Michigan fans — and at least one Spartan — gear up for Final Four showdown
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Indianapolis — Sixty-two years later, Tom Ludwig is back at a University of Michigan Final Four, wearing the watch he got the first time they played in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Ludwig, 82, played on the 1964 team that made it to UM’s first appearance (and a loss to Duke), said he was really proud of how far the team has come under head coach Dusty May.
The Michigan Wolverines face another No. 1 seed, the Arizona Wildcats, on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis for a chance to play the winner of the Illinois-UConn game at 6:09 p.m. Tipoff for UM and Arizona is 8:54 p.m.
Ludwig, who coached basketball at Ferris State University from 1979 to 1996, said he believed May was the right choice at the right time to bring the team together.
“Dusty is doing a great job,” he said at the alumni party at The Hangar, a bar owned by a UM alum. “The university is doing a great job supporting him and the team.”
Ludwig and his wife, Sue Abbey-Ludwig, said they were looking forward to seeing the team clinch the championship.
Abbey-Ludwig, a Michigan State University alum, wore a Spartan green sweater (UConn eliminated MSU from the Big Dance in the Sweet Sixteen). She stood out in the sea of Maize and Blue, but said she was willing to be a “pretend Wolverine” to support her husband.
'Dusty led us to believe'
The 2026 Final Four was long-awaited for fans like Pat Gadola, 61, who attended the university’s appearances in the 1990s.
Gadola, of Lansing, said at the NCAA Fan Fest he was never in doubt of the team’s chances to make it to the Final Four and beyond.
“Dusty led us to believe,” he said.
Gadola and his son, Carter, said they were confident in the team’s ability to beat Arizona. The team had had a better margin of victory than Carter was expecting, and although the men agreed Arizona was “better on the inside,” they believed UM’s ability to shoot three pointers would be the determining factor.
“Elliot Cadeau will decide the game,” Gadola said of UM's point guard, who had a nut allergy scare earlier in the week.
Brad Jeddis, a 36-year-old UM alum, said he came from New York to watch his alma mater play in the Final Four.
“We feel pretty good about the game,” he said. “It’s been a tremendous season.”
Jeddis wouldn’t say UM was destined for the championship game — not wanting to jinx it — but he said he booked his hotel room through Monday night.
“I really think they have what it takes,” he said.
UM regent books a hotel room for Monday night
UM Regent Sarah Hubbard, a vocal supporter of the university's athletic programs, said she was “feeling great” about the team’s chances Saturday evening.
“Our team looks healthy,” she said. “I know Arizona is a great team too, but we’re clearly the better team.”
Hubbard said she arrived in Indianapolis on Friday and was really happy with the welcome the team received.
“The fans have been great, the city is great,” she said.
She's ready for the Wolverines to prevail Saturday night and face the winner of the UConn-Illinois contest.
“I’m booked through Monday," Hubbard said. "I’m excited to see how it goes.”
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan fans gear up for Final Four showdown in Indianapolis
