Because of an investigation into Michigan's plane incident, Michigan faces off against Illinois in practice gear. (0:26)

WASHINGTON -- Michigan's game uniforms are officially part of an investigation, so the Wolverines might be forced to keep wearing their practice jerseys for the duration of the Big Ten tournament.

And coach John Beilein might have to keep wearing the same suit.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are conducting an investigation into the Wolverines' charter flight that skidded about 400 yards off the Willow Run Airport runway in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and into a ditch on Wednesday.

The team's luggage had to remain behind in the plane's cargo area until that investigation ends.

"If it was a one-game series, we would have had other uniforms to wear," Beilein said. "But we've got all three sets on that plane."

The Wolverines' uniforms -- home maize, road blue and alternate white -- remain in the plane's cargo hold along with shoes and warm-ups.

The Wolverines played their 75-55 win over Illinois in the second round on Thursday in their reversible practice jerseys with "Michigan basketball" on the front and no last names on the back.

"I don't think we have a choice [but to keep wearing them]," Beilein said. "All that baggage is still either trapped or the investigation is going to keep it there, and the luggage is part of that. We have washers and dryers in D.C.; we'll get it done."

As the No. 8 seed, the Wolverines were deemed the home team against the Illini, so they wore the maize-colored side. Against No. 1 seed Purdue in the quarterfinals, the Wolverines will be the visitors and wear the blue side.

Junior forward D.J. Wilson said it has been a strange 24 hours, going from the seriousness of looking out of his window seat and knowing the plane couldn't stop in time, to players joking about their uniforms being, "like when we played in middle school or AAU."

"If we get our bags back and the regular uniforms, we should still rock these," Wilson said. "It kind of shows what we've been through."

Junior forward D.J. Wilson and the Wolverines played their 75-55 win over Illinois on Thursday in their reversible practice jerseys with "Michigan basketball" on the front and no last names on the back. Rob Carr/Getty Images

They're still feeling the effects.

Senior guard Duncan Robinson said his entire bag was filled with Jordan-brand Michigan gear. That included shoes, but those were the only items the school could readily replace because it had just received a new order.

"All my Jordan Michigan gear I had in that big duffel bag," Robinson said. "Hopefully they come up with it."

All 109 passengers, including members of the pep band and cheerleading squad, made it off the plane safely. But no one had time to collect belongings.

"Some other things you're not going to see: any more suits by me," Beilein said. "I got one of my suits here. The rest of them are under that plane. You couldn't repack. I might have to make a visit to the drugstore, get some toothpaste, the whole thing. We're here bare bones."

Beilein said there were passengers escaping on the wings as well as using the emergency chutes to slide off.

"There were jet fumes in my face 'cause the engines were still running, then all of a sudden it just shut off," Beilein said. "Thank God, but it shut off with a big boom and I thought there was an explosion but there wasn't."

Counselors were provided for players and other passengers to talk about what had happened and voice any concerns about making the trip on Thursday. Beilein said his wife, Kathleen, was on the initial flight on Wednesday but opted not to fly with the team on Thursday morning.

The team had a 5:45 a.m. wake-up call and bused to Detroit, where the Wolverines borrowed the Detroit Pistons' team plane to fly to Washington, D.C. Once they landed, their bus got caught up in traffic, causing the Big Ten to delay the start of their game from noon to 12:20 p.m.

"The hardest part for all of us was getting back on that plane," senior Zak Irvin said. "Once we landed, everybody was fine. We were excited to get back on the court and get everything back to normal."

Given the team's experience, Beilein said he couldn't talk basketball much in the 24 hours leading up to the game and that even when the game tipped off, he couldn't raise his voice at his players.

"It was something our kids will always remember, but I want them to remember how they responded because it's important," Beilein said. "This is the way life goes sometimes, and you have to respond positively to whatever comes your way, and boy, did they."