The team earned the last of four consecutive NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament invitations.[3] Steve Grote and John Robinson served as team captains, while Phil Hubbard earned team MVP.[4] As a team, they led the conference in scoring offense with an 83.2 average in conference games as well as scoring margin with a 9.4 average.[5] The team began and ended the season ranked number one in the Associated Press Top Twenty Poll and was ranked all seventeen weeks, including eight at number one.[6] The team also ended the season ranked atop the final UPI Coaches' Poll.[7]
On December 29, 1976, Hubbard became the first Wolverine to play 50 minutes in a game against Providence. In 1980, Mike McGee would play 54 minutes in a game.[8] The team's 21 for 22 performance on February 17 against Indiana was the school free throw percentage record until February 21, 1987.[9] The team totaled 17 steals on February 26, 1977, as both Rickey Green and Hubbard had 6 against Michigan State, which lasted as a school record until December 3, 1994.[10] Green had 7 steals on November 27, 1976, against Western Kentucky, which remains unsurpassed in school history.[11]
Schedule
1976-77
Overall: 26-4
Big Ten: 16-2 (1st | Champions)[12]
Postseason: NCAA (Mideast) (Elite Eight)
Head Coach: Johnny Orr
Staff: Bill Frieder & Jim Boyce
Captains: Steve Grote & John Robinson
Home Arena: Crisler Arena (13,609)
The team was led by Consensus second team All-AmericansRicky Green and Phil Hubbard.[18] That season, Hubbard set the current school single-season total rebound record of 389, surpassing M. C. Burton, Jr.'s 1959 total of 379.[19] He also surpassed Bill Buntin's 1963 single-season total of 23 point-rebound double doubles with 24.[20] Grote's career assist total of 358 would stand as a school record for 7 seasons until eclipsed by Eric Turner, while Ricky Green's career assist average of 4.05 per game would also be a record until eclipsed by Turner.[21] For the season Green totaled 61 steals for a 2.18 average, which stood as school records until Gary Grant totaled 84 and averaged 2.55 in 1986.[10] Grote's 116 career games played lasted as a Michigan record until 1986 when Richard Rellford totaled 124, while his 108 career starts stood as a record until Mike McGee totaled 112 in 1981.[8] The team set the school single-season free throws made record of 510, which surpassed the 1965 mark of 494 and would last until 1989.[22] The team set the school single-season total steals record of 263 that stood until 1986.[11] Green ended his career with an average of 32.7 minutes per game, which was a school record tied by Phil Hubbard two years later and surpassed by Mike McGee.[8]
