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With Michigan and Michigan State having made early exits from this year’s tournament, we are urging for state unity to conclude March Madness as the NCAA Men’s National Championship approaches.
The rival programs are secretly more alike than they care to acknowledge, and their debates on each other’s historical impact in college basketball often resemble a Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James discussion.
Michigan State has a record of 2-1 in national championship games, having reached the title game three out of their 10 Final Four appearances. In contrast, Michigan has an impressive track record of reaching the championship game seven times in only eight Final Four appearances. However, their win-loss ratio in the winner-take-all matchups is quite disappointing at 1-6.
As we gear up for the clash between Kansas and North Carolina, battling it out for the ultimate victory, it’s worth examining the historical significance of Michigan’s title game.
1965 — Michigan vs. UCLA
Michigan, having triumphed in the Big Ten and secured the top spot in the last AP poll of the season, appeared ready to secure their inaugural basketball national championship as they entered the 1965 NCAA Tournament. Regrettably for the Wolverines, their path collided with the presence of the most esteemed coach in the history of college basketball.
In the national championship game, John Wooden’s UCLA team defeated Michigan by a score of 91-80 to secure their second consecutive title. Gail Goodrich, who would later be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, made history by scoring a record-breaking 42 points in the game. Despite Cazzie Russell’s impressive 28 points, it was not enough for Michigan to overcome a 13-point deficit, adding to their long history of disappointment in championship games.
Michigan would not return to the title game until 11 years later, while UCLA, under the guidance of Wooden, went on to win eight more titles, including an impressive seven consecutive titles from 1967-1973.
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 ninth in the final AP poll. This experience was no different from their previous one.
In 1976, Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers had an outstanding season, remaining the top-ranked team in the nation with a flawless 32-0 record. However, their dominance halted the Michigan Wolverines from achieving their ultimate objective. The Hoosiers delivered a resounding 86-68 victory, granting Knight his first championship. Despite Michigan holding a six-point lead at halftime, Indiana emerged from the locker room with an unstoppable force, scoring an impressive 57 points in the second half to secure a convincing triumph.
1979 — No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Indiana State
I am celebrating a victory!
Possibly hailed as the most remarkable season in Michigan State’s history, a certain individual known as Earvin “Magic” Johnson skillfully guided the Spartans to clinch first place in the Big Ten and achieve an impressive No. 3 position in the final AP poll.
Michigan State made a dominant run in the tournament, leading to an epic title game that showcased an unforgettable showdown between Larry Bird’s Indiana State team and some of the greatest stars in NCAA Championship history.
Bird had an impressive showing in the national championship game, scoring 19 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and making five steals. However, Magic outshone him with a game-high 24 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists. In addition, Greg Kelser contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, helping Michigan State secure their first national title and establish their dominance over the state with a 75-64 victory. This memorable game would set the stage for one of the greatest NBA rivalries ever witnessed.
1989 — No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 3 Seton Hall
In 1989, the Wolverines achieved a remarkable feat by winning their first national title, exactly a decade after Michigan State’s triumph. This unexpected success had a significant impact on the hiring of the university’s football coach thirty years later.
During the last week of the regular season, Head coach Bill Frieder was terminated by athletic director Bo Schembechler. This came after Frieder revealed his plans to accept the Arizona State job once the season concluded. Schembechler then appointed longtime assistant Steve Fischer as the new head coach, emphasizing the importance of having a coach who embodied the spirit of Michigan.
Due to Glen Rice’s exceptional performance in the tournament, Fischer achieved a flawless 6-0 record as coach. Rice, the fourth-overall pick from that summer, consistently scored over 25 points per game throughout the season. In a crucial 80-79 victory against Seton Hall, Rice astonishingly contributed 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Ultimately, Rumeal Robinson (scoring 21 points) emerged as the hero. Despite Michigan trailing by one point, Robinson was fouled while driving to the lane with only three seconds remaining. He successfully made both free throws, leading Michigan to a triumphant victory as Seton Hall’s last-ditch 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 team led by five freshmen starters famously known as the Fab Five. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.
If you’re not acquainted with the details, you can still guess the outcome by understanding that Michigan competed against Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils in the championship game. However, the pain from this defeat is not as severe as the loss experienced in the following season. The young Wolverines were clearly outmatched in the second half, resulting in a 71-51 defeat.
