Stories by Colleen Thomas
McGary, Robinson will return for 2013-14 season
- Teresa Mathew/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
Freshmen forwards Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III announced Thursday that they will be returning for their sophomore seasons at Michigan instead of entering the 2013 NBA Draft.
Michigan second-half defensive struggles stunt late-game comeback
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
ATLANTA — What Michigan finally figured out during its NCAA Tournament run seemed to disappear in the final 20 minutes of its season.
Michigan to pass one last defensive test against Louisville in Monday's National Championship game
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
ATLANTA — Just 40 more minutes remain of the college basketball season.
Michigan (12-6 Big Ten, 31-7 overall) and Louisville (14-4 Big East, 34-5) face off in the National Championship game on Monday night, and unlike the last few opponents, each team has high praises and respect for one another in their respective NCAA Tournament runs.
LeVert, Albrecht find solid roles in Michigan's national semifinal win
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
ATLANTA — Saturday night, the almost-redshirt and the late signee stole the show.
The young guard still wearing braces, and the overlooked, undersized point guard that filled in for the three starting guards when they were struggling — Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht.
Bacari Alexander finds new motivational tool for Saturday's pregame vs. Syracuse
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
ATLANTA — First the caged Jayhawk, then Pringles, and now orange juice?
Michigan assistant coach Bacari Alexander has been the main source of pre-game motivation in the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament run with his humorous pep talks before each game.
Breakdown: Michigan and Syracuse battle for a spot in the title game
- File Photo/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
After upsetting top-seeded Kansas in the Sweet 16 and demolishing Florida en route to their first Final Four in 20 years, the Wolverines will take on Syracuse in Saturday’s national semifinal. The Daily basketball beat breaks down the matchup.
Wolverines offense rolling, returning to early-season dominance
- Todd Needle/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
“Just coming into the (NCAA) Tournament, we wanted to make a statement our first couple of games,” said sophomore guard Trey Burke. “We just tried to stay in the moment. After the loss to Wisconsin (in the Big Ten Tournament), we obviously knew we didn’t play as well as we should’ve played. Coming into the NCAA Tournament, we wanted to come in and make a statement from day one.
Seniors say goodbye to Crisler as Michigan preps for Atlanta, Final Four
- Todd Needle/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
For most of the team, the last practice of the year is a weird feeling — they won’t have mandatory practice until the fall — but it’s even stranger for Bartelstein, Akunne, Vogrich, Corey Person and Blake McLimans, who won’t return after spending four, or, in Person’s case, five years at Crisler.
Notebook: Morgan becomes third big-man option, Hardaway finally gets hot
- File Photo/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
Jordan Morgan had been the Wolverines’ scrappy, all-around player who collected rebounds when needed and played solid defense. But in the Big Ten Tournament, Morgan got into foul trouble and couldn’t control the ball in the paint, so freshman forward Mitch McGary got a majority of the post minutes and performed exceptionally well.
2013 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament
Wolverines’ transition offense, Albrecht play big roles against Havoc defense
- Adam Glanzman/Daily
BY COLLEEN THOMAS
All Michigan had to do to get around the Rams’ pressure was outrun them. Ideally, sophomore point guard Trey Burke brought the ball up the court — he would simply outrun his defender — but if VCU would trap Burke, a quick pass to junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. or freshman guard Nik Stauskas would allow the Wolverines to set up their offense.
