Dear Michigan students and fans,

This is an apology to those of you who weren’t among the 13,751 wild and crazy fans at Crisler Arena on Saturday.

I’m sorry you missed the Michigan men’s basketball team’s second upset of a top-five team so far this season.

I’m sorry you weren’t there to witness the rowdiest crowd I have seen at any sporting event in my time as a student here.

I’m sorry you won’t have “I was there!” stories to tell about this game — because nothing will top this. Michigan’s drama-filled upset of No. 4 Duke was, without a doubt, the most exciting and fun moment that any Wolverine team has had or will have this season.

Let’s be honest — it sucked to be a Michigan football fan this year. And even with a sweep of rival Michigan State, the hockey team hasn’t and probably won’t do anything spectacular this season. And there’s no way this campus is going to get excited about non-revenue teams (I'm looking at you, rowing team).

But Michigan coach John Beilein, in just his second year in Ann Arbor, has given Wolverine fans something to cheer about in a year that’s been less than stellar.

And, oh, did the students take advantage of it.

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you the crowd was deafening during the second half, even though I didn’t think the fans could get any louder than they were in the first 20 minutes. During one of the only moments in which the Maize Rage wasn’t going bonkers — a Michigan free throw — my ears were ringing as if I were at a rock concert.

Although I may have sustained some minor inner-ear damage, it was worth it to see Michigan fans excited about the team, the same squad that desperately struggled to sell student tickets just a few months ago.

Freshman Zack Novak stood triumphantly in the locker room after the game, his maize-colored jersey smeared with blue body paint. Eight students had painted themselves blue and, with yellow-painted letters, spelled out “MICHIGAN.” They gave Novak congratulatory chest bumps and hugs after rushing the court.

While Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils were being led off the floor by police, Michigan fans trampled the benches on their way to the court, leaving a heaping pile of chairs, popcorn and spilled pop in their wake. They sang "The Victors," jumped around and celebrated with the team during the mosh pit at midcourt.

“It was crazy, but it was sweet,” said Novak, still beaming about the whole postgame experience.

It was quite a scene. There’s no doubt about that, but does it ultimately amount to anything? What are the chances that Crisler Arena is as crazy next Saturday as it was against Duke?

“It’s a good arena, but we get everyone’s best shot,” Coach K said. “You know, it’s party time when we come, everywhere. I watched the (Michigan vs.) Savannah State tape, and you didn’t have many seats filled at all. Come here all the time and do that. That’s when you have a really great arena.”

Krzyzewski said that with an almost daring tone, calling on the Michigan fan base to get behind this team. And nothing is going to create a spark in Beilein’s program like wins — and he already has two against top-five teams this season. Michigan needs to build off this momentum and finish the nonconference schedule strong so this victory doesn’t fade in the minds of fans.

And the Wolverines will. With the senior leadership from pregame speech-givers C.J. Lee and David Merritt, the sheer talent of Manny Harris, the tenacity of DeShawn Sims and the pure shooting ability of Zack Novak, Michigan is poised to do enough on the court this season to help build that atmosphere at Crisler for every game.

If you’re kicking yourself about missing the Duke game — don’t. The Wolverines are going to provide more than enough celebration-worthy moments this season.

— Reid can be reached at andyreid@umich.edu.