Jump straight to the main content
It’s official: March Madness has arrived.
In order to commemorate this occasion, we are highlighting the frenzy by examining the Division I mid-major Michigan programs that have achieved victory in the NCAA men’s tournament since its establishment (including two noteworthy mentions that don’t precisely meet this criteria).
Embark on a nostalgic journey to revisit the unforgettable moments on the grandest stage of the game, forever etched in our memory, despite the absence of a coveted national championship.
1975 — Central Michigan (22-6, 10-4 MAC)
Coach: Dick Parfitt
Some NBA players include Dan Roundfield, Jim McElroy, and Ben Poquette.
During the initial run of a Michigan school, they managed to reach the Sweet 16, but with one caveat – this was during a time when the tournament comprised only 32 teams.
Central Michigan narrowly won with a 77-75 victory against Georgetown in the first round, but unfortunately suffered a 17-point loss to Kentucky in the subsequent game.
Roundfield, McElroy, and Poquette, all former Chippewas, went on to have successful careers in the NBA. Roundfield, a 12-year pro player, even received three All-Star honors during his time, including a stint in Detroit. McElroy, on the other hand, played a half season with the Pistons before moving on. Poquette, who spent ten years in the NBA, began his professional career with the Pistons, playing for them for the first two seasons.
However, this team does possess a special accolade: It was the sole team to emerge victorious in its final game of the tournament. The Chippewas triumphed over Oregon State, securing an 88-87 victory in the Regional Third Place Game, a contest of the past.
1976 — Western Michigan (25-3, 15-1 MAC)
Coach: Eldon Miller
NBA players: Paul Griffin
Final AP ranking: 10
There was no doubt that Western Michigan’s victory over Virginia Tech by a 10-point margin in the 1976 tournament was expected. The Broncos had an impressive record of 25-3, with their only loss in the MAC conference. Additionally, they secured the No. 10 spot in the final edition of the Associated Press Top 25 rankings for that season.
Regrettably for Western, they were faced with a second-round matchup against Marquette. Throughout the entire season, Marquette had only fallen outside of the top 5 twice, boasted a lineup of five future NBA players, and would eventually emerge as the National Champions the following year.
In this story, the Broncos had the privilege of having Griffin, a future NBA player, on their team. Griffin, who ended his career as the program’s top rebounder ever, holds the honorable distinction of never having played for the Pistons at any stage of his career.
1977 — Detroit Mercy (25-4, Independent)
Coach: Dick Vitale
NBA players John Long, Terry Tyler, and Terry Duerod.
Final AP ranking: 12
We’re talking Titans, baby!
During the 1976-77 season, Detroit Mercy emerged as one of the most memorable mid-major teams in Michigan’s basketball history. This can be attributed to the esteemed head coach, college basketball icon Dick Vitale. The team showcased an impressive performance throughout their regular-season schedule.
Detroit Mercy had a successful regular season, securing victories against highly-ranked teams like No. 8 Arizona and No. 9 Marquette. With only four losses, they earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Their tournament journey began with a dominant 93-76 win against Middle Tennessee State.
However, the Titans faced a formidable opponent that struck a personal chord. Unfortunately, their journey was cut short by the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines, who defeated them after only two games in a fiercely contested 86-81 defeat.
It is quite remarkable that all three of their upcoming NBA players would begin their professional basketball journeys with the Pistons.
1991 — Eastern Michigan (26-7, 13-3 MAC)
Coach: Ben Braun
The NBA players in question are Carl Thomas and Charles Thomas.
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 12
Following three consecutive years of a Michigan-based small school achieving victory in the tournament, a span of 14 years passed before witnessing a similar feat. During this period, the tournament incorporated traditional seeding and expanded to include 64 teams, starting from the 1985 season. Undoubtedly, these modifications played a significant role in Eastern Michigan’s remarkable ‘Cinderella run’ in 1991, solidifying its position among the most genuine underdog stories in the tournament’s history.
