Michigan vs Illinois in 1989 Final Four (Full game)

[@bmonty1915]

I don't think the younger generation really realizes how good mid 80s - early 90s basketball was in both the NCAA and the NBA. Supreme athleticism at all positions.

[@couldbe8348]

They were mostly upper classmen

[@maxpeck4154]

I was 12 and remember it like it was yesterday. I recorded the game and must've replayed that last shot 100 times.

[@Dylan-pd9ps]

i think you are being naive

[@michigan2400]

​@@maxpeck4154 Higgins

[@demetriuslester]

#Facts I remember watching this game. The whole City Of Flint was CHEERING hard for that Flintstone (G. Rice)

[@alanktoler6514]

Man these were the dayz..it almost brings a TEAR...when Brent Musburger did the games...truly the golden ERA...

[@joshct9426]

Oh man this is the 1st CBB game I can ever remember when I was a little kid!

[@joshct9426]

@Steve Kovaleski good Memories Steve. I'm not sure if ANY sport in the world can compare with March Madness.

[@bradlewis6514]

@@joshct9426 Glen Rice's college level greatness finally came all out during the 1989 tournament! That was my junior year in HS! He was on another playing field! I think Bill Frieder's exit was the best thing that happened for Michigan because they we're finally able to play with the freedom they craved together without the controlled coaching style! Steve Fisher let them play! And it's the only time in Sean Higgins' career in which we saw his capability! His game fed off how well Glen Rice played opening up more shots for him to take! Without Rice he never again had that luxury and his focus tailed off!

[@gregorycampbell2164]

33 years later still one of the best games of all time

[@Boss3Nate]

Man I remember watching this as a little kid!! I was a huge Michigan fan but as a kid I couldn't help but like watching this Illinois team. I'm not sure ppl realize how talented both these teams were and how much NBA talent was on the floor. 10 players went to the league.. 5 from each team.

[@bradlewis6514]

To me, the biggest disappointment out of the talent bed in that game was Sean Higgins! He had GAME and unfortunately he only showed the glimpse of it during that NCAA tournament! We never saw that Sean Higgins following the national championship

[@Boss3Nate]

@@bradlewis6514 No doubt! He had crazy potential and never seemed to reach it

[@baldwinwallace4926]

@@bradlewis6514 ... I knew it was such a huge mistake for him to leave college early for the NBA ... I wanted him to stay for another year so badly. I think he played in 1990 but declared a year early for the draft.

[@bradlewis6514]

@@baldwinwallace4926 Baldwin, I think Sean Higgins main problem was his personal focus without assistance! What I mean by that is with Glen Rice out on the court, it gave him the freedom during the '89 tournament to take shots because Rice was playing at a level where he required constant attention! Once Rice graduated, I think Higgins' focus tailed off because he couldn't drive himself and bring his game to the forefront! Rumeal Robinson wasn't the outside threat Rice was, and so Higgins confidence wained since he had no one to feed off of!

[@bradlewis6514]

@@Boss3Nate I think he fed off of Glen Rice's game because it improved his self-confidence to take shots! Without the focus on someone else defensively, Higgins would stay in neutral! Once Rice was gone, he took Sean Higgins' focus with him

[@joe3times503]

From the early 80s to the mid 90s i watched so much college basketball it was basically an obsession. I was a big Michigan fan and Illinois man handled them twice. They were a great team. Glen Rice was so good this tourney. Watching this now it was an incredible game. Man college hoops used to be so good

[@andyraphael]

ReAl good because you didn't have this one and done

[@loulip3043]

Yeah these players were grown men..they stayed in college at least 3 years

[@MikeJones-cs8gi]

So you have better teams because you're bound to have some senior leadership, your depth is likely upperclassmen, so when you need to go to your bench they have likely played with each, have big game experience so less nervous. And lots of seniors were first round NBA draft selections. They know the system, offense and defense.

[@demetriuslester]

#GlenRice #Flintstone

[@Conklinboys]

Along with the Fab 5 and the Syracuse team with Coleman and Owens, one of my favorite college teams ever. The Illini were STACKED.

[@dewaynelance4130]

My 89 Michigan team was stacked more than Illinois. What are you talkin bout?

[@gcuddy7991]

1:36 left in the game- “Higgins inserted into the game someone who can sneak in and get an offensive put back” - Brent Musberger doing his Nostradamus impersonation.

[@gregoryp3194]

Not many people realize that these two teams played each other twice previously that season, with Illinois winning comfortably each time.

