michbball

When Rumeal Robinson stepped up to the free throw line with :03 remaining in the 1989 national championship game, only one thing ran through his mind. Redemption. In a similar situation earlier in the season against Wisconsin, he missed two free throws with :07 left when the Wolverines were trailing by one and the Badgers would win that game. However, he sunk the two free throws to give the Wolverines an 80-79 OT win over Seton Hall and their only basketball national championship thus far in the history of the school. The five starters of the '89 team were Sean Higgins, Terry Mills, Rumeal Robinson, Glen Rice, and Loy Vaught. Those five won the two greatest Michigan basketball games ever and they were both in that '89 final four. The first was their 83-81 win over the favored Illini and then the win over Seton Hall.

The Fab Five was undoubtedly the greatest recruited class in the history of college basketball. Jimmy King, Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, and Juwan Howard made up the Fab Five. In the short two years of the Fab Five, Michigan went to two national championship games and won the hearts of Michigan fans everywhere. Their baggy shorts, black socks, and black shoes became a trademark for basketball players worldwide and it perfectly resembled their flamboyant style in which they played. The Fab Five won many great games including wins over Temple, Cincinnati, UCLA, and Kentucky in the tournaments of '92 and '93 and many wins over tough Big Ten teams. The UCLA game especially stands out because of the 19 point deficit the Wolverines had to overcome in that game to win. The win over Kentucky in the '93 Final Four would be the last win for the Fab Five together. Chris Webber left after the '93 season and now plays for the Sacramento Kings. Juwan Howard left after the '93 season as well and now plays for the Washington Wizards. Jalen Rose left after the '94 season and currently is an Indiana Pacer. Ray Jackson stayed all four years leaving after the '95 season, won the CBA Rookie of The Year in '96 but never played in the NBA. Jimmy King also stayed all four years leaving after the '95 season, played two years for the Toronto Raptors, and in the CBA won the MVP award in '98. Steve Fischer, the coach of the Fab Five, no longer is at Michigan where Brian Ellerbe is the current coach.