Oregon 69, Michigan 68
The final shots. [Joseph Dressler]
In the movie script, that shot goes in.
Michigan hadn't played their best game—far from it—but Derrick Walton nevertheless had a clean look to send the Wolverines to the Elite Eight and keep this magical run going. With time about to expire, Walton cleared out space, rose, and fired. His shot caught iron. Walton clutched his head, likely feeling the same combination of surprise and dismay as the rest of us.
"I had a good look at the basket and it just didn't drop for me," Walton said.
This is not a movie script.
In a disjointed game, Michigan's seniors fought valiantly to the finish. Walton shook off a hard fall on his elbow in the first half to finish with a game-high 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting, five rebounds, and eight assists. Zak Irvin poured in 19, going 8-of-14 from the field, pulled down eight rebounds, and played lockdown defense on Oregon star Dillon Brooks, who needed 13 shots to score 12 points. In the last five minutes, the two combined for three go-ahead shots, and Walton added a nasty fadeaway jumper to give the Wolverines a three-point lead with 2:02 left.
They could not get a fourth. Instead, Oregon's two best players on the night made the plays in winning time. Jordan Bell, a force in the paint all evening, put back a missed free throw to get the Ducks within one after Walton's jumper. After Walton couldn't get a tough layup to fall, Tyler Dorsey got a step on Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and finished at the rim for what were ultimately the final points of the game.
Michigan would get two more shots to win. DJ Wilson's three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining was well off the mark. After Dylan Ennis missed another free throw with 15 seconds to play, Oregon surprisingly chose to give only one of their three remaining fouls to give, allowing Walton to get that final look. It fell short.
"I've seen him make that shot thousands of times, so I had confidence in him knocking it down," said Irvin. "It looked good from my angle. No one else on this team that we wanted taking that shot. He's been on a run and he's such a great player. I'm proud of him."
Jordan Bell made play after play in the paint. [Dressler]
From the start, this didn't feel like Michigan's night. The Wolverines went just 11-for-28 in the first half, and while they only trailed by two at the break, it could've easily been worse. Wilson sat for much of the half with foul trouble. Oregon's guards repeatedly blew by Michigan defenders. Dorsey sunk three of his four first-half three-point attempts. Walton grinded out 11 points and seven assists by halftime, keeping his team within striking distance. With Wilson set to get back on the court, the hope was Michigan could find their groove.
It never quite clicked. Moe Wagner barely played in the second half and finished the night with only seven points on 3-for-10 shooting. Abdur-Rahkman all but disappeared, tallying more turnovers (3) than points (2). Duncan Robinson's eight points weren't enough to offset his defensive shortcomings. While Wilson hit four three-pointers, he didn't get a bucket inside the arc as Bell dominated the paint; his missed second-half layup will stay with him for a while.
While tonight wasn't their night, this team can hold their heads high. Walton and Irvin battled to the bitter end, and this season will ultimately be remembered far more for the remarkable highs of the last month than tonight's low. When it mattered the most, this team galvanized around its leaders, and the most difficult part of tonight is knowing we won't get to see them all play together again.
"It's the tightest bunch I've been around in all my years of playing basketball," said Walton. "Just a very selfless group. I had the joy of being a part of it and being one of the leaders. Like I said, I wish we could have more games to play together because I think a couple minutes throughout the game we didn't show the type of team we were becoming and overall just thank them for allowing me to be part of such a great team."
"We're very close-knit, playing our best basketball and didn't want the season to end," said Irvin. "This team had a lot of great memories. We battled through adversity and just a team that I will always remember."
He's not alone.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
Well written Ace. Never would have thought we'd be at this point back in January. Very proud of this team and the coaching that got them here.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:19 PM ^
f***'in kenpom
(and thanks for all the great writeups, even this painful one)
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^
I just don't understand how you can sit Wagner for the entire last 7-8 minutes of this game. I get Duncan helped the offense for a bit, but there was a time for Mo to get back in. After one of the fouls in the second half, I also thought there was a moment for Donnal, which was followed by an Oregon offensive rebound, but that's not as big of a nit to pick.
