Following the 2011–12 season, the team lost graduating senior captains Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, who moved on to professional basketball careers in Europe. The incoming class of Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas was ranked among the best classes in the nation by the media. With its new lineup, the team matched the greatest starts in school history. Starting the season with 11 consecutive wins matched the best start since Michigan's 1989 national champions, the 1988–89 team. At 16–0, Michigan matched its best start since the last repeat Big Ten Regular season championship, the 1985–86 team, tying a school record. Reaching 19–1 set a record for the best start in school history. The team also reached the number one position in the AP Poll for the first time since the Fab Five1992–93 team. The team entered February with a 20–1 record (7–1 Big Ten), but with an injury to eventual B1G All-Defensive selection Jordan Morgan and a stretch of games against its strongest conference opponents, Michigan lost three out of four games. The team closed the season with a 5–5 run to finish tied for fourth in the conference and won one game in the Big Ten tournament before being eliminated.
The team was led by 2013 national player of the year, Big Ten Player of the Year and 2013 Consensus All-AmericanTrey Burke and three additional All-Conference honorees. Tim Hardaway Jr. was named to the 2012–13 All-Big Ten first team by the coaches and to the second team by the media; Robinson was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media, and Morgan was an All-Big Ten Defensive team selection. Stauskas and McGary earned multiple Big Ten Freshman of the Week recognitions during the season. Burke was the second National Player of the Year and eighth first-team consensus All-American in Michigan basketball history.
Michigan entered the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the youngest team in the field. The team made its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since the 1993–94 team did so. The Wolverines made their first "official" appearance in the Final Four and the national title game since the 1989 national championship season; appearances in 1992 and 1993 were vacated due to a scandal. Following the season, at the 2013 NBA draft, Burke and Hardaway were selected ninth and twenty-fourth, respectively, becoming the first pair of first-round NBA draft choices from Michigan since the 1994 NBA draft.
Preseason roster changes
Departures
The team lost both of its captains from the prior season to graduation after they completed their eligibility. Senior two-time captain Douglass turned pro, joining Basket Navarra Club of the Liga Española de Baloncesto.[2] Senior three-time captain Novak graduated to play for Landstede Basketbal in the Dutch Basketball League.[3] In addition to the loss of senior co-captains, the team lost three players who decided to transfer: Evan Smotrycz, Carlton Brundidge and Colton Christian. Smotrycz, who transferred to Maryland,[4][5] had started in 42 of the 69 games he played during his first two years. He left the program as the fifth-best all-time three-point shooter[4] with a percentage of 40.5.[6] Brundidge transferred to Detroit and Christian transferred to Florida International.[7] The program also announced the departure of walk-on Sai Tummala[8] and the return of walk-on Corey Person for a fifth year.[9]
Glenn Robinson III, son of former first overall NBA draft pickGlenn Robinson, verbally committed on September 14, 2010, as the first commitment in Michigan's class of 2012.[10] On March 26, 2011, Michigan received its second verbal commitment of the class of 2012 from Canadian wing guard Nik Stauskas.[11] On November 3, Mitch McGary, who was ranked as the number two prospect in the nation at the time, announced his verbal commitment to Michigan.[12][13][14] Within hours of the commitment, ESPN announced that Michigan ranked as the fifth best class in the nation.[15] Each of the three signed a National Letter of Intent with the team on November 9.[16][17][18] After several other schools announced their commitments, the signing of McGary moved Michigan from outside the top 25 at the end of October to the number 7 class in the nation by mid-November, according to ESPN.[19][20] That November, McGary, Robinson and Stauskas ranked 3,[21] 34,[22] and 79,[23] respectively, in the Rivals.com Class of 2012 Top 150.
