The Day After

Submitted by MLaw06 on

My wife was inconsolable last night.  Her happiness for Spike turned into concern when Hancock threw up a barrage of threes and then into despair when the final seconds ticked away.  No heroball this time; no happy ending for the good guys.  It just felt wrong to me; Pitino was spinning in anger, and then twenty minutes later, he's a genius, a class act, a legend, etc.  I was sick.

I woke up this morning and I felt strangely calm.  It was the day after a loss, but it was also a day after the end of a great season for Michigan basketball.  As I stepped outside, my winter coat felt heavy in the spring warmth and I couldn't help but feel, we came so damn far.  It's April, fergodsakes(!), and we were still playing; Michigan basketball is back, and better yet, it's back to stay. 

We were all a part of the journey and we have become believers.  We're here because we're more than just Michigan fans, we're Michigan family.  We have been on a long road to redemption and I know some of you feel that if we haven't reached our destination than perhaps it wasn't a trip worth taking, but I truly believe, that we have already been redeemed because our redemption arises from the journey itself.  Sure, the national championship trophy would have been amazing, but looking back over the past twenty years; I'm so proud of where we are today.  It truly has not just been an evolution of the program; it's been a dramatic revolution.  I have the utmost confidence that we're going to hit our stride and make our run; we're going to continue to recruit the best talent, preach hard work and buy in to a team-first, team-forever mindset.

Our team is a national championship contender, and it wasn't because of one guy; our program is clicking on all cylinders and it's only a matter of time until we cut the nets in April. 

TheGhostofYost

April 9th, 2013 at 12:58 PM ^

I just can't get over how perfect a story it would have been.  The National Player of the Year going out on top, a coach working his way up from the lowest levels finally getting a title, the legend of Albrecht, the Fab Five in attendance.  So close to being one of the greatest moments in Michigan history.

snoopblue

April 9th, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^

Spike and Caris were late additions to the previous recruiting class. Spike, specifically, was insurance in case Burke left. I'm excited because Beilein is going to work his magic again. Who is going to join Walton, Irvin and Donnal in the class? Andrew Wiggins? Season might be over, but the excitement continues. 

John Beilein is a Wizard.

SFBlue

April 9th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^

It is tough because it took a miracle to get as far as they did. So many thing have to go right to get to the finals. But today I am more in awe of the run they had than disappointed at what could have been. I was too young to appreciate the 89 team and the Fab 5. This was remarkable. They lost a classic game in which they played pretty well. They provided three weeks of memories in the Tournament. They will be remembered for a long time.

M-Wolverine

April 9th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^

You can chant "it's just a matter of time before we cut the nets in April" but we'll have been saying that for 25 years when the next chance roles around. It's easier said than done.

BeileinBuddy

April 9th, 2013 at 1:38 PM ^

I'll take 25 years in between championship game appearances if it means we rack up like 5-6 Final Four banners, and a handful of B1G Championships in that span.

Yeah it took MSU only 9 years to make it back to the championship and they got blown out the arena. I'll take last night over that.

nickb

April 9th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^

Many commentators believe Beilein did a poor job in coaching the game. Keeping Burke on the bench too long, not utilizing Spike in the second half and poor use of timeouts something he is notoriously bad at.

To his credit he is a good recruiter and the program should remain at an elite level for several years. FWIW, winning the National Championship in Basketball is one of the hardest acheivement in collegiate sports. Losing in the final game is nothing to be ashamed of.

Jimmyisgod

April 9th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

It was a great game and our boys left it all on the floor, they gave everything they had, played their hearts out and just came up a little short against a great team.

Thought the refs missed some calls both ways, to be honest, not sure how we weren't getting called for a lot more fouls when Behanen had the ball in the paint.  Can't blame the refs one bit.

goblueram

April 9th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

Second National Championship loss I've experienced (hockey 2011), and it was almost as tough as the first one.  Both times I ended up staying in my seat not talking to any fans around me and watching the champs do their celebration.  Never really had the energy or desire to move (let alone burn a couch).  

Day after still sucks.  Thought for sure we had that one.