Throwback Sunday (why not?): The 1989 NCAA Championship Game
Hope everyone is enjoying the last weekend before the holidays. In light of the fact that Michigan Basketball is in the thick of what's shaping up to be a special season, I thought this might be a good time to reminisce on the last time they scaled the mountain.
- Head Coach Bill Frieder announcing on the eve of the tournament that he would leave to take the Arizona State job but would coach Michigan in the tourney
- Bo Schembechler firing Frieder immediately and promoting then-assistant Steve Fisher to interim head coach, famously declaring "A Michigan Man will coach Michigan"
- A huge Final Four win over top-seeded Illinois after two regular season losses to the Illini
- The first overtime championship game in the 64-team era
- Glen Rice averaging over 30 points a game in the tournament and breaking the NCAA Tournament scoring record
- Rumeal Robinson, a career 66% free throw shooter, hitting two of the most clutch free throws in NCAA history to clinch the win
Here's to a 2019 with an equally special ending for Michigan Basketball. GO BLUE.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
Frank, this is always a good idea. Thanks for this solid post.
December 23rd, 2018 at 3:55 PM ^
The Higgins put back vs. the Illini in the semis is one of my fondest sports menories from childhood. Third time was the charm against Henson's muppets.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:06 PM ^
That's another game worth seeing again!
December 24th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
Still one of the best games I've ever watched. Was in a sports bar surrounded by Illinois fans who were convinced there was no way they could lose to us. But they were all very respectful after the game and very complimentary of M.
December 23rd, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
When Vought got the defensive rebound to protect the 4-2 lead the fine Wolverine next to said, "We're kicking their asses!" Given how poorly we played the two regular season games, I knew he was right.
I also liked Higgins out of control spin move from outside the arc to get layup in the second half. Fantastic!
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:26 PM ^
That Illini team was incredibly good. Kenny Battle was a beast. That win was even more satisfying after the way they pounded UM twice that season, including senior day in Ann Arbor
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
Was there. What the kingdome lacked in just about every way, it made up for with those 2 games.
and yes, rumeal did hit the two greatest free throws of all time. 1 and 1, down a point, national championship on the line. Hey, no pressure...
December 23rd, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
That was a crap foul call to be making in that situation.
And yet, I was more upset about it than Seton Hall fans were. I thought it was a gift . . . for them. I did not want to see a game decided by Rumeal at the free throw line. He had already lost a game earlier in the season in that same situation.
But he was ice.
December 24th, 2018 at 4:01 AM ^
I remember that moment so well: As he stepped to the line, I was on my knees in front of the TV, mumbling "Please hit it ... please hit it ... please hit it ..."
And it was past 2:00 in the morning, and I was starting a new job the next day. The idea of showing up bright-eyed & bushy-tailed on my first day had pretty much gone out the window.
The job didn't work out, but Rumeal hit both shots. To this day, I still consider that a fair trade.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:18 PM ^
I was seven years old and basketball was a different game then Thanks for something fun to watch. Go Blue
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:43 PM ^
Rice was incredible during that run.
The Higgins put back was special.
Robinson hitting the 2 from the line. I'd be more appreciative of Robinson but he turned out to be a horrible human.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:48 PM ^
Sources told me that alcohol was his demon. Can be very difficult to overcome for those with a predeliction to that issue.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:53 PM ^
Convicted of wire fraud...not to mention his adoptive mother lost her home due to him.
I think he got 5 or 6 years in prison.
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:08 PM ^
There is an American Greed Rumeal Robinson story. It’s free on On-Demad for most cable providers. (It’s on CNBC channel). Definitely worth the watch.
December 23rd, 2018 at 4:44 PM ^
I have a 1989 final four polo in my closet
December 23rd, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
Now that is a nice piece of merchandise.
December 24th, 2018 at 3:55 AM ^
I think I've got an old championship T-shirt in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.
Couldn't squeeze into it now if you put a gun to my head.
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^
This is when Michigan sports peaked, right before I started school in AA!
December 23rd, 2018 at 6:45 PM ^
Amazing! 30 years later I still cant get enough. And yes username checks out.
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:05 PM ^
- The first overtime championship game in the 64-team era
I believe it was the first overtime championship game ever, not just in the 64-team era (which was only about five years old at that point).
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:50 PM ^
1963 was an OT final between Loyola and Cincinnati.
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Simpson reminds me of Rumeal Robinson. Not a very good shooter but tough as nails and a great floor distributor/leader
December 23rd, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^
I was 8 and fell asleep early on the night of the championship. I woke up and came out of my room just as Robinson was walking to the line. My mom says, "You woke up at just the right time, Michigan is about to win the national championship."
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:18 PM ^
It had to be frustrating watching these games back in the day and not having the score on the screen at all times.
December 24th, 2018 at 10:07 AM ^
Growing up I was never really interested in college basketball and rarely watched NBA basketball but everyone knew who the stars were: Larry Bird, Magic, Dr J, etc. I had just gotten into college football the previous year so college sports were on my radar. My freshmen year (not at UM) was the same academic year so watching the tournament was a no brainer as every tv on campus was set to CBS during that time. I was hooked on Michigan basketball during that tournament and even more so during the subsequent Fab Five years. I will always remember the 1988-1989 season as being the time that Bo and the Michigan basketball team sealed my fandom for the Wolverines. GO BLUE!!!
December 24th, 2018 at 10:12 AM ^
Gotta believe that Glen’s tourney scoring record will stand for a long time. Considering the quality in college hoops at the time, it’s an incredible record and in the era of one and done, I can’t see anyone breaking it.
What a tourney too. The guys took their games to a new level, beat a fantastic Illinois team and deserved that title.
My personal favorite team, I liked them way more than the fab 5.
December 24th, 2018 at 3:45 PM ^
Gosh that was fun to watch! Thanks for posting it. Go Blue & Merry Christmas!
December 24th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Too bad he it was the prior year he banged Sarah Palin. Would have been quite a season with the championship belt and that particular notch in it.
December 27th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^
I know I couldn’t watch Rumeal Robinson’s 2 free throws. I would turn the sound down and leave the room. When I would come back, Seton Hall had called another timeout to ice Robinson and there would be a commercial on. This went on for at least 5 minutes but it seemed like an eternity.
I finally watched the winning foul shot and then Seton Hall came close to winning it with a long shot at the buzI immediately called my best friend and he said, “Did they win or lose? I couldn’t watch it!” Here we are 2 middle aged guys acting like a couple of little kids!!