McGary was invited to participate in the four-team April 1, 2012 All-American Championship, along with future teammate Robinson in New Orleans.[31] Robinson was awarded the ESPNHS All-American Championship Player of the Game for his 16-point, 4-rebound performance, which included 5 dunks among his 6-for-7 shooting night.[32] McGary was also selected to represent USA Basketball at the fifteenth annual Nike Hoops Summit on April 7 as part of the 2012 USA Junior National Select Team.[33]
Michael "Spike" Albrecht committed to Michigan on April 6, 2012.[34] Albrecht led Northfield Mount Hermon School to the 2012 NEPSAC Class AAA Boys' Basketball Tournament, defeating McGary's Brewster Academy in the semifinals. Albrecht was MVP of the tournament. Albrecht was a former AAU teammate of McGary and Robinson.[35] Albrecht's and outgoing captain Novak's fathers were collegiate teammates.[36] Albrecht was a 2011 graduate of Crown Point High School.[37] After most of the big signings announced their decisions on the April 11 signing day, Michigan was ranked as the early number 5 preseason selection as a team by ESPN.[38]
Michigan basketball hosted its on campus media day press conference on October 10, 2012, at Crisler Center.[44][45] The team was represented by Burke, Hardaway, Morgan and Beilein at the Big Ten Conference Basketball Media Day press conference on October 24 in Rosemont, Illinois.[46][47] When the 24-person Big Ten Media poll was announced, Michigan was predicted to finish second to Indiana.[48][49] Burke was a preseason All-Conference selection by the same media.[49]
Michigan enjoyed high expectations from the national media as well during the preseason. Sporting News named them to the number 5 position in its preseason poll, while conference foes Indiana and Ohio State were ranked number 1 and 3, respectively.[50] Michigan also earned the number 5 ranking in both the preseason Coaches' Poll and preseason Associated Press poll, but behind Indiana (#1) and Ohio State (#4) in both.[51][52] This was Michigan's highest preseason ranking since the 1992–93 team.[53]Sports Illustrated ranked Michigan number 9 in its October preseason power rankings, again behind Indiana (#1) and Ohio State (#6),[54] but when it printed its November preseason poll listed Michigan at number 6 ahead of Ohio State (#7), but behind Indiana (#1).[55] Prior to the first exhibition game on November 1, senior Josh Bartelstein was named team captain.[56]
ESPN's Eamonn Brennan noted that Michigan was a perimeter oriented team with possibly the best one-two guard combination in the country.[57] Burke and Hardaway were both preseason John R. Wooden Award top 50 selections.[58] Burke was a preseason All-American (Associated Press first team,[59]CBS Sports second team,[60]Sports Illustrated second team,[61] ESPN second team,[62]Sporting News third team[63]) as well as a preseason Naismith Award top 50 selection.[64]
Slogans, nicknames and emblems
WE ON
The acronym "WE ON" was the slogan for the whole team for the 2012–13 season. The team and coaching staff selected it at the beginning of the season as another way for Michigan to say Bo Schembechler's famous quote, "the Team, the Team, the Team." The acronym "WE ON" stands for "When Everyone Operates N'sync."[65] Michigan assistant coach Bacari Alexander even tweeted that the acronym summarizes this team-focused mindset.[66] According to Dave Brandon, assistant coach LaVall Jordan and director of basketball operations Travis Conlan guided the team to develop the slogan.[67]
Adidas warm up shirts were created and were first worn on November 21, 2012, before Michigan's NIT Season Tip-Off game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The shirts use the school colors with blue with maize lettering.[68] On February 12, 2013, when Michigan played the first of two regularly scheduled rivalry games against Michigan State, students in the Izzone at the Breslin Center wore T-shirts with "YOU OFF" printed in Spartan colors (green and white). Michigan State went on to win the game by 23 points.[69]
"WE" – WE is also an acronym for "Wolverine Excellence", which is chiefly used by the team. Wolverine Excellence calls for players and managers to focus on its five core values: integrity, unity, passion, diligence and appreciation.[65]
"ON" – ON represented each player's individual commitment to season-long improvement. There was a "U-M Fuse Box" (mock-University of Michigan set of switches) in the Men's Basketball locker room in Crisler Center. Each player had selected one word on which to focus during the season and before every practice and game, each player flipped his switch "on". This represented each player's commitment to improvement every day.[65][68]
Fresh Five
Prior to the season, the five freshmen were dubbed the "Fresh Five", a moniker hearkening remembrance of the incoming freshman class of 1991, known as the Fab Five, that led Michigan to back-to-back Championship games while starting the majority of games. However, the nickname and its expectations were downplayed most of the season by the team.[70][71] Nonetheless, during the final two weeks of the regular season The New York Times ran a feature story on the team that reinvigorated the nickname while noting that the current five were the supporting cast rather than the stars of the team like the original five.[53]
ESPN's Chantel Jennings tweeted a picture of a Flag of Canada redone in Michigan's team colors of maize and blue at Crisler Arena on December 4.[72] One of her followers noted that the big version on the wall was a general Stauskas fan flag and that a little version of the flag was added next to it for each three-pointer Canadian Stauskas made in the game.[73] By mid-December of his freshman season, the students in the Maize Rage (Michigan student section at Crisler Arena) had begun cheering Stauskas on with such a flag.[74] The Michigan Public & Media Relations office started mentioning the flag before Christmas.[75] The flag was mentioned widely in the press as he continued his hot shooting into January.
