Michigan 73, Illinois 65 (OT) Comment Count

Ace



Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog

For a distressingly long time, it appeared Jim Harbaugh's homecoming day would be slightly tarnished by another basketball loss. Then an unlikely hero emerged.

Aubrey Dawkins—a freshman from Palo Alto, because it's a day for poetry—came into today's game with 15 points on the season. He'd made just two of his 11 three-point attempts. But Michigan could not lose today, and Dawkins made sure of it, leading all scorers with 20 points and drilling six of seven triples. His final three was a dagger, giving the Wolverines a four-point lead with under two minutes left in overtime.

It looked remarkably unlikely that Michigan would even make it that far. After a listless first half that ended with a boneheaded foul to allow Illinois a three-point play, the Wolverines fell behind by as many as 13 in the second half. Then the offense found life. Dawkins sunk shot after shot. A previously stone cold Zak Irvin hit back-to-back threes to halve the Illini lead. Caris LeVert and Ricky Doyle worked the pick-and-roll with an effectiveness unseen so far this season.

Consecutive buckets by Doyle gave Michigan their first lead since the early going with just 1:13 to play, but Illinois' Malcolm Hill—who finished with a team-high 19—grabbed it right back with a pair of free throws. Doyle drew a foul on the next possession and split his pair, giving the Illini a chance to win it with the shot clock turned off. Rayvonte Rice bricked a contested 20-footer and Zak Irvin's miracle heave attempt was just a bit long, and the teams headed to overtime.

From there, Michigan's momentum continued. Dawkins and Irvin combined for ten of Michigan's 14 overtime points, with LeVert providing critical support with a pivoting pull-up in the final minute. Illinois struggled to crack a 2-3 zone that the Wolverines increasingly went to as the game wore on. In front of a raucous, capacity Crisler Crowd, M was able to run the clock out without too much stress.

The much-needed victory capped off a banner day for Michigan fans, who were treated to a brief halftime speech from Jim Harbaugh. The ovation for Harbaugh was as loud as Crisler has been this season.

That didn't last long, however. Dawkins caught fire, Crisler rocked, and the faithful who paid a pretty penny to see Harbaugh's first public appearance went home happy.

Comments

Tater

December 30th, 2014 at 7:13 PM ^

There's almost always one player who wasn't highly recruited that surprises everybody by doing the "Beilein Leap."  This year, it could be Aubrey Dawkins.  

He has pretty good bloodlines; he could be a late bloomer who was just waiting for JB's tutilage.  I know he was seen as more of a "throw-in," but we have been pleasantly surprised before.  If not, at least he put the exclamation point on a great day.

Hardware Sushi

December 30th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^

Awesome win! AWESOME HARBAUGH.

Unfortunately I had to leave after Harbaugh's speech and DVR cut short. Does anyone know if BTN will have a replay in the next day or two so I can catch the finish?

IndyBlue90

December 30th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^

After Dawkins hit his second three, I said to myself that they really needed him to have a break out performance like Zak Irvin had against Minnesota last season. And boy did he ever do that. I think, like Irvin last year, this burst will lead to more playing time for Dawkins.

I am still a bit worried about the offense as a whole. It definitely got better as the game went on, but I am dismayed at the big men's inability to set a screen that does anything, and also the fact that the guards aren't looking to get all the way to the tin, or dis to a big man when they drive. It seems like the only reason guys are driving is to kick it back out. I would really like to seem more off ball cutting that will hopefully result in easier buckets. 

Bo Knows

December 30th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^

Another recruiting find by Beilein. I don't remember what schools were Dawkins, but there weren't many notables. Kid is a pretty good athlete and caught fire. Oh yeah. Harbaugh.




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San Diego Mick

December 30th, 2014 at 6:01 PM ^

and badly needed, it was nice to see the team play more cohesive and Zak and Caris played better, need Walton to pick his game back up and we need to hit FT's better.

 

I guess you could say we got a Harbaugh nudge for that game!!!

 

We lost to OSU when Hoke was introduced, I like this year way better!!!

 

FOOTBAUGH!!!!!

maizedNblued

December 30th, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^

..with going with AD over KC - Chatman looks lost at the 4. He kind of reminds me of how uncomfortable GR3 looked at times playing out of position.

Big win though - proud of the team and the especially good job our coaches did - Go Blue!

sasmjjsly

December 30th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^

Chatman should have been benched weeks ago. He looks lost and does not give the team any thing. Dawkins needs to be inserted in starting lineup. Coach Beilein needs to build on this momentum.

MichiganTeacher

December 30th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^

At the beginning of the year I sure wouldn't have expected a Spike/Doyle/Irvin/Dawkins/Levert lineup to be our crunchtime guys. Loved seeing Spike playing down low in the 2-3, but you've gotta expect that will get massively exploited now that teams have seen it be effective.

This team is still a headscratcher to me. Chatman looked super to me on the (admittedly very limited) film I saw. But obviously he's not the answer, at least so far. Levert can't find himself - although maybe the pick-and-roll with Doyle will now be his identity. Walton has been passed by Spike. Irvin hasn't progressed as much offensively as I assumed/hoped he would. Donnal looks clueless. Max is Max, yet still getting playing time.

But hey, signs of life today. Good win.