Michigan legend Trey Burke will be honored ahead of tonight's game against the U-M legend's hometown Ohio State Buckeyes.
Few players in college basketball history have left a mark on their program quite like Trey Burke did at Michigan. From 2011 to 2013, Burke didn’t just star for the Wolverines — he transformed them, restoring Michigan to national prominence and setting a standard that still defines the program today. And the fact that he's from Columbus, Ohio just makes it that much sweeter.
A product of Northland High School, Burke arrived in Ann Arbor with a chip on his shoulder as a modestly-rated recruit who was overlooked by the hometown Buckeyes. With that kind of drive, he exceeded expectations almost immediately. As a freshman in 2011-12, Burke earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors from the media, was a unanimous selection to the conference’s All-Freshman Team, and collected multiple Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. More importantly, he led Michigan to a 24-10 record and its first Big Ten championship in 26 years, signaling the program’s return to the national stage.
Burke’s sophomore season cemented his place among the all-time greats. The 2012-13 campaign became one of the most decorated individual seasons in college basketball history. He was named the consensus National Player of the Year, sweeping every major award: the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, AP Player of the Year, NABC Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy, and Sports Illustrated Player of the Year. He also claimed the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard and earned unanimous First-Team All-America honors.
Within the Big Ten, Burke’s dominance was equally undeniable. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year by both coaches and media, a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection, and a preseason All-Big Ten pick. At Michigan, his leadership and excellence were recognized with back-to-back Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player awards and Gary Grant Awards for Most Assists, and he served as team captain during his historic final season.
Beyond the accolades, Burke’s impact was defined by winning. In just 73 games (72 starts), he led Michigan to heights it hadn’t reached in decades. The Wolverines advanced to the 2013 Final Four — their first in 20 years — and finished 31-8, marking the program’s first 30-win season since 1993. The Wolverines ultimately fell to Louisville int he title game, but along the way, Burke earned South Regional Most Outstanding Player honors and a spot on the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
Trey Burke didn’t just fill the trophy case. He restored belief, elevated expectations, and reshaped Michigan basketball’s identity. His legacy isn’t only measured in awards, banners, and wins — it’s measured in the standard he set for every Wolverine who followed.