
The last Michigan men’s basketball national title before Monday was not supposed to happen. The Wolverines lost seven games in the 1989 regular season, including one to Division II Alaska-Anchorage. Coach Bill Frieder deserted them for Arizona State before the NCAA tournament.
Yet there they were, cutting down the nets after a thrilling 80–79 win over Seton Hall—a fellow No. 3 seed—in Seattle’s old Kingdome.