In contrast to Western (1976) and Mercy (1977), who were both recognized as top-15 teams in the nation entering the NCAA Tournament, Eastern in 1991 secured a spot as a 12-seed. However, Eastern defied expectations by causing a major upset, defeating the 5-seed team. They then narrowly triumphed over Penn State, earning themselves an opportunity to face off against the formidable 1-seed, North Carolina. North Carolina, led by future three-time NBA champion Rick Fox and current UNC head coach Hubert Davis, dominated the game, resulting in a crushing 93-67 defeat for Eastern.
Both Charles and Carl Thomas, the Thomas twins, did not achieve significant success in their NBA careers. However, they continue to be teammates as assistant coaches on the Duquesne staff.
1996 — Eastern Michigan (25-6, 14-4 MAC)
Coach: Ben Braun
Two NBA players who have made their mark in the basketball world are Earl Boykins and Derrick Dial.
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 9
The main highlight of this Eastern Michigan team is their association with the renowned NBA player, Earl Boykins, who stood at 5-foot-5. Boykins played an impressive 13-year career in the league, and interestingly, his No. 11 Denver Nuggets jersey remains one of the best-selling jerseys in history. Despite only averaging 8.9 points as a point guard throughout his career, Boykins holds a special place in the hearts of those who grew up in the 2000s.
In the opening round, the 9-seed Eagles dominated 8-seed Duke with a crushing score of 75-60. Boykins played an outstanding game, leading the team with an impressive 23 points, along with seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. However, their journey was cut short in the next round when they were defeated by UConn.
The magnificence of this run mirrors the grandeur of the NCAA Tournament as a whole. Although the Eagles didn’t make significant progress and their victory wasn’t a major upset, the significance of their accomplishment grows with time. The triumph over Duke and Mike Krzyzewski will be eternally remembered.
1998 — Western Michigan (21-8, 14-4)
Coach: Bob Donewald
NBA players: None
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 11
During the opening round of the 1998 tournament, Western Michigan caused a frenzy in March by defeating 6-seed Clemson. They managed to hold off a second-half comeback from the Tigers, securing a narrow 75-72 victory.
The Broncos, known for their tenacity, were the sole team among the listed ones who failed to produce any NBA players. Unfortunately, this seemed to be the factor that led to their defeat against Stanford, a formidable 3-seed team that eventually made it to the Final Four.
However, they did possess a small portion of local basketball royalty on their team, as Saddi Washington, the current Michigan basketball assistant, was part of their roster.
1998 — Detroit Mercy (25-6, 12-2 Horizon League)
Coach: Perry Watson
Jermaine Jackson and Desmond Ferguson are both professional NBA players.
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 10
In 1998, Perry Watson sparked a promising winning streak for Detroit Mercy.
After competing as an independent, the Titans joined the Horizon League and successfully advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In the opening round, they managed to defeat St. John’s despite two failed 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, while Jackson, who would later become an NBA journeyman, settled for a modest 9 points, tying for the second-highest score for Detroit Mercy.
In addition, the roster featured Bacari Alexander, the future Titans head coach, and an individual named Michael Jordan. We can only presume that Jordan’s selection was largely due to his renowned name. Throughout the season, he maintained an average of 0 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.
Despite being defeated by 2-seed Purdue in the subsequent round, Detroit Mercy had laid the foundation for another successful run in the upcoming season.
1999 — Detroit Mercy (25-6, 12-2 Horizon League)
Coach: Perry Watson
Jermaine Jackson and Desmond Ferguson are both skilled NBA players.
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 12
The following season, Detroit Mercy experienced no changes in their record, coach, or players who would eventually fulfill their NBA dreams.
However, the Titans didn’t seem bothered by their tournament seeding. They managed to pull off another upset, defeating 5-seed UCLA with a score of 56-53. Their defense, which allowed the third-lowest number of points in the NCAA that season, played a significant role in their victory.
However, the floodgates could not be kept shut for long. The Ohio State Buckeyes managed to score 75 points, resulting in a 31-point defeat for the Titans in the subsequent round. Just in case you were curious, Michael Jordan experienced an increase in offensive output, averaging 1.0 point, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.1 assists.
