PTI - Where Does this Michigan Team Rank All-Time?

Episode Date: April 7, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss Michigan, Wemby's injury, and Contreras's threat to the Brewers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's natural coffee cake day, Tony. Just has some Sarah Lee myself this morning.

Are you a coffee cake guy? I'm Tony Kornizer. Nope. 100% beef cake, baby. Beef cake, that's me. Does Sarah Lee have beef cake? Do they make that? I'm not certain, but I am certain of this, Mike,

that nobody doesn't like Sarah Lee, right? Oh, you just reached back into the 70s, maybe beyond? Yeah, 50 years. Has to be 50 years for that slogan. Has to be 50. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls. In today's episode, Victor Wembeñama goes down. Wilson Contreras threatens the brewers, and Scott Van Pelt joins us from Augusta for five good minutes. But we begin today with last night's NCAA championship game, which Michigan won 69-63 over Yukon. This is Michigan's first championship since 1989. It's the Big Ten's first championship since 2000. It's the first time ever that Connecticut has lost the NCAA final. Previously, they were 6-0.

Neither team shot well last night, but it was a competitive game. Wilbon, how do you see this Michigan team? Tony, as a great team, a great team that beat worthy challengers. Goodness knows, Yukon is the most worthy of challengers, given what we know about their recent history. And I just, I want to give kudos to Michigan's athletic department for winning first in college. football a couple of years ago, the national championship, and now basketball. And as a Big

10 alum, I'm both proud and jealous, I must say. But Tony, if we're talking about comparing these Michigan teams, and that's where we always go, to other teams produced by the University of Michigan and basketball, great teams. They're not with the Fab Five of Chris Weber, Joanne, Howard, and Jalen Rose. Not to me. And they're not even with necessarily that 1889, which had multiple pros and a couple of guys from more than a dozen years. And this team will have pros. And I give Dusty May all the credit in the world in this new era for pulling guys the first one out of a transfer portal, all of them, and putting together a title team. You've got to do that on the run. That takes a certain creativity, a certain

discipline, a stick-toitiveness, good for them. But am I putting them above the Fab Five? No, I'm not. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So yesterday on this show, I said that I thought that Michigan could win and should win, but that seven and a half points were too much for me. So I believe I got that right. Yukon did everything they could do defensively. Michigan rolled into this game, having scored 90 points or more in five straight NCAA tournament games. Five straight. I mean, and they were held to 69 points by Connecticut. If Connecticut shoots well, they win. But Michigan plays defense too. health, Connecticut, I believe, to 31% shooting from the field, 27% of 3, 9 of 33, and that's the worst shooting game UConn had all year. What do I think of Michigan? I think they're a worthy team.

I think they're big and they're strong and they play inside basketball. Mike, they got 61 of their 69 points, either from the paint or from the foul line. That's really impressive. They dictated the way the game should be played. And I also think this. I think that they are better than Michigan State. They are better than Illinois. They are better than Purdue.

They are better than Iowa. They're better than Nebraska. And all those Big Ten teams won at least two games in this tournament. So Michigan, and this is a – I'm not going to go back into terms of eras, but I'm going to say that this is a really good team and give Dustin May a lot – They took Florida Atlantic to the final four of years ago, three, four years ago, whatever it was. And now he's won a national championship. I will tell you this though, Mike.

I wonder how they're feeling at Duke. Because Duke beat Michigan in a neutral side game. And if they had held on and beaten Yukon, maybe they're in the final. Maybe they win that final. Yeah, yeah. I think of Michigan right now, they're pounding their chest a little bit, standing on the top of the world. They earned it.

They deserve it. Congratulations. Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Let's move to last night's injury to bow your heads. Victor Wimbanyama. He and Paul George collided early in the second quarter.

Wimby left with an injury to his left ribs returned briefly and then departed for good before the half after playing a total of just more than 15 minutes. Tone, what are the potential impacts here? Okay, so I don't know the extent of the injury. I'm inclined to say it's not that serious, but, you know, I don't know if he had to miss a playoff game or two. it's a long time to the playoffs for him because the play-ins have to go through. So I'm not worried about that. But we did talk about Donchich and Reeves being lost to the Lakers for some time on yesterday's show.

So I'm not going to make some categorical statement here because I don't know about this. I think the larger issue for me is how the NBA is wrapped up in knots with this 65-game rule in order to get any post-season awards. You've got to play 65 games, right? So 65 games, if you don't play it, you can't be the MVP. You can't be on an all-N-Ba team. You can't be the defensive player of the year, which Wembe Niyama certainly would be. At the moment, I don't think the NBA makes a distinction between load management misses or injury misses. They're just counting the 65.

