Hundreds gather to welcome back UM team after clinching NCAA title
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Ann Arbor — The University of Michigan's championship-winning men's basketball team got a hero's welcome as they returned to Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena Tuesday afternoon, greeted by hundreds of fans.
About 200 people of all ages gathered to greet the team as they returned from Indianapolis. Most of them were decked out in blue and maize. One fan raised a flag; another held a sign that said “Morez 4 Prez," referring to UM forward Morez Johnson Jr.
"You guys are amazing," said Coach Dusty May when the team finally appeared before the crowd. "You made this year very, very special for me and for us."
Diane Gross, 66, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1981 and was among the crowd who greeted the team. She was in town from Fort Collins, Colo. on Tuesday to visit her mother and decided to welcome the team home with the rest of the fans.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Gross, who watched the Wolverines win the 1989 title. “We love the ‘89 team, but we’re happy to have a new team.”
The players and coaches emerged on top of the roof between the football stadium and Crisler Arena around 3:30 p.m. to cheers from the crowd. Some addressed the crowd. One player, L.J. Cason, wore what appeared to be ski goggles as he held the championship trophy.
“Thank you for supporting us all these years,” said guard Nimari Burnett. “You guys made my time here so, so special. I cry just because I’m so grateful to share this with you.”
The Wolverines defeated the UConn Huskies 69-63 on Monday in Indianapolis to win the university's first national title in 37 years. In Ann Arbor, thousands of fans poured into the streets to celebrate after the game, some climbing on trees or hanging on light poles.
Sophia Liao, 19, a UM freshman, was also among the crowd that waited Tuesday afternoon to welcome back the team. She and her friends made the last-minute decision on Monday to go see the team play in Indianapolis.
“It was totally worth it, just being able to witness history for our school,” said Liao.
As she waited for the team's bus, Liao said she was hoping to take pictures with the players and congratulate them in person. She said it means more than posting support online.
Even though it’s only Liao’s first year at the university, she said the championship was “the highlight of my four years.”
“I don’t know if anything is going to top last night, but I hope there will be more championships,” Liao said.
Cory Price of Canton is 38 — almost as many years as it’s been since Michigan last won the championship.
“My dad is a fan, so just naturally, I became a fan,” he said.
Price said Monday night and Tuesday have been “a lot to take in.”
“It seems like you only get this once in a lifetime, maybe twice in a lifetime if you’re lucky … those guys worked hard, and it’s cool to support them,” he said.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: UM men's basketball team gets jubilant welcome in Ann Arbor