Evan Turner crushes Michigan's heart, hits a last-second 3-pointer to beat the Wolverines
Ohio State's Evan Turner (21) takes a last-second, game-winning 3-pointer over Michigan's Stu Douglass on Friday. Ohio State ended Michigan's season with a 69-68 victory. (Photo: Associated Press)
INDIANAPOLIS - The ball soared on a line toward the hoop for seemingly forever. In slow motion it went from Evan Turner’s hand to Michigan heartbreak.
Two-tenths of a second separated the Michigan basketball team from an upset victory. Two-tenths of a second sent the Wolverines to a devastating 69-68 loss to top-seeded Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, a flick of an Evan Turner wrist crushing an entire team’s hopes and dreams.
Just like that, it ended. Michigan’s season, one full of disappointment and frustration, stopped because of a 37-footer that went swish at the buzzer.
Ohio State's Evan Turner (21) celebrates his last-second, game-winning 3-pointer with Jon Diebler, left, and David Lighty on Friday. Ohio State beat Michigan, 69-68. (Photo: Associated Press)
“Amazed,” Michigan sophomore guard Stu Douglass said. “It almost seemed like it just dropped in like it was a 10-foot floater. I was expecting it to hit the backboard or go right or left but it just goes over my head, right on line and straight in.
“It’s still a little bit of a blur.”
There’s a reason Turner’s nickname is “The Villain.” For Michigan, until the end of time for that shot, he will be among the most hated Buckeyes.
He left Michigan stunned, in disbelief. That much was evident on the court, with DeShawn Sims standing at the free throw line not moving, with Laval Lucas-Perry shuffling off the court in shock.
With Douglass, who tried to get a hand in Turner’s face, holding his arm in the air for what felt like forever as Turner ran to the corner of the court and Ohio State’s players mobbed him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Michigan sophomore guard Zack Novak said before sighing and taking a deep breath. “It’s terrible.”
There’s a reason Turner is considered the front-runner for national player of the year awards. Friday afternoon, he showed it from almost 40 feet away.
Yet in some ways none of this should be a surprise.
Everyone in Conseco Fieldhouse had to know Turner was going to get the ball. He’s meant everything to Ohio State (25-7) this year and is the reason the Buckeyes are two wins from a Big Ten tournament title and possible a No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament.
For most of the game, Michigan (15-17) did well against Turner. The Wolverines threw multiple defenders and defenses at him, forcing him to give up the ball and find teammates.
Even Turner noticed. And then he wondered why on the final play he was open.
“I was surprised,” Turner said. “The whole game they were trapping me and doing all this crazy stuff and then they just lay off me.
“You know, it’s too bad for them.”
Michigan coach John Beilein decided against guarding the inbounds pass or anything in the Ohio State backcourt, instead wanting to make sure Michigan didn’t get beat on a long pass. He called for an extended version of the 1-3-1 zone, which allowed Turner to catch the ball, take some dribbles and set both his feet once he crossed half court.
In doing so and with NBA great Michael Jordan in attendance, it gave Turner his signature moment.
“I don’t think Evan Turner is going to hit a half-court shot better than anybody else is going to hit a half-court shot,” Beilein said. “We wanted to limit that type of opportunity.”
They didn’t. Instead they gave Turner the opening he needed to make the shot and change what had been one of the best games Michigan played this season into a loss.
In hindsight, Michigan junior guard Manny Harris said, maybe the Wolverines should have done something different on the final play - even if making half-court shots to win the game is an improbable feat.
“I feel like we did a good job. If we had knew he would take that shot regardless we should have doubled or something but we didn’t know that,” Harris said. “Coach drew up a good scheme and he just made an incredible shot.”
It also nullified Michigan’s comeback led by Harris. The Wolverines rallied back from 13 points down midway through the second half to take a 68-66 lead after Harris - who scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half - hit a fadeaway floater over Ohio State’s Dallas Lauderdale with 2.2 seconds left.
At the time, it looked like Michigan had won. Until Turner stole it with the last of his 18 points in the most dramatic, unbelievable, unexpected way possible.
“It’s funny, because I was so mad kind of at how we had played throughout the course of the game,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. “But as he let it go I thought, damn, that thing has got a chance to go in. As it kept going, going, going, boom, went in, and, obviously, I’m not sure it was supposed to go in with how we had played for 38 minutes, 57.8 seconds.
“But fortunately it did.”
Unless you’re Michigan.
