Remembering Michigan’s Mid-Major NCAA Tournament Cinderella Runs

Can you please rephrase this?

It’s official – March Madness has arrived!

In order to commemorate this occasion, we will be highlighting the excitement by examining the achievements of mid-major Michigan programs in Division I, who have emerged victorious in the NCAA men’s tournament since its establishment (with two notable mentions that may not perfectly align with this criteria).

Let’s embark on a nostalgic journey and recall the cherished moments on the grandest stage of the game, which continue to be remembered despite the absence of a national championship triumph.

1975 — Central Michigan (22-6, 10-4 MAC)

Dick Parfitt is the coach.

Dan Roundfield, Jim McElroy, and Ben Poquette are all professional basketball players in the NBA.

The initial successful stint of a Michigan school featured a noteworthy Sweet 16 appearance, albeit with a minor caveat: this occurred during a time when the tournament comprised only 32 teams.

Central Michigan narrowly secured a 77-75 victory against Georgetown in the first round, but unfortunately suffered a 17-point defeat to Kentucky in the subsequent round.

Roundfield, McElroy, and Poquette, all Chippewas players, went on to have successful careers in the NBA. Roundfield, in particular, had a remarkable 12-year stint with three All-Star honors, including a stop in Detroit. McElroy also spent a half season playing for the Pistons, while Poquette began his 10-year NBA journey with a two-season tenure in Detroit.

However, this team possesses a remarkable distinction: It was the sole team to emerge victorious in its final game of the tournament. The Chippewas triumphed over Oregon State with a close score of 88-87 in the Regional Third Place Game, during a time when such a game was held.

1976 — Western Michigan (25-3, 15-1 MAC)

Coach Miller is the coach

Paul Griffin is one of the NBA players.

The AP ranking concludes at number 10.

There was no doubt that Western Michigan’s victory over Virginia Tech by a margin of 10 points in the 1976 tournament was expected. The Broncos had an impressive record of 25-3, with their only loss occurring in the MAC. They were also ranked as the No. 10 team in the final edition of the Associated Press Top 25 for that season.

Regrettably for Western, they faced Marquette in the second round, a team that had only fallen out of the top 5 twice that season. Marquette had an impressive lineup consisting of five future NBA players and would eventually become the National Champions the following year.

In this story, the Broncos had only one player who went on to become a future NBA player, Griffin. He concluded his career as the program’s leading rebounder and holds the honorable distinction of never having played for the Pistons throughout his career.

1977 — Detroit Mercy (25-4, Independent)

Dick Vitale is the coach.

Some NBA players include John Long, Terry Tyler, and Terry Duerod.

The AP ranking concludes at number 12.

We are discussing Titans, my friend!

During the 1976-77 season, Detroit Mercy emerged as one of the most unforgettable mid-major teams in Michigan’s basketball history. This was primarily attributed to the esteemed head coach, college basketball legend Dick Vitale. Detroit Mercy showcased their prowess by dominating their regular-season schedule.

After securing victories against No. 8 Arizona and No. 9 Marquette in the regular season, Detroit Mercy entered the NCAA Tournament with an impressive record of only four losses. Their tournament journey began with a dominant 93-76 triumph over Middle Tennessee State.

However, the Titans faced a formidable opponent that had a personal connection. Unfortunately, their journey was cut short by the No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who defeated them in a tough 86-81 loss after only two games.

It is noteworthy that the Pistons became the starting point for the NBA careers of all three of their future NBA players.

1991 — Eastern Michigan (26-7, 13-3 MAC)

Coach Braun

Carl Thomas and Charles Thomas are both NBA players.

The final AP ranking for this team is not ranked (NR).

Seed for the tournament: 12

Following three consecutive years of success for a small school from Michigan in the tournament, it took another 14 years for such an accomplishment to occur again. During this period, the tournament introduced traditional seeding and expanded to include 64 teams before the 1985 season. Undoubtedly, these changes played a significant role in making Eastern Michigan’s remarkable run in 1991 one of the most genuine ‘Cinderella runs’ among these teams.