1993 — No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 1 North Carolina
If you’re feeling fatigued from reading, now is a suitable moment for a break, considering we’ve reached the halfway point of this list. However, this suggestion assumes that you have the luxury of taking a timeout.
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It’s difficult to fathom a more demoralizing and peculiar moment in the sports history of Michigan than the conclusion of the Wolverines’ 1993 championship game. After losing to Duke the previous year, Michigan returned to the tournament as a top-seeded team and found themselves pitted against the renowned North Carolina Tar Heels, led by the legendary Dean Smith.
In the final 19 seconds of the game, the Wolverines were trailing by two points when Chris Webber secured a rebound. Despite traveling in the backcourt, he quickly advanced the ball to the corner of the court. However, he found himself trapped by two Tar Heels defenders and wisely called a timeout, allowing Michigan to regroup and strategize for a possible game-winning shot.
The only issue was that Michigan had no timeouts, leading to a technical foul that would ultimately decide the game in favor of 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, achieved a remarkable feat in 2000 by guiding the Spartans to the pinnacle of college basketball. Having secured the top seed for the second year in a row, Michigan State faced off against No. 5 Florida, led by head coach Billy Donovan, who was not yet inducted into the Hall of Fame, in the championship game.
After suffering an ankle injury, Mateen Cleaves briefly exited the game; however, he made a comeback and contributed 18 points and four assists. Morris Peterson also played a significant role by scoring 21 points, leading their team to victory against the Gators. Udonis Haslem of the Gators managed to score 27 points.
Despite Florida’s strong performance in the second half, Michigan State’s 11-point halftime lead allowed them to secure a comfortable 89-76 victory. As a result, Cleaves was honored 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 its championship game was devastating, but Michigan State’s defeat to the Tar Heels in the 2009 title game, under the coaching of Roy Williams, is likely the closest in terms of devastation.
Following a crushing defeat by North Carolina in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge game at Ford Field, also known as Basketbowl II, a few months prior, Michigan State had another opportunity to compete in the same venue when the Final Four arrived in Detroit. This chance came after an exhilarating victory against UConn. However, right from the start, the second encounter did not prove to be the Spartans’ night either.
Michigan State’s key players Travis Walton, Raymar Morgan, and Delvon Roe were rendered ineffective, scoring only a total of eight points. The Tar Heels took control early in the game, establishing a commanding 36-13 lead in Detroit, and maintained their dominance throughout. Ultimately, they secured the championship title with a convincing 89-72 win.
2013 — No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Louisville
Following Webber’s timeout blunder, it took Michigan basketball a span of twenty years to reach a similar level of success. The Wolverines seemed destined for greatness when Trey Burke’s unbelievable 3-pointer propelled them past Kansas and into the Sweet 16. However, their dreams were shattered in the national championship game when they encountered a dominant force in Luke Hancock who outshone the Michigan team.
Hancock’s exceptional performance on the court turned the tables for the Wolverines, who had initially held a comfortable 12-point lead. His flawless shooting from beyond the arc, going 5-for-5, contributed significantly to his team’s victory. With an impressive total of 22 points, Hancock not only secured the win but also made history as the first bench player to receive the prestigious title of most outstanding player in a national championship.
The enduring image of Burke’s block on Louisville guard Peyton Siva, which was incorrectly called a foul and disrupted the momentum in the final minutes of a close game, only added to the disappointment. Despite this setback, the Cardinals managed to secure an 82-76 victory.
Indeed, 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 redeem themselves. However, unlike their previous experience in 2013, the Wolverines never truly seemed to be in control of the game.
Isaiah Livers of Michigan failed to score any points, while Donte DiVincenzo of Villanova dominated the game with an outstanding performance, scoring 31 points, grabbing five rebounds, and assisting three times. This led to a second-half blowout victory for the Wildcats, securing their second championship in three years under the leadership of head coach Jay Wright, who was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
The Wolverines never anticipated reaching this level, and although it’s disappointing to face the tournament’s top seed in their last five national title game defeats, that’s just how the tournament works. Under Juwan Howard’s leadership, they aspire to become the team that holds the advantage someday.
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