By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-29 15:01:19 | Updated at 2025-04-01 01:17:36
2 days ago
The University of Michigan's men's basketball team has had their March Madness run come to an end and one of the school's most popular alums in the sports world had his thoughts.
Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy posted a video of his reaction from his bed in the aftermath of Michigan's defeat in the Sweet 16 to the Auburn Tigers.
Portnoy made the video the following morning and posted it to his Instagram story right as he woke up from a hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
He responded to people who were critical of his lack of reaction after the defeat, while also offering congratulations to the Tigers.
'I'm getting a lot of smoke: 'oh Dave didn't post a video after Michigan lost in the Sweet 16.' Listen, I was at the Barstool bar in Nashville for IceCon,' a bleary eyed Portnoy explained.
'Had 94,000 High Noons the bar was loud, it was pumpin', it was goin'. I did tweet it. But a Michigan Man always pays his debts. Great game from Auburn, they were better than us. They hit shots down the stretch. I have no complaints.
A bleary eyed Dave Portnoy posted a reaction the morning after his alma mater lost to Auburn
Portnoy's Michigan Wolverines are now knocked out of March Madness in the Sweet 16
He continued: 'Michigan Men always step up and face the music, Auburn deserved that game. I thought we played 'em tough, I thought we had 'em. When we were up ten I had visions of San Antonio dancin' in my head. But the better team won.'
Portnoy had been high on his Wolverines' chances in the tournament early on.
At the start of their March Madness journey, the five-seed Michigan were able to hold off a late challenge from 12-seeded UC San Diego. Then, the Wolverines managed a very comfortable victory over four-seed Texas A&M in the Round of 32.
Ever the gambler, Portnoy decided to put his money on the line that Michigan's luck would continue - and dropped $10,000 on them to win the national championship.
Considering that the Wolverines are still at 80-1 odds, Portnoy felt that the risk was worth a potential payout of $810,000.
He even mocked the sportsbook he placed the bet with as he showed his betslip on social media.
'Am I insane person or is [DraftKings] insane?,' Portnoy posted on Saturday night.
'80-1 and we're locked in to the sweet 16 and playing great basketball!'
Michigan's Danny Wolf ended his career with a 20-point performance that fell just short
Meanwhile, Auburn's Johni Broome (4) dropped a double-double to lead his team to the Elite 8
Cut to the Sweet 16 and the Wolverines were up as much as nine (not ten) in the second half before losing 78-65 to Auburn.
Michigan's Danny Wolf ended his college career with a 20 point, six rebound performance to lead the Wolverines in scoring.
Opposite him, Auburn's national player of the year candidate Johni Broome put up a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out of the game.
Guards Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford both also had 20 points in the victory.
Auburn now faces two-seed Michigan State in the Elite Eight - with the winner booking a trip to the Final Four.