And Wembe Nama is at 64. All right? So he's got to play one more game, and he wants to play. But Mike, can you imagine how terrible. it would be if he played in that game just to be eligible for the awards and got hurt further. Be terrible. Yeah. Yeah, it would be, Tony.

It would be. You get all these possibilities now. And you know what? You know how much I love Victor Wimbonyama. And this whole season, for me, has been about watching him. But he had some games in there that were probably load management too. So, I mean, you know, so be careful what you do along the way. And that's not directed only at him, but maybe the coaches and the executives and the people

who make these decisions now on when and how long to sit people out. So you know how I feel about load management. It's a scourge of the league. It's loathsome. And so you might get bit by it yourself. Luckily, and you mentioned this, Victor Wimbunyama has two weeks. He's got the sort of this week. This is the last regular season week.

And the play-in time, because San Antonio wouldn't play until the weekend like Saturday, Sunday, of the following week would be game one of a playoff series. So in terms of him missing playoff time, and you know what, Tony, that's all I care about. It really is for me. It's selfish now. For somebody who loves pro basketball

and who's followed this league his whole professional life, this regular season, this regular season, was a massive disappointment on a hundred levels. And if the NBA can't figure out how to get its players

fully engaged, as much or more than the fan base, too bad when it comes to the awards, which I vote on. I hate seeing the tide in knots, but maybe that's what this league deserves right now. I'm just going to say this, Mike. This kid said he wanted to be the MVP. He said this out loud.

This is a kid who wants to be the face of the league, and right now it looks like the league is preventing him from doing that, and I would reach out to Adam Silver and say, what's going on here? What's going on? Let's move to baseball. and last night's threat by Red Sox's first baseman Wilson Contreras to take out a random Milwaukee brewer. Contreras was hit in the hand in the third inning by a Milwaukee pitcher Brandon Woodruff.

After going to first base, Contreras yelled at Woodruff, and then he slid hard into second spikes up and tore the uniform of Milwaukee shortstop David Hamilton around his left knee. After the game, Contreras said, quote, they always say, I'm not trying to hit you. That gets old. So next time they hit me, I'm going to take one of them out, unquote. Will Bond, Contreras's threat, fair or foul? It's not just fair. It's required.

It's baseball. It's been around 150 years. We've seen people stand on dugout stairs and yell at everybody on the opposition, including the other dugout. And that's Hall of Famers at times, yelling at Hall of Famers. They've hit him a million times because he's been on rival teams. The Cubs and the Cardinals, his whole career, even his brother was on the other team. and they know what they're doing.

The brewers know what they're doing. So I would go full Burt Campanaris on the brewers if I was Contreras, and that means bat slinging like at Laren LaGroe back in like 1977. You want to throw a weapon at me? I got one to throw at you. Okay, and I hear you, and I know you say that a lot as a Cub fan, and I understand that. Do I have to bring up the specter of Dustin Padroia?

MVP second baseman. Mani Machado basically ended his career with a slide, not unlike Contreras's slide yesterday. I understand why Contreras says this. This is a number shocking to me. He's been hit 131 times in his career. He's been hit by the Brewers 24 times. That's 10 more times than by any other team. He's been hit by his pitcher Woodruff six times. Now, I understand that because when he's with the Cubs and Cardinals, they play each other a thousand times a year. Yeah. I get that. And I get his pain. But to say I'm going to take one of you out, that strikes me as, to me, it's going a little bit far. I mean, if the threat is just to the Brewers, then I think it's manageable because now he's a red sock. They're not going to play each other that much. But if I'm an infielder on the

brewers, I go to my pitching staff today and I say, hey, don't drill this guy. I got a whole career to think about. But Mike, what if his threat is to the entire league? What if the next team that hits him, he goes crazy. And by the way, his brother is the catcher. Right? At Milwaukee? What if he takes him out at home plate? What if he takes him out? What?

Let's take a break. It's tough. We'll ask Scott Van Pelt how it feels at Augusta without Tiger without Phil. We'll also ask him about defending champ Rory at world number one, Scotty, as they head toward the start of play. Tarn is baseball. Can I ask you something? You hate NHL fighting, but you like baseball fighting. How do you recognize?

