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As the NCAA Men’s National Championship approaches, it’s unfortunate that both Michigan and Michigan State have been eliminated from this year’s tournament. In light of this, we are urging for a sense of state unity to conclude March Madness.
The rival programs, though unwilling to acknowledge it, bear a striking resemblance, and their ongoing disputes over each other’s historical significance in college basketball often resemble the endless Michael Jordan-LeBron James comparison.
Michigan State has a 2-1 record in national championship games, having reached the title game three times in 10 Final Four appearances. Conversely, Michigan has an impressive track record of reaching the championship game seven times out of eight Final Four appearances. However, their record in these decisive matchups stands at a disappointing 1-6.
As we anticipate the clash between Kansas and North Carolina, let’s delve into the historical context of Michigan’s championship game records.
1965 — Michigan vs. UCLA
Michigan, having triumphed in the Big Ten and securing the top spot in the final AP poll, appeared ready to clinch their inaugural basketball national championship in the 1965 NCAA Tournament. However, their hopes were dashed when they encountered the legendary coach hailed as the greatest in college basketball history.
In the national championship game, John Wooden’s UCLA team defeated Michigan with a score of 91-80, securing their second consecutive title. Gail Goodrich, who would later be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, made history by scoring the most points in a national championship game with a remarkable 42. Despite Cazzie Russel’s impressive 28 points, Michigan couldn’t overcome the 13-point deficit, marking the beginning of their long-standing disappointment in title games.
When Michigan eventually returned to the title game after 11 years, Wooden had already led UCLA to an additional eight championships, with seven consecutive victories from 1967 to 1973.
1976 — Michigan vs. Indiana
Michigan made their second appearance in the national title game, following a second-place finish in the Big Ten and being ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll. This occurrence was not unique.
In 1976, Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers dominated the college basketball scene, holding the top spot in the nation throughout the entire season with an impeccable 32-0 record. However, their success came at the expense of the Michigan Wolverines, who fell short of their ultimate goal. In the championship game, Indiana delivered a resounding 86-68 victory, earning Knight his first title. Surprisingly, Michigan held a six-point lead at halftime. Nevertheless, Indiana emerged from the locker room with a relentless energy, scoring a staggering 57 points in the second half, ultimately sealing their convincing victory.
1979 — No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Indiana State
Hooray! A win!
Possibly one of the most remarkable seasons in Michigan State’s history, a man named Earvin “Magic” Johnson emerged as the driving force behind the Spartans’ first-place triumph in the Big Ten and an impressive No. 3 ranking in the final AP poll.
Michigan State had an impressive run in the tournament, which led to an epic title game against Larry Bird’s Indiana State team. This matchup was hailed as one of the most memorable star-on-star showdowns in the history of the NCAA Championship.
Although Bird had an impressive game in the national championship, scoring 19 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and making five steals, Magic outshined him. Magic scored the highest with 24 points, in addition to seven rebounds and five assists. Greg Kelser also contributed with 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, leading Michigan State to their first national title and asserting their dominance in the state. Their 75-64 victory set the stage for one of the most legendary NBA rivalries in history.
1989 — No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 3 Seton Hall
In 1989, the Wolverines matched Michigan State’s first national title win from a decade earlier. This remarkable achievement would later play a significant role in determining the hiring of the university’s football coach thirty years down the line.
During the last week of the regular season, Head coach Bill Frieder received the news from athletic director Bo Schembechler that he would be dismissed for accepting the Arizona State job after the season. Schembechler then appointed Steve Fischer, a trusted long-term assistant, as the new head coach, emphasizing the importance of having a “Michigan man” in charge of the team.
Due to the exceptional performance of Glen Rice, the fourth-overall pick from that summer, Coach Fischer enjoyed an undefeated record of 6 wins and 0 losses. Rice’s remarkable display in the tournament was the key factor, as he averaged over 25 points per game that season. In a crucial 80-79 victory against Seton Hall, Rice contributed an impressive stat line of 31 points and 11 rebounds.
However, ultimately, Rumeal Robinson emerged as the hero, scoring 21 points. In a critical moment, with Michigan trailing by one point, Robinson was fouled while driving towards the basket with only three seconds remaining. He successfully made both free throws, leading Michigan to a victory as Seton Hall’s desperate last attempt fell short.
1992 — No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 1 Duke
Just three years later, Fischer and the Wolverines made a remarkable comeback to the title game. This time, they were a 6-seed with a lineup of five freshman starters famously referred to as the Fab Five. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.
You can likely guess the outcome, even if you’re not acquainted with the details: Michigan went up against Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils in the championship. However, this defeat didn’t sting as much as the following season’s loss. The young Wolverines were clearly outperformed in the latter half, resulting in a 71-51 defeat.