While Western (1976) and Mercy (1977) were ranked within the top 15 teams in the nation during their entry into the NCAA Tournament, Eastern in 1991 secured a spot as a 12-seed. Surprisingly, they managed to cause an upset by defeating the 5-seed team. Following this victory, they narrowly won against Penn State, earning them a chance to face off against North Carolina, the 1-seed team led by Rick Fox, a future three-time NBA champion, and current UNC head coach Hubert Davis. Unfortunately for Eastern, they faced a crushing defeat, losing 93-67.

Both Charles and Carl Thomas, the Thomas twins, had unremarkable NBA careers. However, they still continue to work together as teammates, now serving as assistant coaches on the staff of Duquesne.

1996 — Eastern Michigan (25-6, 14-4 MAC)

Coach Ben Braun

Earl Boykins and Derrick Dial are professional basketball players in the NBA.

The final AP ranking is not ranked (NR).

The tournament seed for this team is 9.

The Eastern Michigan team is known for producing the most renowned NBA player on this roster, the 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins. Despite only averaging 8.9 points as a point guard throughout his 13-year career, his No. 11 Denver Nuggets jersey remains incredibly popular and is widely recognized, especially by those who grew up in the 2000s.

In the opening round, the 9-seed Eagles dominated 8-seed Duke with a final score of 75-60. Boykins led the team with an impressive 23 points, along with seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Unfortunately, their journey came to an end in the next round against UConn.

The magnificence of this run mirrors the magnificence of the NCAA Tournament as a whole. Although the Eagles didn’t advance very far and their victory wasn’t exactly a shocking upset, the significance of their achievement grows with time. The everlasting memory of eliminating Duke and Mike Krzyzewski transcends any initial limitations.

1998 — Western Michigan (21-8, 14-4)

Coach Bob Donewald

There are no NBA players.

The final AP ranking is not ranked.

Seed for the tournament: 11

During the opening round of the 1998 tournament, Western Michigan created March Madness by pulling off an upset against 6-seed Clemson. They managed to hold off a late second-half comeback from the Tigers, securing a thrilling 75-72 victory.

The resilient Broncos, unlike the other teams mentioned, failed to have any player make it to the NBA, which ultimately proved detrimental for them. As a result, they were defeated by a formidable Stanford team seeded 3rd, who later advanced to the Final Four.

However, the roster did include a small dose of local basketball royalty in the form of Saddi Washington, the current Michigan basketball assistant.

1998 — Detroit Mercy (25-6, 12-2 Horizon League)

Coach Perry Watson

Jermaine Jackson and Desmond Ferguson are both notable NBA players.

The final AP ranking is not ranked.

The seed for the tournament is 10.

Perry Watson ignited a modest hot streak for Detroit Mercy in 1998.

After qualifying for their first tournament as an independent, the Titans, now playing in the Horizon League, managed to defeat St. John’s in the first round despite two unsuccessful buzzer-beater attempts. This victory marked their first NCAA Tournament win in more than twenty years.

Derrick Hayes took charge for Mercy, scoring an impressive 27 points. Meanwhile, Jackson, who would later become an NBA journeyman, managed to contribute a modest 9 points, tying for the second-highest score for Detroit Mercy.

In addition to future Titans head coach Bacari Alexander, the roster also featured a certain individual named Michael Jordan, whose inclusion in the team was most likely due to his widely recognized name. Throughout the season, he managed to maintain an average of 0 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

Despite Detroit Mercy’s loss to 2-seed Purdue in the following round, it laid the foundation for another successful season the following year.

1999 — Detroit Mercy (25-6, 12-2 Horizon League)

Perry Watson is the coach.

Jermaine Jackson and Desmond Ferguson are both professional NBA players.

Final AP ranking: Not Ranked

The tournament seed for this team is number 12.

Detroit Mercy experienced no changes in the subsequent season, with the record, coach, and players staying consistent, as they worked towards fulfilling their NBA aspirations.

Apart from its tournament seeding, the Titans seemed unfazed as they secured yet another upset with a 56-53 win over 5-seed UCLA. Their defense, which allowed the third-lowest number of points in the NCAA that season, played a crucial role in their victory.