No, I don't like fighting. But if you hit me with a baseball, I'm coming at you. I'm coming at you. It's Masters Week, and we are thrilled to be joined from Augusta by our great friend and our bald brother, ESPN Scott Van Peltz. Scottzo, let's start with this. No Tiger, no Phil at the Masters for the first time since 1994. How does it feel to you without them there?

Tony, it's, it feels different, certainly, because this is a place that more than any other in this game, I think, invites people to reflect on memories, right? It's 40 years since Jack and 86, and that'll obviously be discussed and remembered throughout this week. But so much of Jack, beyond 86, you go back in time with Jack and Arnold and Gary, and it's black and white pictures maybe, right? Which takes us into the past in history. Tiger and Phil lived all of what they did in vivid, vibrant color, and they've won eight of them combined. And so it feels the same in terms of a sense of optimism and joy to be here on the property, but it's undoubtedly different. Their presence changes things, even though they would certainly not want to be described as ceremonial, just seeing them if you're a patron or if you're covering it is something that gives you a little jolt. And that will be missing this week undoubtedly.

Well, one guy that won't be missing, of course, is defending champ Rory. And Scott, Tony and I've been wondering about this like all year. Is he good? Does he burn to win it again or add to his total? You've been around Rory for a long time yourself now. What's your sense of him as defending champ? I'll say the three hardest words for any of us to say in this business, Michael, honestly, I don't know. And I'm fascinated to find out.

And I'll tell you why. I think forever this place represented a finish line of sorts, right, to join that fraternity, to finish the race and become a Grand Slam champion. When you saw him fall to his knees and then literally face first on the green, I said to him when I saw him at the PGA Championship at Quill Hollow, I said, it seemed like you were holding back more in that damn than you knew until you let it burst. And he said it's true. And so having completed that, where's the motivation?

is his good still as good as anyone. I don't think we doubt that. I just don't know if the few, where's the fuel tank in terms of want to? And so I don't know what we'll see. Unencumbered by that, untethered from that boulder he was dragging behind him. Is he freed up to just go bananas? Wouldn't surprise me. But if he's content, that wouldn't either.

So, I mean, it's a lousy answer, but it's an honest one. No, no, it's a great answer. All right. So we're wondering about Scotty Schaefter, too, before a different set of circumstances. He, and we, all three of us know what this is like, he's his professional life, has been interrupted by being dad. And I don't know if he's a diaper changer, I certainly was.

But where is Scotty right now? Is he the world number one? Or is he dad right now? We're going to have to put that off for a little bit. I think we've found that we know this to be true, that he has a right. ravenous appetite to compete. And he loves to win. But then that isn't what fulfills him. That doesn't complete him in any way, shape, or form. Remember, he went to the Open Championship last

year and was like, ah. And then after he won, he won. And they were saying, are you happy you won? Because they were legitimately curious if that was at all satisfying to him. And so I know what fuels Scotty. It's his family and his faith, first and second in whatever order, combination of the two. But he's a hell of a fighter and he's a great player. His issue this year, Michael, has been real simple. He's got that one odd round where he's sort of pedestrian. And then the other three is Scotty Sheffler. So one of these weeks, maybe this one, he plays four Scotty Schaeffler rounds and he puts on the green jacket again. And you go, well, of course. But I don't think the dad thing is going to in any way be a net negative. I think it's a positive for sure for

Scottie. We will get you out of here on this. Who are the contenders in your mind that you are intrigued by particularly this week. Zander, for sure. Patrick Reed's a name I keep hearing. This golf course might be very firm. The weather should be spectacular. Wouldn't surprise anybody if he competed here as a past champion well and perhaps won again. I hope, and we're not supposed to root, but I hope Justin Rose has a chance to win again.

Twice in his life, he played 72 holes, got to Sunday evening and no one was lower. And then he didn't win either time because he lost in place. I'd love it if he won, but the guy I'm picking is Bryson. I think this is a place where you learn the golf course over time. He famously said PAR was what, 67 and everyone is like, is that right? And maybe the golf gods didn't smile on that idea. And he's figured it out some, finished tied for fifth last year, and he arrives having one a couple of times on live, so his form's really good.

I feel like Bryson's a guy come Sunday evening. I don't know what the size is. He's a big fella, but I believe like, I believe Bryson could be your Masters champion. Scott, it's a great pleasure for us that you would come on the show. Appreciate you. Enjoy yourself this week.

Thank you and enjoy yourself. Thanks. Thank you, man. Sports Center at the Masters begins at noon Eastern tomorrow. Let's take one last break, but still to come. Fernando Mendoza makes an unusual decision with respect to the NFL draft.

