University of Minnesota Athletics
Be Like Mike; Sophomore Forward Mike Bauer
1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Michael Bauer's first two years of college basketball have not gone the way they were planned. His college career started with him severely spraining his ankle, forcing him to take a medical redshirt his freshman year. That was followed up by a broken arm last season during a game at Purdue. Two years, two injuries, two rehab assignments occupying much of the space on his college resume. "To be like Mike" the past two seasons would have called for a lot or determination and patience, not to mention having to unaccustomedly sit on the bench and watch his team. Many ordinary people would not be able to handle this toll of events. But Michael Bauer is not an ordinary person. That is a trait his parents picked up on at an early age during his youth basketball career.
Bauer's mother, Patricia, fondly recalls her son playing ball growing up and each and every game doing something so amazing on the floor that the crowd would gasp. It was not a gasp of horror either; it was a gasp of "I can not believe he just did that." Patricia and her husband, Howard, grew accustomed to Michael doing amazing things on the court every game, but never really realized how good he was. That realization did not occur until he started playing high school basketball. When they saw that not many other kids could dunk or block shots the way he did, they knew their son was playing at a whole different level.
After committing to the Golden Gophers to play basketball, it was fully expected that Bauer would do the same thing at the college level. He was highly sought after by many of the top Division I programs and they saw his potential to become a top-notch college player.
During the early parts of his rookie season at Minnesota, the high-flying Bauer suffered a severe ankle sprain. Playing in five games to see if the ankle would be able to hold up, Bauer showed the signs of things to come. He averaged 5.4 points while hitting over 80 percent form beyond the arc in very limited playing time. In the end though, the decision was made to redshirt since the ankle would not completely heal unless he was not playing.
After spending a year as a spectator, Bauer rehabilitated hard, hit the weights and developed a lot of upper body strength to go along with his extraordinary leaping ability. He was primed to have a break out season and was on his way to do so. He helped lead the Gophers to a 15-4 mark heading into a rematch with Purdue in West Lafayette on January 27, 2001. The Boilermakers were still smarting from a Minnesota win at Williams Arena earlier in the month and were out for revenge. After a miserable first half, an inspired Gopher squad led by Bauer's eight straight points at the beginning of the half, cut a once 17-point deficit to only four before Bauer's season would be ended for the second consecutive season.
After getting a rebound off a Purdue miss, Bauer found the outlet and beat every one down the floor. Purdue's Rodney Smith bumped him and his foot got caught under him. Bauer found himself falling to the floor and his arm was the only thing separating him and the hardwood. The fall to the floor caused his forearm to break and left him wincing in pain on the floor.
Three different people, three different perspectives were held about the incident, one from the bench, one from the floor and one from a living room back in Hastings.
"The first thing that was going through my mind when I was laying there on the floor was that I thought I had hurt my ankle again," Bauer said. "I thought my ankle was broken because it hurt so much, but I looked at it and it was fine. I then saw my arm lying there broken in half and all the pain started to go there."
Patricia was watching on TV back in Minnesota and got the feeling of helplessness, watching her child get hurt and not being able to do anything about it.
"As soon as I saw him lying on the floor and saw the way his arm was swinging uncontrollably I went to the phone and waited for the phone call. I knew it was serious. I was really upset because there was nothing I could do at that point."
Assistant coach Art Prevost had a good view from the sideline of Michael's injury. "The first thing that ran through my mind was `Oh no, this can't be happening again.' I saw him lying there and I knew it was serious seeing his arm hang the way it was. I could only think about how bad it was for him to have a second consecutive season-ending injury. I know that he loves doing what ever he can to help this team, and sitting on the bench is not how he would prefer to help out."
After having surgery on his forearm, Bauer was faced with the daunting task of an even more grueling rehab assignment.
"It surprised me how hard it was for me to get all these muscles in my arm back up to full strength," Bauer said. "Catching and holding a ball were tough to do at first. I don't think my arm was 100 percent until September."
During his rehab, Bauer had to watch his teammates, who at one point had a NCAA Tournament aspirations, settle for a berth in the NIT. It was difficult to watch because with him and senior John-Blair Bickerstaff healthy the NCAA tourney would have been almost a certainty.
"It was really frustrating because with our team healthy, we knew we would have made an NCAA appearance," Bauer said. "We had a great start and before I was hurt were playing really well in the Big Ten. I believe last year we were two wins shy of making it (to the tournament). We definitely would have had those two wins without the injuries."
After two serious injuries like Bauer has suffered, you think he would shy away from contact. If you think that, then you do not really know Michael. Realizing that his injuries had less to do with physical play and were more freakish in nature, he believes he has had his share of bad luck and those days are well behind him.
"When I first got back on the court I wasn't really trying to avoid contact because at this level if you do, you won't last long," Bauer said. "It just took me a while to get back in to a rhythm. I played basketball and practiced but it wasn't until the first exhibition this year that I was in a real game situation. Nothing compares to real games and I spent the first half of this season getting adjusted to the game again."
