The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 15 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2021: Juwan Howard's Michigan basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight with a 76-58 victory over Florida State at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021. Hunter Dickinson and Brandon Johns Jr. led the way for the Wolverines with 14 points apiece in the contest, while Franz Wagner and Chaundee Brown Jr. tossed in 13 and 12, respectively. Wagner added team highs in re- bounding (10) and assists (5), while Dickinson cleaned the boards with an additional 8 rebounds. Michigan's defense allowed only two double-figures scorers for the Seminoles, including a team-high 12 by Malik Osborne. The No. 1-seeded and 23-4 Wolverines scored 50 points in the paint against FSU, 24 off turnovers. Michigan ran out to a 19-8 lead following a 10-2 run in the opening nine minutes. The Wolverines led 32-21 at the half and never trailed thereafter, despite Florida State making a serious run. The Seminoles sliced the lead to five, 41-36, with 14:51 remaining in the game. The Wolverines immediately pushed back with a 7-0 run, and soon went on a 12-2 spree to lead 62-43. Howard's crew then cruised home to take Michigan to its 15th Elite Eight in program history. "Michigan's had a lot of success in its basketball program," Howard said afterward. "It's beautiful to see all the hard work is paying off this year." 10 YEARS AGO, 2016: Michigan opened the 2016 NCAA Tournament with a 67-62 victory over Tulsa in Dayton, Ohio, on March 16, 2016. Zak Irvin and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 16 points apiece to help the Wolverines advance. John Beilein's crew struggled early, falling behind 16-9 before running off a 19-4 streak to lead by eight at the half. The game became a tense battle down the stretch, Irvin hitting a clutch three-pointer with 53 seconds remaining to put Michigan up by two. The Wolverines then closed it out at the free throw line, Abdur-Rahkman going 6 of 8 on free throws overall to help push U-M through in the First Four contest. "It's obviously a great thing to be in the NCAA Tournament, to have the first win, to be moving on against great competition," Moe Wagner said af- terward. "We really wanted that, and I'm very happy for the team." U-M lost to Notre Dame in the round of 64 to finish with a 23-13 record. 25 YEARS AGO, 2001: Michigan's ice hockey team made it to the Frozen Four by knocking off St. Cloud State in the West Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich., 4-3, on March 25, 2001. Geoff Koch scored the eventual game winner at 3:20 of the third period, giving the Wolverines a 4-2 lead that held up. Mark Kosick broke the ice for the Wolverines early, scoring on the power play at 13:30 of the opening period. Josh Langfeld made it 2-0 Michigan just over four minutes later, off an assist by Dave Huntzicker. St. Cloud State got on the board early in the second, a goal making it 2-1. Mike Cammalleri offset that with a goal nearing the end of the period, boost- ing Michigan's margin back to two. The Wolverines then held off St. Cloud State in the final period, despite getting outscored, 2-1. Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn turned away 18 of the 21 shots he faced in the contest. "Our team defense was a focal point today," noted Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "Certainly, it showed up on the ice." Michigan lost 4-2 to eventual national champion Boston College in the Frozen Four semifinals. — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY DID YOU KNOW? • Your address will be automatically changed to the mailing address on file with USPS? ALL addresses are cross-referenced with the USPS National Change of Address database. • It can take up to 7 days for the USPS to update your address in their database? To prevent missed issues, please notify them right away. • Your postal forwarding order expires in 60 days or less? Most forwarding requests expire in 60 days and DO NOT always include periodical mail. Issues are discarded at their discretion. • You should call your local post office to verify your delivery address? Don't assume the post office knows your vacation or moving schedule. Avoid Costly Delays & Replacements! Wolverine Customer Service: 1–800–421–7751 We are happy to assist, but due to privacy laws — postal address changes must be completed by you.