Michigan Upsets North Carolina and Gonzaga to Win Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament

Heading into the 2019-20 college basketball season, Michigan was not listed in either the AP or Coaches Preseason Top 25 polls, and was generally viewed as a middle of the pack team in the Big Ten and perhaps a one and done team in the NCAA Tournament. Highly successful coach John Beilein, who took the Wolverines to two NCAA Final Fours (2013 and 2018) departed in the off season to take over as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was replaced by Juwan Howard, who played on Michigan’s 1989 NCAA Champions, and had a long career in the NBA as a player and assistant coach, though this is his first coaching stint of any kind in college basketball. Howard did add ex Saint Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli, winner of 444 games in 24 years at St. Joe’s, as an assistant, but coaching changes always bring uncertainty in the new coach’s first season.

Michigan won its first four games of the season before playing in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas November 27th-29th. The eight team field included four teams in the Top 25. Michigan defeated unranked Iowa State 83-76 in its first game. Next, the Wolverines faced #6 North Carolina. The Wolverines led 39-34 at halftime, and put the game away when they scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to take a 24 point lead on the way to a 73-64 victory over the Tar Heels.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qSSedB4ZPKE

Michigan would have to beat a second top ten team, #8 Gonzaga, to win the tournament. The Wolverines again had a halftime lead (36-25), but Gonzaga closed to within two at 38-36 before Michigan again put out a burst of offense to pull away for an 82-64 win.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AjXJXxZA5XU

The Wolverines face another huge test when they are next in action on December 3rd. Michigan plays at #2 Louisville (7-0) in the ACC Big Ten Challenge.