Simpson, Teske Lead U-M One Last Time in Reacting to Season Cancellation
3/12/2020 9:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Features
• COVID-19 Updates: Remainder of Winter and Spring Sports Seasons Canceled
• Big Ten Cancels Remainder of Men's Basketball Tournament
By Steve Kornacki
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- It had been a head-spinning day. The University of Michigan men's basketball team was warming up less than 20 minutes before Thursday's (March 12) scheduled noon tipoff here when they were instructed to head for the locker room to be told the Big Ten men's tournament had just been canceled. Wolverine athletic director Warde Manuel and Coach Juwan Howard both addressed them on the unfortunate news.
Then, simultaneous with the Wolverines boarding a team bus at 4:30 p.m. for the four-hour ride back to Ann Arbor, NCAA president Mark Emmert announced that the men's and women's 2020 national tournaments were off. "The Dance" had been canceled one day after the World Health Organization declared a coronavirus pandemic and two members of the NBA's Utah Jazz, along with many nationwide, had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
So, the college careers of Wolverine co-captains Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske are over, just like that.
"I was disappointed on the inside," Simpson said. "But, then again, I have to understand that it's not just for myself or the NCAA Tournament or the Big Ten Tournament or the pro players, it's about a worldwide health issue to keep people safe.
"So, I'm pretty emotional, pretty hurt, but then again it was done for a different reason -- to make sure the world is more safe, which is more important."
Simpson had been eating and speaking with teammates and friends in a hotel lunch spot. Teske was there with him, but earlier he'd spoken about learning of the cancellation while sitting on a couch with his family in the lobby of the downtown hotel.
"It was kind of weird hearing the news at first because all of our parents were coming in to watch us play," said Teske, noting that family members were the only non-media or team personnel being allowed into Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "They told us to get off the court and then Warde came in and told us that they had canceled the tournament.
"So, I'm very disappointed and still kind of thinking about things. But the one thing is, it has to be safety first, and we just care about everybody's safety. And we're disappointed, but it's bigger than basketball right now. So, we want to be on the cautious side."
Simpson
Simpson had an outside shot at breaking Michigan's career assist record of 731 set 32 years ago by All-American Gary Grant, and finishes second with 667. But it wasn't that opportunity that fueled the fiery point guard heading into March Madness. He wanted to feel winning in the postseason one last time.
"That's what was crazy about it -- knowing we've played our last games after going into these games wanting to finish the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament with a good chance of winning," said Simpson. "But it's better for this world to be safe. I feel it's best, if it's spreading the way it is now with the way things are now.
"I wished I could've experienced it (the postseason) again, but I have to put my pride aside and not be selfish in today's world. And Coach Howard delivered a good message when we were in the locker room that was incredible. He addressed all the things we'd been through this year (in a 19-12 season). He said something special about every player to uplift our spirits, and he told me I was a 'phenomenal leader' and it was amazing to hear something like that from him. He'd been a leader in college (with Michigan's Fab Five) and been in my shoes, and to hear that from a coach of that caliber was special.
"Everything he said from A to Z was amazing, and so it was good to end on a pleasant note."
The flames from a long gas fireplace flickered in the background as the families gathered together and soft pop played in the lobby. Parents and siblings consoled the Wolverines and got in a few hours of family time before the team bus went one way and the families went another.
Franz Wagner's parents, Beate Wagner and Axel Schulz, had flown from Berlin, Germany, last week to see their oldest son, Moritz Wagner, play for the NBA's Washington Wizards as well as seeing Michigan's regular-season finale at Maryland. They rented a car Wednesday and drove to Indianapolis.
They had planned to stay well into the NCAA Tournament, and Axel said he was hoping Michigan got sent to Tampa, where they could enjoy the games and a Florida vacation.
"Now we have to decide to fly back to Berlin," said Beate. "If we don't leave now, maybe we will have to stay here. We have to get organized."
Beate, who attended both of her older son's Big Ten championship runs in Washington, D.C., and New York, cried while hugging Franz in the hotel lobby.
