This afternoon: Greet the Michigan basketball team as it returns from Atlanta after championship loss
Fans greet the Final Four-bound Michigan basketball team on April 1.
Although the players aren't coming home national champions, they're the first Michigan team in 20 years to advance to the championship game.
Fans packed Crisler Center April 8 to cheer for Michigan's basketball team as it vied for the national title— and fell to Louisville.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
The team is expected to arrive at Crisler Center sometime after 3:45 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m.
Staff will be updating their arrival status on the basketball team's Facebook and Twitter pages.
Roughly 350 people turned out to greet the basketball team April 1, after the Wolverines beat Florida in Arlington, Texas, and advanced to the Final Four.
According to Dave Ablauf, an associate athletic director, there won't be a public celebration for the team. The university was planning to throw a parade for the team if they won the national title.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
MjC
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.
Good show of support from fans considering it was the middle of a work day and there are many classes held on Tuesday afternoons. The team looked a bit sad but what a GREAT group of young men they all are! So proud of this team and they should be proud too... GO BLUE!
A2Kimmie
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 9 p.m.
We were there to support :) Go Blue! Go VARSITY !!! www.varsityannarbor.com
Honest Abe
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.
Nothing was rigged. The officials did their jobs! UM LOST! Period!
djacks24
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
The real celebration will be in Louisville!
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:08 p.m.
its obvious the referees bet on louisville.from that first no call for goaltending early on THE FIX WAS ON thruout the entire game.
whojix
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:10 p.m.
Agreed, it was particularly obvious when Michigan was in the double bonus halfway through the 2nd and only had 4 called against them....
Honest Abe
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
Thx a lot fellow students and fans! Your mini riots are appreciated and show true class! I'm even more not surprised that A2.com did not write one article about it either! Don't wanna tarnish precious UM/Ann arbor!!
Honest Abe
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
Cole- Nice try. Still, nothing is written and published for view when you visit a2.com/mlive. Sure I see the coverage you referred to....with a magnifying glass and blood hound, I finally found something.
Cole Bertsos
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 5:55 p.m.
Honest Abe- Actually, we did spend a good amount of time last night going to and covering the various fires set throughout town. For more info and to see our coverage, see this link: http://bit.ly/aadc-nccfire
Tom Joad
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 5:11 p.m.
Michigan dominated the first half with Spike Albrecht's command performance but true-to-form they sputtered out, even before the first half was over. There was only one guy on that team who wanted to win....
meddler76
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
Troll.
81wolverine
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 7:20 p.m.
Seriously? Nothing like finding a black lining in an otherwise silver cloud. "True to form" is completely illogical given what happend in the previous 3 tournament games.
MRunner73
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:18 p.m.
Great support for the team by the fans. The overall feeling is a strong sense of pride for these players and coaches for they achieved this season.
Milton Shift
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
I like this idea - it must be tough "letting down" your city by having a national title slip away, and I've heard stories about players hiding in their dorms for months after losses like this one. Let them know that there is no need or reason to feel ashamed about one loss after such a great season!
Miranda Messer
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 3:58 p.m.
Why aren't you going to have a public celebration and still throw a parade???? Just because they weren't recognized as the "National" Champions, they are still recognized as "OUR CHAMPIONS" and I think the University of Michigan and the City of Ann Arbor should still honor them. They fought hard and gave the Nation one of the best National Championship games ever. They should still be publicly honored for not only what they did in the Championship Game, but what they accomplished and how hard they fought to get there. DON'T ALL OF YOU MICHIGAN FANS AGREE????
Jello Biafra
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
This is all that is wrong with America. Not everyone gets a ribbon or a trophy in the real world. Get used to it.
mstairs
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
Remember how Massachusetts held a parade for Mitt Romney last fall after the election? You know, 'cause he fought hard? That was special.
MRunner73
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
Yes, it is hard to argue. The basketball players and coaches worked harder than we can even imagine. It would be safe to say that those same players and coaches have a very hollow feeling for not winning last night's game so they would not be comfortable celebrating finishing second best. Just know that more banners will go up at Crisler Center for the Final Four and Championship game appearances. GO BLUE!!
djacks24
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
I guess you've never been in a competition where you came so close, but didn't quite get the prize. They will be living with this loss for the rest of their lives. Athletes at that level can't just try to turn it around and "look at the bright side". Yes, they will get on with their lives and maybe win other championships in professional sports, yet this one will still haunt them. I imagine a welcome back will be sufficient. But I doubt they will be feeling up to a victors parade when they are not feeling like victors.
whojix
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
Parades are for winners
Ben Freed
Tue, Apr 9, 2013 : 3:52 p.m.
The crowd that greeted the team when the returned from their Sweet 16 and Elite 8 victories in Dallas was great. I hope this one will be even better.