Big Ten Champion hats perched on their heads, music blaring, a group of Michigan players trot off the confetti-littered podium, toward the locker room, singing “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z at the top of their lungs.
Water bottles fly through the visitors’ locker room — dousing the Michigan players, coaches and staff — as Michigan coach John Beilein turns his congratulatory speech into a team-wide dance circle.
Zavier Simpson isn't just a vastly improved basketball player, he's the alpha dog running the show.
Moritz Wagner avenged his first game against Nebraska with Friday's performance.
NEW YORK CITY, NY. — There was nothing normal about it.
Not all three captains notching two fouls early in the first half.
Not senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and junior center Moritz Wagner both fouling out.
Not the suddenly dormant 3-point shooting — 3-for-19 on the day.
Not the late blown lead — up six with a minute to go.
In the end, though, the result was.
“I called Muhammad over and said, ‘You’re doing a D-Walt impersonation at just the right time.’ ”
Once again, Michigan showed signs of peaking as the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament approach.
Michigan is starting to click in March like many of John Beilein's past teams.
Austin Hatch and John Beilein have a rare player-coach relationship that reaches far beyond the bounds of basketball.
Few batted an eyelash when Michigan grabbed a 43-23 lead over Ohio State in Columbus during their early-season coference matchup.
The Buckeyes were a rebuilding squad, led by a first-year coach. The Wolverines appeared primed to grab a 2-0 start in the early conference window, asserting themselves as an elite team in the Big Ten.
Robinson followed an offensive outburst on Sunday against Wisconsin with another electric shooting display Wednesday, helping lift Michigan past Iowa, 74-59.