Historic Win for Michigan Officially Catapults Wolverines out of Rebuilding Mode

Plain and simple—a historic win. Michigan 81, Duke 73—Dec. 5, 2008.

Michigan fans, welcome back to a basketball program that is on its way up.

The Wolverines have two huge wins this year over top five teams UCLA and Duke. This Michigan program hasn't beat Duke since December of 1997. It's finally time to get excited about basketball again.

The history books have wiped out the Fab Five and Robert Traylor has turned to a life of crime.

But Michigan now has one of the best college coaches in the sport. Yes, a man that knows how to motivate, make adjustments, run a complicated offense/defense, and knows how to use his personnel.

When was the last time, as a Michigan fan, you could sit back in your chair and know that the Michigan coach was one of the best in the business? It's been a very long time! John Beilein is one of the top 10 coaches in the business, and he might even be in the top five.

What an effort today from the entire team. DeShawn Sims was crazy good and played the best game of his career with 28 points. Manny Harris scored 17 points and Zack Novak added 14 on four three-pointers for Michigan. All three guys hit huge, timely baskets that lifted the team in the second half.

Kelvin Grady should also be recognized for taking care of the ball and showing quickness and speed getting the ball up the court. The entire team shot well from the free throw line, going 16-of-20.

This team is young, full of energy and talent. There will be nights when they make freshman mistakes and lose a game they shouldn't but there will be other nights like tonight when they can compete and even beat one of the best teams in the country. In a week, where Michigan State got blown out by North Carolina and coming off a 3-9 football season, this feels pretty good.

This team is going to be fun to watch all year. This is a great example of when you mix great coaching with talented players that want to learn a system they can win and compete at all levels. We all should take a lesson on whats going on at Crisler this year, because the same thing will be coming to Michigan Stadium in the next few years.

Update on potential transfers per football coach Rich Rodriguez today:

• Sam McGuffie is considering a transfer but is still enrolled at Michigan and will finish the semester before he makes a decision.
• Carson Butler is looking into the NFL.
• Avery Horn is also considering a transfer.