We are 25 years into the 2000s, and to celebrate, we’re picking out the Top 25 moments for Michigan athletics. We start the series with No. 25-21:
The 2024-25 Michigan Wolverines athletics season has come to a close, and we are now officially a quarter of the way through the 2000s. This offseason, Maize n Brew will honor the last 25 years of history for Michigan sports with the Top 25 moments of the 21st century, starting with this week’s rendition, No. 25-21.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
25. Naz Hillmon leads Michigan to first Elite Eight in program history
Hillmon’s career was easily the best in Michigan women’s basketball history. During her senior year, she had a 50-point, 16-rebound game and led the team to their highest NCAA Tournament ranking (No. 3-seed) to date.
The Wolverines marched all the way to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. Hillmon would finish her career as the first Wolverine ever to be an All-American (she did it twice) and the program’s first Big Ten Player of the Year.
Naz Hillmon is in a club of her own
The first player in Michigan history, men’s or women’s, to have 2K points and 1K rebounds. pic.twitter.com/JpGdoh9Dvr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 19, 2022
24. Kam Chatman buzzer-beater to beat No. 1 Indiana in Big Ten Tournament (2016)
Michigan entered the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed and was 20-11 overall, on the fringe of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. After beating Northwestern in overtime in the first round, they faced the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers . Kam Chatman, who averaged only 2.8 points per game, nailed a game-winner for the upset, earning the Wolverines a play-in berth.
23. Devin Bush stomps MSU logo / DPJ strikes Heisman pose (2018)
A sequence of events that Michigan fans will not soon forget. Devin Bush scuffed up the Spartans logo in East Lansing following a pregame snafu. Later, Donovan Peoples-Jones secured the win with a 79-yard touchdown and hit the now-famous Paul Bunyan pose.
22. Frank Nazar’s between-the-legs goal eliminates Michigan State (2024)
Back-to-back Michigan State clips. What a pity. Frank Nazar went through his legs to set up the game-clinching goal to eliminate the top-seeded Spartans, sending the Wolverines to the Frozen Four for the third straight season.
NASTY BETWEEN-THE-LEGS ASSIST BY FRANK NAZAR FOR THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES pic.twitter.com/Mq7J4nG4eD
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 1, 2024
21. Erick All’s game-winning, 47-yard TD at Penn State (2021)
Michigan finally got over the hump in 2021 to beat Ohio State , win the Big Ten Championship and make the College Football Playoff. None of that would have been possible if it weren’t for holding Penn State to a field goal after a Cade McNamara strip-sack and this exhilarating play on the next possession for the Wolverines:
In my estimation, this is the most pivotal play in Michigan modern history. The more time passes, the bigger this play is. If they don’t score here, no B1G title. No playoff.
It was great to see Erick All Jr. get drafted by his hometown team. Forever a Michigan hero. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ljoAR2B2sl
— Don Thomas (@REALDonThomas) April 29, 2024
There is so much more to come, so be sure to check out this series next week as we get to No. 20-16!