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INSIDER

JUWAN HOWARD

Disappointing end shouldn’t take away from Michigan basketball’s memorable season

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s going to take a while for the sting of Tuesday night’s loss to fade for the Michigan basketball team. The Wolverines were one win away from the Final Four, but played their worst 40 minutes of offense all season. 11 seed UCLA marked an incredibly disappointing end to the 2020-2021 season, but that doesn’t mean it should tarnish the memory. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since the Fab Five era. Michigan didn’t get its storybook ending, but the journey was one fans won’t soon forget.

Juzang sends No. 11 seed UCLA past Michigan to Final Four

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – UCLA has made more trips to the Final Four than any program but North Carolina. AdThey were clinging to a 50-49 lead when Michigan called a timeout with 19 seconds to go, intending to set up the game's final shot. The buzzer sounded and UCLA began to celebrate, only for the officials to put a half-second back on the clock. They were 3 of 11 beyond the arc, shot 39% overall and couldn't make one at the end. UCLA won a regional semifinal in 2006 and the Bulldogs returned the favor in the 2015 regional semifinals.

Elite version of Michigan basketball returns in Sweet 16 drubbing of Florida State

Michigan basketball has been doing just that for the better part of a month. MORE: Game time, details announced for Michigan basketball vs. UCLA in Elite 8AdIt was a clinic on both ends of the court. Many experts thought Michigan would lose to LSU in the second round, and even more expected a Florida State victory Sunday night. The former ended up a much more real possibility than the latter, as the Florida State game was never in doubt. Other than the Texas Southern and Michigan State wins, Michigan had faced big deficits in five of its previous seven games.

Inside job: Michigan goes to the paint to top FSU 76-58

The evening's most telling stat was points in the paint: Michigan 50, Florida State 28. Other lowlights for the Seminoles:— 14 turnovers, including 10 in the first half that led to 16 Michigan points. Adding to the trouble, Walker, the team's leading scorer this season, rolled his ankle at the 14-minute mark of the second half. FSU went on a mini-tear when Osborne and Polite made back-to-back 3s to trim Michigan's lead to five early in the second half. Driving the lane and making the extra pass underneath, the Wolverines made 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half.

Love and basketball: UM's Howard faces his friend at FSU

(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – It's not that Juwan Howard doesn't love his old friend and mentor, Leonard Hamilton. Howard and Hamilton struck up a strong friendship in 2000, when Howard was wrapping up his time with the Washington Wizards and Hamilton was coaching there. He said even if his late grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, was alive and playing basketball, "I'd play her 1-on-1. “Johnny is young,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said after the BYU game. He’s improved immensely.”___More AP College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball; and https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket

Wolverine Women’s Basketball punches first ever ticket to Sweet 16

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines Women’s Basketball team isn’t just winning games -- it’s making history. For the first time ever, they punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 and let everyone know there’s more than just one good basketball team on campus. Congrats to @KBA_GoBlue & her squad for reaching the Sweet 16 -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!! pic.twitter.com/NSaoSB7zVk — Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) March 23, 2021“It’s a great win for the university, a great win for Michigan,” Barnes-Arico said. “Great win for little kids growing up in Michigan and for the country to see Michigan is not just a football school, or a men’s basketball school -- it’s also a women’s basketball school.”

Michigan Wolverines punch ticket to Sweet 16 for 4th straight NCAA Tournament

It’s been a couple years since Spike Albrecht played for Michigan, but he’s still dialed in with his alma mater. Albrecht says his group text with former Wolverine players was getting heated Monday night, especially when LSU came out firing. But thanks to Eli Brooks and Chaundee Brown, Michigan stamped its ticket to the Sweet 16 4th straight tournament, 6th in eight years. You can’t deny it, the Michigan Wolverines are on a roll. Michigan is on to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year.

Big Ten comeback: Michigan topples LSU 86-78

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS – What the Big Ten needed was someone, anyone, to start playing like it came from the Big Ten. Seven of nine teams from the conference had departed before coach Juwan Howard brought Michigan (22-4) to the court for its second-round game in the East region. But during the 14-1 stretch that opened things up, Michigan did what typical Big Ten teams are supposed to do. Most-telling stat of the night was points off the bench: Michigan 26, LSU 2. His 27 points kept LSU in range in the second half, but Wagner rejected him underneath at the end of that stretch.

No. 1 Michigan basketball knocks off No. 8 LSU to advance to Sweet 16

Chaundee Brown #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to beating the LSU Tigers in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1 seed Michigan basketball knocked off No. 8 seed LSU on Monday to clinch a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Wagner ended up with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists. 11 seed Michigan State have all been eliminated.

Can Michigan basketball play complete game, survive LSU for spot in Sweet 16?

