Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and the Fab Five reunite for Michigan-Ohio State basketball game
Fab Five reunited on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Yes, the state of Michigan continues its winning ways.
Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson sat courtside together Monday watching former teammate Juwan Howard coach Michigan against Ohio State at Crisler Center. It's the first time since their 1990s playing days all five were together at the arena.
The quartet hugged Howard as he walked off the court at halftime with a surprising 37-28 lead over the rival Buckeyes in what has been a trying season for the Wolverines (7-10, 2-4 Big Ten), who broke a five-game losing streak with a 73-65 win.
The group received a standing ovation when shown on the jumbotron late in the first half.
REUNION: Chris Webber explains how Fab Five fixed issues, why they all returned to Crisler Center
The entire 𝘍𝘢𝘣 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 is present today at the Crisler Center.
📺: FOX/@CBBonFOX pic.twitter.com/jB6uYc3A7x— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 15, 2024
Juwan Howard hugs his former Fab 5 teammates as he exits the court at halftime. pic.twitter.com/zTpyiQlI5y
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) January 15, 2024
For the first time since their playing days, the Fab 5 is all under the Crisler Center roof.
“It’s really cool to be here, but it’s better to be here as family,” Chris Webber said. “If it took 100 years, I’d wait that long to be here, sincerely. So it feels great.” pic.twitter.com/whtXkbSS6D— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) January 15, 2024
Rose and Webber, who both grew up friends and teammates in Detroit, specifically had long been estranged dating to fallout from their Michigan days, but recently started to patch things up, when Webber was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in May 2021.
"My brother," Rose tweeted with a pregame picture standing next to Webber.
My brother @realchriswebber pic.twitter.com/y3jDGVkU4X
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) January 15, 2024
Howard is in his fifth season as Michigan coach, holding an 83-58 record amid an up-and-down tenure due to both play on the court and his actions from the sideline. The Wolverines went 18-16 last season and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015.
This season has been most trying for Howard, as he recovered from a September heart procedure and missed time, then in December, reportedly had a screaming match between him and his strength coach Jon Sanderson.
But his former Fab Five teammates were there to support the embattled coach. Together the five helped Michigan to the 1992 and 1993 national championship games as freshmen and sophomores as part of a heralded 1991 recruiting class.
The Webber-Rose relationship cooled with the end of Webber’s relationship with late Michigan booster Ed Martin. Webber in 2003 pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal contempt, downgraded from charges of obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury. In court, he admitted to giving $38,200 to Martin in 1994 as partial repayment for previous loans.
READ MORE: Chris Webber's Fab Five legacy complicated — time to end the timeout
The payment scandal led to Michigan forfeiting wins from Webber’s two seasons and removing Final Four banners from Crisler Center. The NCAA also banned Webber from associating with Michigan basketball for 10 years. Webber refused to attend a Fab Five reunion or participate in ESPN’s 2011 “30 for 30” on the Fab Five, causing more friction.
Rose said during an in-game interview Monday on the Fox TV broadcast with Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson that Michigan didn't acknowledge the group properly for years, including when Rose was a donor.
Rose in 2019 said Howard's hiring would squash the beef, and reiterated that Monday and also credited athletic director Warde Manuel.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Fab 5 reunite for Michigan vs. Ohio State
