I don't have the time to scour 351 rosters, so you'll have to take my word for it.
Marko Vasic is also playing the best basketball of his career. He's not just passing the eye test; his numbers prove it. In the junior's last three games — two of them wins, including a Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal victory at Lehigh — Vasic is averaging 15.6 points on 19-29 shooting, nine rebounds (including American's first double-double of the year against Lehigh), and 38 minutes played per game.
He's doing this against the likes of Tim Kempton, the 6-10 Patriot League Player of the Year; Bucknell super freshman Nana Foulland, all 6-9 of him; and Navy's twin towers Will Kelly (6-9, shot-blocker extraordinaire) and Edward Alade (6-9, also blocks shots occasionally).
The only reason, of course, Marko is facing such matchups is because American's two rotation big men (yeah, like actual big men) — Kevin Panzer and Zach Elcano — are sidelined by injury; another big, Jonathan Davis, couldn't cut it academically and left the team in December; and freshman 7-footer Gabe Brown isn't up to speed yet to play in every-minute-counts Patriot League battles.
It's far from ideal. It supposedly puts the Eagles at a disadvantage. And I love it.
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It's March, the best month of the year. Ask me why, and I'll answer with one word: basketball. It's the month of underdogs, of madness, of Cinderella, of Butler miracles, of the Farokhmanesh
types. So, naturally, it's a time when I think of and celebrate those who face the biggest obstacles and overcome them — sometimes with a healthy dose of luck, but always with a full cup of belief and inspiration.
This isn't to say that I don't appreciate the greatness of the great. What 31-0 Kentucky has done this season with its crop of soon-to-be lottery picks is incredible. Facing unfair expectations — anything short of a national championship equals failure — the Wildcats have thrived in the pressure-cooker of Rupp Arena and every opposing gym, winning not only blowouts but close games, too. They play together, they share the ball, they don't complain about playing time. That's beautiful.
But, sorry Big Blue Nation, not as beautiful as Marko Vasic overcoming all odds to play center — and play it darn well — for the American Eagles. It brings back memories for me and reminds me of why I love college basketball.
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If you know me, you know that the only sports team I really, really care about year-round is Michigan basketball. And if you've followed the Wolverines and their ascension under the leadership of John Beilein, Zach Novak is an unforgettable name.
All 6-foot-4 of him.
When I think of the fiercest undersized rebounders and defenders in my basketball-watching history, two guys stand out: Charles Barkley and Zach Novak. Yes, I just went there. Novak was not athletic. He wasn't quick. He couldn't jump. But he scrapped, clawed, banged, bruised and inspired teammates.
Michigan got off to a dismal 1-6 start in Big Ten play in 2010-11, and it seemed a near certainty that the Wolverines would miss the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year, leaving Beilein with just one appearance in four seasons. He would surely feel the heat in Ann Arbor come season's end.
But then came Jan. 27, 2011 — an evening I will never forget. I clearly remember sitting at the bar of Eighteenth Street Lounge, eating a salad and drinking most likely a vodka tonic, my drink of choice at the time (with a couple limes, of course) as the Wolverines played at Michigan State. They hadn't won at Breslin Center since 1997. I had no real expectations of a team struggling playing in one of the country's harshest environments against a Top 25 squad.
And then Zach Novak happened.
The junior, playing undersized the entire game, scored 19 points — making four contested 3-pointers in the first half — and pulled down six tough-guy rebounds to lead the Wolverines to a shocking 61-57 win over an MSU team featuring Draymond Green (you may have heard of him), 6-8 Delvon Roe and a couple young bigs in Derrick Nix and Adriean Payne.
But who the opponents were isn't really the point. What I'll remember is Novak never letting his size dictate his play, showing no fear against bigger players, and leading the Wolverines. During one timeout, he got in everyone's face and willed Michigan to the win.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Michigan won five out of six games, earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and came thisclose to upsetting No. 1 seed Kyrie Irving-led Duke in the Big Dance. The following year, Trey Burke arrived as part of a heralded class. The next season, Michigan reached the national championship game. Michigan has had a down season in 2014-15, but the program is in great shape.
For me, it all started with that game, led by an undersized, under-recruited power forward named Zach Novak.
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In many ways, Marko Vasic reminds me of Novak.
No, he's not as vocal on the court — but that's because senior point guard Pee Wee Gardner takes care of that. He might not be quite as nasty, either. But as this season has progressed and especially of late, Vasic has made more Novak-type plays.
Plays that get me out of my chair.
Against Lehigh, Vasic was the difference-maker for the Eagles. He's the main reason they're still alive in the Patriot League Tournament. He snuffed out an Austin Price drive to the basketball. He muscled the 6-10 Kempton for one-handed rebounds, clearing space with his other arm. He took the ball right at Kempton on three consecutive American possessions early in the second half for buckets, then stole the ball from Price and fed Gardner for a fastbreak layup that gave the Eagles their first lead.
The rest, as they say, is history. Ball game.
Coach Mike Brennan has pushed Vasic more than any Eagle — at least that's what I've observed from my seat at Bender Arena all season. No one gets yelled at more. No one gets that steely glare of Brennan's more.
And when Vasic attempted and failed to throw down a massive dunk on a breakaway against Navy, the coach nearly ran out on the floor during play to grab Vasic. That next huddle didn't look pretty. But even that play made me smile, and reminded me of Novak. Vasic showed no fear and probably took off for the rim as if he was 6-9 instead of 6-5 and lacking a great vertical.
Novak had a similar experience, except even worse. He blew a game-winning dunk at the buzzer early in his freshman season (see the embedded video). While that play rightfully caused him plenty of grief, it also set the stage for his career. While undersized, Novak was always going to play bigger. During a time when the Michigan program sorely lacked effective forwards, Novak would hold the Wolverines' front line together and build the foundation for future success.
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Vasic's days of playing center are waning. When this season ends — most likely with the Eagles' next loss; I hope that's in the NCAA Tournament — he will go back, most likely, to playing power forward. Which still, it should be noted, he's undersized for. Even in the Patriot League.
The Eagles will be much deeper next year. Transfers Paris Maragkos (6-foot-9) and Leon Tolksdorf (6-8) will join the rotation. The 6-11 Elcano will be healthy. The 7-footer Brown might work his way into the rotation. American will be big, and it will be nice, as a fan, to watch.
However, this stretch of games, I have a feeling, will always resonate with me.
Marko Vasic, 6-foot-5 center. It's been quite the ride.
Get big.
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