Regents approve basketball practice facility

From mgoblue.com:

By an 8-0 vote, the University of Michigan Board of Regents unanimously approved a new basketball player development center for the Wolverine basketball programs this afternoon (Thursday, Jan. 22).

"I am truly appreciative of the efforts of all involved to start this project," said U-M Athletic Director Bill Martin. "I can't wait to get the shovel in the ground and get started on this project.

"It is an exciting day for both the men's and women's basketball teams."

The facility will include two basketball practice courts, team locker rooms, a video theater, spaces for strength and conditioning, athletic medicine and coaching and staff offices. Athletic resources and gifts will fund the $23.2 million project.

Additionally, this facility will provide approximately 50,000 gross square feet of new space for functional training and practice for the men's and women's programs.

Currently, the Crisler Arena basketball court is the lone practice floor. The men's and women's basketball teams have had to share the court with one team practicing in the early afternoon. This created a class scheduling problem for the team with early practice.

"The facility will give our student-athletes more flexibility in their academic schedule," said Martin.

A construction schedule will be presented to the Regents when approval is sought for the schematic design.

• Michigan Announces Plans for Basketball Player Development Center

More on the Basketball Practice Facility

According to Eric Lacy's blog in the Detroit News, Michigan would like the new facility ready by the 2010 season. They are also taking into account the women's team as well as the men's:

The architect has extensive experience in basketball venues and will keep the needs of men's coach John Beilein and women's coach Kevin Borseth in mind, Stevenson said. "Both coaches work a little differently," Stevenson said. "So we have to make sure that once it's built, it works and functions the way they want it."

New Basketabll Practice Facility

In this interview, Bill Martin indicates that plans are progressing for a basketball practice facility for Michigan. There has been talk about building one for years - this should help both the mens's and womens teams.

Here is a link to the first part of the interview.