Michigan goes from worst to first with help from unlikely sources: How the Wolverines won the Big Ten title

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A big celebration broke out in the bowels of the State Farm Center just moments after No. 3 Michigan dominated No. 10 Illinois 84-70 Friday to win the Big Ten regular-season championship. Michigan coach Dusty May was chest-pounding on everyone and anyone he could find. Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 man, galloped down the ramp, tapping his ring finger, begging for his championship hardware. Illinois transfer Morez Johnson, who endured three hours of licks and a barrage of nasty texts after his phone number was leaked, carried his Big Ten Championship trophy into the opposing locker room like a king with his prize.

In the midst of this madhouse, Nimari Burnett could only think of one term plastered on the walls of Michigan: “Those who remain will be champions.” The all-time phrase was coined by Michigan Hall of Fame football coach Bo Schembechler, and it embodies much of what makes this Michigan band tick.

Two years ago, Burnett and Will Tschetter had to sit in that same Champaign locker room and stare at the walls after a 97-68 loss to Illinois All-American Terrence Shannon. It was one of several drubbings during an 8-24 season that resulted in the firing of Juwan Howard.

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“We have a lot of memories in this locker room; none of them are good,” Tschetter told CBS Sports. “For us to come back here and do this dub this way and land this thing straight, it means the world. Very, very cool.”

The Dusty May era may have ushered in a wave of hope for Michigan basketball, but Burnett and Tschetter were genuinely dismayed about what awaited them under a new regime.

Do they want us?

Will we be able to play?

“When you’re on a team of 8-24s, you think, ‘Oh, man, they might want to clean house,'” Tschetter says. “But you know, after talking with him, we were on the same page. … You can’t put a price on some things and this is definitely one of those things. Having the trust and the relationship with Dusty and the guys that he was going to bring in, I really thought we would be Big Ten championship contenders and Final Four contenders. You can’t put a price on that. So I’m obviously very grateful that he’s a part of that.”

Burnett and Tschetter did not stay. They have become pillars of this team. Burnett started all 29 games and embraced his 3-D role. Tschetter is the ninth man some nights and the seventh man others. His attitude doesn’t seem to change whether he plays seven minutes or 17 like he did Friday.

They both knocked down triples in the second half to give Michigan the knockout blow.

“We kept these guys because we believed, first and foremost, in who they are as people,” May said. “It’s been a tough season for Michigan basketball, and there were a handful of guys that we weren’t able to recruit for various reasons. And then there were a handful that we thought could fit our culture in terms of work ethic and talent. They had a talent base, but Nimari and Will were both guys who dove in from day one, and they wanted Michigan to be back in that position. It was that simple.

“There was never a conversation as far as shooting. As far as position. They took those two guys and made a major, major sacrifice for this group. You know, Nimari played point guard on that team.

Now he’s probably our fifth point guard on the team because Aday [Mara]Eliot [Cadeau]and the rest of these guys. Will Tschetter has been an absolute star from day one with roleplaying and everyday intangibles. We wouldn’t be here without these guys. »

Burnett says he knew this Michigan group was special in September. The size, the power, the physique. All of this.

“Although that’s easy to say now,” Burnett says with a laugh.

Burnett’s visions came to life and they were punctuated by the approach of March. Michigan’s two-way dominance in the paint was on full display. Johnson was completely unstoppable on his way to 19 points and 11 rebounds. Mara may have delivered the best match of his season, considering the stakes. Mara dominated the second half with 19 points and numerous thunderous dunks.

The Big Ten bully added one more thing to his ever-growing list of accomplishments. Michigan is the undisputed champion.

“I stayed like that for days,” Burnett said. “Believing in Dusty May. Believing in the staff, knowing that they have a great plan. Knowing how to win at a high level, you know, and knowing how to maximize ourselves as players. And that’s what it’s about, right? It’s about winning, doing it together, enjoying these moments.”