1993 — No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 1 North Carolina
If you’re feeling a bit weary from reading, now is a good moment for a break since we are halfway through the list. However, if you don’t have the luxury of taking a timeout, then keep going.
Sorry, sorry.
It is difficult to fathom a more demoralizing and peculiar moment in the history of Michigan sports than the conclusion of the Wolverines’ title game in 1993. Coming off a defeat against Duke the previous year, Michigan returned to the tournament as the top-seeded team, ready to compete against the renowned North Carolina Tar Heels under the guidance of Hall-of-Famer Dean Smith.
In the final 19 seconds of the game, as the Wolverines trailed by two points, Chris Webber secured a crucial rebound and managed to evade a travel violation in the backcourt. He swiftly maneuvered towards the corner of the court while being closely guarded by two Tar Heels defenders. Recognizing the need for a strategic pause, Webber called a timeout, allowing Michigan to regroup and strategize for a potential game-winning shot.
The sole issue was that Michigan had no timeouts, leading to a technical foul that ultimately secured the victory for North Carolina. It would take the program almost twenty years to bounce back from this setback.
2000 — No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Florida
Tom Izzo, in his fifth season as head coach of Michigan State, guided the Spartans to the ultimate victory in 2000, following in the footsteps of Jud Heathcote. Coming off a top seed placement for the second year in a row, Michigan State faced off against Billy Donovan’s No. 5 Florida team in the championship game, with Donovan not yet achieving Hall of Fame status.
After suffering an ankle injury, Mateen Cleaves was briefly sidelined from the game. However, he made a strong comeback, contributing 18 points and four assists. Meanwhile, Morris Peterson scored 21 points to help secure the victory against the Gators, who received 27 points from Udonis Haslem.
Despite Florida putting up a strong fight against Michigan State in the second half, the Spartans’ commanding 11-point lead at halftime allowed them to secure a comfortable 89-76 victory. As a result, Cleaves was recognized as the tournament’s most outstanding player.
2009 — No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 1 North Carolina
Michigan’s heartbreaking loss to North Carolina in the championship game stands as the utmost devastation, but Michigan State’s defeat to the Tar Heels in the 2009 title game, under the guidance of Roy Williams, likely comes as a close second.
The Spartans had a chance for redemption after their devastating loss to North Carolina in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge game at Ford Field, also known as Basketbowl II, a few months prior. The Final Four arrived in Detroit, and Michigan State secured their spot after an exciting victory against UConn. Unfortunately, right from the beginning, it was clear that the Spartans were not going to have a successful rematch.
In Detroit, the Tar Heels dominated the game against Michigan State, effectively shutting down the offensive efforts of Travis Walton, Raymar Morgan, and Delvon Roe. Collectively, the trio only managed to contribute eight points. With a commanding 36-13 lead, North Carolina never relinquished their advantage and secured the championship title with an impressive 89-72 victory.
2013 — No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Louisville
Following Webber’s timeout, it would take Michigan basketball a span of twenty years to reclaim their previous level of success. The Wolverines appeared to possess an undeniable sense of fate after Trey Burke’s unbelievable 3-pointer propelled them past Kansas and into the Sweet 16. However, during the national championship game, Michigan encountered a formidable opponent in Luke Hancock, who stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Hancock’s remarkable performance on the court led to the Wolverines losing their commanding 12-point lead. He displayed exceptional accuracy by shooting 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, ultimately scoring the highest number of points (22) for his team. This outstanding feat earned him the title of most outstanding player in a national championship, making him the first bench player to achieve this honor.
Burke’s block of Louisville guard Peyton Siva in the final minutes, which was deemed a foul and disrupted momentum in a closely contested game, remains a lasting image. This incident further exacerbated the disappointment for the opposing team, as the Cardinals ultimately sealed the victory with a score of 82-76.
Absolutely: Rick Pitino, the head coach of Louisville, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
2018 — No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 1 Villanova
In the 2018 title game, John Beilein’s team aimed to reclaim their pride. However, unlike their experience in 2013, the Wolverines never truly seemed to be competitive in this particular match.
In Michigan’s game against Villanova, Isaiah Livers failed to score any points while Donte DiVincenzo dominated the court for Villanova. DiVincenzo recorded an impressive stat line of 31 points, five rebounds, and three assists. This stellar performance by DiVincenzo contributed to Villanova’s second title win in three years under the guidance of head coach Jay Wright, who was rightfully acknowledged for his achievements by being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2021.
The Wolverines had no expectations of reaching this point, and though it’s unfortunate that they have faced the tournament’s top seed in their last five national title game losses, this is just how the tournament works. Under the guidance of Juwan Howard, they can only aspire to one day be the team on the opposite end of that situation.
