By Conor O’Brien
Although overmatched athletically, the Michigan Wolverines (19-12, 9-9 in conference) have overcome the odds and put themselves in a position to be invited to the big dance next Sunday.
John Beilein’s effect on the team has undoubtedly been a major asset to the Wolverine’s success. They may be lacking the physically gifted players that the upper echelon teams possess, but they run their offense with patience and precision. Beilien restored the program to relevance when it reached the NCAA tournament in the 2008-2009 season. However, they suffered a disappointing season with NBA talent Manny Harris and All-Big Ten performer DeShawn Sims last year. Part of that was due to Harris’ inability or unwillingness to buy into Beilein’s system. Yes, I know he made the NCAA tournament with Beilein in 2009, but Harris didn’t seem to be as focused as he was the previous season. Michigan’s offensive success is often predicated on ball movement, rotation and sharp cuts. This was lacking last year as Harris often destroyed their offensive fluidity.
But now, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, Michigan has catapulted itself into the forefront of the NCAA discussion. Beilein has a group of selfless players who put the name on the front of their jersey before the name on the back.
Many preseason prognosticators predicted the Wolverines to finish at the bottom of the league and Michigan was proving them right for the first half of the season. But freshman guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a surprise in recent weeks. When outside sharp shooters Stu Douglass and Zack Novak have struggled from the field, Hardaway Jr. has taken the reins. The offense tends to run through Hardaway throughout the crucial moments of the game. He has the ability to create his own shot anywhere on the floor and has done so successfully in many critical moments down the stretch.
Sophomore guard Darius Morris (15.2 ppg, 6.8 apg) has also been stellar throughout much of the season. He has been the star player most Wolverine fans didn’t think they had. He has the ability to carve through the teeth of the defense anytime he wants, and has the skills and intangibles to make players around him better.
It was a game Michigan State desperately needed as much as the Wolverines on Saturday in Ann Arbor. However, a team comprised of senior leadership and final four veterans were unable to defeat the home team. Despite Kalin Lucas’s admirable performance, Michigan completely shut down the Spartans most influential player, Draymond Green. The Wolverines won 70-63.
Michigan has been a team that most bracketologists have brushed aside the last few weeks, dismissed due to the absence of a signature win on their resume. But they have quietly been one of the steadiest teams in the conference throughout the last six weeks.
They started the conference slate with a 1-6 record, but secured a season-altering win in January in East Lansing. They finished the season 8-3 since that point and now they have swept Michigan State (rpi 43) and Penn State (rpi 59). They beat Minnesota in the barn and also boast victories over Ivy leader Harvard and potential tournament teams Oakland and Clemson. The three losses they have suffered have been narrow escapes for the heavily favored team. They played the Buckeyes down to the last few possessions on Feb. 3 in Columbus and had a chance to beat Illinois on their final possession in Champaign. And who can forget their gut-wrenching loss to Wisconsin last week. They had the Badgers on the ropes, but freshman guard John Gosser buried an off balanced heave at the buzzer.
They need to avoid a first round loss in the Big Ten Tournament, but that should not be a problem against lowly Indiana on Thursday. If they can defeat the Hoosiers, they will have the opportunity to avenge their loss to Wisconsin Friday night.
Michigan has quietly been one of the hottest teams in the nation in the last few weeks. Expect them to win multiple games in the Big Ten Tournament and don’t be surprised if they topple a top seed or two on the first weekend of the dance.
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