Coach Prevost has witnessed Bauer gradually work himself back into playing shape and has seen what how the injuries have changed his role on the team. "Initially he was a little tentative because of having suffered through back-to-back injuries," Prevost said, "But soon after his initial tentativeness it became evident how hungry sitting on the bench had made him. He has stepped up and become a bigger and better leader.
"Mike Bauer is a special player who I think is still coming around. He plays with so much energy and so much love for the game, something you can not put a price tag on. Right now, I would say he is not reached his potential, but if he continues to work and improve like he is doing currently, he will see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize everything he has went through was all worth it."
If there is one advantage that Michael has gained from being injured it would be how mentally tough he has become. Watching as a spectator and rehabbing from injury have allowed him to accomplish that feat. "Being injured as much as I have been early in my career it has shown me how big of a role being mentally tough plays in the game of basketball," Bauer said. "I don't think I would have healed as fast with my ankle and arm if I didn't have the right attitude."
This season, Michael Bauer has enjoyed the most success since arriving on campus. He is playing the best basketball of his career and is helping lead a young, talented group of players to their ultimate goal of reaching the "Big Dance." While Bauer acknowledges the success he has enjoyed he gives credit where credit his due: to his fellow teammates.
"I am playing my best ball because of the team,"Bauer said. "We are all playing together and playing unselfishly. As long as we keep this up , we are going to accomplish everything we set out to do and have a successful season. This team has the most talent that we've had since I've been here. We just need to keep playing together."
While it was not the best time to "Be Like Mike" the past two years, this year is shaping up to be a better year. With Bauer fired up and healthy, the Golden Gophers are poised to make a push at a NCAA berth.
While people may want to "Be Like Mike Bauer," he himself possesses some qualities to "Be Like the other Mike." He can play with both his back to the basket and behind the arc, and can dunk with the best of them. He started off his season by doing a dunk made famous by Jordan at "Gopher Madness at Midnight." Taking off from the free throw line he was able to slam it home, setting the tone for the season. Bauer is still going strong at this point in the season, looking as if nothing will get in his way. It should be a challenge for Gopher fans young and old to strive to "Be Like Mike," and not necessarily talking about his immense basketball skills, but all the traits that have helped him get through the obstacles he has faced.
So yes, it would be wise to "Be Like Mike," because that would mean that you are a success.
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Danny Olsen Gatorade hit the jackpot when they designed an advertising campaign centering on one of the best athletes of all time. "Be like Mike" still ranks as one of the most memorable catch phrases ever created. It didn't hurt that the Mike that was referred to was Michael Jordan, a guy many people emulated and wished they could be. Minnesota has a player that goes by the name of Mike, but in the spirit of the Gatorade commercial, it is very unlikely that many people wanted to "be like him" these past two years.
Michael Bauer's first two years of college basketball have not gone the way they were planned. His college career started with him severely spraining his ankle, forcing him to take a medical redshirt his freshman year. That was followed up by a broken arm last season during a game at Purdue. Two years, two injuries, two rehab assignments occupying much of the space on his college resume. "To be like Mike" the past two seasons would have called for a lot or determination and patience, not to mention having to unaccustomedly sit on the bench and watch his team. Many ordinary people would not be able to handle this toll of events. But Michael Bauer is not an ordinary person. That is a trait his parents picked up on at an early age during his youth basketball career.
Bauer's mother, Patricia, fondly recalls her son playing ball growing up and each and every game doing something so amazing on the floor that the crowd would gasp. It was not a gasp of horror either; it was a gasp of "I can not believe he just did that." Patricia and her husband, Howard, grew accustomed to Michael doing amazing things on the court every game, but never really realized how good he was. That realization did not occur until he started playing high school basketball. When they saw that not many other kids could dunk or block shots the way he did, they knew their son was playing at a whole different level.
After committing to the Golden Gophers to play basketball, it was fully expected that Bauer would do the same thing at the college level. He was highly sought after by many of the top Division I programs and they saw his potential to become a top-notch college player.
During the early parts of his rookie season at Minnesota, the high-flying Bauer suffered a severe ankle sprain. Playing in five games to see if the ankle would be able to hold up, Bauer showed the signs of things to come. He averaged 5.4 points while hitting over 80 percent form beyond the arc in very limited playing time. In the end though, the decision was made to redshirt since the ankle would not completely heal unless he was not playing.
After spending a year as a spectator, Bauer rehabilitated hard, hit the weights and developed a lot of upper body strength to go along with his extraordinary leaping ability. He was primed to have a break out season and was on his way to do so. He helped lead the Gophers to a 15-4 mark heading into a rematch with Purdue in West Lafayette on January 27, 2001. The Boilermakers were still smarting from a Minnesota win at Williams Arena earlier in the month and were out for revenge. After a miserable first half, an inspired Gopher squad led by Bauer's eight straight points at the beginning of the half, cut a once 17-point deficit to only four before Bauer's season would be ended for the second consecutive season.