[@kennethhenson8240]

Yes they were big 10 conference rivals

[@clarkcollins4582]

Hard to beat a team 3 times.

[@luis1clickcc]

People do realize this since they BOTH are B1G programs 😅

[@zvbx]

I’m sure many people realize they both teams are in the same conference so why wouldn’t people know that they played twice?

[@erichall4548]

I am not sure why people hated Billy Packer....he was a great color analyst

[@vivahernando1]

I think it was his later work late 90s - 2000s

[@erichall4548]

Could be....I guess you could say he had a Tim Mcarver smugness but I enjoyed listening to him every March

[@misterpowell6612]

The Fighting Illini were one of the most underrated teams!! They played with a lot of swag and confidence. Their style of play was way ahead of the current play of today's basketball. Notice how up tempo they were and the baggy uniforms they wore. Hint Hint!! Way before the Fab 5

[@GeoAce777]

Yaaaaaaaaaaas as an Illinois person and Wolverines fan🐾this is true😏

[@mikeyoung4720]

The story I got, Illinois had the baggy shorts because of Jordan wanting his shorts to longer to cover the UNC shorts he also wore. Michigan's Fab Five wanted their shorts longer because of this Illinois team.

[@shawnwilson330]

This team and national championship for Michigan was instrumental in them landing that special recruiting class that produced the Fab 5. The Big 10 was tough in that era.

[@joet7136]

This was the greatest era of college basketball. We will never see the same rivalries or the same quality of basketball again. So many legendary teams squeezed into the 80s.

[@GeoAce777]

I'm biased for the 90s because of the Runnin' Rebels 💨😈

[@theotherview1716]

One of my favorite games all time. Great Memories of late 80s ball

[@baldwinwallace4926]

Illini had a streak - early in the season - where they averaged 107 points per game over a 5-game stretch (in 13 days) ... including a game against LSU where they scored 127. I would tune into Sports Center for the Michigan highlights and I was blown away with highlights from the Illinois games that were played afterwards. FLYIN' Illini was right!

[@saheedalliu2716]

Too Bad that I did not cheer for Illinois because I was living in Nigeria that time. I came back to America on October 1990 during 1990-1991 season and decided not to move back to Nigeria again.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot2]

Good Lord, how many pros were on the floor here? I count 10. Incredible talent...always overlooked because these weren't 'blue blood' schools.

[@MrBmick79]

don't forget future Lakers' GM Rob Pelinka!

[@a2rons882]

Fun Fact: Rumeal Robinson was 57% on Free Throws for the tourney going into the final game. He hit 9 of 10 that night including the two that won the championship.

[@akimmalik1329]

All time Classic tourney games with stars on both teams. Glen Rice was not to be denied heck of a scoring machine ! ONE on the best NCAA tournaments

[@demenace07]

This is one of those "I know where I was" moments when Sean Higgens put back the game winner. Any who choose to rewind 10 seconds before the shot and witness his moving without the ball will be richly rewarded.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Anderson never saw him once and yeah that was basketball iq at its finest.

[@baldwinwallace4926]

I'll never forget where I was either ... I was the only Michigan fan in a bar full of Illinois supporters in Mesa, AZ. The Chicago Cubs have their Spring Training games in Mesa and the place is nothing but Illinois supporters at that time of the year. I was the only person who cheered when Sean Higgins put back in that Terry Mills miss ... the place was dead silent except for my uncontrollable cheer of "Yes!"

[@bradlewis6514]

And the shame of Sean Higgins is that the '89 tournament was the only time we ever truly saw his potential and capability! He was a shell of that player from then on! They needed him to be that guy once Rice graduated and he never filled that void! What a disappointment to what he could have been

[@bradlewis6514]

And I remember that Michigan- Illinois III very well! Was watching it from the living room at our house in Concord NC (my junior year in HS)!

[@GeoAce777]

​@@baldwinwallace4926 ALWAYS more delicious to win on the road, ALWAYS more delicious to be the one that no one is 'fighting' for but you😈

[@jasonb.lassner5660]

Haven't watched this game since it happened but had to watch it today after the loss to UCLA last night. Glen Rice was the man, Sean Higgins was the guy in the right spot, and Steve Fisher coached out of his mind during that tournament. Go Blue!

