The Michigan Wolverines basketball team is atop the national polls for the first time in 21 years. The last time the Wolverines could call themselves number one was back in the Fab Five days. The lineup at that time was Chris Weber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. Now the team’s starting lineup is Glenn Robinson III, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Stauskas and Jordan Morgan.
History shows Michigan being near the top in football but not so much in basketball. Usually Michigan State fans are loud and proud in the beginning of the year during basketball and Michigan fans take that role in the fall during football season. It appears the tides are shifting in Michigan’s way in both sports. Michigan recorded an 8 – 4 record during the regular season of last football season and State only had a 6 – 6 record. Michigan also pulled in what is likely to be the number one recruiting class for 2013. In basketball Michigan is number one and State is down the list at thirteen.
The Wolverines have been stepping it up in recent years ever since the Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims played at Ann Arbor. The future looks bright for the young Wolverines. Their starting rotation is made up of two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen. These young players will most likely stick around Ann Arbor because they don’t get the national exposure that a Kentucky freshman would.
It’s likely these young players will shine for at least another year or so. This success resembles the ’91 Fab Five team and could end up as national champions just as there Alumni’s did 21 long years ago.