Indiana Pacers.
8 Mar 1992: Michigan Wolverines forward Juwan Howard, guard Jalen Rose, and forward Chris Webber (l to r) look on during a game against the Indiana Pacers. /
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Cazzie Russell (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival ) /

2. G Cazzie Russell (1963-1966)

Now that we have filled out the forward spots its time to turn back to the guard positions. The next guard to join Rose in the backcourt is Cazzie Russell, who was one of the great Wolverines from the early ’60s.

Teaming up with Bill Buntin, Russell was a star for Michigan, helping lead the school to three straight Big Ten championships from 1964-1966. The Wolverines also went to the Final Four in 1964 and 1965, losing to UCLA in the national championship game in the latter year.

Russell dominated on the court, being named a second-team All-American in 1964 and making the first team in both 1965 and 1966. The final year of Russell’s college career was outstanding as he averaged 30.8 points per game on his way to being named the college basketball player of the year.

Michigan basketball had a renaissance thanks to Russell, whose popularity helped the Wolverines outgrow their old facility at Yost Fieldhouse. The Crisler Center, which opened in 1967, has earned the nickname “The House that Cazzie Built.”

Russell also went on to have a 15-year pro career headlined by helping the New York Knicks win an NBA Championship in 1970. There is no question that Michigan basketball would be anything close to where it is today without the impact of Russell, making his inclusion on this team a no-brainer.