Who's laughing now? Michigan heard 'NIT' chants, but 'it's funny how they'll be watching us back at their cribs'
It’s easy to pile on a team that was ranked top five in the preseason, and college basketball fans have no problem with poking fun at the Michigan Wolverines, considering the prestige and winning tradition the program carries.
The Wolverines had an underwhelming regular season, holding a 7-7 record at one point. They didn’t really punch their NCAA Tournament ticket until winning at Ohio State on the final Sunday of the Big Ten slate. Michigan was on the wrong side of the bubble for much of the season and posted a 5-7 record on the road, which opened the door for rival fans to play the role of NCAA Tournament selection committee member.
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“This season was definitely not the best, not the way that we wanted it to go,” sophomore center Hunter Dickinson said. “Other fans definitely let us know that, particularly Michigan State, Illinois, who else? Ohio State. Who else? There was other team in there. Who was it? There was one more. Oh, oh, the team down in Madison, the red and white team, they definitely let us know how they felt about our season.”
Now, though, Michigan is one of two Big Ten teams standing. Since head coach Juwan Howard took over, Michigan has won five NCAA Tournament games, while no other team from the conference has won more than two. For a second straight season, league rivals like Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois and others are at home. If their fans are interested, Dickinson said, they can tune into the Wolverines’ Sweet 16 game against Villanova at 7:29 p.m. ET Thursday on TBS.
“We heard those NIT chants,” Dickinson said. “They were hurtful. They definitely hurt. It’s funny how they’ll be watching us on Thursday back at their cribs.”
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Villanova reminds Hunter Dickinson of Big Ten team
Villanova will bring a unique challenge for Michigan. The Wildcats have bigger guards but lack size on the interior, not having a player in the rotation who stands taller than 6-foot-8. That means Dickinson, at 7-foot-1, will have the advantage down low but must defend quicker perimeter players on the other end. The Wildcats have an elite offense that ranks eighth in the country in defensive efficiency, so it’s a tall task.
“Maybe like a more disciplined Iowa team maybe,” Michigan’s big man said of a comparison to the Big Ten. “I say that in terms of like Iowa, they’re really free flowing and they have a couple sets, but it’s mostly just a lot of them making up their own sets and really free flowing.
“Villanova is really disciplined. They’ve run their sets. Coach [Jay] Wright has them really trained to do the Villanova system.
“But both teams have a lot of shooting. Both teams, I’d say, don’t have that like 7-foot big man like the rest of the Big Ten has. They have really good talent, really good shooting, and can really space the floor.”
