Michigan 73, Illinois 55
The Bielfeldt shot is more representative of today's game. [Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]
The first two games between Michigan and Illinois this season featured a pair of improbable comeback victories, one by each team.
It looked to be heading in that direction again in the first half of today's Big Ten Tournament matchup; Michigan had an early 12-0 run erased by a subsequent 13-0 charge by the Illini. Even after the Wolverines closed the half with a 23-4 run, carrying a 17-point lead into the break, you'd be excused if you were waiting for the other shoe to drop—Michigan had, after all, blown an 18-point second-half lead against Illinois exactly four weeks ago.
Instead, Michigan pushed the lead higher, and the Illini might as well have absconded for the locker room when Spike Albrecht made his bid for an And1 Mixtape appearance:
Aside from an all-too-familiar scoring drought in the first half, Michigan couldn't have played much better. The team moved the ball beautifully, tallying assists on nine of their 15 first-half buckets. Albrecht had five on the game, playing as Spike does—moving the ball around and hitting a couple deep bombs.
More eye-opening was the all-around effort from Zak Irvin, who posted a 14-6-6 line, working within—and driving—the offense better than ever. Irvin's anticipation on a first-half lob to Aubrey Dawkins, cutting in from the corner, was only the most highlight-worthy sign of his progress. Today made it clear that he's broken through to another level, especially in creating offense off the high screen.
Aubrey Dawkins and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman both put their season-long progress on display, as well. Dawkins continued his hot shooting, hitting 9/12 from the field on his way to a team-high 18 points. Rahk hit his lone three-point attempt and had several successful forays to the hoop to net his 15 points, and he also posted a career-high eight rebounds. Max Bielfeldt, starting for the second straight game, became the fourth Wolverine to hit double-figures with ten points.
Whether in zone or man, Michigan proved more than up to the task of shutting down the Illini's three main scoring threats. Malcolm Hill, Rayvonte Rice, and Kendrick Nunn combined to shoot 11/37 from the field; those three accounted for well over half of the team's shot attempts. Secondary scoring was limited to backup forward Leron Black's ten points, but Black also turned the ball over four times—he compounded an obvious first-half charge with a subsequent technical, which Albrecht turned into a five-point trip that extended Michigan's lead to 13.
With the win, Michigan's NIT hopes are now very much alive, though they won't feel secure in locking down a bid unless they upend top-seeded Wisconsin tomorrow at noon. Michigan pushed the Badgers to overtime in their lone regular-season matchup. Given how the Wolverines looked today, they look ready to give the Big Ten's best another fight tomorrow.
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Don't get WD started - I'm sure he is already rocking that uni.
The shorts could be better. But the top is great.
So in otherwords: you like the aspect of the uniform that looks very much like a million other uniforms Michigan basketball has worn, but you're not a huge fan of the glaring dick-cumberbun that's been vomited onto the shorts? To me, that would mean that I don't like the uniform.
Still undefeated when Dakich scores.
I'm now daydreaming of us winning the whole dang tournament and sneaking into the Dance on an auto-bid
the dream alive. It is far fetched, but far stranger things of happened. An argument could be made that the outcome of our season up until this point was more far fetched than it would be for us to win this tournament.
If we beat Wisconsin, and I understand that is a big if, I would much rather see Purdue waiting for us than Iowa.
On another note, Illinois? Good god man. That was your "prove it" bubble watch game?
At least one year with Tommy, the team really mailed in the last month of the season and got bounced from the conference tourney early. A key player (Courtney Sims?) said during the slide 'I think we've shown the committee enought to get in.'
That was brutal. We lost to a meh Indiana team on Senior Night, then lost to a downright bad Minnesota team in the BTT.
If we lose to Badgers will we technically be 15-16 because 1 win doesnt count due to the division they are in? Or is that incorrect.
Dawkins continues to excite and MAAR obviously has really come on here (up and down) the past 6 weeks. Considering these 2 barely played in Nov/Dec it is quite amazing. I guess Dawkins will be the new source of speculation this summer of "will he jump to the NBA after next season?!!??"
It is funny that these were the 2 last pieces of the recruiting class - and at this moment look like they will be the 2 best. As the 2 lowest rated. And both are contributing more than Caris as freshman which really makes their potential interesting - especially Aubrey due to his age vs MAAR.
Funny that you bring up age with MAAR and Dawkins in relation to looking the best of the freshman. Not coincidently, they are also the oldest. In fact, MAAR is just over 2 years older than Chatman, and Dawkins is a whole year older than Chatman. Doyle is still 18, Chatman is still 18, and Wilson just turned 19. Heck Chatman is almost as young as LeVert was when LeVert was a freshman. I don't think we should be surprised both are more polished at this point. They are also probably closer to their ceilings as well. Hopefully the other freshman hit theirs as they age.
take a year or two to find himself and ponder the meaning of life or something. He wasn't a post-grad academy guy was he? He will be 24 if he stays all four years?
Not going to give Chatman that much of a pass - D'Angelo Russell was born 3 months before Chatman and is tearing up the league. Yes it leads to more potential upside down the road as he adjusts but you see the in season improvement in MAAR and Dawkins and there has been very little from Chatman - you have to squint for it and see it vs opponents like Rutgers vs decent mid Big 10 teams like Illinois or Indiana.
that is accurate but I am starting to believe that it is not going to make a whole lot of difference. I mean, if our record was not 16-15 right now than why is our record constantly listed as that this late in the season? Why would they wait until after the season to deduct a win they have been giving us all year? I am starting to think that is just something that we have latched onto. Nobody but Michigan fans talk about it and no analysts mention it.
I think we are in the NIT right now.
