Unbelievable Journey Brings Big Ten Championship to Ann Arbor. So What Now?
To say the University of Michigan men's basketball team has had a roller coaster of a season is an understatement. They were an average team at best. I had even deemed them unwatchable and boring just two months ago. They hit a low point when they got punched in the mouth by arch rivals Michigan State and Ohio State in back to back games on January 29th and February 4th. At that point the Wolverines were at risk of being left out of March Madness altogether. As fans, many of us were already looking to next season as a crashing end to this year almost seemed inevitable. Ironically, nothing could've been further from the truth.
The following game on February 7th brought rival Michigan State to Crisler Arena. It was the second matchup between the two schools in a nine-day span. A make a break game-type of situation that could've propelled a slide into 2017 obscurity. Nobody was optimistic. Not even the Michigan faithful. There were empty seats available at tipoff even though the line had the Wolverines favored by 4. It was too bad as the Wolverines bounced back in a big way and absolutely pummeled the Spartans 85-57.
This would ultimately kick off a 6-2 finish through a tough stretch to end the schedule. An impressive run altogether, as in that span they also produced convincing wins over #11 Wisconsin and #13 Purdue, ultimately securing a place in the Big Ten and the NCAA tournaments. The biggest loss was on the road at Northwestern, who pulled off the most incredible full-court hail mary with one second left in the game. Though we lost that game, I believed the Wolverines grew as a team. The same goes for the Minnesota loss. Though the Gophers just looked like the better team that night, Michigan got a much-needed reminder that every game is going to be a battle from here on out.
Then came the crash, though it wasn't UM's tournament hopes doing the crashing.
As the team, the staff, the band, and the cheerleaders were set to take off on an airplane headed to the Big Ten tournament in Washington D.C. last Wednesday, the unexpected occurred: the plane got blown around on the runway, causing the pilots to abort the takeoff. The plane then ran out of asphalt and crashed through a fence, into a drainage ditch, and onto a service road. Though everybody escaped injury and death, they were forced to evacuate while pondering how lucky they all were to be alive. At that moment it was unclear whether or not the team would even make the trip. Some players, including senior point guard Derrick Walton Jr., voted to forfeit their scheduled matchup with Illinois in the first round.
They managed to make a flight just in time for tipoff on Thursday for the first round, though their jerseys did not. The team's gear was still stuck in the luggage compartment of the crashed plane and they were forced to wear practice uniforms. And despite the brush with death and no gear to wear, the team rallied together and found a surge they had not shown all season. They thumped the Illinis, They had a dramatic OT win against Purdue. They out-paced Minnesota. And they dominated the Badgers in the title game. Somehow, the team that nobody expected much from just six weeks earlier had miraculously found the will to win its first Big Ten Tournament Championship. And they continue to trend upward.
It was the type of season that is only written in movie scripts. It could not have been predicted and it still is unbelievable when put it into perspective. They were 4-6 in the conference after that loss to Ohio State with a 14-9 record overall. They ended the season climbing the ladders to cut down the nets with a 24-11 record. Incredible.
Now they head into the national tourney with a lot of weight lifted off their shoulders. In the grand scheme of things they have very little left to prove to anybody. I mean, escaping death and bringing home a conference title are enough for most fans. Of course, getting bounced in the first round would be a disappointment, but it's not like they are facing a pushover in Oklahoma State (20-12). And if they get through to the round of 32 they will most-likely face #2 seed Louisville (24-8). Both teams are beatable though, and the Wolverines realistically have as good of chance as any to reach the Sweet 16. But as a fan, I'm just glad they are playing for anything at all.
Having said that, let's take a look at what Michigan needs from it's players to make a run towards the Final Four. Here's a player by player breakdown:
1. PG Derrick Walton Jr. (Sr) - Nobody in the conference has been hotter than Walton Jr. over the last few weeks. He has hit numerous big shots while making opponents look foolish. Since he scored only five points in a win against Wisconsin on February 19th the senior has averaged 18 points and seven assists per game. He averaged 20.5 points in the four games in four days they played to win the Big Ten Tournament. He also led the Big Ten conference while hitting on 87% of his free throws on the season. If the team expects to make a run then he will need to continue running the offense with the precision he displayed has over the last month. He will also need to make a few of those tough baskets when the team needs them the most.
2. G Zach Irvin (Sr) - If you asked me five weeks ago how I felt about Irvin I would've said that I couldn't wait until he graduated. His senior year was looking downright forgettable. He turned it on in the last month though, scoring double digits in nine of their last 10 games and hitting on 57% of his field goals during the Big Ten tourney. He also had nine assists in the final two games while displaying the maturity that we all were expecting from him in his final year. He will need to stay hot. Mostly, he will need to keep his misses and miscues down. If he can do that then his leadership will fall into place and help the team get through some tough opponents.