[@baldwinwallace4926]

The Flyin' Illini were the best team in basketball that year & should have won it all (and I'm a HUGE Michigan fan). ESPN Sports Center was nothing but Illinois dunks all season long. I had hope that Michigan could beat them in this game but I knew it would be extremely difficult to do. Terry Mills, Larry Hughes, Sean Higgins, Loy Voight, Glenn Rice, Rumeal Robinson & ROB PELINKA (VP of LA Lakers) ... remember them like it was yesterday.

[@GeoAce777]

the Wolverines are FOREVER my #1 squad and I'm from Illinois ;-) 🐾 they were America's favorite squad in '89 AND 2005 😗

[@bradlewis6514]

If Illinois wins that game, they would not have been denied! No knock against Seton Hall, but that Illinois team was the pick in my bracket to go all the way! The only thing stopping them was the opponent they had to face (worst possible matchup whenever u face familiarity)! And Illinois having blown Michigan out twice didn't help either! I loved that Flyin' Illini team (even being a lifelong Duke fan, they were my fave team outside my allegiance)! I was a junior in HS at that time and remember very well that FF! Glen Rice's crowning achievement and he deserved it with his otherworldly performance in that '89 tournament! His will to win, too, finally rubbed off on the rest of his teammates during their resilient run! But, in ending, Illinois would have won the national championship had they beaten Michigan

[@Rob2068]

I agree. I think Illinois would have handled seton hall with relative ease. And this is from a Michigan fan.

[@AnthonyAnderson-jf4ml]

Mills, Robinson,🎉❤ with NBA talent 🎉❤🏀🏀🏀

[@scottchambers7087]

I saw a G. I've seen it all. Dope describes my rhymes, making all you emcees cold drop like dimes. You know MCSC is back again, and battling me on the microphone is like committing a sin. Scott/MCSC

[@samdippel8540]

When was tip off

[@Majesticon]

wow, what a prediction... can Mussberger tell the future?! 56:06

[@gynandroidhead]

Anyone who watched yesterday's Gonzaga/UCLA should watch this if they haven't.

[@lloydkline6946]

Cannot miss game 1989 ncaa tournament basketball game

[@bigkahunaburger5185]

We just may see this matchup in the Final Four again in 2021! Flying Illini!!

[@iloveresses7277]

Same result too 😂

[@TwoMilesAwayWildlife]

Classic Illini letdown then and now (I grew up in Urbana) 🤐

[@wolverine3344]

Absolutely amazing. What a game! Legendary.

[@gregorycampbell2164]

One of the best final four games of all time

[@tphycito]

Marcus Liberty is my coach now. I respect him greatly

[@gregorycampbell2164]

This is real basketball 🏀 not that soft stuff like now

[@charlesmurphy3222]

Steve Fisher had some very good defensive teams. Maybe one of the best Final Four games at that time since 83 Houston Louisville. Seton Hall was legit too. And Duke was giving the world a preview of coming attractions.

[@MrBmick79]

Was this before or after Rice got Diddybopped by Sarah Palin?

[@vivahernando1]

Probably before

[@gregorycampbell2164]

The best Michigan basketball team ever

[@jamellshaw2167]

Can't slack in that type of moment Nick box out

[@frankfurlacker5219]

I remember Kendall Gill with the Portland Trailblazers.

[@riverraisin1]

Nick Anderson with Orlando

[@rollinstonemoula9689]

Wrong team

[@frankfurlacker5219]

@@rollinstonemoula9689 You’re right, it was the Seattle SuperSonics.

[@darrylnelson05]

People think that the Fab 5 started the baggie shorts trend. It was the Flying Illini!

[@mikeyoung4720]

The story I got, Illinois had the baggy shorts because of Jordan wanting his shorts to longer to cover the UNC shorts he also wore. Michigan's Fab Five wanted their shorts longer because of this Illinois team.

[@jayboek2854]

Illinois shouldve easily won the championship this year.

[@jamesbowman8138]

As a 12 year old i knew that michigan losing twice was actually an advantage .

[@thewisefool3230]

Did the ref say Elbows won't be tolerated? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🏾‍♂️

[@riverraisin1]

Yes he did

[@MikeJones-cs8gi]

I love Glen Rice! I love Nick Anderson. Kendall Gill is my guy!

[@hawlikd]

Illinois had the first long badketball shorts.

