Best Michigan teams ever: Comparing 2026 squad to Fab Five years, 1989 championship team originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Shortly after Michigan’s 2026 Sweet Sixteen victory over Alabama, senior star Yaxel Lendeborg made headlines by proclaiming that his Wolverines squad “might be” the best in the school’s history.

The statement sent shockwaves across social media and drew reactions from Jalen Rose, a member of the “Fab Five.” While the 2026 Michigan squad has had a stellar season and earned a spot in the 2026 national championship, the job is far from finished. This year’s team does boast the fewest points allowed per game when compared with the 1989 title-winning team and both Fab Five squads, but basketball is about much more than numbers on a page.

Despite playing in seven national championship games, the program has a 1-6 record in those matchups. Lendeborg’s squad will look to change that and strengthen his case. If this year’s Wolverines win a title, according to Rose, “Of course it’s time to have that conversation, ’89 versus this team.”

Here is a deep dive into Michigan’s best teams and how this year’s Wolverines stack up against their predecessors

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How 2026 Michigan compares to other great Wolverines teams

The Wolverines have had multiple powerhouse teams, including this year’s squad. According to former Fab Five member Jalen Rose, no team has topped the 1989 title-winning group Michigan put on the floor. That starting five of Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills and Sean Higgins remains the only group in school history to win a championship. Along with delivering the program’s lone title, that team averaged 91.7 points per game, the highest mark in school history. All five starters went on to play in the NBA, with Rice, Vaught and Mills each logging double-digit NBA seasons.

Four years after that championship run, Michigan introduced its “Fab Five” era. The 1992 and 1993 teams featured Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Ray Jackson and Juwan Howard. All five were part of the 1991 recruiting class and arrived in Ann Arbor as freshmen. The group made NCAA history as the first to start five freshmen. While the Fab Five reached two national championship games, they lost both—71-51 to Duke in 1992 and 77-71 to North Carolina in 1993. Four of the five members went on to NBA careers: Webber, Howard, Rose and King.

Strictly by the numbers, the 2026 Michigan team can hold its own among the program’s best. However, at this point, they still need a bit more to enter that tier definitively. First, Nimari Burnett, Elliot Cadeau, Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara must deliver a championship. While the team has gained legitimacy by reaching the 2026 title game, the job is not finished. Beyond that, when comparing eras, sustained NBA success from multiple starters would strengthen the case. Their 87.7 points per game is impressive, but there’s more to basketball than scoring.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of Michigan’s best teams in school history.

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Yaxel Lendeborg quote on 2026 being ‘best Michigan team ever’

see if you can include some of the reactions to that quote as well. I think Jalen rose may have said something? I could be wrong

Following Michigan’s 90-77 Sweet Sixteen victory over Alabama in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Lendeborg mentioned that his team “might be” Michigan’s best team of all time. The star’s statement was immediately met with backlash from college basketball fans, as if Lendeborg had forgotten the Fab Five teams or even Michigan’s 1989 title-winning team. Here is when Lendeborg gave his take.

“We might be the best Michigan team ever. We’re gonna try to go for that.” 🗣️

Yaxel Lendeborg never afraid of the moment as he spoke after Michigan advanced to the Elite 8 😤 pic.twitter.com/TEmNzuxx0i

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) March 28, 2026

Fab Five member Jalen Rose pumped the brakes on Lendeborg’s statement, saying the team had to win a championship first before making any comparisons. Rose stated that the best Michigan team was, in fact, the 1989 title-winning team, not any of the Fab Five teams. Here is Rose’s statement.

Jalen Rose reacts to Yaxel Lendeborg saying this “might be the best Michigan team ever” 🍿 pic.twitter.com/8v3NvP1Lg5

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 28, 2026

One fan compared the 1989 and 2026 Michigan starting lineups, which would be a matchup of the ages. Here is what a 5 vs. 5 would look like between the two sides.

Jalen spot on 🎯

No debate unless Michigan wins this yr

’89 would be a tough matchup 🔥

6’2″ Cudeau v 6’3″ Rumeal
6’5″ Trey v 6’9″ Higgins (yikes)
6’9″ Yax v 6’8″ Rice 🔥👀
6’10” Rez v 6’9″ Vaught
7’4″ Mara v 6’10” Mills

Yax v Rice would be an insane matchup

— Chad Smeaton (@smeaton_chad) March 28, 2026

How many times has Michigan been to the national title game?

Since their Final Four appearance in 1964, when they lost to Duke 91-80, Michigan has played in seven national title games. In those championship games, they currently hold a 1-6 record. Here is a table breaking down all of the Wolverines’ national championship appearances.

NBA SCOUTING REPORTS:

• UConn’s Alex Karaban
• Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg
• Duke’s Cam Boozer
• St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor
• Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner
• Purdue’s Braden Smith
• Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz
• Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, Jr.
• Alabama’s Labaron Philon, Jr.
• St. Louis’ Robbie Avila
• Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears, Jr.