[76][77][78] Through the first week of January, Stauskas was shooting 53.7% on three-point shots as the team held a 15–0 record.[77]
96
The team, which represented Michigan Basketball for the ninety-sixth season in the Big Ten Conference, is sometimes referred to as Team 96 or Squad 96.[79][80] Although this team represented Michigan for the ninety-sixth consecutive year, there was controversy as to whether the team should in fact be marketed as Team 96 because the 1908–09 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team was not properly accounted for among the prior teams.[81] The subsequent team was marketed as Team 98.[82]
Schedule
Regular season
November
Trey Burke (left) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (right) led Michigan in scoring and each earned multiple Big Ten Player of the Week awards.
Hardaway began the season with his fourth career double-double by scoring 25 points (including 5-for-5 three-point shooting) and adding 10 rebounds in a 100–62 win over Slippery Rock;[83] this earned him his second career Big Ten Player of the Week award.[84] The 100-point performance of November 9 was Michigan's first since the 2007–08 team posted 103 points against Oakland on December 12, 2007.[85][86]
Michigan hosted games for the first two rounds of the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off.[87][88] The team's first game of the tournament, a November 12 contest against the IUPUI Jaguars, resulted in a 91–54 Michigan victory. The win also gave Michigan its first consecutive 90-point performances since the 2000–01 team recorded three consecutive 90-point games.[89][90] The following night, Michigan defeated Cleveland State by a 77–47 margin, marking the first time the school opened the season with three consecutive 30-point victories.[91] The win also marked the first time Michigan had posted three consecutive 30-point wins since the 1988–89 Wolverines team (the 1989 national champion) won five consecutive 30-point games.[92]
In the championship rounds of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament at Madison Square Garden on November 21 and 23, Michigan defeated Pittsburgh and Kansas State, respectively, to win the tournament. Hardaway, who totaled 39 points at the Garden, was the tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by Burke, who contributed 27 points and 10 assists.[93][94][95] Stauskas earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for his NIT tournament performance in which he averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.[96][97][98] On November 27, Michigan raised its Big Ten championship banner from the season before.[99] Then, the team defeated its first ranked opponent of the season – NC State (#18 AP/#18 Coaches)[100] – in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge. The win was supported by Burke's first career double-double which included a career-high 11 assists, no turnovers and 18 points as well as a career-high 20 points from Stauskas in a 79–72 victory.[101]
Ranked third in both polls, Michigan established a record as the highest ranked visiting team in the history of Carver Arena on December 1. Giving Stauskas his first career start, Michigan emerged victorious over Bradley.[102][103] It was the third game of the season that Michigan never trailed in.[103] Stauskas repeated as Big Ten Freshman of the Week on December 3 for his back-to-back 20-point performances.[104]
On December 4, Michigan defeated Western Michigan 73–41, giving the team its first 8–0 start since the 1996–97 team;[105] the team never trailed in the game.[106] Michigan defeated Arkansas 80–67 in its December 8 matchup.[107] It marked the fourth 9–0 start in school history (1988–89, 1985–86 and 1926–27) and the third consecutive game that Michigan never trailed.[108] Michigan went to 10–0 on December 11 by defeating Binghamton 67–39.[109][110]
Michigan traveled to play in the December 15 Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival at the Barclays Center, where they defeated West Virginia (coach Beilein's previous employer) 81–66 to move to 11–0 for the third time in school history (1985–86 and 1988–89).[111][112] The team never trailed in the contest.[113] For averaging 23.0 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals with only 1.0 turnover in the games against Binghamton and West Virginia, Burke earned Player of the Week on December 17.[109][114][115]