2003 — Central Michigan (25-7, 14-4 MAC)
Coach: Jay Smith
NBA players: Chris Kaman
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 11
Central Michigan ended their long break from success by winning their first NCAA Tournament game in almost three decades. The Chippewas achieved this feat by causing an upset as the 11th seed against the 6th seed, Creighton, in the 2003 tournament. Senior player Mike Manciel played a crucial role in this victory, scoring an impressive 29 points, which was more than twice his average points per game throughout his career.
Despite Kaman’s impressive performance, leading to his selection as the sixth overall draft pick at the end of the season, he alone couldn’t secure the victory for his team. With an average of 22.4 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks, Kaman showcased his skills. However, even his 25 points in the Chippewas’ second-round game against Duke couldn’t prevent the inevitable outcome – a crushing 26-point defeat inflicted by J.J. Redick and Dahntay Jones.
2005 — Oakland (13-19, 7-9 Mid-Continent)
Coach: Greg Kampe
NBA players: Rawle Marshall
Final AP ranking: NR
Tournament seed: 16
Oakland University had an eventful year. It marked their first NCAA Tournament appearance since transitioning to Division I in 1997. Additionally, they stand out as the sole team on this list to conclude the regular season with a losing record.
The Golden Grizzlies clinched a victory against Alabama A&M in the 16-seed play-in game, thanks to an unexpected streak in the Mid-Continent Conference tournament. Leading the charge with an impressive 29 points was Marshall, who became the first Oakland alumni to make it to the NBA. It is worth mentioning that Marshall also showcased his skills in the 2005 NCAA Dunk Contest, a remarkable event that definitely deserves a comeback.
Ultimately, Oakland’s Round-of-64 defeat resulted in a respectable outcome as they fell to the eventual victors, North Carolina, by a score of 96-68.
Honorable mention
1992 — Michigan (25-9, 11-7 Big Ten)
Coach: Steve Fisher
Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Eric Riley are all NBA players.
Final AP ranking: 15
Tournament seed: 6
During the early 1990s, Michigan achieved an astonishing feat by securing the national title, thanks to the remarkable efforts of a group that is widely recognized today as the Fab Five.
Alright, perhaps this wasn’t your typical Cinderella story. However, it’s worth noting that the Wolverines concluded their regular season as the 15th ranked team in the nation, boasting an exceptional freshman class that was unprecedented in college basketball up until that moment.
However, it is undeniable that they devoted a considerable amount of time to strategize, which played a significant role in their entry into the 1992 Tournament as a 6-seed. During that era, collegiate basketball was largely dominated by experienced upperclassmen, making it quite unexpected for Michigan to defeat higher-seeded teams like Oklahoma State (2-seed), Ohio State (1-seed), and Cincinnati (4-seed) on their way to the championship game against Duke. Unfortunately, the Wolverines suffered a crushing defeat of 20 points in the title game.
2015 — Michigan State (27-12, 12-6 Big Ten)
Coach: Tom Izzo
Some of the NBA players include Denzel Valentine, Branden Dawson, Bryn Forbes, and Matt Costello.
Final AP ranking: 23
Tournament seed: 7
This Michigan State group is likely the one that best exemplifies the “January, February, Izzo” saying.
Although Valentine was the standout Spartan player on the team, Travis Trice proved to be a formidable force throughout the season. He consistently led Michigan State in scoring and played a crucial role in their consecutive victories against 2-seed Virginia (scoring 23 points), 3-seed Oklahoma (scoring 24 points), and 4-seed Louisville (scoring 17 points). These wins secured Michigan State’s spot in the Final Four.
Regrettably for the Spartans, their journey came to an end there. Michigan State was crushed by Duke by the same difference as the Michigan team that was defeated by Duke in 1992, with a final score of 81-61.
The key takeaway from this story is that underestimating the Blue Devils is unwise.
If you happen to be Eastern Michigan, feel free to go for it.
