FLINT, MI – It's 24 years later, and it's still about heart.
Flint native Demetrius Calip helped the University of Michigan claim its only NCAA men's basketball championship, courtesy of an 80-79 overtime victory over Seton Hall in the national championship game on April 3, 1989, in Seattle.
Michigan will play Syracuse in the Final Four Saturday night in Atlanta, the Wolverines' first appearance on the NCAA's biggest stage since 1993. While all teams are unique, Flint Northern graduate Calip can see one similarity between his team and this year's squad – both refuse to lose.
"Any championship, any stage, it's the will to win," said Calip, who now resides in Southern California. "You have to win the next game, however possible, whether it's diving on the floor or getting that rebound. It's like when Trey Burke hit that shot (against Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen). Every possession becomes crucial. How bad do you want it?"
Calip played four seasons in Ann Arbor, leading the Wolverines in scoring in 1990-91 (20.5 points per game), and he played briefly in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers. While he spends most of his time now managing his mortgage company – Gifgo Inc. – he still finds time to dabble in hoops.
He was a varsity assistant coach at Taft High School, a charter school in Woodland Hills, Calif., from 2008-12, helping the Toreadors capture the 2011 C.I.F. Los Angeles City Section championship.
During his four seasons at Taft, he helped mentor such notable collegiate players as Bryce Jones (UNLV), Kevin Johnson (Seton Hall) and DeAndre Daniels (Connecticut). He also served as a personal trainer for former Michigan standout, Darius Morris.
He left coaching this past winter to concentrate on teaching the fundamentals to his 10-year-son, Demetrius Calip II. No matter what individual or team he is mentoring, it is not uncommon for someone to bring up his 1989 Michigan squad.
Demetrius Calip
"The (head) coach will tell them, "You don't just have anyone training you,'" Calip said. "You have someone who made it to the Division I level, won a national championship, and played professional basketball."
Calip's ascension up the basketball ladder began at King Park in Flint during one of the city's most talent-rich eras – the 1980s. Flint captured five straight Class A state championships during that time frame, three by Flint Central (1981-83) and two by Flint Northwestern (1984-84).
It was during this time he first came into contact with his future Michigan teammate, Glen Rice (Northwestern). Those battles at King Park helped catapult Calip to a standout career at Northern.
As a senior in 1987, he earned first-team All-State honors while helping the Vikings reach the Class A state semifinals where they lost, 89-74, to an Anderson Hunt-led Detroit Southwestern squad.
"It was the most amazing time," Calip said. "Even now, I don't see any era better than what we had back then. We had some great games at King Park – the fences would be crowded. Glen Rice was one of the inspirations that led me to Michigan. I feel fortunate to have grown up in the era."
Calip left for Michigan in 1988, and a year later, was part of the Wolverines' greatest season. Like this year's team, the 1989 squad not only had to overcome some adversity, but it needed some last-second heroics to live its dream.
Flint native Demetrius Calip (No. 13) drives past an Ohio State player during a game in the early 1990s.
Michigan suffered a crushing 89-73 setback to Illinois in its regular-season finale. Two days later, head coach Bill Frieder was fired after he accepted the same position at Arizona State. For the tournament, assistant coach Steve Fisher was given the tag of interim head coach.
The Wolverines then reeled off six straight victories, including an 83-81 triumph over Illinois in the Final Four. The victory was secured on a put-back shot in the final seconds by Sean Higgins. Michigan edged Seton Hall in the championship game when Rumeal Robinson drained a pair of free throws with three seconds left in overtime.
"Glen Rice came into the locker room (after the loss to Illinois) and said, 'We're going on a mission,'" Calip said. "It was a phenomenal run. When we finally cut down the nets, we held up a sign that said, 'Mission Accomplished.'"
Calip said like his team, he feels this year's unit not only has the necessary tools to win a national championship, but it also has the heart and determination.
"I think they have all the pieces to get it done," Calip said. "When they are clicking on all cylinders, they're one of the toughest offensive teams in the country. If there is ever a team that can beat the (Syracuse) zone, it's the Michigan Wolverines."