"Back On the Map" by Darius Morris

Submitted by Blue and Joe on

Great story by Darius Morris on The Players Tribune today. He writes about the 2011 NCAA Tournament and how it put Michigan basketball back on the map.

I'm not sure if I would say 2011 was the year they got back on the map, because they did win a game in the tourney 2 years prior. It did start a good consistent run though. It's a good read if you have some time.

Saul Goodman

March 18th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ^

Sorry Darius, you had us one shot away from the sweet 16 but you weren't the catalyst to getting Michigan back on the map. It was two years prior when we made it back to the tournament and knocked off Clemson (iirc) before losing to Blake Griffin and Oklahoma.

ijohnb

March 18th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^

dunked from the free throw line, twice.

And 2011 was the back on the map year.  2009 was nice, but we swept State in 2011, the Fab Five documentary got people to remember Michigan, and the Duke game was a really good game.  Morris was a big part of it.  He was a good player.

raleighwood

March 18th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^

I always thought (and still think) that Morris should have dished to a wide open Stu Douglass to take the three pointer and try to win the game in regulation.  I guess that Michigan had the momentum so OT was a viable option.  However, Duke was the better (higher ranked) team and they essentially had a home game.  I'd go for three and try to win it in regulation.

For what it's worth, I would have done the same thing against MSU in East Lansing this year.  I think that Michigan put the game into OT by making a two pointer on their final possession (about :20 to go).  On the road, without LaVert, I'd be trying to hit a three pointer to take the lead before Sparty's final possession.

 

LSAClassOf2000

March 18th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

As someone mentioned above, it does seem like this was a while ago and even though a few people might quibble with the idea that this moment put Michigan basketball "back on the map", it is hard to deny that it was a significant moment for the program to - in a Tournament setting, no less - give Duke everything it could handle in a game where few really thought much of Michigan's chances as the opening tip went in the air. It is that sort of experience, those sorts of moments - even in losses - that seem to pay off later for teams. 

lilpenny1316

March 18th, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^

They were playing essentially a road game and you go for the win on the road.  Plus we were still an undersized team compared to Duke.  I would've preferred the kickout for the three.  I thought that was what he was going to do.  Either way, it was a great game and I enjoyed watching Duke get blasted by Arizona the next weekend.