In the opening game of the 1951–52 season, Eaddy "hit four long shots" for eight points against Central Michigan University, the first points scored by an African-American basketball player at Michigan. On December 1, 1951, less than a year after the published criticism from Inter-Racial Association, Don Eaddy and John Codwell became the first African-American basketball players at Michigan. McCoy opined that Ford could have been a good basketball player, but noted that his obligations to the football team kept him from reporting on time and added that Ford had developed bad habits playing unorganized ball which he did not have time to erase in practice. McCoy noted that, in the prior 10 years, only one African-American, football star Len Ford, had tried out for the basketball team. Michigan coach Ernie McCoy responded by denying the accusation of discrimination. Or perhaps you will tell us where we err, Mr. There is a deliberate and conscious policy of discrimination against Negro athletes. Why has the University NEVER had a Negro on the basketball team? Why does this policy persist throughout the Big Ten? The answers are obvious. Year after year Michigan has had top Negro football and track stars. "Garrett is the first Negro to break the color line which exists in all Big Ten sports except football and track. In a letter to The Michigan Daily, members of the Inter-Racial Association protested the lack of integration at Michigan. On January 9, 1951, Garrett became the first African-American to play at Yost Field House where he was "warmly applauded" by the fans. During the 1950–51 season, the Indiana Hoosiers became the first Big Ten basketball team to integrate with the addition of center Bill Garrett. The 1951–52 team was notable as the first Michigan men's basketball team to be racially integrated. Racial integration ĭon Eaddy appeared in all 22 games and was the team's third leading scorer.
![univ of michigan basketball roster univ of michigan basketball roster](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/52/99/2e/52992e0b8701722b53ab8b72a82c852e.jpg)
In July 1952, athletic director Fritz Crisler announced the hiring of 40-year-old William Perigo, previously the head coach at Western Michigan, as Michigan's new head basketball coach. In June 1952, McCoy resigned as Michigan's head basketball coach to accept a position as the athletic directors at Penn State. The 1951–52 season was Michigan's second consecutive year at or near the bottom of the Big Ten basketball standings. Mead also won the 1953 NCAA championship in the high jump. Mead scored 238 points (10.8 points per game) over the course of the 1951–52 season. The team's second leading scorer was Milt Mead, a six-foot, seven-inch sophomore from Bay City, Michigan. Skala later served as the head basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University (1954–1960) before returning to Michigan as an assistant basketball coach under Dave Strack from 1960 to 1966. At the end of the season, Skala was voted by his teammates as the team's Most Valuable Player. He totaled 258 points in 22 games (169 points in conference games) for an average of 11.7 points per game. Jim Skala was both the team captain and the team's leading scorer.
UNIV OF MICHIGAN BASKETBALL ROSTER FREE
The team also recorded the lowest field goal percentage (28.4%) and free throw percentage (59.2%) in the conference. The Wolverines' total of 787 points was the lowest in the Big Ten. The team narrowly averted a last place finish with a victory over Purdue in the final game of the season.
![univ of michigan basketball roster univ of michigan basketball roster](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/e3/7a/9de37a88dfc2bb1f192a0fe9d20a9f42.jpg)
The 1951–52 team was inexperienced with only one senior, Jim Skala, on the squad. Ernie McCoy was in his fourth and final year as the team's head coach.
![univ of michigan basketball roster univ of michigan basketball roster](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXe1ow6XkAAXCB5.jpg)
The 1951–52 team finished the season in a tie for eighth place in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 7–15 and 4–10 against conference opponents.