Former Michigan Basketball Standout Lays Into Team on Instagram After 32-Point Loss to Purdue

Nik Stauskas lamented the state of a once-proud program.

In contrast to its highly successful next-door neighbors on Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor, Mich., Michigan men's basketball is in a bit of a funk.

The Wolverines have limped to a 7-12 start in coach Juwan Howard's fifth season, sustaining losses to mid-majors like Long Beach State and McNeese State. On Tuesday, Michigan bottomed out with a 99-67 loss to No. 2 Purdue—the team's worst loss under Howard.

So lopsided was the loss that it prompted former Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas—the Big Ten's Player of the Year in 2014 under coach John Beilein—to weigh in on Instagram.

"These kids have no respect or understanding of what it means to put on that M," Stauskas wrote. "Haven't felt any kind of passion or love for the game from Michigan basketball in years."

Former Michigan guard Nik Stauskas is not happy with what he saw tonight and sounded off on the state of the program on its latest IG post. pic.twitter.com/uwGkaDzRcL

— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) January 24, 2024

Under Beilein, Michigan churned out NBA-caliber talent and attained some of its greatest heights as a program. The Wolverines reached the national championship in 2013 and 2018, losing to Louisville and Villanova, respectively.

Apart from a 23-5 campaign in 2021, Howard has found success elusive. Now, Michigan is staring down its first instance of missing the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years since a 10-year dry spell from 1999-2008.