(AP Photo/Robert Franklin)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball is one win away from reaching the Sweet 16, but to do so, it will need to play its best game since last month. 16 seed Texas Southern in the opening round, Michigan improved to 3-3 in its last six games. The others were against Michigan State and Ohio State -- two teams Michigan had already beaten this season. Even in its wins over Michigan State, Maryland and Texas Southern, Michigan hasn’t really put together a complete game. In the first Michigan State game, the Wolverines committed 20 fouls and 14 turnovers.

Howard, Michigan roll past Texas Southern in NCAA tourney

– Juwan Howard got the win in his first NCAA Tournament game since taking over at Michigan, guiding Mike Smith and the top-seeded Wolverines to an 82-66 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday. It's his second season in charge, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Howard and the Wolverines (21-4) had little trouble with the No 16 seed Texas Southern, but the absence of Livers could lead to adversity down the road. It wasn’t perfect as Texas Southern outscored Michigan 42-30 in the paint and got within 12 late, causing Dickinson to re-enter the game. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Norfolk State ousted Appalachian State on the same court, marking the first time SWAC and MEAC schools won NCAA Tournament games on the same day.

13 early thoughts about No. 1 Michigan basketball’s NCAA Tournament region

1 seed in this season’s NCAA Tournament after going 20-4 and winning the regular season Big Ten championship. 1 seed, Michigan should have a major advantage, but you can never say never in the NCAA Tournament. Ironically, his final game before getting fired at Louisville was a second-round loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. It started with the blowout loss to Illinois and continued with a couple of incomplete performances against Michigan State. Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines battles for a loose ball against Malik Hall #25 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Michigan lands No. 1 seed in 2021 NCAA Tournament; Spartans get No. 11 seed with play-in game

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard questions a call in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)The Michigan Wolverines will start the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament as the No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament -- as it should be. 11 UCLA on Thursday in the First Four round play-in game, with the winner playing No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Howard tossed, No. 4 Michigan tops Terps, Big Ten semis next

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – All Michigan coach Juwan Howard intended to do, he said, when he started walking toward the baseline during the second half of Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was question a call. After the game, Howard apologized for his actions — and also placed blame on the other bench. Don’t talk to me ever again,’ Then he charged at me. All I said is, ‘Don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me.’”Maryland scored five points after the fracas to cut the deficit in half. BIG PICTUREMaryland: A strong finish — and Thursday's victory over Michigan State — should be enough to get an NCAA Tournament bid.

Isaiah Livers, Franz Wagner, Hunter Dickinson earn All-Big Ten honors for Michigan basketball

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after a made basket by Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Assembly Hall on February 27, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball landed three players on All-Big Ten teams this season: wings Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner, and freshman center Hunter Dickinson. He was named to the second team by the coaches and third team by the media. Dickinson, who led Michigan with 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, was named the to the first team by the media and second team by Big Ten coaches. RELATED: Hunter Dickinson named Big Ten Freshman of the YearThe trio led Michigan in scoring and rebounding this season while playing strong defense.

Michigan basketball’s Juwan Howard named Big Ten Coach of the Year

Michigan coach Juwan Howard holds a championship sign after after the team's win over Michigan State in an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in just his second season leading the Wolverines. RELATED: Hunter Dickinson named Big Ten Freshman of the YearHoward was an easy choice for the award after leading Michigan to a surprising Big Ten regular season championship. Next Up ....Juwan Howard has been named the COACH OF THE YEAR by the Coaches & Media! Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his teams Big Ten championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Despite having no COVID-19 cases, the basketball team was shut down for two weeks without any team practices or workouts.

Offensive struggles, Eli Brooks injury leave Michigan basketball with postseason concerns

On Sunday, Michigan trailed nearly wire-to-wire against Michigan State for its second loss in three games. Worst of all, Michigan might be without senior starter Eli Brooks in Indianapolis. Brooks injured his ankle at Michigan State and returned to the bench wearing street clothes and a boot on his left leg. Brooks has found his shot lately, too, which helped Michigan stick with MSU early in the game Sunday. Michigan’s next game begins Friday morning in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, against either Michigan State or Maryland.

Michigan State beats No. 2 Michigan 70-64, boosts NCAA hopes

Rocket Watts scored 21 points and Aaron Henry had 18 to lead the Spartans in a 70-64 victory over No. The Wolverines (19-3, 14-3) closed the regular season getting routed at home by the Fighting Illini, beating Michigan State handily to clinch the Big Ten title and losing the rematch three days later. They were ready to play today and we weren’t.”AdJoey Hauser scored nine of his 11 points off the bench in the first half as Michigan State led 30-26. SENIOR MOMENTFifth-year senior Joshua Langford, who missed much of the previous two seasons with injury, made a 3-point shot with 49 seconds left to give Michigan State a 64-59 lead. UP NEXTThe Big Ten Tournament begins Wednesday in Indianapolis, where first-seeded Michigan may meet Michigan State for a third time.