On December 20, the team became the second in school in history (1985–86 went 16–0) to reach 12–0 when it beat Eastern Michigan.[116][117] After recording his first career double-double in the game with only 18 minutes of play, McGary was recognized as Big Ten Freshman of the Week.[118] Hardaway suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss the December 29 game against Central Michigan and that broke his 81 consecutive games played streak that went back to the beginning of his Michigan career. The game also marked the team's second game without Jon Horford, who dislocated his knee during the West Virginia game.[119] In Hardaway's absence, Burke posted his second career double-double with 22 points and a career-high tying 11 assists and Robinson posted his second career 20-point game.[120][121] Stauskas added career highs with 5 three-pointers and 7 rebounds and earned his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on December 31.[120][122] The thirteenth win clinched Michigan's ninth perfect non-conference regular season record.[121] The team never trailed in the contest.[123]
On January 3, Michigan opened the 2012–13 Big Ten conference schedule with a 94–66 win over Northwestern to move to 14–0. Burke had 23 points, 5 assists and a career high 4 steals, while Hardaway added 21 points, Morgan posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Stauskas and Robinson added 10 points each.[124][125] Burke and Robinson both posted their third and first career double-doubles, respectively, in a 95–67 victory against Iowa on January 6. It marked the first time that the team scored 90 points in back-to-back conference games since the 1999–2000 team and tied for the most points in a conference game since the 1997–98 team.[126][127] On January 7, Burke was recognized as Big Ten Conference Player of the Week and Robinson was recognized as Conference Freshman of the Week.[128]
The team tied the school record for best start by defeating Nebraska for its 16th straight victory to start the season on January 9. The victory also marked Beilein's 400th Division I coaching victory.[129][130] On January 13, the team lost to Ohio State (#15 AP/#14 Coaches)[131] snapping their winning streak. Horford returned to the lineup after missing 5 games. Michigan had been the only remaining unbeaten team and was expected to be ranked #1 if they had won.[132][133] The loss was Michigan's 9th straight in Columbus.[134]
Michigan defeated Minnesota (#9 AP/#12 Coaches)[135] at Williams Arena on January 17, marking the first time Michigan defeated a top-10 team on the road since a December 6, 1996, victory by the 1996–97 team over Duke.[136] After his performance, in which he scored 21 points while making 7 of 8 shots and 4 of 5 three-point shots, in addition to recording 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, Hardaway earned a second Big Ten Player of the Week Award.[137]
Michigan defeated Purdue 68–53 on January 24 and Illinois 74–60 on January 27.[138][139] This gave Michigan the first 19–1 start in school history.[140] Robinson earned his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on January 28 for a pair of 12-point performances during a week in which he averaged 8 rebounds while maintaining 71.4% field goal percentage.[141] Later that day, Michigan was ranked number one in the AP Poll with 51 of the 65 first place votes.[142] It marked the first time Michigan ranked atop the AP Poll since the Fab Five 1992–93 team did so on December 5, 1992.[140]
Michigan concluded January by beating Northwestern a second time on January 30, becoming the first team in the country to reach 20 wins.[143][144] After enduring an injured ankle against Illinois, starting center Jordan Morgan missed his first game since redshirting a full season for the 2009–10 Wolverines when he sat out the Northwestern game.[145] Horford started in his place.[144]
