2013 team reminisces on legendary March Madness run

Tim Hardaway Jr. hadn’t been back to Crisler Center since the 2018-19 season. So Saturday afternoon, on his ride to Ann Arbor from the airport, Hardaway wore an irresistible smile.

“Ear-to-ear,” Hardaway said, still grinning.

Saturday, Michigan celebrated the tenth anniversary of the 2013 team, which made a magical run through the NCAA Tournament before falling in the national championship game to Louisville. After a special tribute video aired on the jumbotron, players, coaches and staff members from that team were introduced at halftime of Saturday’s Michigan-Michigan State game.

Before the game, Hardaway, Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas and John Beilein sat side-by-side in the Crisler Center media room, laughing and reminiscing about that one legendary season.

“When you’re in it,” Burke said, “you don’t really recognize how great you have something.”

Together, they cycled through memories and stories. Beilein chuckled as Burke re-lived his fabled shot against Kansas as if it happened yesterday; Burke recalled the crucial missed free throw by Elijah Johnson that enabled his game-tying heroics, referring to the gaffe as a “Christmas present.”

Later, Beilein brought up Burke’s infamous “block” against Louisville. A reporter jokingly interrupted, asking if Beilein was referring to Burke’s foul. Everyone laughed. But Burke had to get the last word, smiling and bowing his head closer to the microphone: “Block.”