ATLANTA -- This one, Michigan fans, is on the books.
Two decades after the famed Fab Five led the Wolverines to two NCAA tournament championship games that were later vacated, another group of fabulous young Michigan players have them back in the hunt for a title after beating fellow No. 4 seed Syracuse, 61-56, on Saturday night.
Michigan coach John Beilein made the most of his first Final Four after a career that spanned every level of college basketball, climbing from junior colleges to Division III to Division II to Division I to the chance to become the best team in the nation.
The Wolverines will play top-seeded Louisville on Monday night at the Georgia Dome. The Cardinals struggled before shutting down No. 9 seed Wichita State, 72-68.
Despite leading by 11 earlier in the game against Syracuse, Michigan had to hang on until the very end.
After a 3-pointer by James Southerland, Syracuse trailed just 57-56 with 40.3 seconds remaining. Michigan's Trey Burke missed the first and made the second of two free throws to give the Wolverines a two-point edge.
A charge call on Syracuse gave the possession back to Michigan, and Jon Horford missed the first but made his second free throw with 17.9 seconds to go for a 59-56 lead. After a miss by Syracuse's Trevor Cooney, Jordan Morgan punctuated the Michigna victory with a dunk and time expired.
Michigan shot only 40 percent from the floor and saw a quiet night from some star players in the victory.
While the Wolverines built their 11-point lead in the first half, Syracuse's zone began to wear away at the Wolverines' shooters.
While Michigan's Trey Burke collected every notable national player of the year award, he made only 1 of 8 shots from the field and finished with seven points.
Michigan likes to point out that it is a team of shooters, not a one-man show. And the Wolverines proved it again in the Final Four.
Freshman forward Mitch McGary controlled the game with 10 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
McGary, who had shot better than 60 percent in his first four tournament games, made 4 of 8 field goals against the Orange's intimidating zone defense.
Michigan freshmen reserves Spike Albrecht and Caris LeVert each hit two timely 3-pointers in the first half, providing the Wolverines with a 36-25 halftime lead.
Defense and C.J. Fair kept the Orange alive.
Michael Carter-Williams made just 1 of 6 shots and Southerland went 2-for-9.
Syracuse drew to within 48-45, but a Glenn Robinson III putback and a jump shot by McGary pulled the Wolverines ahead by eight points with 3 minutes, 38 seconds remaining.