“It was a movie,” senior guard Anthony Wright said. “Big rivalry, Michigan-Ohio State. But it’s a tough way to end the season, definitely.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
Tom Haynes
Thu, Mar 18, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
Ha! Yes, it was a "parody"! That is the new Best Comment Ever!
Tom Haynes
Thu, Mar 18, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
Am just recovering out here in The Middle Of Nowhere (Hawaii) from Michigan's ridiculous loss to OSU last week. All I can say is that the "defense" set up for the last 2.2 seconds wasn't any different from what would have happened had Michigan simply pulled all its players from the floor. What does that say about THAT head coach? (Isn't he from West Virginia, too...???)
Bob Dunley
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 5:19 p.m.
And the Bucks win again. Are we able to genuinly beat a team without it being so close??
bigtencountry
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 1:03 p.m.
I am certain no one wants to hear from a Buckeye fan, but in the true spirit of a great rivalry, I feel genuinely sorry for UM fans. We went through John Cooper and Randy Ayers... both almost forced me to throw myself in to the Olentangy River multiple times. I hope the new AD does something quickly so there is some parody in this great rivalry!
charles paris
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
just pay the penalty and send both coaches back to west va. neither one knows how to adjust to the people they have available
Dave66
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
Too bad there isn't a tournament for moral victories, UM would win every time. Actually, any kind of tournament which is decided by delusional fans and not the scoreboard would be nice.
zags
Sat, Mar 13, 2010 : 8:17 a.m.
defense wins championships. even with 2 seconds left.
Engineer
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 11:14 p.m.
It is time for coach JB to go. He has had three years to prove he can NOT recruit and he can NOT coach. The defense he called at the end of the game is unacceptable and certainly ground for his termination. After the lack of progress this year and no more left over recruits and no top 100 recruits the future looks very very very dim for the maize and blue. Please Please Mr. Brandon do your job and get us a coach that can recruit and coach on the floor. Michigan deserves better and the games at the Breslin needs to be a painful memory not an annual event. Michigan has the education and tradition to offer to be a top program in the country not a big ten bottom feeder.
stunhsif
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 9:58 p.m.
Good Lordy, I love living in the Lions Den and being a green and white fan. MSU will once again advance and high flying michigan with their wings clipped will have to watch from the sidelines!!!
John F. Meyer
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 9:16 p.m.
Re Mike's analysis, i.e., Two-tenths of a second separated the Michigan basketball team from an upset victory. Two-tenths of a second sent the Wolverines to a devastating 69-68 loss to top-seeded Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, a flick of an Evan Turner wrist crushing an entire teams hopes and dreams. has anyone noticed that that the clock was at 2.0 seconds when OSU called time out? Then, magically, it went to 2.2 seconds when play resumed. How did that happen? It certainly deserves a review by some official body. jfm
trigg7
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 8:38 p.m.
Next year...now that funny!
Austina Rooker
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 7:38 p.m.
It doesn't matter if OSU goes out in the first round of the NCAA, they beat UM and that is what matters to them. Doesn't the WVA swim coach want to come to Michigan?
Jaxon5
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 7:29 p.m.
Fans are taking this loss pretty hard on this post. Remember it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. And we played very very well for 39 minutes and 58 seconds. And cheer up, we have next season to look forward to.
Jed I Knight
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 7:23 p.m.
"When is the Michigan basketball rally?" Best. Comment. Evar.
barnz378
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 7:14 p.m.
That was the best game. Michigan could of went all the way. I have no complaints and I have been critical of the Wolverines the past month. But when Douglass hit those tripples and Manny, well Manny was awesome, hit the 2 we had it. Just had it.
1998pa
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 7:13 p.m.
i'm not trying to disregard what you're saying, leathercouch, but we're talking about, at most,.3 seconds. Turner's shot, in relative terms, wasn't even close to being after the buzzer. Replay it and you'll see the ball is easily released in time. You can criticize Beilein, I think, fairly. But Turner also made a sick shot against Douglas, who was playing as close as possible without fouling.
Salinegoblue
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 5:12 p.m.
