Michigan
Michigan basketball has simple objective for 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Dusty May says ‘I didn’t know how big’ Michigan-MSU rivalry is
Michigan basketball coach Dusty May speaks to media after Wolverines win over Michigan State at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
In 2025, the Big Ten Tournament was hugely important for Michigan basketball.
The Wolverines had lost four of their final six regular-season games, falling out of the Big Ten title race in Year 1 of the Dusty May era. Putting together a competent weekend in Indianapolis was critical to take some momentum into the NCAA Tournament.
2026, however, is different. No. 3 Michigan (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) was arguably the best team in the nation this season, dominating the Big Ten en route to a league-record 19 wins in conference play and a four-game gap between it and the next closest team.
Michigan has not shied away from discussing its ultimate goal − the national championship − and the Big Ten regular-season title was a key part of that. But what about the league tournament – a potential three games of distraction before the real postseason begins?
“Sometimes there are coaches that discredit the Big Ten tournament,” May said this week. “Whoever wins this tournament this year in what we think is the best league in the country, then we’re going to have a lot of respect for them and the job they did.
“Because whether they win three games in three days or four games in four days against really good teams, it’s not that simple.”
Michigan intends to be that team. Nimari Burnett demonstrated that this week with a social media post featuring pictures of him cutting down the net in Ann Arbor after U-M’s 90-80 senior day win over MSU, and another with the Big Ten trophy.
His caption? “1 of 3,” with an emoji of a trophy next to it.
Fellow senior Will Tschetter had the net hanging around his neck on Sunday following the final home game of a five-year career spent entirely in maize and blue. He has been on teams that needed Big Ten tourney runs − like the 2022-23 team that found itself on the wrong side of the bubble after an early loss to Rutgers − but just because U-M has a 1-seed locked up, he won’t mail it in at United Center.
“Our next goal is the Big Ten Tournament,” he said. “We’re turning our head to that, that’s one of our three [primary goals] and so we’ve got to make sure we capitalize on that.”
U-M’s postseason begins on Friday (noon, Big Ten Network) with a third matchup with rival Ohio State, a 72-69 winner over Iowa on Thursday in the third round of the Big Ten tourney. The Wolverines already have two wins over the Buckeyes: a 12-pointer in Ann Arbor in January in which they closed with a 24-12 run, and a 21-pointer in Columbus in February. This will be the eighth season in which U-M and OSU meet three times; the Wolverines have never beaten the Buckeyes three times in a season.
Former Buckeye Roddy Gayle Jr. has taken his game up a level in March − he had a game-clinching block and steal in a tight win over Iowa last week before scoring 15 points (his second-best total this season) against the Spartans last weekend.
Asked about grand goals such as April’s Final Four in Indianapolis, he didn’t even want to look past the next task on U-M’s schedule.
“Not looking too far past the opponent in front of us, because we know how easy it is for there to be an upset and how frequent it is to be upset, especially in March,” he said. “Being able to play our best ball, that’s something that we’ve been doing and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Michigan will be a 1-seed when the NCAA field of 69 is unveiled Sunday, no matter what happens in the Windy City. Perhaps the Wolverines’ primary focus should be finding new rotations without the services of L.J. Cason (out for the season with an ACL tear) and making sure no one is too worn down for the tournament that truly matters.
And yet, as May has said time and time again, his team is a group of competitors. Playing at half-speed or without full conviction simply isn’t an option.
Once the ball is tipped, his team has one simple objective.
“We’re going to go compete, we’re going to try to win,” May said. “We’re never going to go to Chicago … and not give our best and compete to win.”
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Michigan
Whitmer says she will pull Michigan National Guard from D.C. if troops used in Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that the Michigan National Guard soldiers heading to Washington, D.C., will only support the America 250 Mission and threatens to pull them if they participate in patrols under President Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission.
In a letter to Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers on Monday, Whitmer urges Rogers to “take all necessary measures” to ensure that soldiers only provide public safety and security during events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“If the National Guard is unable or unwilling to ensure the Michigan National Guard is only supporting the America 250 Mission, appropriately defined – and is unable or unwilling to communicate consistent with that fact – then I will end Michigan’s support for the America 250 mission,” Whitmer wrote to Rogers.
The Safe and Beautiful Mission was created under the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard to D.C. in August 2025 as part of a push to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, despite data showing that crime had declined in recent years.
At the time, local police data showed that violent crime in the area had been declining after a spike in 2023. However, Mr. Trump criticized that data, calling them “phony numbers.”
The deployments drew criticism from officials who opposed the federal government sending the National Guard to multiple cities. In one case, Illinois and Chicago sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of troops. That suit has since been dismissed, with a judge declaring the administration’s orders to no longer be operational.
“Several governors have deployed their National Guard soldiers to support this [Safe and Beautiful] mission. As you know, I have not deployed – and will not deploy – the Michigan National Guard to support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission,” Whitmer said.
CBS News Detroit reached out to the Joint Task Force for comment on Monday and has not heard back.
The nephew of Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alhabri was found dead in Menands, New York, according to authorities.
The Menands Police Department said on Tuesday that the circumstances surrounding 7-year-old Harbe Nagi’s death are under investigation.
Police say Albany County 911 received a missing child report on Sunday in a Menands neighborhood. Police say the child, who was autistic and nonverbal, had visited the neighborhood before but did not reside there.
CBS affiliate WGRB in Albany reported that the child went missing from a graduation party and was found in a neighbor’s pool, about two houses from where he went missing.
“The Menands Police Department extends its condolences to Harbe’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” police said.
Following news of the child’s death, Alharbi posted on social media: “We are devastated to share that he has been found deceased. Thank you to everyone who helped in the search.” Alharbi, who was first elected the mayor of Hamtramck in 2025, initially offered a $10,000 reward for the child’s return.
Utah wildfire burnover kills three firefighters near Colorado border
Three firefighters were killed and two were injured in a Utah wildfire burnover as the Snyder Fire grows past 28,000 acres.
One of three firefighters killing fighting a Colorado wildfire on Saturday, June 27, was a southeast Michigan woman, department of Interior officials announced on Monday, June 29.
Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack crew. She died from burns while engaging in the initial attack on the Knowles Fire in Mesa County in western Colorado near the Utah border.
The two other fallen firefighters were identified as Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the USFS Kaibab National Forest; and Sydney Watson, 27, Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the USFS Rifle Helitack crew.
“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said in a June 29 announcement. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”
Barker was a graduate of Grosse Pointe Academy and alumna of Northern Michigan University with a degree in ski area business management, the school said in a 2020 Facebook post.
The firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service were battling the Knowles and Gore fires near the Colorado-Utah border June 27 when the incident occurred in Colorado, the U.S. Department of the Interior stated in a June 28 news release.
The firefighters were killed and injured during a burnover, which occurs when fire behavior changes and unexpectedly overtakes firefighters. The firefighters had deployed their protective shelters, according to a U.S. Forest Service news release June 28.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared her condolences with Michigan firefighter’s family in a Facebook post.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Clinton Township native, Emily Barker, who lost her life while fighting a wildfire in Colorado,” Whitmer said on Facebook on June 29. “My condolences go out to Emily’s loved ones. Her bravery in the face of danger kept people safe and will not soon be forgotten.”
As of Tuesday, June 30, the wildfire, known as the Snyder Fire, had consumed 30,163 acres, according to Map of Fire.
The blaze began Saturday, June 27, during a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to strong winds, low humidity and dry fuel. The fire prompted evacuations.
The state is facing several other wildfires and is covered in red flag warnings as of Tuesday morning, June 30.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
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