Michigan Basketball Poised for 'Dynasty-Building Time'

Former Wolverine Terry Mills shares wisdom with current team ahead of championship game

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:17pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of maize, blue, and red, conceptually representing the fractured perspectives and energy of a championship-level college basketball contest.A former Wolverine's words of wisdom inspire the current Michigan basketball team as they seek to end a 35-year national championship drought.Indianapolis Today

As the Michigan basketball team prepared for the national championship game, former Wolverine Terry Mills, a star of the 1989 title-winning squad, was invited by head coach Dusty May to speak to the current players. Mills shared his experiences and offered words of encouragement, telling the team 'You guys have made me proud. Let's go out and finish the deal.'

Why it matters

Michigan basketball is on the cusp of winning its first national championship since 1989, a span of over 35 years. The program is looking to establish a new dynasty, and having a connection to the last title-winning team provides valuable perspective and inspiration for the current players.

The details

Ahead of the national championship game, Michigan head coach Dusty May invited Terry Mills, a key player on the Wolverines' 1989 title team, to address the current squad. Mills, who was in Indianapolis to watch the game, shared his experiences from the 1989 championship run and offered words of encouragement to the team, telling them 'You guys have made me proud. Let's go out and finish the deal.'

  • Terry Mills was invited to speak to the Michigan team earlier on the day of the national championship game.

The players

Terry Mills

A star player on Michigan's 1989 national championship team, Mills was invited to speak to the current Wolverines squad ahead of their title game appearance.

Dusty May

The head coach of the current Michigan basketball team, May invited Terry Mills to address the players before the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“You guys have made me proud. Let's go out and finish the deal.”

— Terry Mills, Former Michigan Basketball Player

What’s next

The Michigan basketball team will take the court on Monday night to compete for the national championship, looking to win their first title since 1989.

The takeaway

Michigan basketball is poised to establish a new dynasty, drawing inspiration from the program's last championship team over three decades ago. The connection to the 1989 title-winning squad provides valuable perspective and motivation for the current Wolverines as they seek to 'finish the deal' and bring home another national championship.