Michigan basketball is once again heading to the Final Four, marking their ninth appearance after a victory over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Midwest region final. As they prepare to face fellow top seed Arizona in Indianapolis, let’s take a journey through their previous eight appearances.
1964: Cazzie's Heroics Fall Short
In Kansas City, Michigan kicked off their run with a win over Loyola-Chicago and Ohio. However, the national semifinal saw them fall to Duke, 91-80, despite Cazzie Russell’s impressive 31 points and eight rebounds.
Russell, along with teammates Bill Buntin and Oliver Dardin, fouled out, but all four, including George Pomey, were later drafted into the NBA. They bounced back in the consolation game, defeating Kansas State with Buntin scoring 31.
1965: The Bruins Bruise
Making their way to Portland, Michigan advanced past Dayton and Vanderbilt with Buntin scoring 26 in each game. In the national semifinal, they overcame Bill Bradley’s Princeton, thanks to Russell’s 28 points and Buntin’s 22. However, John Wooden’s UCLA proved too strong in the final, defeating them 91-80, with Russell turning the ball over nine times despite another 28-point effort.
1976: Hoosier Heartbreak
In Philadelphia, Michigan edged past Wichita State, Notre Dame, and Missouri. John Robinson’s 20 points and 16 rebounds led them past Rutgers in the semifinal. They led Indiana at halftime in the final but couldn’t hold on, losing 86-68 to the unbeaten Hoosiers.
1989: A Title at Last
Seattle hosted a dramatic run for Michigan, who overcame Xavier and South Alabama amidst coaching chaos. They then took down North Carolina and Virginia.
In the semifinal, Michigan edged Illinois in a thrilling 83-81 victory. The final saw Rumeal Robinson’s clutch free throws secure their only national title against Seton Hall, with Glen Rice scoring 31 and earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.
1992: The Fab Five’s Lesson
In Minneapolis, Michigan began with wins over Temple and East Tennessee State, then defeated Oklahoma State and Ohio State. The Fab Five, featuring Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, and Jimmy King, led them past Cincinnati in the semifinal.
However, Duke’s Grant Hill and the Blue Devils overpowered them in the final, 71-51. This appearance was later vacated by the NCAA.
1993: Out of Time
New Orleans saw Michigan dominate Coastal Carolina and narrowly escape UCLA in overtime. They then defeated George Washington and Temple.
In the semifinal, they outlasted No. 1 seed Kentucky in overtime, led by Webber’s 27 points. The final was marked by Webber’s infamous timeout call, resulting in a 77-71 loss to North Carolina, with this appearance also vacated.
2013: Dealt Out by the Cards
In Atlanta, Michigan started strong, defeating South Dakota State and VCU. Trey Burke’s buzzer-beater helped them survive Kansas, and they rolled over Florida.
The semifinal saw them beat Syracuse, but in the final, despite Spike Albrecht’s 17 first-half points, Louisville’s Luke Hancock led the Cards to an 82-76 victory. Louisville’s title was later vacated.
2018: Donte’s Inferno
San Antonio hosted Michigan’s path, which included wins over Montana, Houston (via Jordan Poole’s buzzer-beater), Texas A&M, and Florida State. Facing Loyola-Chicago in the semifinal, Moritz Wagner’s second-half surge led them to victory. In the final, they faced Villanova, where Donte DiVincenzo’s 31 points powered the Wildcats to a 79-67 win.
As Michigan gears up for another shot at glory, their storied history serves as both inspiration and a reminder of the challenges ahead.