[@shawnyoung8752]

92 duke vs kentucky was best 6 minute endings. This game was the whole 2nd half of great ball. Dont blame Nick. He was 64 gaurding guys who were 6 8 6 9. Glen rice was hot . The illini had 5 guys 64to 65. The center was only 67 . That team was the ones that were tweeners. Illinois second or third team player in recruiting. Like the 2005 team. Guys who were not in the top 15 or 20 best players in the state. Illini have never been able to secure top playerd in stste. Was a freshman in 76 saw aguirre, cummings, thomas, doc in priviso tourney. Not one went to illini.

[@jamarjackson4651]

Wait classic games!!???

[@rickquinones6231]

The Flyin Illini were the best team to never win a national championship. Beat Mich twice that season by double digits. All of the players were from IL. I don't believe there was 1 player over 6'9. That still hurts.

[@shawnyoung8752]

They gave Battle 6'6. He was 6'4 a best. Thats why he wasnt heavily recruited. Anderson was 6'5. Gill 6'4 . Those 3 played defense in high school against guys with 2 4 inches bigger. They also played center of PF. They were not recruited cause to small and were not considered wings. Bardo was 6'5 maybe best defender. Smith 6' 5 same. Lowell Hamilton wa6'7 center. Liberty was 6'8 and was a smooth 6'8 scorer who never panned out. What they could do was use their quickness and ability to rebound on off glass. Like the 2005 team. These were tweeners who play for good programs against top teams being undersized. This game was not the last 5 minutes of Kentucky Duke in 92. The 2nd half was the most clean , hardest playing game that i have ever seen. There was 28 ties Around same for lead changes in game.

[@shawnyoung8752]

Battle, Anderson, Gill,Bardo were 6'4 6'5 going against 67,68,69,69,6, 0. No excuses . You have to respect the illinois talent. Was the best 2nd half . Last 5 was 92 duke, kent.

[@controller13]

8 NBA players plus Marcus Liberty and Battle

[@zaidmusawwir5591]

Wow!! Ten further NBA players in this game

[@shawnyoung8752]

Watch the midwest final Illini vs Syracuse. Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Billy Owens, Thompson. That was almost as good as this game. Illini almost lost shooting 14-28 from line. Duke was givin 2 seed in east with first 2 games in Greensboro. They finished in 3 way tie in acc season. 3 big east team and 3 big ten top 3 were sent all over. Duke played Minnesota in sweet 16. 6th best Big ten team.

[@slimfromnola3618]

This loss hurt bad i wanted Illinois to win the title

[@broaddusmarines]

This Illinois team is still one of the greatest college basketball teams I’ve ever watched play. That being said, this Michigan team was absolutely loaded. I think 6 players off that team went to the League.

[@shawnyoung8752]

5 of the illini played in pros also.

[@stuartperry8141]

Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill. Glenn Rice are the only players that had good NBA careers with Rice have the best.

[@mattnaka6437]

1:12:10 how did they not call that?

[@vivahernando1]

That was a charge or a block?

[@nategotti76ify]

Nice box out by Anderson. 🤦‍♂️

[@GeoAce777]

I remember casually following the Fightin' Illini and Kenny Battle was my favorite just because of his last name⚔️. the Runnin' Rebels out of UNLV got me into college ball. nevertheless this was my first Final Four. kinda funny how the banner lists the Final Four squads in alphabetical order versus matchup

[@giacobbeperales5926]

Hamilton getting injured might have been the difference for the Illini. They could have used him more in the 2 point loss

[@kennethhenson8240]

This is the year when bill frieder the Michigan coach got hired by Arizona state and said he will coach them in the tournament and Michigan AD Bo Schembechler fired frieder and said a Michigan man will coach Michigan and gave the job to Steve fisher and they won it all!!!!

[@sweetjulius440]

Sean Higgins legacy game

[@BlorbusUnimax]

80's 90's athletes were stronger and faster, they would destroy todays collegiate players

[@AnthonyAnderson-jf4ml]

All-time Classic one of the all-time greats&who would have thought that Pelinka would win a chip& go to two more final 4's& Him& The Fav 5& Him & the late great Kobe Bryant would B BFF's❤❤❤😢😢😢 basketball 🏀 🏀🏀🎉

[@secretasianman2531]

"...and higgins dunks it in my face!" "YES SIR!"

