Michigan Wolverines Basketball

Former University of Michigan basketball star Chris Webber said he received an apology from Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel for how the school handled the fallout from his guilty plea in a 2003 court case involving an athletic department booster.

Webber told ESPN's Myron Medcalf in an interview released Wednesday that Manuel, who was hired by UM in 2016, said the school should have done more to "protect" him after he pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal contempt after paying back former booster Ed Martin over $38,000.

"I was told by the athletic director at the University of Michigan that he was sorry," Webber said. "And he wasn't even there at the time [I was playing]. He told me that he did his research and that he needs to apologize. His exact words [were] he needs 'to apologize to the 18-year-old Chris Webber because we didn't protect him.'"

Michigan disassociated from Webber for 10 years following the case and removed his stats from its record books.

Webber said he further explains the situation in his upcoming book, By God's Grace, and believes he was treated differently because he was the marquee name during the Fab Five era of Michigan basketball.

"I was the lowest hanging fruit," Webber told Medcalf. "I had the biggest name. I knew that then, so hopefully some of the things in [my book] will reveal what happened, how things happened, and hopefully just life can go [on] or it can just get back to normal in that way. Hopefully, once we address all this good stuff, we'll get back to it."

He teamed up with Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson to create the Fab Five, which still stands as perhaps the most famed college basketball recruiting class in history. The star-studded group led the Wolverines to the NCAA title game during their freshman season in 1991-92. UM reached the championship game again one year later, but came up short on both occasions.

While Webber's relationship with Michigan has thawed in recent years, tension remains with Rose because they've decided to handle the Fab Five years differently.

"There has been that rift because Jalen has decided to talk and I've said we should handle everything behind the scenes," Webber told Medcalf. "It was just, it's an honor system. It's a code. And he knows what that is, because that's what we built the Fab Five on, and he did not adhere to that code multiple times. ... All it takes is a 30-second conversation."

Webber went on to get selected with the first overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft. He averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks across 831 career games with the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons.

Now 48, the Detroit native was selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its 2021 class.

Webber told Medcalf it was a bit frustrating to wait through eight years of eligibility before getting the Hall of Fame call, but it's another piece of a terrific resume he's built after his infamous timeout in the 1993 title game against North Carolina.

"From speaking, all the things I've done, I can show you so much feedback that I have from inspiring people from the timeout," he said. "I want people to know that the timeout didn't crush me."

Webber and the rest of the 2021 call will be inducted Saturday.

Michigan star Isaiah Livers is done for the year, even if Michigan isn't. 

Livers, who suffered a foot injury in the Big Ten tournament and hasn't played since, has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament, Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports reported Sunday, as Michigan prepared to face Florida State in Sweet 16 play (h/t Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports). 

Livers said before the tournament that he didn't expect to return, according to Orion Sang of the Detroit Free Press.

"If I do [return], that's miraculous," Livers said in an appearance on The Michigan Insider, per Sang. "It will get talked about, the world is full of possibilities. Honestly, you never know, but it's definitely one of those things where it takes a minute to fully recover." 

The 6'7" wing started every game before he was sidelined leading up to the Big Ten semifinals. He averaged 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from deep. 

The Wolverines bowed out of the Big Ten Tournament with a semifinal loss to Ohio State after losing Livers, but they've managed throughout the NCAA tournament thus far. After cruising to a 82-66 victory over 16th-seeded Texas Southern in first-round play, Michigan edged No. 8 LSU, 86-78, thanks to 21 points from Eli Brooks. 

Freshman Hunter Dickinson has starred, averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds through 26 games, while Brooks, Franz Wagner and Chaundee Brown have had to take on a bigger role in the absence of Livers. 

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers wore a T-shirt that raised awareness for the #NotNCAAProperty movement Saturday when the Wolverines played Texas Southern in the first round of the Division I NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Livers, who is currently sidelined with a foot injury, is leading the charge alongside Rutgers guard Geo Baker and Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon. The movement's stated goals can be found here via Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic:

All three players (and many others) have spread awareness on Twitter, with Baker providing more commentary in support of all NCAA student-athletes:

The movement notably has the support of longtime college basketball commentator Dick Vitale:

NCAA President Mark Emmert has stated that he is "really supportive of what they're asking for" during an interview with reporters.

A meeting with Emmert, who has been the NCAA's president since 2010, is listed as the second action item for the #NotNCAAProperty movement.

Juwan Howard wants to build a long-term winner with Michigan.

While ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz reported "many NBA executives feel Howard will be in high demand once again this offseason," the head coach of the Wolverines men's basketball team appeared on Thursday's episode of ESPN's Jalen & Jacoby (h/t Garrett Stepien of 247Sports) and said he is staying with his alma mater:

"I'm in Ann Arbor to stay, baby. I love Michigan, I love my job and I'm enjoying it and this experience. I'm also looking forward to growing each and every year and developing these young men to become the best versions of themselves as a student-athlete.

"This is a dream job for me. I think my passion last year showed how much I appreciate being in this position.

"The NBA, it's a beautiful game. They have great coaches there, amazing, talented players, a beautiful brand. But I enjoyed that experience for 25 years, 19 as a player and six as a coach. I'm going to stay and keep growing with Michigan. Go Blue."

It should come as no surprise the NBA would potentially be interested.

For one, he has found immediate success on a big stage with the Wolverines. This is just his second season as head coach, and the Chicago native has already won the Big Ten Coach of the Year award and the conference regular-season title. The 48-year-old has his team positioned to challenge for a national title as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's tournament.

The Chicago native also has connections to the NBA that go beyond his 19-season playing career.

The 6'9" forward was an assistant coach for the Miami Heat from 2013-19. Miami went to the NBA playoffs three times during that span and advanced to the NBA Finals in his first season as an assistant coach, although it lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

However, it sounds like the NBA will have to wait, which is welcome news for Michigan fans. 

After all, Howard has the No. 1 class in the country for the 2021 recruiting cycle, per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Wolverines figure to be championship contenders for years to come with Howard on the sidelines.

Welcome to Ann Arbor, where the Michigan Wolverines are sharpening their claws for another deep NCAA tournament run.

Michigan's Tourney History

The Wolverines are no strangers to March Madness. Although Glen Rice led them to their last national championship in 1989, they have since made four trips to the Final Four.

Villanova dashed Michigan's dreams of glory in the 2018 national title game, and the school reached the Sweet 16 in both 2017 and 2019. However, this marks the first NCAA tournament foray for head coach Juwan Howard. During his playing days, he took the Wolverines to the championship clash twice as part of the famed Fab Five.

This Year's Best Players

Michigan's rotation relies heavily on seniors, most notably forward Isaiah Livers. Yet freshman center Hunter Dickinson anchors this squad on both ends. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year gives the Wolverines both a bright future and a real shot at running the table this March.

There's plenty of size alongside the 7'1" Dickinson. Franz Wagner has blossomed into a lockdown defender and prolific scorer in his second year. The 6'9" guard and Berlin native could fortify his status as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft with a strong tournament showing. 

Both Dickinson and Wagner will need to rise to the moment, as Livers suffered a foot injury during the Big Ten tournament.

Why They're Going to Win

Michigan began the season a blistering 18-1 before losing to Illinois and Michigan State. Before those setbacks, it returned from a three-week COVID-related hiatus to handle business against Big Ten foes Ohio State and Iowa.

They're not always the most aesthetically pleasing team, but the Wolverines are ruthlessly effective on offense and defense. They also have the perfect blend of experience and star power to reverse the program's past Final Four misfortunes.

Despite a disappointing end to their 2021 Big Ten tournament, the Michigan Wolverines are supremely confident in their ability to win a national championship.

After falling to Ohio State by a 68-67 score in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament Saturday, Michigan center Hunter Dickinson said the following, per Daniel Dash of the Michigan Daily: "I'd be lying if not every single player in that locker room fully believes that we are the best team in the country and that we will win the national championship. The confidence starts with Coach [Juwan] Howard."

Michigan entered Saturday's game as the No. 4 team in the country with a 20-3 record, and it will now look to regroup ahead of the NCAA tournament bracket reveal on Selection Sunday.

Michigan staged a furious comeback Saturday, as it trailed by eight with 1:55 to go. The Wolverines scored seven unanswered points, but Mike Smith missed what would have been a game-winning shot with two seconds remaining.

The Wolverines clearly aren't playing their best basketball currently, as they have lost three of their past five games after starting the year 18-1, but the talent level on Howard's team is undeniable.

Dickinson is the team leader in points per game (13.9), rebounds per game (7.6) and blocks per game (1.4) this season, but it is far from a one-man show.

Guard Franz Wagner is averaging 13.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest, Smith is putting up 9.1 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 boards per game, and Eli Brooks is averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 dimes.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the Wolverines entering March Madness—even more so than their recent form—is the status of forward Isaiah Livers.

Michigan announced Saturday that Livers will miss an indefinite amount of time because of a stress injury in his right foot.

Livers ranks second on the team in scoring (13.1 points per game) and third in rebounding (6.0 per game), meaning his absence will be significant if it stretches into the NCAA tournament.