On February 2, 2013, Michigan (#1 AP/#2 Coaches)[146] appeared on ESPN's College GameDay against Indiana (#3 AP/#3 Coaches)[146] who hosted the game at Assembly Hall.[147] Michigan lost 81–73,[148] but the television broadcast of the game on ESPN set a Big Ten record for viewership with 4.035 million viewers.[149] Morgan only played two minutes behind replacement starter Horford.[148][150] Michigan then defeated Ohio State (#10 AP/#10 Coaches)[151] in overtime in the rematch at home on February 5.[152] Starting center Morgan only played 4 minutes.[150][152] Coach Beilein noted that Morgan's absence affected the team's ability to match up defensively and substitute as it desired.[150]
Michigan lost to Wisconsin on February 9 in overtime following a half-court buzzer beater by Wisconsin that tied the game in regulation[153] It marked Michigan's eleventh consecutive loss against Wisconsin on the road.[154] Morgan did not play, but McGary played 32 minutes, totaling 12 points, 3 steals and 8 rebounds.[155] However, dramatically increased play in Morgan's absence enabled McGary to earn his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on February 11.[156]
On February 12, Michigan lost 75–52 in its rivalry game against (#8 AP/#8 Coaches)[157] Michigan State.[158] Among those in attendance were Rick Snyder, Matthew Stafford, Mark Dantonio, Brady Hoke, and Lloyd Carr.[159] It marked the first time both teams were ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll,[160] and resulted in Michigan losing back-to-back games and three consecutive road games for the first time since the 2010–11 team did so.[161] Burke's 18 points, 4 assists and 3 steals were one of Michigan's few bright spots in their February 12 contest.[159]
On February 17 against Penn State, Burke posted a season-high 29 points along with 5 assists, 3 rebounds and two steals.[162][163] As a result of his efforts, Burke won his third player of the week award of the season and fourth of his career on February 18.[164] Morgan returned to the starting lineup in the Penn State contest, but he only played 7 minutes.[162]
After playing only 22 total minutes since January 27,[165] Morgan played more minutes (17) than the other low post players (McGary, Horford, and Max Bielfeldt) for the first time on February 24 against Illinois. Michigan defeated Illinois 71–58 behind 26 points and 8 assists from Burke.[166] In the game, Burke became the seventh Wolverine sophomore to reach 1000 career points.[167] On February 27, Michigan surrendered a 15-point second-half lead to give Penn State its only conference win of the season.[168] Following the game, the team called a rare players-only meeting at the Pizza House, with fifth-year reserve Corey Person doing most of the talking.[169]
March
On March 3, Michigan defeated Michigan State (#9 AP/#10 Coaches)[170] in the Ann Arbor rematch of their rivalry series as Trey Burke made 2 steals in the final 30 seconds to secure the 58–57 victory. Michigan snapped a 453-game streak with at least one made three-point shot and became the first team since February 2009 to defeat a top ten opponent without making one.[171][172] On March 6, with its Big Ten Conference Championship destiny in its own hands, Michigan defeated Purdue to set up a championship showdown with Indiana on March 10.[173] Michigan concluded its road schedule with a 5–5 record.[174]
Michigan closed out the season by losing to Indiana (#2 AP/#2 Coaches)[175] on March 10, failing its pursuit of defense of its conference co-championship. Michigan led by 5 with 52 seconds to go, but then missed 3 free throws, including the first attempt during 2 one-and-one situations. Burke and Morgan also missed last-second shots at the rim.[176] Michigan wound down its regular season with its fifteenth sellout and five seniors on the roster: Eso Akunne, Josh Bartelstein, Blake McLimans, Corey Person, and Matt Vogrich.[177] The loss kept Michigan from its first undefeated home season since the 1976–77 team.[178]
Despite its highly touted lineup, Michigan entered the tournament as the sixth youngest team in the country and the youngest team in the field of 68 teams according to Sports Illustrated, based on weighted minutes played.[183][184] The game marked Michigan's first NCAA Championship Monday appearance since 1989.[185] Some sources claim 1993 as the school's last appearance,[186] but those results have been vacated by the NCAA due to the University of Michigan basketball scandal.[187][188]
"It was probably the biggest shot I ever made and definitely a shot I'll always remember."
