One of the very best guests here on the podcast, Phil Martelli, is back on Defend the Block this week.

And I want to fast forward to the very end.

Not the last question, not the last response.

Literally the end, the final 10 seconds or so, a little bit less.

This was Martelli's response to me thanking him for his time.

Well, I really do appreciate it.

And, you know, I'm here for a reason.

A banner in Chrysler is what I want to do.

Martelli is beloved within the program.

He is beloved outside the program but within the basketball community.

And he is beloved both outside the program and basketball as a whole.

He handles things with respect, grace, and perspective.

He is as good as it gets as a person.

But don't you ever forget it.

Phil Martelli is as competitive and as motivated as anyone.

I vividly remember the scene in the hotel lobby a couple of hours after Michigan's

lost to Villanova back in the Sweet 16.

Even though the Wolverines fell short of the goal of hanging that elusive second national

championship banner, there were plenty of hugs, happy memories, appreciation

for the journey, even though it came up short. And Martelli was ready to partake in that,

but the first thing on his mind was the missed opportunity earlier that night. Martelli knew

the Wolverines could have played better. They could have beaten Villanova. You can be in two head spaces

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