Michigan 86, Wayne State 43, Austin Hatch 1
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
Michigan blew out Wayne State tonight in an exhibition that was never remotely competitive. The usual suspects, Caris LeVert and Zak Irvin, led the team in scoring with 16 and 13 points, respectively. Derrick Walton came back from an injury scare—just a cramp, it turned out—to tally 11, while freshmen Kam Chatman and DJ Wilson both turned in nine-point efforts. The team looks expectedly disjointed on offense despite their production; the defensive effort was quite encouraging for a young team's opening game.
That all mattered very little when Austin Hatch, survivor of two tragic plane crashes, subbed into the game with 1:40 left to a standing ovation. The Crisler Center crowd, subdued to that point, nearly burst in nervous anticipation every time Hatch touched the ball, aching for him to take a shot that didn't seem like it would come. Hatch was content to kill the clock in a blowout win. The crowd moaned when not he, but Ricky Doyle, finished a long possession with an easy layup; each time he had touched the ball, his teammates on the bench were literally jumping up and down encouraging him to shoot. He waited.
Then Hatch drew a foul at the top of the key with 12 seconds remaining and Michigan in the double bonus, and the crowd rose once again. The first free throw caught the back iron. The second did not. You're going to want to click that link.
To top it off, John Beilein called a timeout after Hatch sunk his free throw, then wrapped him in a bear hug as he came to the bench.
Words cannot describe the feeling of watching a man who's twice fallen from the sky get to fulfill at least some small part of his big dream. I'm sure Austin Hatch never envisioned his first point at Michigan being this big a deal, a capital-'M' Moment. It was, though, and to see his teammates, coaches, and fans react as they did—special doesn't cover it. The cheers and the hugs and the smiles tell just a fraction of the story, a joyous moment in an unfathomable journey.
Thank you, Austin, for sharing it with us.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 10th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
Maybe it doesn't work on mobile, it works for me.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
Windows/Chrome and Android/Chrome.
November 11th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 10th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
the announcer kind of over sells it, but that is a really cool moment
November 11th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
If I never hear him announce another game it'd be too soon.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
Just wish I hadn't left the game early.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
So glad I stayed. That was nice, in an outstandingly awesome way.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 11th, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^
JB is class all the way.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
man, what a story.
and how cool is coach for making that happen.
proud to be a wolverine.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
on Hoke's face when George Cambell committed some million years ago. How time has changed.
Very happy for Austin - he is going to do great things out of the basketball court.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
-Awesome to see Hatch score
-Sitting in front of Wolverine Devotee during a game is quite the experience. Put it this way - you'd never know it was just an exhibition.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 10th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
How did you know it was WD? Did his "I GOT DAVE BRANDON FIRED" t-shirt give it away?
November 10th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
It's obvious how much Beilein loves that kid. I don't believe that medical redshirt is coming. I think he will redshirt this year, but I think he will be on scholarship his entire time here. He is an inspiration to everyone on that team. I'm proud he's on the team and I'm proud Beilein is our coach.
November 11th, 2014 at 12:04 AM ^
Beilein said he'll continue to play in blowouts.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:47 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
Great scene, and happy Hatch got a moment to take it all in.
Hopefully this is one of many wins on the season.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
Just wait until he gets to do this in a regular season game when Michigan is blowing someone out.
Those will be his first official points.
I was so hoping the whole team would rush onto the court and celebrate with Hatch.
November 10th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
in one of the revenue sports!
November 10th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
My reaction at seeing the free throw go down...
November 11th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
...but the end result is the same.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
That is really one of the coolest moments of the year. Makes me think of the Mealer walk before the Uconn game. Just another reason for being the Leaders and Best!
November 10th, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
If Rhonda Jones is happy, then I am happy.
For more on Rhonda Jones: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhonda_Jones
November 10th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
What other overcoming-the-odds Michigan stories can touch this? Mealer's walk at the UConn game? Jim Abbott?
November 10th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
us, the whole Michigan family.
November 10th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
You can't help but feel so proud and happy for Austin to make a come back like that and to be rewarded in his very first game. Cheers to Austin and his hard work and determination!
November 10th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
Woooo! What a way to start the season!
November 10th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
As someone who lost a parent while attending UoM, Austin Hatch's story is probably the most inspiring Michigan story to me.
November 10th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
It kind of sounds like the announcer says "Nothing...WHAT THE FUCK!"
November 11th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
....and mostly deaf. I thought I heard him drop the f-bomb twice in that sentence. I literally had to listen to it 5 times to figure out what he really said.
November 10th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
GO BLUE ITS GONNA BE A GREAT SEASON!!
November 11th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 10th, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^
November 11th, 2014 at 12:56 AM ^
I'm ordering subs tomorrow. Who knows, it might get crazy.
Well done Mr. Hatch.
November 11th, 2014 at 1:51 AM ^
November 11th, 2014 at 2:38 AM ^
Events like this one put meaning to the term Leaders and Best. Go Blue!
November 11th, 2014 at 2:55 AM ^
November 11th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 11th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Comments