Trey Burke Honored As Michigan Retires Jersey In Win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The lights inside Crisler Arena shone a little brighter on January 23, 2026, as the Michigan Wolverines not only battled their longtime rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, but also celebrated one of the program’s most transformative players. Trey Burke, the point guard whose electrifying play helped bring Michigan basketball back to national prominence, saw his jersey lifted into the rafters during a moving halftime ceremony — a moment that capped a night filled with nostalgia, gratitude, and, of course, a Wolverines victory.

Before tip-off, Burke met with reporters to reflect on his journey, his time in Ann Arbor, and what it meant to have his jersey retired. “I want [the fans] to think about not only the basketball player, but the person,” Burke said. “I want them to think about me as a winner and someone who really helped change and turn this program around back to relevance.”

Burke’s path to Michigan stardom was anything but smooth. As a freshman, he found himself at a crossroads. Former head coach John Beilein, who was present for Friday’s festivities, recalled the early struggles that nearly derailed Burke’s collegiate career. “This man right here, he held me accountable,” Burke said, gesturing toward Beilein. “It wasn’t always just roses off the court. I had a lot of PDP’s I had to runs. I tripped a lot my freshman year. He threatened to send me home my freshman year. My mom came up – you remember that coach? I seen her cry in that meeting and I snapped out of it. ... I put too much work in to be at such a prestigious opportunity to blow this opportunity. From that day forward, I tried to be the best I could be and I built a family.”

That pivotal meeting with his parents and coach Beilein proved to be a turning point. Burke buckled down, embracing the discipline and work ethic required to thrive at a program with Michigan’s pedigree. The results were immediate and profound. Burke led the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship, shared Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, and, in his sophomore year, won the Wooden Award as the national player of the year. Perhaps most memorably, he guided Michigan to its first national championship game appearance in two decades, reigniting a program hungry for success.

Beilein, who addressed the media before the game, didn’t hold back his admiration for Burke’s impact on the court. “There were times he looked like a pro,” Beilein said. “My playbook shrunk quite a bit during that time. Just give a high ball screen and get out of the way.”

Burke’s sophomore season was the stuff of legend. He scored in double figures in every regular-season game, helping Michigan rise to No. 1 in the polls by mid-January. But it wasn’t just raw talent that set him apart; it was his resilience and leadership, forged in the aftermath of a bitter NCAA tournament loss to Ohio the previous March. “A lot people left, a lot of people turned the TV off,” Burke recalled of Michigan’s dramatic Sweet 16 comeback against Kansas, when the Wolverines rallied from 10 points down with just 2:40 to play. “We never stopped believing.”

That belief culminated in Burke’s iconic 30-foot three-pointer to force overtime, a shot that lives on in Michigan basketball lore. The Wolverines would go on to win two more games, advancing to the national championship for the first time since 1993. While Michigan fell short in the title game, the season marked a renaissance for the program and set the stage for sustained success. Since Burke’s departure, Michigan has returned to the title game and enjoyed a stretch of five straight Sweet 16 appearances. Under current head coach Dusty May, the Wolverines are once again in the conversation as favorites to cut down the nets this April.

Friday’s ceremony was as much a family reunion as it was a celebration. Burke was joined by his parents, his wife and child, and more than a dozen former teammates who made the pilgrimage back to Ann Arbor to honor their friend and leader. As the crowd erupted and his banner ascended, Burke admitted the moment was almost too much to process. “I don’t think you can do anything you don’t imagine,” he said, recalling the childhood days when he’d shoot hoops in his driveway, counting down imaginary buzzer-beaters with his friend and future Ohio State star Jared Sullinger.

For Burke, the jersey retirement was the realization of two lifelong dreams: becoming a Michigan legend and growing a family rooted in faith and perseverance. “Those are now two dreams which are very much Burke’s reality,” he said, his voice tinged with emotion.

The halftime ceremony itself was a spectacle. As the banner bearing Burke’s number was raised, fans stood in unison, many with tears in their eyes, recognizing not just the player but the journey he undertook. The significance wasn’t lost on Burke, who emphasized the importance of legacy and gratitude. “I want them to think about me as a winner and someone who really helped change and turn this program around back to relevance,” he reiterated, his words echoing through the arena.

On the court, the Wolverines delivered a performance worthy of the occasion, defeating Ohio State 74-62 in front of a raucous home crowd. The victory, while sweet, was almost secondary to the celebration of Burke’s career and the indelible mark he left on Michigan basketball. Players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Roddy Gayle Jr., and L.J. Cason contributed to the win, showcasing the kind of grit and determination that Burke once embodied in maize and blue.

As the final buzzer sounded and fans filed out into the chilly Ann Arbor night, the sense of history was palpable. Burke’s journey — from a freshman on the brink of being sent home to a Michigan legend with his jersey in the rafters — serves as a testament to the power of second chances, hard work, and unwavering belief. It’s a story that will inspire future generations of Wolverines and college basketball fans alike.

With his jersey now hanging high above the court he once electrified, Trey Burke’s legacy as a winner and a program-changer is firmly cemented. The Wolverines, buoyed by his example, continue to chase greatness — and for one unforgettable night, all of Ann Arbor paused to say thank you.