Would you look at that, yet another 8/9 seed takes down the number 1 seed in their conference tournament. First, we had last night’s wild game where we saw eight seeded TCU take down number one Kansas. Next, earlier today we saw nine seeded Davidson topple the number one seeded Dayton in their matchup. And finally earlier today, and what this current article is about, the #8 Michigan Wolverines took on and defeated in overtime the #1 (and 13th ranked nationally) Purdue Boilermakers.
Michigan’s basketball players woke up Friday in the same city they’d be playing in that afternoon. What a refreshing change during what’s been quite a week! I am being completely serious as well. I’m guessing they ate breakfast at a regular hour, watched some film as usual, too. Heck, the Wolverines even got to wear their proper blue road jerseys with their last names printed on the back and everything. (If you don’t know, their previous game before this vs Illinois they wore practice jerseys because they couldn’t get their regular ones) — to face 13th-ranked Purdue in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Two days after its airplane’s scary abandoned takeoff. If you need a refresher, more than 100 members of Michigan’s traveling party: players, coaches, cheerleaders, and others were evacuated from their plane after it failed to take flight and slid through a fence Wednesday.
Michigan moved into the league tournament semifinals with a 74-70 overtime upset of Purdue behind D.J. Wilson’s 26 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
Michigan had a little bit of the upper hand and most of the momentum in the first half and led 38-37 at the break. In fact, Purdue’s sunk a half court buzzer beater before the half to get some of the momentum back and going into the second half. But overall, it was an engaging, back-and-forth affair. The teams combined for 14 ties and 17 lead changes in regulation alone, and they headed to overtime tied at 66 after Zak Irvin pulled Michigan even on a layup with 4.2 seconds left. Purdue had a shot to win at but D.J. Wilson blocked the Boilermakers attempt at a 3-pointer right as the buzzer rang.
The Wolverines got 13 solid points from Irvin, including both of their overtime buckets, against the Boilermakers and held Purdue to 1-of-8 shooting in the extra period.
Big Picture:
The Wolverines can ultimately thank D.J. Wilson who finished with those 26 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. He also drained two three-pointers and went an impressive 11-18 from the floor. They were also very, and I mean very nicely coached by John Beilein, who coached the Wolverines back from all the nerves of earlier in the week. Michigan can advance to the Big Ten final with a third win in three days as it faces the very tough 4 seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers. These two teams faced each other before the Gophers beat the visiting Wolverines 83-78 in OT on Feb. 19. So there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a great matchup.
