The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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16 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2021 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS BY THE NUMBERS 0 College basketball programs have ap- peared in more Elite Eight games than Michigan since 2013, with the Wolverines and Gonzaga being the only teams that have enjoyed four regional-final berths over the last nine seasons (and eight NCAA Tournaments). Over that stretch, U-M has played in two national cham- pionship games, two Final Fours and six Sweet 16s, while winning two Big Ten regular-season champion- ships (2014 and 2021) and two Big Ten Tournament titles (2017 and 2018). 1st Time in U-M history that ice hockey, men's basketball and women's basketball were all among the final 16 teams remain- ing nationally in their sports. The ice hockey team was a part of the 16-team NCAA Tournament — before being removed from competition due to COVID-19 protocols — while the men's basketball crew made the Elite Eight and the women's basketball squad appeared in its first-ever Sweet 16. U-M was the only program in the nation to have teams in those sports still alive at that point this year. 1 1 Player in U-M women's basketball history has been selected to an All-America team by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) or U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) — junior forward NAZ HILLMON, at the conclusion of this season. The Cleveland native and Big Ten Player of the Year was one of 10 to earn the laurel from the WBCA and one of six to be named to the national squad by the USBWA. She is also the first Wolverine to be named a finalist (one of four nationally) for the Wade Trophy, the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in the sport. 45 Minutes is how long it took for No. 2-seeded Baylor to defeat No. 6-seeded U-M in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament's Sweet 16 round. The Wolverines came into the game as a 6.5-point underdog according to most sportsbooks but were able to push the game into overtime, before falling 78-75. The Wolverines nailed five straight shots in the final minutes of regu- lation to force an extra session and put the Bears, a powerhouse program in the sport, on the brink of elimination in what was an instant classic. "If the rest of the country didn't see that we're one of the best basketball teams out there, I don't know what you have to do to get that kind of respect." — Michigan women's basketball head coach KIM BARNES ARICO, following her club's March 27 overtime loss to Baylor in the Sweet Sixteen PHOTO BY BEN SOLOMON/NCAA PHOTOS PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY JACK DEMPSEY/NCAA PHOTOS 6 U-M players have posted at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in an NCAA Tournament game since assists be- came an official stat in 1984, with the latest being sophomore guard FRANZ WAGNER, who posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the team's Sweet 16 win over Florida State March 28. The Wolverine to most recently accomplish the feat before Wagner was former forward Mitch McGary in 2013, when he registered 10 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a victory over Syracuse. 8 Straight wins for U-M men's tennis from Feb. 19 to March 21, including triumphs over Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Purdue, Penn State, No. 8 Ohio State, Iowa and Nebraska. The streak was snapped March 26 with a 5-2 loss to No. 14-ranked Illinois.