Even without Livers, Michigan still has one of the better starting lineups in college basketball with Dickinson, Wagner, Smith, Brooks and Chaundee Brown, but only two other players on the roster—Brandon Johns Jr. and Austin Davis—average at least 10 minutes per game.

Unless and until Livers returns to the lineup, the Wolverines will be playing short-handed the rest of the way.

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard announced Saturday that senior forward Isaiah Livers will be out indefinitely because of a stress injury to his right foot.

Livers appeared to get hurt during the first half of Friday's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal against Maryland and played a season-low 15 minutes in the Wolverines' 79-66 win.

UM is scheduled to face Ohio State in the semifinals at 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

James Hawkins of the Detroit News noted Livers began to limp after a defensive possession about seven minutes into the matchup with the Terrapins, and he sat out extended stretches from that point forward.

"Isaiah, with the 15 minutes that he was out there, he was giving his best to the game and trying to affect the game in any kind of way possible," Howard said after the win. "Now we're going to do our best to look at film and see what is best to move forward to help Isaiah be ready for the next game."

It's a significant loss for the Wolverines. The Michigan native leads the team with 31.6 minutes per game and ranks second with 13.1 points per game along with averages of 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 2.0 assists across 23 appearances. He's shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Though the team didn't rule him out for the remainder of the season, UM's title chances will take a hit if he's not able to return during the NCAA tournament.

Not only is Livers a key offensive contributor, but he's also a versatile defender with the ability to play in the post or on the wing depending on the matchup.

Michigan is still on track to receive a No. 1 seed in March Madness, and it could remove all doubt about its placement in the bracket by winning the Big Ten title.

A lot of pressure will fall on the shoulders of Brandon Johns Jr. and Austin Davis to fill the void. They combined for 13 points, and Davis pulled in eight rebounds in 12 minutes, in the win over the Terps. Their playing time is set to rise beginning against Ohio State.

The Wolverines would face either Illinois or Iowa in Sunday's final if they advance.

Michigan head basketball coach Juwan Howard explained what led to his ejection in the second half of his team's 79-66 win over Maryland in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinal Friday. 

Speaking to reporters after the game, Howard explained that he was set off by a comment from Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon:

"(Mark) Turgeon saw that I was out of the box, he tells the referee to look at my feet, I’m out of the box, I’m like, come on man, this is what we’re doing today? You’re worried about my feet being out of the box? So he said to me, 'Juwan, I’m not gonna let you talk to me. You don’t talk to me ever again.' And he charged at me.

"I don’t know how you guys were raised but how I was raised by my grandmother and also by Chicago. I was raised by Chicago, I grew up on the South Side, when guys charge you, it’s time to defend yourself."

Howard received a double-technical during a timeout midway through the second half as he and Turgeon exchanged words on the court:

Howard was held back by Michigan staff members Jay Smith and Chris Hunter, though he was able to get close to the half-court line amid his frustration. 

Turgeon told reporters afterward that he said "don't talk to me" to Howard prior to the incident. 

Phil Martelli, who is in his second season as a Wolverines assistant, took Howard's spot as head coach for the remainder of the game. 

Michigan, the top overall seed in the tournament, will play No. 9 Ohio State in the first semifinal Saturday. The Wolverines are looking for their third Big Ten tournament title in the past five years. 

Michigan men's basketball coach Juwan Howard was ejected during the second half of Friday's Big Ten tournament game against Maryland:

Both Howard and Maryland coach Mark Turgeon were assessed technical fouls after an argument between the two on the sidelines. Howard was later called for a second technical foul, which leads to an automatic ejection.

The altercation came during a media timeout with 10 minutes, 44 seconds left on the clock of the quarterfinal matchup. Michigan held a 10-point lead at the time and went to win 79-66.

After the game, Howard gave his side of the story:

Howard was the Big Ten Coach of the Year and is a top candidate for the National Coach of the Year Award after leading Michigan to a 19-3 record and a conference regular-season title in his second season with the program.

Draymond Green was a consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year during his career at Michigan State, but he may have cost his alma mater a game on Thursday. 

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard revealed he used a video of the Golden State Warriors forward talking trash about the Wolverines to motivate his team prior to its 69-50 victory over the Spartans, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN.

"He had a nice little video I wanted the guys to listen to," Howard said. "I think they really enjoyed watching it and listening to the words that were said."

Michigan looked motivated as it bounced back from Tuesday's blowout loss to Illinois and clinched the Big Ten title with the win.

The two rivals play again Sunday, and the Wolverines might have a new motivation in the rematch. After all, Michigan State is firmly on the bubble for the NCAA men's tournament and can ill-afford to lose two straight to end its regular season.

Michigan might just knock its rival right out of the Big Dance.