[3][4] The Titans would finish the regular season 25-2 and received a bid to the 1977 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.

Detroit defeated Middle Tennessee in the opening round, with a double-double of 29 points and 15 rebounds from Terry Tyler, and would then lose to the Michigan Wolverines 86–81 in the regional semi-finals.

Vitale would be promoted to athletic director at the university after the season, and would leave to coach the Detroit Pistons in the NBA in 1978.

Smokey Gaines replaced him as head coach for 1977–78, and led Detroit to a stellar 25–4 record and a #18 ranking with Tyler, Duerod, and Long leading the team, but were denied an NCAA bid and played in the 1978 NIT.

Tyler and Long had extensive careers in the NBA and Duerod won a championship playing for the 1980-81 Boston Celtics.

"[13][10] Vitale was inducted in the University of Detroit Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 alongside Terry Duerod.