Dating back as far as the Players Era Festival in November,Michigan men's basketballhas been one of the top programs in the country for a majority of the season.
The Wolverinesstrengthened that claim by rolling past their four opponents in the first two weekends of the Men's NCAA Tournament, highlighted by acolossal 33-point win over No. 6 Tennessee in the Elite Eightthat came off from a 27-point performance from Yaxel Lendeborg.
So, is this the year that the Wolverines get over the hump and the season-long mission of being national champions with two wins at the Final Four?
Final Four odds:Expert picks to win March Madness
On part, because of its depth, experience and physicality inside the paint, Michigan has as good a chance as any of the four teams in Indianapolis to do that.Oddsmakers agree.
To get to their first national championship celebration since 1989, though, Dusty May's squad must get through a challenging No. 1 Arizona team with just as high a ceiling as Michigan and which brings as much physicality and presence around the rim as the Wolverines do.
Here's what to know on Michigan's history in the Final Four:
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When was the last time Michigan went to Final Four?
It has been eight years since the Wolverines last reached the Final Four in 2018.
See the best photos of Michigan basketball's run to 2026 Final Four
Michigan basketball Final Four history
Michigan is making the ninth Final Four appearance in program history, but only seven of those are recognized by the NCAA after the Wolverines vacated appearances in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons due to improper benefits paid by a booster to players.
Here's a breakdown of how Michigan has fared in the Final Four:
1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; lost third place game to Kansas State, 100-90
1965: won semifinal vs. Princeton, 94-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80
1976: won semifinal vs. Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68
1989: won semifinal vs. Illinois, 83-81; won final vs. Seton Hall, 80-79
1992: won semifinal vs. Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51 *
1993: won semifinal vs. North Carolina, 81-78; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71 *
2013: won semifinal vs. Syracuse, 61-55; lost final to Louisville, 82-76
2018: won semifinal vs. Loyola-Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62
* Denotes vacated Final Four appearances
Michigan basketball Final Four record
The Wolverines are an official 5-1 in the Final Four in their six previous trips that are recognized by the NCAA. Michigan's lone loss in the Final Four came in 1964 when Dave Strack was the head coach, and the Wolverines finished as the co-champions of the Big Ten conference.
Michigan's last trip to the Final Four came in 2018 when it stopped Cinderella sweethearts Loyola-Chicago's (with viral sensation and legend Sister Jean) run in March Madness in the national semifinals. The Wolverines would then see their run come to an end in the national title game when it ran into the buzz saw of Villanova.
Has Michigan won a Men's NCAA Tournament national championship?
Yes, Michigan men's basketball has won the national championship once in program history, coming in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. To win the national championship that season, the Wolverines — the No. 3 seed in the Southeast Region — defeated No. 3 seed Seton Hall in a one-possession, overtime game thanks to 31 points from Glen Rice and 21 points from Rumeal Robinson.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How many Final Fours does Michigan have? March Madness history
