The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2026 ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL There have been a handful of U-M transfers playing their old schools this year, with Roddy Gayle Jr. seeing Ohio State twice and Aday Mara getting a crack at UCLA. But the trip to Illinois on Feb. 27, an 84-70 Wolverine victory to clinch an outright Big Ten title, was the fiercest atmosphere yet. Morez Johnson Jr. transferred to Ann Arbor last offseason after spending a year at Illinois, and it created a stir and a hatred among the Illinois contingent, namely the fans. Former teammate Jake Davis suggested that his return to Champaign was going to be a look at an alternate timeline for Johnson. "I think he's going to hear it," Davis said. "I think the fans are going to let him know. As they should, you know, he left. Nothing against that — love Morez — but I think it will be good for him to return to what could've been, what he could've had." Johnson came to the court for his nor- mal routine amid boos and all kinds of venom from the Orange Krush, Illinois' student section. But when the clock hit zero, he was instrumental in the U-M victory, recording 19 points and 11 re- bounds, several of them demoralizing in the rout. "Incredibly impressed," Michigan head coach Dusty May said after the win. "Morez, from the jump ball, was a force. I thought his defense was equally as impressive as his offense, being able to guard bigs and guard smalls. He's such a competitor. His day-to-day, his minute-by-minute, is as impressive as any player I've ever been around. "And I know the Illinois staff and players have helped him on his journey as well to get to where he's at. He's a heck of a player." There was no bad blood between Johnson and Brad Underwood, his for- mer head coach. Underwood acknowl- edged he still has love for him as a player and person. "I just thought that [in] the first half, everything was in the three-foot radius of the rim — and Morez just owned it," Underwood said. "Morez just got ev- ery ball. The physicality. The hit. We all know Morez. First play of the game: just let me see how hard I can go hit [David Mirkovic]. And just launched him. "... I love Morez to death. He's a ter- rific young man. He's a next-level guy [and] he showed that tonight." Johnson knew the environment he was entering but did not want to make it about himself. There was a job to do, and a regular-season banner to wrap up. " I was expecting a lot of boos," John- son said. "And there were. I was making sure I came in here, ignoring everything like I normally do. Come in here and play basketball, what I came here for, not getting to the crowd or anybody on the court. " I don't really get into all that per- sonal stuff like that. I saw all the stuff on Twitter. Somebody leaked my phone number, so I got a bunch of [texts throughout the day]. I just do a good job of ignoring everything coming here and playing basketball. "I know all that outside noise is like literally nonsense. It doesn't matter at all." The Wolverines' ability to block out the noise and come together as a team has been one of their superpowers throughout the year, and a trait John- son says has guided them through three top-10 road wins in Big Ten play. " We know our brothers are not pull- ing apart from the team," Johnson said. "We know in order to win, we need each other. We can't do it by ourselves and everybody knows that. That's what makes us special." — Anthony Broome Johnson, an Illinois transfer, was instrumental in Michigan's 84-70 road victory against the Illini on Feb. 27, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. U-M coach Dusty May said of his sophomore forward, "Morez, from the jump ball, was a force." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MOREZ JOHNSON JR. GETS THE LAST LAUGH IN ILLINOIS HOMECOMING