Wolverines Set to Host Toledo in Opening Round of NIT
3/12/2023 10:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• NIT Central | Bracket (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After receiving and accepting a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, the No. 3-seeded University of Michigan men's basketball program will host Mid-American Conference regular-season champion Toledo on Tuesday (March 14) in the first round at Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start with the game broadcast live on ESPN2.
If the Wolverines advance, they would face the winner of the No. 2 seed Vanderbilt vs. Yale game either on Saturday (March 18) or Sunday (March 19). In the top half of the bracket, No. 1 Clemson takes on Morehead State Wednesday (March 15), while No. 4 seed UAB takes on Southern Miss on Tuesday (March 14).
Michigan is making its first trip back to the NIT since 2007 and carries a 25-7 (20-7*) all-time record. In 10 prior trips, the Wolverines have won titles in 1984, 1997* and 2004. They were the runner-up in 2006.
The first three rounds of the NIT will be played at campus sites, while the semifinals and championship move away from Madison Square Garden (MSG) and will be hosted by UNLV and played in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Orleans Arena. The semifinals will be played on Tuesday (March 28), while the championship game will be Thursday (March 30) at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Wolverines and Rockets have had one meeting in the NIT. Hosting Toledo in the second round on March 15, 1981, U-M advanced after an 80-68 win. Michigan was led by Mike McGee's 25 points and Joe Johnson's 22 as the duo combined for 22 of U-M's 36 field goals. Toledo was led by Harvey Knuckles' 27-point, seven-rebound effort. Overall, U-M is 14-8 all-time against Toledo.
Heading into the NIT, Michigan is 17-15 overall this season while finishing with an 11-9 Big Ten record. The Maize and Blue was led by an All-Big Ten trio of Wolverines throughout the season. For the third straight season, Hunter Dickinson, who was All-Big Ten first team (media) and second team (coaches), leads U-M in scoring (18.4 points per game) and rebounding (9.0 rebounds per game), while adding a team-best 13 double-doubles and a team-best 57 blocks -- his first career 50-plus block season.
In addition to Dickinson, Jett Howard, who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, leads the Wolverines with 78 three-pointers while averaging 14.2 points per game. Kobe Bufkin has had a breakout season, averaging 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while leading U-M with 42 steals. Both Howard and Bufkin were All-Big Ten third teamers (coaches) and honorable mention (media).
Wolverine Quotes
David and Meredith Kaplan U-M Men's Basketball Coach Juwan Howard
"Being able to coach this team again means a great deal. We get a chance to play for a championship. That means something. These guys have put their hearts and souls into this year despite all the adversity. This team has grown throughout the year, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to suit up and compete again."
Junior center Hunter Dickinson
"We weren't able to reach one of our goals and play in the NCAA Tournament. However, we have another chance to get out there. So many different things have happened to us this year, but we never put our heads down. The guys in that locker room are special and they know how much this means. Not only to ourselves but to our fans as well. We are competitors. We have a chance to play for something and we will go after it."
Graduate transfer guard Joey Baker
"Any time you have a chance to keep playing, it is something you want to embrace and be thankful for. We have a chance to play for a championship. Knowing these guys, we are going to compete and fight to get that. We feel we are not done yet and look forward to continuing our season in the NIT."
Sophomore guard Jace Howard
"At the beginning of each season, we have goals. Yes, we did not reach them, but we have a chance to change that. Some teams don't have that chance. We do. We are still hungry. We have, and have had, the right mindset to go out there and give it everything we have. Being able to play with my brothers again means a lot."
Ticket Information
Tickets for Michigan's NIT first-round game will go on sale to the public starting Monday (March 13) at 5 p.m. Season ticket holders and students should check their email for priority ticket access. Lower-level tickets will be $25 for fans and student tickets will be $10.
