Michigan

Michigan basketball has simple objective for 2026 Big Ten Tournament

Published

4 months ago

March 13, 2026

Press Room

Michigan basketball has simple objective for 2026 Big Ten Tournament

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.

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Michigan

Thousands without power in mid-Michigan

Published

42 minutes ago

July 1, 2026

Press Room

ROSCOMMON, Mich. (WNEM) – Power outages are starting to pop up around mid-Michigan as severe thunderstorms roll through the area.

Consumers Energy is reporting these outages:

Roscommon County: 1,305 customers affected
Ogemaw County: 5,989 customers affected
Iosco County: 840 customers affected
Clare County: 390 customers affected
Gladwin County: 1,187 customers affected
Arenac County: 732 customers affected
Bay County: 222 customers affected

So far, DTE Energy is reporting 94 outages in Huron County.

Click here for the Consumers Outage map and here for DTE.

Stay with TV5 for more updates.

Subscribe to the WNEM TV5 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every day.

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Michigan

Whitmer says she will pull Michigan National Guard from D.C. if troops used in Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission

Published

11 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Press Room

Whitmer says she will pull Michigan National Guard from D.C. if troops used in Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission

June 30, 2026 / 11:12 PM EDT
/ CBS Detroit

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.

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Michigan

Michigan mayor’s 7-year-old nephew found dead in Menands, New York, authorities say

Published

21 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Press Room

Michigan mayor’s 7-year-old nephew found dead in Menands, New York, authorities say

June 30, 2026 / 5:29 PM EDT
/ CBS Detroit

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.