INDIANAPOLIS – University of Michigan alum Rich Eisen welcomed Fab Five legend Jalen Rose to the Rich Eisen Show ahead of the Michigan Wolverines’ Final Four matchup against the Arizona Wildcats.
Rose, who was honored with the 2025 Ice Cube Impact Award at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will share the spotlight with his Fab Five brothers, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson will be together on-site at the Final Four on Saturday (April 4) for the first time in almost 30 years, alongside host Adam Lefkoe, to share live reactions and timeless stories with their unique perspectives on the heavyweight matchup.
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The Ice Cube Impact Award was created in 2024 to recognize individuals who make substantial contributions to their communities through basketball, as Rose does with his Jalen Rose Leadership Academy.
--> Fab Five reunion set for Michigan basketball vs. Arizona Final Four showdown in Indianapolis
“It’s going to be incredible. For the world, since 1993, we’ve only been in the same place at the same time, around 2002, when I had a celebrity game in Chicago, when Michigan played against Louisville in the championship, where Trey Burke got a phantom foul that I am still angry about, just like I’m still mad about the Bill Laimbeer foul against Kareem in 1987 against my Detroit Pistons, we were in the same place when Juwan was coaching and then this weekend. So that’s three times in 35 years. So it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for us to get up and break bread. Hopefully, we have a great champagne, crab, and lobster dinner tonight.”
Jalen Rose
The Fab Five, freshmen starters who helped redefine college basketball culture in the early 1990s, have seldom gathered since their run to back-to-back national title games.
For Rose, a single image of Michigan’s Fab Five still carries decades of meaning.
When reflecting on photos from the early 1990s, Rose pointed first to the group’s edge and fearlessness, qualities that defined their rise and helped reshape college basketball culture.
“That guy was fearless,” Rose said. “He didn’t care about anything.”
But beyond the bravado, Rose said the deeper takeaway is the bond that still connects the group today.
“I see brotherhood. I see love,” Rose said.
The 1991 freshmen class left a lasting imprint not only on the court but across the sport’s identity.
From long shorts to black socks and shoes, their style became a defining look that continues to influence the modern game.
Rose noted that while today’s players benefit from name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, the Fab Five helped drive commercial attention to college basketball.
“We sold products, jerseys, shorts, shoes, socks,” Rose said.
Rose also credited earlier powerhouse programs, including those led by John Thompson at Georgetown and Jerry Tarkanian at UNLV, for paving the way.
“We stood on the shoulders of giants,” Rose said.
If he had to sum up what those images represent, Rose said the answer is simple.
“If I had to embody that picture in one word, it’s love,” Rose said. “Love from U of M, because we are the greatest university in the world, and if you don’t recognize, you’d better recognize. Just to see us then and to see us now is just an incredible thing. So, we’re really blessed.”
Greatest Michigan team ever
As Michigan moves closer to a potential national championship, questions about where this team ranks in program history are already surfacing.
For Rose, the answer is simple: win first, debate later.
“To be honest, we don’t care. We just want them to win it,” Rose said. “If saying you’re the best team means you’re going to win it, go do it.”
Rose said he still considers Michigan’s 1989 national championship team, led by Glen Rice, Terry Mills, Loy Vaught, Rumeal Robinson, and Sean Higgins, as the program’s gold standard.
“They were the only team to ever do it,” Rose said. “So, for me, they’re the greatest team.”
That group, which featured multiple future professionals, remains the benchmark until another Michigan team finishes the job.
Still, Rose acknowledged that this year’s squad, coached by Dusty May and led by Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, has put itself in a position to enter the conversation.
“If this team cuts down the nets, then it’s time to have that conversation,” Rose said.
Rose praised the current roster’s potential but noted there is still work to be done, particularly in the frontcourt.
“We need Aday Mara to stay out of foul trouble,” Rose said. “We need him to block a couple more shots. We need 10 rebounds out of him.”
For now, Rose said, the focus should remain on the task at hand, finishing the season with a championship.
“I’m rooting for them,” Rose said. “I want to see them do so well.”
Final Four
Michigan’s Final Four matchup with Arizona presents one of the toughest tests of the season, according to Rose.
“Arizona’s a problem,” Rose said. “They really are.”
He pointed to Arizona’s mix of emerging young talent and experienced leadership as key strengths.
Freshman forward Koa Peat has been among the standouts in a season where first-year players have made a significant impact nationally, while guard Jaden Bradley provides stability at the point.
Rose also highlighted Caleb Love as a dynamic scorer, comparing his offensive ability to that of NBA star and fellow Michigander Devin Booker.
“They have a guy who can really score and shoot it,” Rose said. “And coach Tommy Lloyd has done a terrific job with that roster.”
Despite strong performances from other Final Four teams, Rose believes the Michigan-Arizona matchup features the two best teams remaining in the tournament.
“I don’t want to disrespect anyone else,” Rose said, “but I feel like these are the two best teams.”
With a spot in the national championship game on the line, Rose expects a high-level battle and believes the winner will have the edge moving forward.
“Whoever wins this game,” Rose said, “is going to win it all.”