Caution: I am going to wax nostalgic...
April 3, 1989 (Seattle) Michigan 80, Seton Hall 79 (OT)
30 years ago tonight Michigan won it's only national title in basketball. People forget this was a really good team. Everyone focuses on Bill Frieder taking the ASU job before the tournament began and Bo's famous “A Michigan man will coach Michigan!” declaration. Bo tabbed Steve Fisher as interim coach and history was made. UM finished third in the Big Ten that season trailing only Indiana and Illinois; both top ten teams. The team was deep with NBA talent as five players were ultimately NBA draft picks. Sean Higgins, who hit the game winner in the Final Four vs the Flying Illini, bounced around the NBA for eight seasons. Terry Mills, a highly touted prep star, spent eleven seasons in the NBA. Rumeal Robinson, who hit the winning free throws in the title game vs Seton Hall, was in and out of the NBA throughout the 90s. Loy Vaught spent eleven seasons in the NBA and for a period in the mid 90s consistently put up 15 and 10. Glen Rice set the tournament scoring record and was named MOP. He went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA where he was a serious scoring threat. And a freshman on the team went on to become the Lakers GM - Rob Pelinka.
Michigan has returned to the Final Four four times since 1989. (Only two times according to the NCAA🙄) Each time they have won the semifinal game but fallen short in the title game.
A second SI cover to share tonight as my man Giannis is the current cover boy!
One package in the mail today; an eBay purchase of a 2006-07 Reflections card. This was a pleasant surprise as I placed a "Best Offer" I thought might be a tad low but it was accepted. The SN50 card features a game-used Lamar Odom patch on the back:
And on the front... a game-used Webber patch!
I still find it a little off to see Chris in 76ers and Pistons jerseys.
Glen Rice was very underrated throughout his NBA career... one of my favorites as a kid.
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