—Burke during regional semifinal postgame press conference following his late game-tying three-point shot[194]
The regional championship rounds for Michigan were at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.[189][195] On March 29 against Kansas, Michigan overcame a 14-point deficit with 6:50 remaining and a 10-point deficit with 2:52 remaining to force overtime before an eventual victory.[195] Burke scored eight points in the final 1:15 of regulation time, including a game-tying long three-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining.[195][196] McGary (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Burke (23 points and 10 assists) both posted double-doubles.[196]
In the regional finals on March 31 against Florida, Michigan built a 13–0 lead and never led by less than 10 the rest of the game.[197][198] Several players had career-highs in the game: Stauskas with 6 three-point shots, Burke 8 rebounds, McGary 5 steals and off the bench Albrecht 7 points and 3 steals.[199] Eight of McGary's 11 points came as Michigan built the initial 13–0 lead and 5 of Stauskas' 6 three-pointers came as Michigan built a 41–17 lead and closed the half with a 47–30 lead.[197] Burke was named South Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player.[200] McGary and Stauskas joined Burke on the five-man South All-Regional team.[201] Following the regional championship postgame prayer and with Mrs. Beilein's consent, McGary and Hardaway gave Beilein a Gatorade shower.[202]
Final Four
The national championship rounds were held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. In the April 6 national semifinal against Syracuse, Michigan emerged with its thirty-first victory, the most since the 1992–93 team went 31–5. McGary posted 10 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, while the bench contributed 22 points, including 6 from Albrecht, who raised his NCAA tournament total to 5-for-5 on three-point shots.[203][204]
Michigan lost the April 8 national championship game against Midwest number one seed Louisville by an 82–76 score. Albrecht scored 17 first-half points on 4-for-4 three-point shooting.[205] Burke scored 24 points in the championship game and made the seven-man All-Tournament team (which was revised multiple times) along with teammates McGary and Albrecht.[206][207] The turning point of the game was described as a missed call by the referees when, as Michigan trailed 67–64 with 5 minutes left, Burke pinned Peyton Siva's dunk attempt with a clean, all-ball block, but was called for a foul, resulting in two made free throws by Siva. Michigan never got closer than 4 points the rest of the game.[208][209] Louisville's championship has since been vacated by the NCAA, as well as all its wins from 2011 to 2015. This followed an escort recruitment scandal at the university.[210][211]
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. Regions: S=South, E=East, MW=Midwest.
Burke's 260 assists set a school single-season record.[213] He also finished his sophomore season with 1,231 career points, surpassing the former school record for sophomore season career point total of 1,218 by Chris Webber.[171][213] Stauskas reached a total of 80 made three-point shots, which surpassed Hardaway's 2-year-old school freshman season record of 76.[199]
Stauskas also earned recognition from Sports Illustrated'sSeth Davis as National Freshman of the Week on December 3.[215] On January 9, Burke earned the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[216] Burke also earned ESPN.com Player of the Week recognition on April 1.[217]
The Wooden Award midseason top 25 list, which included Burke, was announced on January 10.[218] On January 31, Burke was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA National Player of the Year) midseason top 12 list, while Stuaskas and Robinson were named to the Wayman Tisdale Award (USBWA National Freshman of the Year) top 12 midseason list.[219] Burke was one of six Big Ten players named among the top 30 finalists for the Naismith Award when the list was announced on February 26.[220][221] Burke was among four Big Ten Players on the March 4, 14-man Robertson watchlist.[222] On March 9, Burke was named among the top 15 Wooden Award finalists.[223] On March 11, Burke was named one of five finalists for the Cousy Award.[224] Burke was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Award on March 24.[225]