3. F/C Moritz Wagner (So) - Wagner has had a major impact on this team throughout the season. He is the emotional spark plug that can energize his teammates and the crowd alike with a variety of moves. There might not be a better three-point shooting center in the entire field with a 41% average beyond the arc. He does not have to score a ton of points to be effective. He just needs to stay active and not get into foul trouble. And if he can hit on eight of 10 three-point shots in the process, just as he did this past weekend, then he will help create matchup nightmares for just about everybody he faces.
4. F D.J. Wilson (Jr) - No other player has been a bigger surprise this season than this kid. He virtually came out of nowhere and averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also hit on 80% of his free throws, making him a tough closer at the end of games. He had a great stretch in the run towards the conference championship with a 62% field goal average in those four games. His best game came against Purdue last Friday where he scored 26 points and brought down eight boards. He is no doubt trending upward as a player and he could turn a lot of heads as March Madness heats up.
5. G Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Jr) - Often the forgotten man in the starting lineup, Abdur-Rahkman is an athletic two-guard who often handles the ball down the floor while the team transitions into its offensive scheme. While he doesn't do any one thing great, he does a lot of things well. If he can continue with his nine points, three rebounds, and two assists per game averages then he will be doing his part. Just don't expect him to blow up for 20 or more points, because that's just not his game. He is more of a clean-up guy that takes advantage of opportunities when they are given to him and that is fine.
6. G Duncan Robinson (Sr) - Robinson could be a starter for a lot of teams, but he fits the sixth-man role perfectly in coach Beilein's scheme. He plays about 20 minutes per game and can hit big shots when open. In the last seven games he has hit a whopping 68% of his field goals and 58% of his three-point attempts. Needless to say, he can be dangerous. He has also surprised some opponents with his defense as of late, making him less off a liability late in games.
7. F Mark Donnal (Sr) - The top backup to Wilson and Wagner, Donnal was a starter last year and has taken to his backup role well. He has averaged 61% from the field, 47% from three-point range, and 79% from the charity strip while playing nearly 13 minutes per game. The team needs continued production from him in order to keep the starters fresh throughout the tournament.
8. PG Xavier Simpson (Fr) - The only real backup to Walton Jr., Simpson has improved the most over the course of the season. While he is not much of a scoring threat yet he does play very good on the defensive end of the floor. He has also made some very nice passes while getting assists to other players, which gives a lot of hope for his future. And if the team wants to keep their top leader fresh he will need to keep providing a steady 10 minutes per game just like he has over the last seven contests.
The following game on February 7th brought rival Michigan State to Crisler Arena. It was the second matchup between the two schools in a nine-day span. A make a break game-type of situation that could've propelled a slide into 2017 obscurity. Nobody was optimistic. Not even the Michigan faithful. There were empty seats available at tipoff even though the line had the Wolverines favored by 4. It was too bad as the Wolverines bounced back in a big way and absolutely pummeled the Spartans 85-57.
This would ultimately kick off a 6-2 finish through a tough stretch to end the schedule. An impressive run altogether, as in that span they also produced convincing wins over #11 Wisconsin and #13 Purdue, ultimately securing a place in the Big Ten and the NCAA tournaments. The biggest loss was on the road at Northwestern, who pulled off the most incredible full-court hail mary with one second left in the game. Though we lost that game, I believed the Wolverines grew as a team. The same goes for the Minnesota loss. Though the Gophers just looked like the better team that night, Michigan got a much-needed reminder that every game is going to be a battle from here on out.
Then came the crash, though it wasn't UM's tournament hopes doing the crashing.
As the team, the staff, the band, and the cheerleaders were set to take off on an airplane headed to the Big Ten tournament in Washington D.C. last Wednesday, the unexpected occurred: the plane got blown around on the runway, causing the pilots to abort the takeoff. The plane then ran out of asphalt and crashed through a fence, into a drainage ditch, and onto a service road. Though everybody escaped injury and death, they were forced to evacuate while pondering how lucky they all were to be alive. At that moment it was unclear whether or not the team would even make the trip. Some players, including senior point guard Derrick Walton Jr., voted to forfeit their scheduled matchup with Illinois in the first round.
They managed to make a flight just in time for tipoff on Thursday for the first round, though their jerseys did not. The team's gear was still stuck in the luggage compartment of the crashed plane and they were forced to wear practice uniforms. And despite the brush with death and no gear to wear, the team rallied together and found a surge they had not shown all season. They thumped the Illinis, They had a dramatic OT win against Purdue. They out-paced Minnesota. And they dominated the Badgers in the title game. Somehow, the team that nobody expected much from just six weeks earlier had miraculously found the will to win its first Big Ten Tournament Championship. And they continue to trend upward.
