Restoring the Tradition

From the Wolverines’ 1989 NCAA championship win to the Fab Five’s heyday to the Ed Martin scandal and the 20-year road to redemption that ended with Trey Burke leading the team to the championship game in 2013, fans of University of Michigan basketball have enjoyed some highs and some lows. In Restoring the Tradition, sports writer Mike Rosenbaum tells the story of the past five decades of Michigan basketball, beginning with the program’s Cazzie Russell–led rise to prominence in 1964 through fellow College Player of the Year Trey Burke’s electrifying 2012–13 season.

Filled with interviews of former coaches and players from past decades and the last three seasons—including Robert Traylor’s last interview before his death, in which he discussed his involvement in “the scandal” for the first time—Restoring the Tradition features recaps of memorable moments of the past 40-plus years. Michigan basketball fans of any age will appreciate, and even the most dedicated followers will learn something new. In addition, the book, which includes photos throughout, recounts the foundation for the program’s ascent under current coach John Beilein.