If we lose to Badgers will we technically be 15-16 because 1 win doesnt count due to the division they are in? Or is that incorrect.I think that's only for RPI purposes. Our official record contains 16 wins.
We went to the Final Four and the Elite Eight the last two respective years, we had heartbreakers to two top 5 teams, we just absolutely destroyed a bubble team, we have a universally respected coach and we are a ratings win for the NIT. I don't really see a way we are not in at 16-16.
I want to agree with you because it all makes too much sense, but no .500 team has ever made the NIT. I think tomorrow is a virtual play-in game for us. Either way, I'm proud of this team. Flip the 4 OT games and the 2 head-scratchers from the non-con and we are 22-9 right now...
No team that finished under .500 has ever made the NIT. I have not seen the source for any claim to no .500 team has ever made it. I am going to research right now. Will report back.
Edit - North Carolina made the NIT in 2010, after the selection process changed, with a record of 16-16 and an RPI in 80s. Georgetown made it in 2011 at 16-14 and WSU at 17-15.
I truly think we are good my man.
Do you mean sub-.500 team? We made it in 1991 when we were 14-14.
That's pretty much out of necessity, no? Walton and Caris get hurt so someone is getting thrown to the wolves. If Walton and Caris don't get hurt, neither Dawkins nor MAAR see nearly the same amount of time on the floor as they are.
If Burke and Hardaway had both gotten hurt, I'm guessing Caris would have seen a lot more time his freshmen year.
and we just waxed them in their own backyard, so...
Great start to the tournament anyway.
They are the same team Michigan lost to in OT a month ago. Wisconsin is the same team Michigan lost to in OT two months ago. There is hope.
I don't know why so many posters insist on us "calming down" all the time. Why can't we dream of big things?
to say "told you so" strokes their online ego and is more gratifying to them than a miracle run for the team they supposedly love.
Michigan started Mr. Basketball Indiana and four late signees that no one else in the B1G offered. No one. And two of them are true freshman. How are recruiting services so bad or Beilein so clever?
that last year when Beilein used those last to slots to pick up two guys no one had ever heard of, I thought it was a mistake. Especially the final scholarship which I thought would be better used if banked until 2015. Three key injuries and a ton of coaching-em-up later, I am happily sitting here eating crow.
All hail Beilein!
100% cosign. When he signed those two, I was like "nah, he can't be right ALL of the time. I bet they're bench players their whole careers."
That's why he coaches the team, and we post on a message board.
Though that's becoming harder to question as well. I certainly questioned taking both at the time, but certainly for the short term it's paid dividends and both guys look like they'll be solid going forward. Always hard to tell without knowing who would have filled the banked scholarship though, so I still think it's fair to question it and still end up trusting the move in the end.
Personally though, I think more than anything, this speaks to the ability of Beilein and this staff to end up getting the most out of guys. Both obviously had some potential, but you put them in other systems and I don't think they turn out like this. Michigan only takes one and the other goes elsewhere and doesn't perform as well and people are saying "good thing we only took one." So, I dunno, I still kind of question the move a bit, but there is no questioning Beilein's ability to get the most out of a guy, and that could even take somewhat middling players and making them at least serviceable B1G starters. That, in my opinion, is where he can't be questioned.
theoretically you may be right, but since we haven't been able to even fill our one 2015 opening and have only one 2016 commitment, there will apparently be no downside.
If we can somehow beat the Badgers, then screw it... win 'em all and go to the Big Dance. Show everyone what a team without an Honorable Mention player can do with elite coaching.
Can you GIF the Bielfeldt almost alley-oop into a 3pt play? That was the most Bielfeldt play ever.
Maybe.
that we lose him, and I hate ever more that we are seemingly choosing to do so. Does Max want to leave? He is a solid BIG player. Not just a couple of minutes here and there guy. He would be getting minutes on nearly every team in the conference.
Insiders say the decision was mutually agreed upon by him and Beilein. Now, though, both sides are reconsidering.
say it would be beneficial to JB to really reconsider. He is a 10 and 8 guy next year if he came back.
Well, there are recruiting considerations as well. Moritz Wagner would be a nice pickup. It might come down to what LeVert does.
The other side of it is that it sounded like Bielfeldt himself was ready to move on.
not playing like it. He is playing like he wants to win MOP of the midwest regional. If he is "over it" he is doing a good job of hiding it.
I love Max and believe he was somewhat under-utilized last year--I certainly didn't like that he got essentially the same mop-up minutes as Dakich--but he is a marginal Big Ten player. If we can get Wagner or better with the only open scholarship, then we should. If not, and he wants to return, welcome back Max.
...the lightbulb has clearly flashed on for zak irvin. if we can get some improvement (and not even a lot) from chatman and a couple of others next season, we could be awfully scary.
we can be awfully scary THIS YEAR.
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the feeling that we will be very game but just not have quite enough. I think that Wisconsin is a virtual two seed lock though, and I don't think they really care that much about the prospect of a 1 seed to go all in in this tourney. There is undoubtedly a motviational mismtach in our favor. In much different circumstances, it reminds me of the M v. MSU matchup in last years Big Ten final. State clearly wanted it and cared a lot more and it showed. Conference tourneys are really odd.
Lets not go crazy here, we have beaten Illinois and Rutgers, not exactly top tier competition. This team is still only 2 games removed from completely collapsing against Northwestern but today was great to watch and hopefully gets them into the NIT.
Also I know Chatman's offense wasn't great today but I thought he did a lot of other things well, played solid D and was grabbing a lot of boards. He seems to have started figuring himself out positionally and catching up to the speed of the game, now its about consistency.
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