However, the floodgates could not be kept shut for long. In the next round, the Ohio State Buckeyes managed to score 75 points, resulting in a devastating 31-point loss for the Titans. For those curious, Michael Jordan did experience a slight increase in offensive performance, averaging 1.0 point, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.1 assists.

2003 — Central Michigan (25-7, 14-4 MAC)

Jay Smith is the coach.

Chris Kaman is one of the NBA players.

AP Final Ranking: Not Ranked

The tournament seed is 11.

Central Michigan ended their long hiatus by winning their first NCAA Tournament game in almost three decades. The Chippewas achieved an impressive upset victory over Creighton in the 2003 tournament, with senior Mike Manciel leading the charge by scoring an astonishing 29 points, which was more than twice his usual career average.

However, it was Kaman who led them to that point, as he would later be drafted sixth overall at the end of the season. He maintained an impressive average of 22.4 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks. Despite his outstanding performance and scoring 25 points in the Chippewas’ second-round game against Duke, it was still not sufficient to prevent the inevitable outcome – a devastating 26-point defeat at the hands of J.J. Redick and Dahntay Jones.

2005 — Oakland (13-19, 7-9 Mid-Continent)

Coach Greg Kampe

Rawle Marshall: An NBA player

The final AP ranking is not ranked.

Seed in the tournament: 16

Oakland University had an eventful year. Making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since transitioning to Division I in 1997, they stood out as the sole team on this list to conclude the regular season with a losing record.

The Golden Grizzlies secured a victory over Alabama A&M in the 16-seed play-in game, thanks to an unexpected surge in the Mid-Continent Conference tournament. Leading the charge with an impressive 29 points was Marshall, an Oakland alumni who became the first to reach the NBA. It is worth mentioning that Marshall also showcased his skills in the 2005 NCAA Dunk Contest, an event that should definitely make a comeback.

Ultimately, Oakland’s Round-of-64 defeat resulted in a honorable outcome, as they fell to the eventual champion North Carolina by a score of 96-68.

Honorable mention

1992 — Michigan (25-9, 11-7 Big Ten)

Steve Fisher is the coach.

Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Eric Riley are all NBA players.

The 15th place in the final AP ranking.

The tournament seed is 6.

During the early 1990s, Michigan achieved an astonishing feat by clinching the national title with the remarkable contribution of a group that has now become famously known as the Fab Five.

Alright, perhaps this wasn’t your typical Cinderella story. However, it’s worth mentioning that the Wolverines concluded their regular season as the 15th-ranked team in the nation, boasting an exceptional freshman class that was unparalleled in college basketball up until that moment.

However, it cannot be denied that they dedicated a considerable amount of time to solve their problems, which played a significant role in their entry into the 1992 Tournament as a 6-seed. At that time, experience and upperclassmen were the driving forces in the sport, making it quite unexpected for Michigan to defeat 2-seed Oklahoma State, 1-seed Ohio State, and 4-seed Cincinnati, ultimately earning them the opportunity to face Duke in the championship game, albeit with misguided confidence. Unfortunately, the Wolverines suffered a devastating 20-point loss in that final match.

2015 — Michigan State (27-12, 12-6 Big Ten)

The coach’s name is Tom Izzo.

Denzel Valentine, Branden Dawson, Bryn Forbes, and Matt Costello are all professional basketball players in the NBA.

The ultimate AP ranking is 23.

The tournament seed assigned is number 7.

This Michigan State group is likely the one that strongly supports the notion of “January, February, Izzo.”

Travis Trice emerged as a major threat for Michigan State, outshining even the renowned Valentine on the roster. He consistently delivered impressive performances, leading the team in scoring throughout the season. Trice’s exceptional skills were evident in their successive victories against formidable opponents like 2-seed Virginia (scoring 23 points), 3-seed Oklahoma (24 points), and 4-seed Louisville (17 points). It was their triumph over Louisville that secured Michigan State’s spot in the Final Four.

Regrettably, the Spartans’ journey came to a halt right there. Michigan State suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Duke, mirroring the same point difference as the Michigan team that was defeated by Duke in 1992, with a final score of 81-61.

The story leaves no doubt that one should not underestimate the power of the Blue Devils.

If you happen to be Eastern Michigan, then feel free to go ahead.

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