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It started as the Fort Myers Tip-Off champs. Then, they became the kings of L.A. in early January after a West Coast sweep of one set of the Big Ten newbies.
Up next was an Indianapolis takeover, where Michigan basketball ripped through three of the Big Ten’s most talented teams in less than 48 hours to win the Big Ten tournament championship. While all of those moments were wonderful, none of them could hold a candle to what happened over the weekend at Denver's Ball Arena.
First, U-M beat upset-minded UC San Diego, 68-65, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament which set up a matchup with Texas A&M in the second round.
STATE OF RIVALRY: Michigan basketball wants another crack at Michigan State in Elite Eight
The Wolverines were underdogs by the oddsmakers in that contest, which seemed appropriate when they found themselves down double digits much of the first part of the second half, including, 60-50, with 13:17 to play.
No matter. All Dusty May’s team did from that point on was rip off a 41-19 run to turn what looked like a potential loss into a runaway, as the Wolverines won, 91-79, to punch their ticket to Atlanta and the Sweet 16 in the South region.
That, of course, didn’t happen without a career afternoon from Roddy Gayle Jr., who made a season-best four 3-pointers as he dropped a new Michigan-high 26 points before he became the epicenter of the postgame party.
SATURDAY'S STAR: Roddy Gayle Jr. finally ends 'double agent' moniker for Michigan basketball
Add up the results on each of the extended road trips in assorted corners of the country — Florida, California, Indiana and now Colorado — and Michigan is an unblemished 9-0 in such games.
"I think it's just guys, you bring in an entirely new roster, you see it throughout basketball, some teams just don't click," forward Danny Wolf said. "Guys have personal ambitions that outweigh team goals but from Day 1, coach May said leave your ego at the door."
Wolf said the team, instead, bought into the collective effort of the group and as a result they're "bonding like no other." May joked that he's realized there's actually one aspect he misses from coaching at the lower levels, including his days at Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Eastern Michigan and UAB: the time spent together.
Michigan is fortunate to be a premiere program with plenty of financial resources. The team will fly to most places and even if it's a late night game, most often times there's a flight ready to take them back to Ann Arbor.
There aren't the same periods together on long bus rides or waiting in airport terminals for flights. But on these extended trips, however, May always made an emphasis for the team to come together and focus on each other.
“I believe there's something to the bond,” May said. “We learned along the way (at FAU) when we were on the road together and intentional about spending time and developing relationships then we typically got better and better and better."
There are some stories that can only stay behind closed doors, but Will Tschetter did share a few anecdotes of what bonding looks like. There was team Jeopardy out on the West Coast, for the group to learn about one another. More recently, some players got their hands on highlights (or, rather, lowlights) of coaches during their playing days, which were brought out and played during film sessions for a good laugh.
"Our team is super tight-knit, everyone gets along and that's what we're about," Tschetter said. "Having fun, playing hard, competing with a bunch of good guys."
Michigan had Sunday to recover before it turns its attention to Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed, in the regional semifinal Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. That will be the fifth time U-M leaves Ann Arbor with the hopes of playing more than just a single game.
It won't be easy. The Tigers are 7½-point favorites, led by All-American Johni Broome and a host of talented guards in Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly, Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones. But that's not all who will be waiting.
There's the possibility of meeting Michigan State in the Elite 8 and U-M players say they welcome the third meeting —with a Michigan fanbase. There are pockets of supporters across the country and Atlanta is no different.
Saturday in Denver, the Wolverines flooded the sideline in front of their faithful supporters, going between chanting "It's great, to be, a Michigan Woooolverine" and singing "The Victors." For the fifth game in a row, and the ninth time in as many tries on multiple-day stays away from home, Michigan ended as the victors.
The goal is to bring the vibes to Atlanta and the expectation internally is even beyond that.
"Get on to the next one," Nimari Burnett said of what's next. "And get ready to win the national championship."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball’s extended trip/March Madness vibes remain unmatched
Continue reading...
