Updates from the AD

March is an exciting time for Big Ten and NCAA Championship competition. Congratulations to our student-athletes who have represented the University of Michigan at these prestigious events already—and to those preparing to compete in the weeks ahead.

 

Today is Giving Blueday, and I hope you’ll consider supporting our 29 varsity programs as they continue to excel in competition and in the classroom. As a loyal supporter of Michigan Athletics, you can celebrate your Maize and Blue spirit with a gift — donations of $150 or more will receive an exclusive rally towel. Thank you for helping Michigan Athletics continue to strive for championships in every sport.

 

Our men’s basketball team earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament following a record-setting regular season (31–3 overall, 19–1 in Big Ten play). Dusty May and our Big Ten Champions will open in Buffalo, New York, against No. 16 seed Howard. With a victory, the Wolverines would advance to face the winner of No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis. The team followed its Big Ten regular-season championship with a runner-up finish in the conference tournament.

 

It’s an equally exciting moment for our women’s basketball program, which will host first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games at Crisler Center this week. Kim Barnes Arico and the Wolverines earned a No. 2 seed in Region 3 (Fort Worth bracket), the highest seed in program history, and will face No. 15 Holy Cross on Friday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m. With a win, Michigan will play the winner of No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee. Tickets are available through the U-M Ticket Office.

 

On Saturday, March 21, Yost Ice Arena will host a marquee matchup as our top-ranked Wolverines play Ohio State for the Big Ten Tournament title at 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. The No. 2 seed in the tournament, Michigan advanced with wins over Notre Dame (6–1) and Penn State (5–2) to earn the right to host the championship game.

 

Three additional programs will pursue team and individual national honors in the coming weeks. Wrestling will send six qualifiers to the NCAA Championships, March 19-21, in Cleveland. Women’s swimming and diving — fresh off a Big Ten championship — will send 11 athletes to the NCAA Championships beginning today (March 18) in Atlanta, while the men’s team will send seven swimmers to the NCAA meet starting Wednesday, March 25.

 

Women’s gymnastics earned a spot in the third session of the Big Ten Championships and will compete Saturday, March 21, at 5 p.m. CT in Champaign, Illinois, alongside Michigan State, Minnesota, and UCLA. The meet will air live on Big Ten Network.

 

Finally, congratulations to the 96 student-athletes from eight winter sports who earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition. Their excellence in the classroom is a point of pride for all of us.

 

It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine! Our athletic department and especially our student-athletes could not achieve the great success in the classroom and in our sports without our alumni, donors and fans.  We appreciate all you have done and need your continued support now more than ever to continue the championship-level performances that have defined our legacy.

 

Go Blue!