Anytime a team that normally makes the NCAA tournament does not qualify for a dance,

the conversation during the offseason will revolve around trying to get back.

And there's all the discussion about hard work and trying to figure things out.

And of course, that's the case anywhere.

But Terrence Williams II came on to defend the block back in mid-June.

And he had this to say.

It was along those lines, but you could hear, you could feel the intensity, the determination in his answer.

Yeah, I feel like the urgency definitely picked up, and not even just with the players,

just everyone in general in the Michigan basketball department.

You know, just not making

the tournament, let's be frank, that was just embarrassing. And, you know, people see it and,

you know, it was a learning experience. Like, it woke a lot of people up, including myself,

and that can't ever happen again. So I think we're all working hard. We all know what's at

stake here. You know, we play for

Michigan. We know what people expected from us. Less than five months after Terrence Williams

2nd said all that. Michigan took step number one toward trying to get back to the NCAA tournament.

They did so emphatically on Tuesday night at Chrysler Center down in UNC Asheville, 99 to 74.

A UNC Asheville team that made the tournament last year, picked to win the Big South and get back to the dance this season.

It's a win that will probably age pretty well because the Bulldogs are going to win their

fair share of games this season.

Williams is such a fascinating player.

He's one who has not had that typical slow and steady

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