NOTES

While second-seeded Kentucky will be the highest-ranked team in the games at the Georgia Dome in the South Regional, none is more confident than Michigan.

The Wolverines spent most of their hour-long practice Thursday joking and laughing their way through drills. Near the end, they held an impromptu half-court shooting contest, including a short attempt from Coach Brian Ellerbe.

This feeling is probably to be expected from a veteran group that won last year’s NIT and then swept through this year’s inaugural Big Ten tournament.

“We’re back and we have a statement to make for Michigan,” said Maceo Baston, senior forward.

One of those statements was their haircuts, as many players showed up either bald or with buzz cuts.

Robert Traylor, the 300-plus pound forward, did not shave his head. Not that anybody would have asked him. Traylor was busy standing by his previous statement that the Wolverines would go to the Final Four.

“I made that statement after we won the Big Ten tournament and I stand by it now,” he said. “We are playing great basketball . . . and I feel strongly that we are undoubtedly a Final Four team.”