The NCAA Tournament History Of The Michigan Wolverines

If you look at the recent history from 2010 to now, Michigan basketball has been one of the more successful Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament. In the history of their program, they have reached the NCAA Tournament 27 times (4 vacated by the NCAA).

Let's take a look at some of the history of Michigan basketball.

Very Old History (1968-1980)

Johnny Orr took the head coaching job in 1968 and he went on quite a run. In twelve seasons, his teams earned four consecutive NCAA selections from 1974–77. Orr’s 1973–74 team made it to the Elite Eight, losing to Marquette for a Final Four bid. The 1974-75 team lost to UCLA in the first-round.

In 1976, Michigan was the NCAA tournament runner-up, losing to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. The 1976-77 team lost in the Elite Eight against Charlotte. Orr is the second-most winningest coach in Michigan history with 209 wins and 113 losses.

Old History (1989-1997)

After interim head coach Steve Fisher led the Wolverines to their first NCAA Championship over Seton Hall, he assumed the full-time coaching position immediately in the 1989-1990 season. In his third season as head coach, Fisher signed the most famous recruiting class known as the Fab Five: Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson.

Fisher and company would go on to appear in the NCAA championship game twice as freshmen and sophomores. Losing to Duke in 1992 and North Carolina in 1993. The following year, Michigan led by Jalen Rose, made it to the Elite Eight, losing to Arkansas for a Final Four bid. Unfortunately for Fisher, many of his accomplishments were blemished by NCAA sanctions. He ultimately left the job due to NCAA sanctions and the Ed Martin - Chris Webber scandal.

Recent History (2007-Present)

Enter John Beilein in 2007. Beilein has been Michigan’s most consistent on making to the Big Dance. It all started when he led Michigan to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, its first appearance since 1998.

Beilein made a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2011. And in the following 2011-12 season the Wolverines made another appearance in the NCAA’s. Unfortunately, all three of those teams never made it past the first weekend of the tournament.

The next season in 2012-13 was great one for Michigan fans. The team made program history, starting the season with a 21–2 record. The Wolverines carried over their regular season success into the postseason, making their first Final Four appearance since the 1992–93 season. The Wolverines then defeated Syracuse in Final Four, but came up short in the National Championship game, losing to Louisville.

Skip a few years ahead to this season. Last week, Beilein became the winningest coach in school history. Beilein passed Johnny Orr with his 210th win against Illinois on March 9 in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan went on to win the tournament, winning four games in four days. Now the team will get another shot at making a run at claiming the program’s second National Title.