"I thought I was going to see him this weekend and then next weekend," said his mother. "That's why I cried. I hope we can make it back for the Big Ten Tournament next year (in Chicago). I'm looking forward to next year (smiling wide)."
"But right now I'm so sad for the boys. They work hard for this -- the Big Ten and the NCAA tournaments."
It will go down as permanently unfinished business.
Franz said, "It's just crazy. I'm pretty sorry for our seniors. It was a situation I was very excited for with all the games coming up, but I mostly feel bad for the seniors."
His father wore a blue T-shirt with a maize message:
WINNER
STAYS
M
"It's from the Final Four in San Antonio," said Axel, whose son was the biggest star of that Michigan team in 2018.
Their father pursed his lips, forced a smile, and said, "But there will be no winner here this year."
Michigan center Jon Teske's parents, Julie and Ben, and sister, Abby (right)
Teske's parents, Ben and Julie, posed with his youngest sister, Abby, around a Big Ten Tournament bracket just off the lobby.
"I'm really tempted to take the 'MICHIGAN' and move it here," said his father, smiling and pointing to the line reserved for the champion that was to be crowned Sunday.
Still, Ben completely understood.
"There's such a tidal wave right now of shutting everything down," said Ben. "The guys are all obviously disappointed, and nobody saw this coming. So, there was a little bit of shock at first to work through. I'm not sure it's all the way set in yet. Over the next couple weeks, when they'd normally be traveling and playing, that's when it will set in, just what happened."
Shane Bajema, the father of Wolverine freshman guard Cole Bajema, was seated with Wagner's parents. Their sons are roommates who've become close friends, and their parents all noted how special it was to meet one another for the first time and talk.
"The momentum for this has been taking off," said Shane. "We don't live in Seattle, but two hours away in Lynden, Washington, where there are no outbreaks. But I'm most sad for the boys, mostly for the seniors and the culmination of their careers. Our sons are both freshmen, and they'll recover.
"This is a very strange time. The hard part is, you can ask all the questions you want, but you don't know answers. The guys have worked so hard for this time of the year, and people don't understand how hard they work every day. Here, they were playing for this season, and the evaporation of that is inexplicable. It's just never happened before. So, how do you ... everybody's just processing it.
"But we're all in this together and we're not stressing or afraid of anything, just looking forward to what's next. How do they finish up school (this semester)?
Howard and Manuel set the proper tone from the instant news broke on the cancellations.
Manuel told MGoBlue.com: "It's never easy to talk to kids about the tournament ending. However, what I said to them is that it's about the safety of all of you and everyone involved, including our fans. We're always going to have that as a priority over competing, and winning or losing. This is bigger than that. It's about life.
"And it's the toughest thing that I've ever had to deal with as an administrator or a person in my life. You try to make decisions on what to do because there are so many unknowns. This is wordwide; it's not just an issue around Michigan or the Big Ten. This is an issue for America and the rest of the world, and so we have to put the competition into perspective today. I told them all to take care of themselves and to let us know if they're feeling any symptoms or feeling sick at all, and we'll take care of them.
"I love playing games, and I love watching big games, but this is not about a game."
Howard said in a statement: "Some things are bigger than basketball. This is a global situation and we need to make sure we follow the guidance and direction of the experts and health officials. While we are disappointed of not being able to play this event -- especially for Zavier and Jon. We need to stay bonded together during this time. We want everyone to stay safe and take precautions to protect yourselves and loved ones. We are a Michigan family ... forever."
Simpson and Teske will have to settle for two Big Ten Tournament championships and one trip to the Final Four, where they lost the title game to Villanova after beating Loyola-Chicago.
That duo from Ohio went 10-1 in the conference tourney, reaching three championship games, while winning 108 overall games -- four more than any other Wolverines can claim. They didn't get to add any more wins or titles, but they did get to lead their team one more time after absorbing some bad news, and both showed the way once again.
