New training facility for U of Michigan

The University of Michigan said today it plans to build a 50,000-square-foot basketball player development center for its men’s and women’s basketball program.

Plans are to locate the 50,000-square-foot facility next to UM’s Crisler Arena. The $23.2 million project, funded by athletic department funds gifts, will add two new practice courts, locker rooms, a video theater, coaching and staff offices as well as strength and conditioning and athletic medicine facilities.

The new basketball facility will allow for practices to be held later in the day, easing class scheduling for UM basketball players, UM Athletic Director Bill Martin said in a statement.

Scheduling floor time at Crisler Arena has been difficult for the team because of all the activities that use the stadium, Martin said.

The project needs approval by the UM Board of Regents. The board is scheduled to meet Thursday.

John Beilein, UM men’s basketball coach, said in the statement that the expansion will “significantly” benefit the team’s recruiting efforts.

Martin said renovating Crisler is still on the agenda. He said the stadium, which opened in 1969, is the “last major project that we need to address.”

Over the last five years, Crisler’s locker rooms and strength and conditioning rooms have been renovated, the stadium received a new lighting and sound system and additional courtside seats have been added.

Now that's what I call a true "kill shot"

Kudos to Michigan for making this commitment to their basketball program.

Not to burst your bubble but that isn't anything new. Unless they released drawing or something. Billy Martin has gone on the record saying the practice facility was next on the "to-do" for Michigan. I thought it might come a little later, like after they finish Michigan Stadium(which is a huge undertaking, if you know about it check it out a really big project). Anyway good for them. \

Now if they could find there on coaching talent, and not count on West Virginia, they would really have something. (TIC)

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_11498507

University of Minnesota athletics director Joel Maturi doesn't have a timetable on when a practice facility would be built for the men's and women's basketball programs, but he said the process of looking at site and design possibilities are under way.

"We hope to know this by the end of this year," Maturi said. "We then need to get a cost estimate and see what funding options we have. This needs to go through a process with the university and the board of regents."

One possible location for a facility Maturi said would be on the Southeast corner of Williams Arena near University Avenue. He said it would make sense to try to build a tunnel from the locker rooms underneath the arena to the practice facility.

"I'm hoping it can be some place connected to Williams Arena," he said. "That would help with the cost."

Minnesota is the only Big Ten Conference school with no set plans to build a basketball practice facility, which concerned Gophers coach Tubby Smith, who arrived from Kentucky in 2007.