Nevetheless, the big takeaway is that this team and specifically Irvin and Walton brought me a ton of joy these last two months. So happy for them for leaving on a high note, even though it feels like they had more magic left in them.
HAIL
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:22 PM ^
Wagner was getting abused by Bell and his shot was abysmal. He either has it or he doesn't and he did not have it tonight. If he's not playing well on offense his defense is way too much of a liability.
We were down 46-50 when he went out. We went on a 22-15 run to take a 3 point lead with 1:54 to go. Had to keep going with what was working. Same way we won against Purdue, the BTT championship game and the OSU game against small ball lineups. Just couldn't close it out.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:25 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
Ace, perfect summary of the game.. you hit the nail on the head.. so sad to see this season end. This team erased all negative feelings with a late season surge that every Michigan fan will always remember.. sad night
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
Thanks for the write-up Ace, this and throughout the year.
It was a really good season, and I'm glad both Walton and Irvin acquitted themselves so well in their final games. It sucks to lose, but this team exceeded my expectations and can hang a banner next year.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:15 PM ^
sounds like there is a bunch of spring football stuff that is forthcoming now that the basketball season is over.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
Supposedly not a very good defensive team, they made Michigan uncomfortable and Michigan couldn't come up with a counter. And yet it came down to a coinflip.
Disappointing that Michigan couldn't execute it's offense better in the last two minutes once they got the lead, but it wasn't any different from how they executed during the first 38 minutes.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
Actually, they're a very good defensive team, although they're not quite the same without Boucher. But man, if Moe can hit those wide-open 3's in the first half, this is a different game.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
But there were more moments that we had great looks. The open shots just didn't fall tonight.
March 24th, 2017 at 12:13 AM ^
we missed a ton of open threes that we'd take if given again. That's what this team had become. A team that would bury you if they were hitting and a team that could still win ugly if they weren't. Just couldn't finish it this time.
three's, we win. But, as we've seen all season long, our inside game can't make up for that deficit most of the time.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:31 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:32 PM ^
can be said about this game. Fouls, Wagner, etc, but when it comes down to it, it is just another game. You don't remember the losses, you remember the entire season and this season turned out incredible. Walton and Irvin showed the muscle we've been wanting them to show, we asked, they delivered and then some. Every candle burns out sometime. Cannot wait for next year. HAIL.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:52 PM ^
I wish I would forget the heartbreakers, but unfortunately I probably remember them more than the wins.
Webber's TO, Burke's clean block against L'ville, and sadly, tonight's shot by Walton that just wouldn't go in...don't even want to think about the phantom first down.
That said, while I won't forget tonight's gut-wrenching loss, I will also remember the great run and all the fun this team gave us.
The drama, win or lose, is what makes college sports so much fun!
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:59 PM ^
I wouldn't call this one a heartbreaker. It's easy to point to the 1-2 plays Michigan could have made to win the game, but at the same time, Oregon shot 9-16 from the line.
Overall, it was a mediocre night for both teams, and Oregon won the coin flip.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:21 PM ^
Losing by 1 point in the Sweet 16 isn't a heartbreaker? We led by 3 with two minutes to go!
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:24 PM ^
Not sure I understand what Oregon missing FTs has to do with anything. To lose by a point in a single-elimination tournament is tough, regardless of the circumstances.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:38 PM ^
It underscores the point that Oregon also missed opportunities, which cuts against the argument that Michigan fumbled away the game by missing one or two plays in the closing minutes.