From afterthought to champion: Despite dominance, Michigan’s Big Ten title is an underdog story

The Michigan Wolverines celebrate their 2021 Big Ten Championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his teams Big Ten championship after defeating the Michigan State Spartans 69-50 at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Twenty sluggish minutes left Michigan with a 14-point deficit against Wisconsin in an arena Big Ten teams almost never escape with wins. Another matchup with rival Michigan State looms this weekend, and then they’ll be a No. “I want the natty, too.”There’s still a long way to go, but as we’ve learned, doubt this Michigan team at your own risk.

No. 2 Michigan clinches Big Ten, beats Michigan State 69-50

2 Michigan wrapped up the Big Ten title with a 69-50 victory over rival Michigan State on Thursday night. The Wolverines won it again in 2014. Aaron Henry scored 14 points for Michigan State (14-11, 8-11), which will finish with a losing conference record for the first time since 1993. Michigan State went 0 for 9 from 3-point range, its first game without a 3 since Nov. 15, 2013 against Columbia, according to Sportradar. MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOFormer Michigan State star Draymond Green made an appearance in a pregame video the Wolverines watched.

Michigan basketball clinches Big Ten title with runaway win over Michigan State

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines battles for a loose ball against Malik Hall #25 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball clinched the regular-season Big Ten championship Thursday with a runaway win over rival Michigan State. In the second half, it was all Michigan, which stretched its lead all the way up to 28 with under 10 minutes to play. Michigan State cut into the lead after the benches were cleared, and Michigan won by a 69-50 final. AdHunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a first half basket against the Michigan State Spartans at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Everything goes wrong for Michigan basketball in blowout loss to Illinois

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines leaves the floor after a 76-53 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini at Crisler Arena on March 02, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball hasn’t had many off nights this season, but on Tuesday night against Illinois, the Wolverines packed several games’ worth of regression into 40 ugly minutes. Illinois was playing without Ayo Dosunmu, one of the best players in the country and the undisputed leader of its offense. AdKofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a first half basket with Da'Monte Williams #20 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on March 02, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At one point, a shellshocked Michigan team trailed by 28, and the deficit never got back below 20.

Michigan leaps Baylor into second behind Gonzaga in Top 25

Gonzaga continued to hold down the top spot in the Top 25, just as it has all season, receiving 59 of 63 first-place votes among national media members. Illinois climbed one spot to fourth and Iowa gave the Big Ten three teams in the top five. They have a showdown with the Illini on Tuesday night before wrapping up the regular season with a home-and-home series against Michigan State. That’s a big part of what they’re doing.”West Virginia continued its steady climb, up four spots to No. The newcomer Boilermakers and sliding Badgers give the Big Ten six teams in the Top 25, one fewer than the poll-leading Big 12.

Michigan or Gonzaga: Who deserves to be ranked No. 1 in college basketball polls?

Gonzaga coach Mark Few, left, speaks with guard Jalen Suggs during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against San Diego in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. The WCC has a second NCAA Tournament team in BYU, but the Cougars won’t be more than a No. Here are the teams Gonzaga has beaten on the road this season: Portland, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, Pepperdine, Pacific, BYU and San Francisco. Again, BYU is a solid team, but the rest of that list isn’t even in consideration for the NCAA Tournament. In the past, road games have been very important to the NCAA Tournament selection committee, but maybe not so much to AP voters.

Hunter Dickinson out-duels Iowa star Luka Garza in Michigan basketball’s latest masterpiece

Dickinson vs. GarzaOffensively, Dickinson was solid, dropping in 14 points on 6-13 shooting with one assist and three offensive rebounds. Iowa center Luka Garza came into the game leading the nation in scoring at over 24 points per game. Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines go for a rebound during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (2021 Getty Images)Many Michigan fans will remember last season, when Garza dropped 44 and 33 points on the Wolverines in their two games against Iowa. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dickinson impresses as No. 3 Michigan routs No. 9 Iowa 79-57

Dickinson gave Garza fits around the basket, and Franz Wagner scored 21 points to lead No. Michigan answered that with a 14-2 run that took place mostly while Dickinson was on the bench. The 7-foot-1 Dickinson, who like Garza went to high school in the Washington area, blocked Garza's first shot attempt of the game. “I know I’ve got to be better for my team,” Garza said. Michigan: The Wolverines have only one day off before playing at Indiana on Saturday.

3 members of Michigan basketball’s No. 1 recruiting class named McDonald’s All Americans

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Three members of Michigan basketball’s top-ranked 2021 recruiting class have been named to the McDonald’s All American team. #WhereHypeMeetsLegacy pic.twitter.com/WsGMtGKNVv — McDonald's All American Games (@McDAAG) February 23, 2021Houstan, a five-star forward who committed to Juwan Howard’s team in October, is the No. The 6-foot-10 power forward is ranked 18th in the 2021 class and had a long list of offers, including Kentucky, Florida State and Arizona. He was one of only a handful of four-star recruits to earn McDonald’s All American honors. Howard’s 2021 class also includes four-star guard Frankie Collins, four-star forward Isaiah Barnes and three-star forward Will Tschetter.