It was the type of season that is only written in movie scripts. It could not have been predicted and it still is unbelievable when put it into perspective. They were 4-6 in the conference after that loss to Ohio State with a 14-9 record overall. They ended the season climbing the ladders to cut down the nets with a 24-11 record. Incredible.
Now they head into the national tourney with a lot of weight lifted off their shoulders. In the grand scheme of things they have very little left to prove to anybody. I mean, escaping death and bringing home a conference title are enough for most fans. Of course, getting bounced in the first round would be a disappointment, but it's not like they are facing a pushover in Oklahoma State (20-12). And if they get through to the round of 32 they will most-likely face #2 seed Louisville (24-8). Both teams are beatable though, and the Wolverines realistically have as good of chance as any to reach the Sweet 16. But as a fan, I'm just glad they are playing for anything at all.
Having said that, let's take a look at what Michigan needs from it's players to make a run towards the Final Four. Here's a player by player breakdown:
1. PG Derrick Walton Jr. (Sr) - Nobody in the conference has been hotter than Walton Jr. over the last few weeks. He has hit numerous big shots while making opponents look foolish. Since he scored only five points in a win against Wisconsin on February 19th the senior has averaged 18 points and seven assists per game. He averaged 20.5 points in the four games in four days they played to win the Big Ten Tournament. He also led the Big Ten conference while hitting on 87% of his free throws on the season. If the team expects to make a run then he will need to continue running the offense with the precision he displayed has over the last month. He will also need to make a few of those tough baskets when the team needs them the most.
2. G Zach Irvin (Sr) - If you asked me five weeks ago how I felt about Irvin I would've said that I couldn't wait until he graduated. His senior year was looking downright forgettable. He turned it on in the last month though, scoring double digits in nine of their last 10 games and hitting on 57% of his field goals during the Big Ten tourney. He also had nine assists in the final two games while displaying the maturity that we all were expecting from him in his final year. He will need to stay hot. Mostly, he will need to keep his misses and miscues down. If he can do that then his leadership will fall into place and help the team get through some tough opponents.
3. F/C Moritz Wagner (So) - Wagner has had a major impact on this team throughout the season. He is the emotional spark plug that can energize his teammates and the crowd alike with a variety of moves. There might not be a better three-point shooting center in the entire field with a 41% average beyond the arc. He does not have to score a ton of points to be effective. He just needs to stay active and not get into foul trouble. And if he can hit on eight of 10 three-point shots in the process, just as he did this past weekend, then he will help create matchup nightmares for just about everybody he faces.
4. F D.J. Wilson (Jr) - No other player has been a bigger surprise this season than this kid. He virtually came out of nowhere and averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also hit on 80% of his free throws, making him a tough closer at the end of games. He had a great stretch in the run towards the conference championship with a 62% field goal average in those four games. His best game came against Purdue last Friday where he scored 26 points and brought down eight boards. He is no doubt trending upward as a player and he could turn a lot of heads as March Madness heats up.
5. G Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (Jr) - Often the forgotten man in the starting lineup, Abdur-Rahkman is an athletic two-guard who often handles the ball down the floor while the team transitions into its offensive scheme. While he doesn't do any one thing great, he does a lot of things well. If he can continue with his nine points, three rebounds, and two assists per game averages then he will be doing his part. Just don't expect him to blow up for 20 or more points, because that's just not his game. He is more of a clean-up guy that takes advantage of opportunities when they are given to him and that is fine.
6. G Duncan Robinson (Sr) - Robinson could be a starter for a lot of teams, but he fits the sixth-man role perfectly in coach Beilein's scheme. He plays about 20 minutes per game and can hit big shots when open. In the last seven games he has hit a whopping 68% of his field goals and 58% of his three-point attempts. Needless to say, he can be dangerous. He has also surprised some opponents with his defense as of late, making him less off a liability late in games.
7. F Mark Donnal (Sr) - The top backup to Wilson and Wagner, Donnal was a starter last year and has taken to his backup role well. He has averaged 61% from the field, 47% from three-point range, and 79% from the charity strip while playing nearly 13 minutes per game. The team needs continued production from him in order to keep the starters fresh throughout the tournament.
8. PG Xavier Simpson (Fr) - The only real backup to Walton Jr., Simpson has improved the most over the course of the season. While he is not much of a scoring threat yet he does play very good on the defensive end of the floor. He has also made some very nice passes while getting assists to other players, which gives a lot of hope for his future. And if the team wants to keep their top leader fresh he will need to keep providing a steady 10 minutes per game just like he has over the last seven contests.
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