The inclement weather wreaked havoc on the streets in downtown Ann Arbor last Wednesday night. The Crisler Arena parking lot was a blanket of snow. Inside, the excitement was uncontrollable. The "Fab Four" were about to lace up their black Nikes.

The Michigan crowd was astir, revving up for the Wolverines 1993-94 Crisler Arena finale -- Michigan vs. Penn State. The Michigan pep band sat in a corner adjacent to the south basket, pounding out the tunes.

This basketball contest seemed to be special. After all, it was senior recognition night at Michigan. The anticipation stirred.

Then Wolverine sophomore Chris Fields stepped onto the court. The walk-on picked up a basketball, and dribbled it down under the Michigan basket.

The cheers increased in volume. The crowd wanted more -- the crowd wanted the "Fab Four."

Then, one by one, that coveted crop of juniors stepped onto the hardwood. First Jimmy King, then Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard, and eventually Ray Jackson. They strutted onto the court, nodding their heads in a confident manner. The arrogance was thick.

During the pregame warmups, a swarm of people stood behind the south basket in order to catch an up-close glimpse of the "Fab Four." The camera flashes were working overtime. People held copies of the book FAB FIVE by Mitch Albom, hoping to get an autograph.

"Let's go, Jalen," a boy yelled from behind the hoop. "Light it up."

Rose, the ballyhooed Michigan point guard, turned around, walked over, and tapped the kid on his head. The youngster's eyes lit up -- the grin on his face was vibrant.

There was something about this collective group of four juniors. Even this season, without the Fifth Fab, Chris Webber (an NBA millionaire), the "Fab Four" are still scintillating.

Maybe it's the back-to-back trips to the Final Four -- college basketball's promised land. Maybe it's the baggy-shorts. Maybe it's the black socks.

As I watched four of the nation's most heralded college basketball players go through their layup line, I was captivated. Yes, even awestruck.

Once the basketball contest began, everything I had read about these Wolverines unfolded on the court. The "Fab Four" sizzled.

Juwan Howard went to work at the 19-minute mark of the first half, with his patented turn-around jumper in the post. The next time down the floor, he delivered a thunderous dunk off a pass from Jackson. This 6-foot-9 man-child was dominant on the blocks.

The rest of the game produced a little bit of everything. The Jalen Rose lean-in jump shot -- off the glass. The sharpshooting exploits from Jimmy King. The tenacious defense from Ray Jackson.

And the trash was there, too. Like the time when Jalen Rose bounced the ball on the head of Lion point guard Dan Earl with 17:56 in the second half.

The "Fab Four" clicked. The Michigan crowd erupted. The "Fab Four" was for real, just like I knew they would be.

OK, granted, the "Fab Four" at times have been undisciplined, which cost them the Big Ten title. But this group is entertaining -- even without Webber. They're intriguing to watch. And in the NCAA Tournament, the "Fab Four" is 10-2. Look out, Pepperdine.

"Needless to say, I'm very impressed with Michigan," Coach Bruce Parkhill said after the Lions lost to the Wolverines, 81-72, that Wednesday night.

Needless to say, I'm very impressed, too -- with the "Fab Four."