Up next was an Indianapolis takeover, where Michigan basketball ripped through three of the Big Ten’s most talented teams in less than 48 hours to win the Big Ten tournament championship. While all of those moments were wonderful, none of them could hold a candle to what happened over the weekend at Denver's Ball Arena.
First, U-M beat upset-minded UC San Diego, 68-65, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament which set up a matchup with Texas A&M in the second round.
STATE OF RIVALRY: Michigan basketball wants another crack at Michigan State in Elite Eight
The Wolverines were underdogs by the oddsmakers in that contest, which seemed appropriate when they found themselves down double digits much of the first part of the second half, including, 60-50, with 13:17 to play.
No matter. All Dusty May’s team did from that point on was rip off a 41-19 run to turn what looked like a potential loss into a runaway, as the Wolverines won, 91-79, to punch their ticket to Atlanta and the Sweet 16 in the South region.
That, of course, didn’t happen without a career afternoon from Roddy Gayle Jr., who made a season-best four 3-pointers as he dropped a new Michigan-high 26 points before he became the epicenter of the postgame party.
SATURDAY'S STAR: Roddy Gayle Jr. finally ends 'double agent' moniker for Michigan basketball
At home on the road
Add up the results on each of the extended road trips in assorted corners of the country — Florida, California, Indiana and now Colorado — and Michigan is an unblemished 9-0 in such games.
"I think it's just guys, you bring in an entirely new roster, you see it throughout basketball, some teams just don't click," forward Danny Wolf said. "Guys have personal ambitions that outweigh team goals but from Day 1, coach May said leave your ego at the door."
Wolf said the team, instead, bought into the collective effort of the group and as a result they're "bonding like no other." May joked that he's realized there's actually one aspect he misses from coaching at the lower levels, including his days at Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Eastern Michigan and UAB: the time spent together.
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Michigan is fortunate to be a premiere program with plenty of financial resources. The team will fly to most places and even if it's a late night game, most often times there's a flight ready to take them back to Ann Arbor.
There aren't the same periods together on long bus rides or waiting in airport terminals for flights. But on these extended trips, however, May always made an emphasis for the team to come together and focus on each other.
“I believe there's something to the bond,” May said. “We learned along the way (at FAU) when we were on the road together and intentional about spending time and developing relationships then we typically got better and better and better."
There are some stories that can only stay behind closed doors, but Will Tschetter did share a few anecdotes of what bonding looks like. There was team Jeopardy out on the West Coast, for the group to learn about one another. More recently, some players got their hands on highlights (or, rather, lowlights) of coaches during their playing days, which were brought out and played during film sessions for a good laugh.
"Our team is super tight-knit, everyone gets along and that's what we're about," Tschetter said. "Having fun, playing hard, competing with a bunch of good guys."
Michigan had Sunday to recover before it turns its attention to Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed, in the regional semifinal Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. That will be the fifth time U-M leaves Ann Arbor with the hopes of playing more than just a single game.
Uphill climb
It won't be easy. The Tigers are 7½-point favorites, led by All-American Johni Broome and a host of talented guards in Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly, Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones. But that's not all who will be waiting.
There's the possibility of meeting Michigan State in the Elite 8 and U-M players say they welcome the third meeting —with a Michigan fanbase. There are pockets of supporters across the country and Atlanta is no different.
Saturday in Denver, the Wolverines flooded the sideline in front of their faithful supporters, going between chanting "It's great, to be, a Michigan Woooolverine" and singing "The Victors." For the fifth game in a row, and the ninth time in as many tries on multiple-day stays away from home, Michigan ended as the victors.
The goal is to bring the vibes to Atlanta and the expectation internally is even beyond that.
"Get on to the next one," Nimari Burnett said of what's next. "And get ready to win the national championship."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball’s extended trip/March Madness vibes remain unmatched
Continue reading...