I'm not celebrating a one-point loss. Obviously it's tough. But we didn't lose because of some unforeseen circumstance or wildly improbable finish. It was a disappointing game from a team that's been vastly overachieving. It wasn't 2015 MSU.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:54 PM ^
You seem to have a very narrow definition of "heartbreaker". I think the guys in our locker room are pretty hurt right now, regardless of how many FTs Oregon missed.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:26 PM ^
March 24th, 2017 at 12:14 AM ^
at the buzzer is the definition of a heartbreaker.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
Ended up being a great season: BTT title, Sweet 16 with two great wins, and Walton's season will be good memories.
And I think this game showed what we all knew. Wagner and DJ may well have bright NBA prospects, but need at least another year of seasoning.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
Thanks, Ace. Great summary. What an epic ride these Michigan Men took all of us on these past few weeks. So proud of the team and coaching staff. Solid returning talent and a nice infusion of new blood. Already looking forward to next season.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:36 PM ^
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:16 PM ^
they got pretty lucky to get past ok st i feel. beilein's teams do a fantastic job of playing at an athleticism deficit, but at the end of the day the 3 pointer lotto will turn up tails enough times in a game to end a run. they usually win this game, the universe decided that wagner would have an ice cold night.
very fun ride for the past month for sure and i'm grateful that i got to experience it. go blue.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^
My kingdom for a free throw rebound.
Oregon is still wondering how they pulled that game out when we went up three in the last minute and a half.
They're muttering the "survive and advance" mantra over and over to themselves.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
They can thank their lucky stars that the refs called a blocking foul on Walton when we were up 3. Looked like a charge to me.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^
at that point is my guess. 1:54 down 3 with our offense and FT shooting is pretty miraculous. The kenpom probability chart isn't out yet. I'll update that win percent when it does. They were very fortunate.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:13 PM ^
I don't know if it was quite that bleak - 2 minutes is a decent amount of time to make up a 3-point deficit. But if they call that a charge and give us the ball, that probably swings the percentage quite a bit.
March 24th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
and you're correct it wasn't 90 percent. We had a 77 percent chance to win with 2 min to go (although his pct don't consider our offense and FT so I'm going with 80!). Very tough to lose at that point, but yes, not exactly a "miraculous" win for Oregon.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:17 PM ^
Walton raked down on the arm before the block/charge collision. If they called the rake down, they got it right. If they were deciding block/charge, the call was terrible. I've watched it in slow mo, easy offensive foul to call (but Derrick's rake down was first).
Good spot that it was DJ who got beat on the rebound and put back on the FT up 3, not Duncan, like the announcers said (you and I spotted that, but most people got fooled by the announcers).
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
Oregon averages 12 turnovers a game and only had 5 tonight. Tough pill to swallow in a one-point loss.
March 23rd, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^
Altman outcoached Beilein, keep Ace's words in mind:
"After Dylan Ennis missed another free throw with 15 seconds to play, Oregon surprisingly chose to give only one of their three remaining fouls to give, allowing Walton to get that final look."
Walton should never have had time to get such a good look.
If I remember correctly, there were under 10 seconds left when they committed their foul. If Oregon continues to foul, they probably run out the clock, or at very least force a rushed prayer.
That was a terrible mistake, at the most important moment of the game.
Every time I see the replay of Walton's shot, I think he's gonna hit it. Damn.
March 24th, 2017 at 12:50 AM ^
but Walton was expecting it and was ready to pull up if they came at him. They actually played it pretty well with that in mind. But I liked the shot we got. Just didn't go down.
March 23rd, 2017 at 11:34 PM ^
Also, that aggressive defense doesn't work against us most nights because the team is so deadly with three-point conversions. Just not tonight.
March 24th, 2017 at 12:15 AM ^
Yeah, if Walton makes that shot, Altman would have been crucified by the media and Oregon fans, and rightly so. That's some serious coaching malpractice there to just let us get off a shot to win the game.
March 24th, 2017 at 12:42 AM ^
Altman wanted a foul, told them to foul, but they had no timeouts and the players didn't do it.
Sometimes players don't listen to their coaches, especially in stressful moments. They are kids, after all.
That said "but they had no timeouts" - not an ideal situation to be in at the end of a game.
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