Three years before the Fab Five, Steve Fisher (now coaching at San Diego State) took over as an interim head coach for the 1989 NCAA tournament. As underdogs he led Michigan …show more content…
The projected championship game was #1 Kentucky and #2 Michigan. Before that Michigan, “... earned a one seed. The road back to the final four was a bumpy one” (Hehir). The Fab Five won their first round game against less athletic Coastal Carolina 84-53. Next up, was 9 seed UCLA. Michigan found itself in deep trouble down 52-39 at halftime. Early in the second half, Michigan was down 17, and all hopes of a title seemed out of reach. The Fab Five being The Fab Five rallied back to force overtime. Michigan pulled out a nail-biter 86-84. “Let’s not do that again” (Webber). None of the Michigan players wanted another close game. Next, Michigan caught a break. Instead of playing the 4-seed Georgia Tech or the 5-seed New Mexico, they got to play a less talented George Washington who upset New Mexico. Michigan cruised by George Washington 72-64. Michigan caught a couple more breaks. A 15-seed Santa Clara upset a 2-seed Arizona, who was a big threat to Michigan. Then, 7-seed Temple upset another threat to Michigan, 3-seed Vanderbilt. In the Elite Eight Michigan played a 7-seed Temple. Michigan was one win away from getting to the Final Four for the second straight year. Michigan was down 35-27 heading into the 15 minute break. The Fab Five rallied again and won 77-72, earning themselves a ticket to New Orleans for the Final Four. Michigan ended up playing the favorites to win the NCAA tournament, Kentucky. (Hehir). Michigan squeezed by Kentucky 81-78 and had another chance at a national championship, against North Carolina. We thought we got the hard part done with, beating Kentucky, and now all we had to do was win one more time. (Jackson). “Early on North Carolina outmuscled Michigan” (Hehir). “At the break the Tar Heels led by 6” (Hehir). Down by 1, “With 46 seconds to go Michigan took their last timeout” (Hehir). Michigan