Michigan Wolverines news: Josh Gattis back in Big Ten, women’s hoops facing Ohio State and more

Michigan football will see a familiar face on the opposing sidelines in 2023, plus more in our Michigan Wolverines news roundup. 

If you are still feeling hungover from the Michigan Wolverines’ double-overtime loss to Illinois, you likely aren’t alone.

That was a brutal loss for Michigan basketball as it was attempting to improve its NCAA tournament resume.

However, there was some good news on the basketball floor for the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday as the Michigan women’s basketball team knocked off Penn State 63-61 in a second-round game of the Big Ten tournament.

Now, the Michigan Wolverines will take on Ohio State on Friday in the quarterfinals in a matchup that is set for 3 PM EST on the Big Ten Network. Ohio State swept the Wolverines during the regular season, yet Michigan got Lalia Phelia and Leigha Brown back in the lineup Thursday from injury and that could make an impact.

Phelia scored a team-high 13 points off the bench in 22 minutes. She was matched by Emily Kiser who had 13 points and eight boards. Brown pitched in with 12 points and nine assists.

Former Michigan football coach back in the Big Ten

It’s been a wild ride for former Michigan football assistant coach Josh Gattis. Last season, he was hired away from the Wolverines by Miami and signed a big-money contract to run the offense under new head coach Mario Cristobal.

Fast forward a year and Gattis was fired. Now, after getting into some public arguments with Mike Locksley of Maryland, it looks like the former Michigan football staffer will be joining the Terrapins as the offensive coordinator.

It’s an interesting move for Maryland and for Gattis, especially since it will pit Gattis against Michigan football, his former team, at least once a year (for now).

Michigan basketball seeding scenarios

If you missed it, here are my gut reactions to the Michigan basketball loss to Illinois, as well as three takeaways from an excruciating loss.

There have been some painful defeats this season for the Michigan basketball team but that one against Illinois takes the cake. It’s especially painful since the Wolverines had lost five in a row and formed a mini-rivalry with the Fighting Illini.

But I guess since it’s so one-sided, it’s not really a rivalry. At any rate, Michigan could still play its way into a top-4 seed at the Big Ten Tournament with a win. There are a bunch of scenarios but the Wolverines could be as high as No. 2 with a win and as low as No. 8 with a loss.