Michigan won an outright Big Ten championship in Juwan Howard’s second year with a squad that started outside the top 25 but finished as an Elite Eight squad. Though the season ended with a disappointing loss to UCLA, the Wolverines exceeded many expectations and made a great postseason run without Isaiah Livers (foot).

Yes, it’s possible to be elated and disappointed with a season at the same time. Any chance to get to a Final Four, especially in a game they probably should have won, is a huge opportunity. But losing that one wasn’t the biggest disappointment for assistant Phil Martelli — nor should it have been.

“When you take a step back and think about what the team accomplished, how much sacrificing went into it, both the players and staff … I think Juwan has been great about this,” Martelli said. “Their family sacrificed and ours sacrificed a lot. This idea of having some family time [now] is the uniqueness of Juwan, but also, we have the power that we can get in touch with anybody by phone, Zoom, those things.

“But looking at our team, I do think there’s a certain sadness about the sadness. The team played I thought such pretty basketball. It would have been really appreciated at home or on the road, and in the NCAA Tournament. I think it would have been appreciated, just the style of play.”

Two things in particular stood out, he said.