Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
What a week for Juwan Howard and Michigan.
The unranked Wolverines came into the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis as somewhat of an afterthought in a stacked field that also included top-10 teams North Carolina and Gonzaga, plus No. 11 Oregon and No. 13 Seton Hall. With Iowa State, Alabama and Southern Miss rounding out the bracket, it was widely considered the best of this year's Thanksgiving week tournaments.
Many expected to see the Tar Heels in the final taking on one of Gonzaga, Oregon or Seton Hall, but Michigan crashed that party by beating the Cyclones in the quarterfinal before dispatching UNC in the semis in a game the Wolverines led by as many as 24.