The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS NUMBERS AND QUOTES 52nd Nationally is where Michigan landed in KenPom's adjusted of- fensive efficiency rankings after ending the season with an NIT loss at Vanderbilt. That's the Wolverines' worst finish in that category since 2015 (67th), the previous season in which they missed the NCAA Tournament. 4-8 Was Michigan men's basketball's record in games decided by one possession and/or in overtime over the last two seasons, including a 2-7 mark in the 2022-23 campaign. 4th-Best Coach in college football is where Michigan head man JIM HAR- BAUGH checks in on The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman's rankings, behind Alabama's Nick Saban, Georgia's Kirby Smart and Clemson's Dabo Swinney. Harbaugh was No. 22 in 2021 and No. 12 in 2022, per Feldman, but has shot up the rankings after winning the Big Ten for a second straight season. "This has been quite the bounceback in the past two years," Feldman wrote. "After coming in at No. 12 last year — he had been a top-three guy for me before the losses to archrival Ohio State began to pile up — Harbaugh made some shrewd staff moves and had some hard conversations that led to a revamp of how the program operated. It has made a huge difference. In 2021, he led Michigan to its first Big Ten title in 17 years and a No. 3 ranking. In 2022, the Wolverines were even more impressive, smashing Ohio State in Columbus in a blowout win. They went 13-0 before stumbling in an upset loss against TCU in the College Football Playoff." 2.21 Million Average viewers for Michigan men's basketball's 75-73 overtime loss at Indiana March 5, the fifth-largest audience of the 2022-23 regular season per Sports Media Watch. Success not only seems possible; it seems in- evitable. Being around a great team and a great bunch of guys that are on our team and role models, that affects genera- tions, to me." — Head coach Jim Harbaugh on Michigan football's culture "He's gonna be a great player. I like his enthusiasm, the way he flies around at practice. He always has a smile on his face. He's gonna bring something to this team." — Graduate linebacker Michael Barrett on sophomore linebacker Ernest Haus- mann, a Nebraska transfer Talk about doing things with integrity — on the field, off the field, players, coaches, staff, every- body within this football program — about as close as you can get to perfection." — Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh "He's like, 'If you're a houseplant, you're not good for the team, but if you're a field crop, all you need is some rain, a little bit of water here and there, and you're going to grow and flourish.' So, he's like, 'Always be field crop and never a houseplant.'" — Former Michigan edge Mike Morris on head coach Jim Harbaugh's message to the team 16 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2023 Is Michigan men's basketball's overall record in the NIT, after beating Toledo and losing to Vanderbilt in this year's event. 26-8 5th Time Overall and second season in a row that Michigan hockey has earned a No. 1 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament since the field ex- panded to 16 teams in 2003. The Wolverines have made 40 NCAA Tournaments, the most in NCAA history. They've gone 55-31 in the event, including a record nine national championships. In conference play, freshman forward GAVIN BRINDLEY (4) and freshman defense- man SEAMUS CASEY (26) just helped the Wolverines celebrate their second consecutive Big Ten Conference Tournament title in March. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY