Let's go back to 1929 and the game between Michigan and Minnesota that season.  Up for auction is a medal attached to a pin, celebrating the November 16, 1929 homecoming battle that took place in Minneapolis.  Here’s a look

If you watched Sunday’s broadcast of the North Carolina-Duke game, you might have noticed a familiar face behind the bench.  Seated in the prime seats was none other than Juwan ‘Big Nook’ Howard of your Fab Five.  I’m not sure exactly why he was there, but he plays for the Charlotte Bobcats so it wasn’t much of a trip to get there. The CBS cameras panned to someone else but the unmistakable mug of Juwan was in clear sight: Howard knows these teams pretty well of course, playing (and losing) in the NCAA finals to Duke as freshman then to North Carolina as sophomores.  I was at the latter, sitting about 20 rows behind the bench as UNC’s Donald Williams rained down threes the whole game and Chris Webber painfully called the timeout. If you are staring blankly at the Big Nook reference, it was Juwan’s nickname (at least in college).  I don’t know if he got it at Michigan or before, but it’s what they used to flash on the Crisler scoreboard during introductions and when the big fella made a nice play. They worked up scoreboard aliases for the rest of the Fab Five too, thanks to Rosey and Sarin for bringing these back: Jalen Rose was “Jinx” Jimmy King was “Jim-Jam” Chris Webber was “Truth” Ray Jackson…

John Beilein accepts the Little Brown Jug A great second half comeback over Minnesota to make a strong case for the tournament.  Like I’ve done a few times this season, I pretty much conceded that it wasn’t going to happen and then, thanks to a few quick baskets by LLP midway through the half, there was some light.   That was enough Harris, Peedi and the crew to bring it home. Knowing this team, they’ll lose in the first round of the Big Ten tournament and leave us on pins and needles on Selection Sunday. Related: Bill Martin, Don’t Get any Ideas

Yikes: The Horror: Related: Get Some!  Michigan beats Minnesota

Check out this postcard commemorating the October 19, 1907 game against Wabash College played in Indianapolis. Bidding started at $24.99 and had 1 bid at the time of this post.  Here's a look:

So the common thing people want to know is what it will take for Michigan to get in.   I think the consensus right now is Michigan will need to beat Minnesota (given) and also win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to put themselves in position.  From there it’ll depend on what happens in the conference tournaments. I asked Pete Tiernan of the great bracketscience.com for his take.  Recall from my interview with Tiernan earlier this year that his dad ‘Boom Boom’ Tiernan played Michigan hoops in the 1950s.   Here’s what he emailed me earlier this week: “They must beat Minnesota and they must win at least their first tourney game…and maybe their second, which could be against MSU.” “If they lose to Minnesota, they’ll have to get to the Big Ten finals.” “I don’t think there’s any way they get in with a Minnesota win and no Big Ten win. Despite our three good wins and nice UConn loss, an 18-13 record, sub-.500 conference record (including a tourney loss), and all the other bubble teams would seem to me to crowd UM out. Too bad they just couldn’t get it done versus Wisconsin.”

Just an excellent call by Red Berenson into Jeff DeFran’s version of the ‘The Big Show’ on WTKA. I don’t care if you think hockey is lame, you’ve got to enjoy listening to this man. [display_podcast] He discusses: His recent contract extension When he’ll know it’s time to retire (and he hopes it’s not next year) On the struggles and doubts he faced during his first few years at the helm in Ann Arbor On the Cold War II game and how exciting it is for the coaches and players, especially for him as a guy who grew up on the ponds in Canada. On how proud he is of so many of his former players, on what they are doing now and the importance of completing and continuing their education.