ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -It takes a lot for Michigan’s basketball team to create a buzz.
Even when the Wolverines were winning, the football team generated more attention – even in the offseason.
A win over UCLA last week suddenly seemed to awaken a dormant fan base. Just consider the number of text messages coach John Beilein received after the stunning upset.
“My phone blew up,” Beilein said Monday.
DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris said their Facebook pages were filled with requests and messages.
“It’s ridiculous,” Sims said. “My Facebook has been kind slow over the course of the fall. It has started to pick up and I wish I didn’t have it now. I changed my number three times and people still get it.”
Michigan (3-1) followed a closely contested win against the Bruins with a 71-56 loss to Duke in the 2K Sports Classic.
“I’m not satisfied because we didn’t win the whole thing,” Harris said. “But there’s a different buzz than it was before we went to New York.”
State on Tuesday and Savannah State on Saturday at home.
“We haven’t arrived yet,” Sims said. “We don’t think the UCLA win made our season.”
Before the season, Beilein downplayed expectations by saying the Wolverines were “trying to keep our head above water.” This is his second season after losing a school-record 22 games last year. A win over UCLA showed this just might not be a rebuilding year.
It was the Wolverines’ first win over a top-five team since 1997 and their first victory against a ranked team under Beilein.
“That’s big for our confidence, beating a No. 4-ranked team,” Harris said. “Our team was confident before, but now it’s on a whole level.”
Interest from fans is, too. Fewer than 75 tickets remain for the rematch with Duke on Dec. 6 at home, but Sims hopes Crisler Arena also fills up for other games.
“Everybody wants to see Duke,” Sims said. “I hope Norfolk State is sold out.”
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