They came to party. They left thinking about class tomorrow.
After spending all day getting hyped up about their basketball team playing for the national championship, Michigan students packed the Crisler Center, roaring their approval loudly and often.
But as the game slipped away, they headed for exits, jamming into buses and heading back to central campus.
Police were waiting for them. On South University, an area popular with students because of the bars on the streets, police were all over. There were 19 officers in an one-block stretch.
Firefighters chased at least seven reported fires -- at least four involving couches -- in the minutes following game. U-M police spokeswoman Diane Brown said there were no injuries from the small fires. Brown said there were no reported problems during the game.
Ann Arbor police reported two arrests, including one for disorderly conduct and one for drunken driving.
Meanwhile, Kentucky police used pepper spray and an armored car to calm disturbances that erupted at the tail end of celebrations in Louisville. Gatherings were mostly peaceful Monday night; Louisville police said most of the 23 arrests were due to drunken or disorderly conduct.
But things got out of hand as the celebration was winding down early Tuesday, with police in riot gear and an armored car arriving after the crowds refused to disperse.
Police spokeswoman Carey Klain says several scuffles followed. Some partiers threw bottles at police, hitting an officer in the head. Police responded with pepper spray.
Klain says the officer received minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released.
Most of Michigan's campus was empty during the game, as students gathered in houses, bars and at the Crisler Center to watch.
A group of students gathered on the Diag, alternating between yelling profanities at Louisville, the basketball opponent and singing Michigan’s fight song.
Overall, the mood around campus was much deflated.
“It sucks to lose,” said Marissa Washington, 23, a graduate student. “I really thought this was going to be our year.”
By 12:45 a.m. there were fewer students on South University than on a normal Friday night, and some police were being pulled back. Several bars still had crowds in them, though.
. Honest. Haha.