[@juanguevara4231]

first national championship are u kidding me what about 1965-1976

[@bradlewis6514]

Appearance-wise, yes, Michigan advanced to the national championship game in '65 and '76 but lost both times! Their '89 team will always have a one up on all others in Ann Arbor because they remain the only Wolverine team to win an NCAA championship, to go with the school's 3 NIT crowns

[@GeoAce777]

Musburger foreshadowed the putback 😏

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

Nick Anderson missing a crucial box out that lead to the Michigan game winner and 6 years later he would miss 4 straight free throws in game 1 of the NBA finals (when just 1 make would've clinched game) allowing Houston to tie game and win in ot then go on to sweep the series. Those missed free throws potentially altered NBA history. If he makes even 1 Orlando wins the game and maybe they go on to win the series, maybe then shaq stays and maybe without shaq the Lakers never win multiple titles and maybe Orlando prevents the bulls 2nd three peat. Maybe.. if only Anderson had made 1 free throw

[@garyaugustus690]

More than that, #25 on Michigan's bench went on to become Kobe Bryant's agent, and from Bryant's influence, GM of the Lakers the last few years and architect of the disaster that changed a heralded NBA franchise we now observe to the laughing stock of the league....

[@otisjohnjr.3023]

They tried to give this game to Illinois.

[@kevingaray1593]

04/01/1989 - 35 years ago

[@bradlewis6514]

Extremely hard to believe it's been that long ago! I was 17 at the time (vividly remember the game) and am now 50! The whole thing about time flying by once you've gotten older is FACT! Great thing though is that NCAA tournament moments like this never age! Watching them in hindsight takes you back as if the game was televised live yesterday

[@Majesticon]

I blame LaPhonso Ellis for this Illinois loss

[@rollinstonemoula9689]

He wasnt on tha Team

[@Majesticon]

@@rollinstonemoula9689 exactly

[@shawnyoung8752]

I think he means phonso committed to illini but went to Notre Dame. Par for the course for Henson. Just in my Years in High School. 77 to 80. Aguirre, Cummings, Thomas, Rivers, Ronnie Lester. Lester was 6'2 guard from chicago that led Iowa to 80 Final Four. Other guard was another public league guy. Then you had 2 other guys from catholic school St. Laurance that was more of football school. So 4 iowa starters were from a 5 mile distance in chicago. Henson at his best.

[@martinmoriel1239]

The best of the best

[@84s77]

中村和雄曰くイリノイ大にはヨーロッパから2m20のセンターがいたらしいが この早さについてこれなくて辞めたと で、この全員フォワード軍団みたいなラインナップで快進撃・・・ それにしてもこの学生の頃のケンドール・ギルはカッコいい 当時も必ずNBA行って活躍してくれるだろうと思って観てた

[@riverraisin1]

And the rest is history......

[@NightManBearPig]

Worst. Game. Ever. 😢

[@zedanide6984]

Should've had 2 seconds instead of 1 at the end, plus the refs could've called 2 fouls at the end but didn't

[@carlopuri8795]

GO WOLVS

[@freddyrobinson6453]

If the late ben wilson was on that 1989 "flyin' illini" team, they win the n.c.a.a. basketball championship easily.

[@kennethhenson8240]

The late Ben Wilson would’ve been on this Illini squad Nick Anderson was his best friend They most likely would’ve won it all!!!!

[@spanky2284]

This was the year Illinois should have won the Championship Nick Anderson you got to block out and they win and he didn't play well I love this team still 👏 😉 👍

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

I agree. So much talent on that team.. that entire league was stacked..

[@bradlewis6514]

Spanky, I agree with you 100% on that Illinois team winning it all! That was my junior year in HS ('88-'89) and first year of filling out a bracket and they were my pick! I'd followed them that entire season and loved that club (Flyin' Illini) even though I've been a die-hard Duke fan since '81-'82! Illinois eventual problem was the club they happened to be facing in that national semifinal! They say familiarity breeds contempt and Georgetown had suffered that same fate four years earlier! Illinois had so decisively beaten Michigan twice, which led to the coaching change that let Michigan play more free the way they wanted to! Oh and the most important factor - a guy named Glen Rice! He just happened to be having a ridiculous and unguardable "out of even his orbit" NCAA tournament! Had Illinois not played Michigan and advanced they'd have won the national title hands down! Seton Hall wouldn't have stood a chance! Michigan wasn't the same team the Illini had beatdown!

[@terrancemoore1776]

@@bradlewis6514 You can't forget Oklahoma and Kansas 87-88 season. Oklahoma beat Kansas twice in the regular season. Kansas won the National Championship the 3rd matchup.

[@MrBmick79]

didn't box out, didn't hit free throws when it counted.....Nick ANderson might've need to see a sports shrink to help his focus