After getting a rebound off a Purdue miss, Bauer found the outlet and beat every one down the floor. Purdue's Rodney Smith bumped him and his foot got caught under him. Bauer found himself falling to the floor and his arm was the only thing separating him and the hardwood. The fall to the floor caused his forearm to break and left him wincing in pain on the floor.
Three different people, three different perspectives were held about the incident, one from the bench, one from the floor and one from a living room back in Hastings.
"The first thing that was going through my mind when I was laying there on the floor was that I thought I had hurt my ankle again," Bauer said. "I thought my ankle was broken because it hurt so much, but I looked at it and it was fine. I then saw my arm lying there broken in half and all the pain started to go there."
Patricia was watching on TV back in Minnesota and got the feeling of helplessness, watching her child get hurt and not being able to do anything about it.
"As soon as I saw him lying on the floor and saw the way his arm was swinging uncontrollably I went to the phone and waited for the phone call. I knew it was serious. I was really upset because there was nothing I could do at that point."
Assistant coach Art Prevost had a good view from the sideline of Michael's injury. "The first thing that ran through my mind was `Oh no, this can't be happening again.' I saw him lying there and I knew it was serious seeing his arm hang the way it was. I could only think about how bad it was for him to have a second consecutive season-ending injury. I know that he loves doing what ever he can to help this team, and sitting on the bench is not how he would prefer to help out."
After having surgery on his forearm, Bauer was faced with the daunting task of an even more grueling rehab assignment.
"It surprised me how hard it was for me to get all these muscles in my arm back up to full strength," Bauer said. "Catching and holding a ball were tough to do at first. I don't think my arm was 100 percent until September."
During his rehab, Bauer had to watch his teammates, who at one point had a NCAA Tournament aspirations, settle for a berth in the NIT. It was difficult to watch because with him and senior John-Blair Bickerstaff healthy the NCAA tourney would have been almost a certainty.
"It was really frustrating because with our team healthy, we knew we would have made an NCAA appearance," Bauer said. "We had a great start and before I was hurt were playing really well in the Big Ten. I believe last year we were two wins shy of making it (to the tournament). We definitely would have had those two wins without the injuries."
After two serious injuries like Bauer has suffered, you think he would shy away from contact. If you think that, then you do not really know Michael. Realizing that his injuries had less to do with physical play and were more freakish in nature, he believes he has had his share of bad luck and those days are well behind him.
"When I first got back on the court I wasn't really trying to avoid contact because at this level if you do, you won't last long," Bauer said. "It just took me a while to get back in to a rhythm. I played basketball and practiced but it wasn't until the first exhibition this year that I was in a real game situation. Nothing compares to real games and I spent the first half of this season getting adjusted to the game again."
Coach Prevost has witnessed Bauer gradually work himself back into playing shape and has seen what how the injuries have changed his role on the team. "Initially he was a little tentative because of having suffered through back-to-back injuries," Prevost said, "But soon after his initial tentativeness it became evident how hungry sitting on the bench had made him. He has stepped up and become a bigger and better leader.
"Mike Bauer is a special player who I think is still coming around. He plays with so much energy and so much love for the game, something you can not put a price tag on. Right now, I would say he is not reached his potential, but if he continues to work and improve like he is doing currently, he will see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize everything he has went through was all worth it."
If there is one advantage that Michael has gained from being injured it would be how mentally tough he has become. Watching as a spectator and rehabbing from injury have allowed him to accomplish that feat. "Being injured as much as I have been early in my career it has shown me how big of a role being mentally tough plays in the game of basketball," Bauer said. "I don't think I would have healed as fast with my ankle and arm if I didn't have the right attitude."
This season, Michael Bauer has enjoyed the most success since arriving on campus. He is playing the best basketball of his career and is helping lead a young, talented group of players to their ultimate goal of reaching the "Big Dance." While Bauer acknowledges the success he has enjoyed he gives credit where credit his due: to his fellow teammates.
"I am playing my best ball because of the team,"Bauer said. "We are all playing together and playing unselfishly. As long as we keep this up , we are going to accomplish everything we set out to do and have a successful season. This team has the most talent that we've had since I've been here. We just need to keep playing together."
While it was not the best time to "Be Like Mike" the past two years, this year is shaping up to be a better year. With Bauer fired up and healthy, the Golden Gophers are poised to make a push at a NCAA berth.
While people may want to "Be Like Mike Bauer," he himself possesses some qualities to "Be Like the other Mike." He can play with both his back to the basket and behind the arc, and can dunk with the best of them. He started off his season by doing a dunk made famous by Jordan at "Gopher Madness at Midnight." Taking off from the free throw line he was able to slam it home, setting the tone for the season. Bauer is still going strong at this point in the season, looking as if nothing will get in his way. It should be a challenge for Gopher fans young and old to strive to "Be Like Mike," and not necessarily talking about his immense basketball skills, but all the traits that have helped him get through the obstacles he has faced.
So yes, it would be wise to "Be Like Mike," because that would mean that you are a success.
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Danny Olsen