Burke was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News on March 11,[226] the USBWA on March 18,[227]Sports Illustrated on March 19,[228] CBSSports.com on March 20,[229] the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on March 28,[230] and the Associated Press on April 1.[231] Burke was one of four Big Ten players named to the 10-man Wooden All-American team of finalists for the Wooden Award on April 1.[232] On April 1, Robinson was one of two Big Ten players (Harris) named to the 21-man 2013 Kyle Macy Freshman All-America team.[233] Burke became the fifth Consensus All-American (Cazzie Russell, Rickey Green, Gary Grant and Webber) in school history.[234]
Burke earned Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2013 and was a unanimous 2012–13 All-Big Ten 1st team selection. Hardaway was a 1st team selection by the coaches and second team by the media. Robinson was an honorable mention All-Conference selection and All-freshman honoree by the coaches. Morgan was a coaches All-defensive team selection.[242][243] On March 12, the USBWA named Burke and Hardaway to its 2012–13 Men's All-District V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI) Team, based upon voting from its national membership. Burke was recognized as District V Player of the Year.[244][245] Burke and Hardaway were selected to the NABC Division I All-District 7 first team on March 26, as selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, making them eligible for the State Farm Coaches' Division I All-America team.[246] On that same day, Burke was selected to the 21-man 2013 Lute Olson All-America Team.[247]
John Beilein was selected as an assistant coach for the 2013 World University Games.[248][249] Seniors Josh Bartelstein and Matt Vogrich were among the 38 Big Ten men's basketball players recognized as Winter Academic All-Big Ten for maintaining 3.0 averages.[250][251] Trey Burke was named team MVP.[252]
2013 NBA draft
Prior to the final four, McGary stated that he would not enter the 2013 NBA draft,[253] but a few days later said he had been caught off guard and would prefer to respond after he had time to reflect on his season.[254]
At 12:30 PM ET on April 4, Forbes sports business reporter Darren Heitner tweeted that Burke and teammate Hardaway would declare for the 2013 NBA Draft.[255][256][257] According to Heiter, one of Burke's potential sports agents was Alonzo Shavers, who had known Burke since his birth.[258] Burke's mother responded at 2:15 PM that same day that "He has not made any decision" about going pro, according to Yahoo! Sports reporter Eric Adelson.[259] At 2:23 PM, Heitner tweeted that Hardaway Sr. said his son was undecided.[260]
On April 9 before boarding the airplane to return from the NCAA Final Four, Beilein met with Burke, Hardaway, Robinson and McGary to direct them to seek the advice of the NBA advisory committee. The draft board had until April 15 to develop each individual report and the players had until April 28 to enter the draft.[261] On that same date, ESPN's Jason King predicted that if all four players had left for the NBA draft, the 2013–14 team would have begun the season unranked.[262]USA Today projected on April 9 that if one of the four possible 2013 NBA draft entrants returned, Michigan could have been ranked number twenty-four, and that if they all returned, Michigan would have been preseason number one.[263] ESPN journalist Myron Medcalf predicted on April 12 that Burke and Hardaway would enter the draft and that McGary and Robinson were on the borderline of doing so.[264]
On April 13, reports surfaced that Burke would announce that he would enter the NBA draft at a press conference the following day.[265] He entered the 2013 NBA Draft on April 14.[266][267] On April 17, Hardaway declared for the NBA draft.[268] McGary and Robinson announced on April 18 that they had decided not to enter their names in the NBA draft.[269][270][271]
Every player that started in the 2013 national championship game was drafted either in the 2013 or 2014 NBA draft.[278] Four players from Michigan's 2012 entering class were eventually drafted in the NBA draft (Stauskas, McGary, Robinson and LeVert).[279]
Following the season the team lost five seniors from the roster: guard Eso Akunne, guard Josh Bartelstein (captain), forward Blake McLimans, guard Corey Person and guard Matt Vogrich.[283] The team's required 10-year dissociation with players implicated in the University of Michigan basketball scandal ended on May 8, 2013.[53] Bartelstein blogged for the team from October 15, 2010,[284] until April 11, 2013.[285] His blogs from this season were turned into an ebook about the season entitled We On: Behind the Scenes of Michigan's Final Four Run.[286]
^Bradley, Christian (March 5, 2012). "NEPSAC Finals: Sunday Recap". New England Recruiting Report. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
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