And Dawes Saley releases a statement about Friday night's issues with Gina. Wilbon, you change diapers. You don't strike. me as a diaper changer. You just told me. And you know who got me there?

You know who convinced me to do it from day one? Stuart Scott. Who? Stuart Scott. Really? He said, do it. When did you stop? Day four? Get fombed on your tie when you walk out the house.

Do all of it. Stewart convinced me to do it and I'm grateful. Happy time, people. Happy 47th birthday, Adrian Beltre. Belchre was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024. Beltre played third for the Dodgers, the Mariners, the Mariners, the Red Sox, and the Rangers over 21 seasons. The most years Beltray had with any one team was eight with Texas. Over the course of his career, Beltray batted 286 with 477 home runs and 1,707 RBI.

Beltre's biggest number was 3,166 hits, 18th all time. Beltrade led the majors with 48 home runs in 2004 when he was playing with the Dodgers. He also had 121 RBI that year, a personal day. best. Belchrey was a five-time gold glove, a four-time silver slugger. Tony among third baseman, he's ahead of Ron Santo and Brooks Robinson, which is hard for me to imagine, but he's third behind Mike Schmidt. We all knew that. And Eddie Matthews, if you remember, 512 for Eddie Matthews, I think 548 for Schmidt. But still, that's a hell of a career. Happy anniversary, Syracuse. On this day, 23 years ago,

The Orange, led by freshman Carmelo Anthony and Jerry McNamara, who hit six threes in the first half, beat Kansas for Jim Beheim's only national championship. Anthony and McNamara will be reunited for the upcoming basketball season as McNamara was recently named head coach at Syracuse, and one of his players is Carmelo's son Kayan. Kian Anthony was a reserve guard last season playing 18 minutes a game for Adrian Autry, another fine former Beheim player who was fired after three seasons of 49 and 48 record. and no postseason appearances. That was one great season by Carmelo Anthony, a freshman before that many freshmen had that kind of impact on the game. And then Carmelo was great. The next year's a rookie in Denver,

and he got cheated out of the rookie of the year war because people decided to forecast LeBron James' career. Carmelo, national champion, then should have been rookie of the year. Happy trails to all but one lady Val. The Tennessee women's basketball team is in shambles at the moment. Two seniors are graduating. Every other player with remaining eligibility is in the portal, and nearly the entire recruiting class,

once ranked number 10 in the country, has decommitted. This leaves only incoming freshman Gabby Minus. Second year head coach Kim Caldwell made headlines earlier this season when she said her team, quote, has had a lot of quit in us, unquote, before going one and eight down the stretch. Well, she called them quitters. Now they appear to have quit on her.

I'm not saying she's a bad coach. I'm saying that situation is a disaster. It is, Tony. Look, I have no idea if the great volunteer, Candice Parker, is interested in a coaching career. But I tell you what, if I'm a University of Tennessee's athletic department, you've got to pick up the phone and call Candace Parker. Whether it's as a consultant, whether you want to make her tell you no,

you got to get this thing turned around. That's the person I first think of. one omission cubs starting pitcher kate horton will have season-ending elbow surgery ugh all right that's too depressed to finish the show now let's keep going all right let's go to the big finish we don't have much to go let's do it don't stayley released a statement saying she spoke with gino oriema that one moment does not define a career and asking everyone to turn the page your thoughts

i knew don't staley would find the high road is too bad gino can't Juan Soto was out for two to three weeks with a right calf strain. Big deal? Of course it's a big deal. I understand it's 162 games. He's one of the best players in the league, in all of baseball. Come on.

Fernando Mendoza will not attend the NFL draft. We'll instead celebrate with his family in Miami. Does that surprise you? Tony, what we know about him so far, that seems consistent so far with him. We're going to learn a lot more over the next, I don't know, a couple of decades. Max Scherzer, your boy, left the J's 14-2. who lost to the Dodgers last night with forearm tendonitis.

Are you concerned? I'm concerned, but Max is not concerned. It's just more piano playing for the warrior guard. Get everything ship's shape. Last one, scoobble, Yamamoto, Alcantra, Skeins, Crochet, the Miz, and Schlittler all pitch tonight. You intrigued? Scoobel and Skeens, Tom. Yeah, it's a great group of Scoobel and Skeens is where I'm going to start tonight,

trying to watch those guys before. I want to watch the math. Terrible. We're out of time. We'll try to be better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser. I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.