This along with the Iowa game show Coach B can flat out coach. He will take us to the promised land.
chosen1
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
leathercouch, we can say it but Penn State fans could also say LC shouldn't have been given the extra time on our last sec TD. Human errors happen, here's a thought for you and the others who will buy into the theory....look at his body positioning, his back is shielding the scorers table, therefore it is possible that the time keeper could have thought he let the ball go by him without touching it (as alot of teams do to save time). I think the game was an awesome one played by our boys in blue and I'm not going to dwell on conspiracies that may or may not be factual.
leathercouch
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:56 p.m.
no to whine too much...because the game was lost on a great shot but did anybody else notice that he got in a catch, 2 steps and a dribble before the clock started? watch that on youtube
azwolverine
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:54 p.m.
Ugh! What a crushing, yet fitting end to our season. Blaming the refs is weak excuse making and more befitting a Spartan than a true Wolverine (or RR, who excels at excuse making). Well, at least I'm hoping the UM hockey team, with their proven, all-time great coach, can somehow pull out a pair of victories over MSU this weekend and move on despite their subpar season. It's a longshot, but I'll be pulling for them.
trigg7
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:54 p.m.
Another loss for the MAC team in WEST ARBOR. Back to the woods...hilbilly
georgegoright
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.
I believe Beilein's record is now 2 wins and 11 losses and RR is 0 and 2 vs OSU; Michigan 1 and 8 against Tressel. Dunno about you but enuff is enuff. Hope the new AD is not another Martin, has some sense and cleans House. O well, the Tigers will be on TV soon!
chosen1
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.
Ryan, not sure what game you were watching, but I don't think either team outplayed the team. UM matches up well with OSU and it was an even contest. Neither team deserved to lose a game like this and while its heartbreaking to us here, it was an amazing game and Im proud of the boys in blue for their effort.
J S G
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
and as for the luckeyes...yes you won, but UM demonstrated that not only are u not worthy of a #1 seed that the mantra of one and done is extremely prevalent..outside lychee and turner....not much to hang your hat on..so please do not get too excited.....
RMS45
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
UM losing - it never stops being funny. Go Blah!
NoBowl4Blue
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
Great effort but in the end "Great players make great plays" we saw 2 in 2.2 secs. Pistons do what you can to get Turner.
MetricSU
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
Very tough loss. I was sorry to see that. The Wolverines came to play and stuck with it. When Talor Battle grabbed Kalin Lucas' miss last week, with about 4 second, Draymond Green made a very smart play and immediately harassed Battle. With Lucas' help, Battle did not cross half court before the horn. Maybe Beilein should've let the players decide. There's another downside to this loss. Manny may think his performance propels him into the NBA draft. And he may be wondering how he will have a chance to score as much with DeShawn gone next year.
J S G
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.
what a joke.....u get paid to coach...what happened today was unacceptable........i hope the new AD cleans house and we move forward....starting to feel like the lions.......
J S G
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:18 p.m.
This has got to be the cherry on top....2.2 seconds left, I am certain we have a 7 footer on the bench that can wave his arms like a loon?...and then, the audacity to not put two guys on the only player OSU has that can make a play...well, at least they had four guys on the stonehenge book end that is lauderdale....UM fans are reeling today..just another notch in the belt of ineptness- football, basketball, hockey.......well, at least we have cross country...ridiculous......
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:18 p.m.
Ryan, what we saw wasn't great coaching down the stretch. We saw Manny caring again. For whatever reason, he came to play in the second half, and, maybe for the first time all season, he took control of a game the way he did last year. Beilein simply let Manny down. There's no-foul, and then there's no pressure. Turner didn't even have to waste.3 of a second maneuvering around a stationary defender. That was the difference between an open 37-footer and an open 50-footer.
miatamich
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.
Beilein said in the postgame presser that he wanted OSU to win. This would hopefully get them a higher seed in the NCAA tourney and help them represent the Big Ten better. "Why would we need to win when we're a team going nowhere", Beilein stated. To which Manny just shook his head and DeShawn cried.
Bob Dunley
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
I see my comment was seen as "unfit" and offensive...so all i am going to say is Ohio State is awesome. Michigan...eh, not so much. Evan Turner beasted it up today and all season for that matter. Evan is a well-rounded athlete on and off the court. He should by far receive MVP, and anyone that disagrees must be a sore loser.
Ryan
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
Who knew coaching an over-matched team to a one point loss to a potential final four team was a fire-able offense. Talk about your major over reactions. Sure he should have put some pressure on Turner but I'm sure he told those guys the number one priority is to avoid a foul. Let's get some perspective here, Belein did win a tourney game last year.
trigg7
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
Looks like your OSU and MSU's B.
leonard914
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
As an OSU fan I know how lucky we got on the last shot.Michigan outplayed us.I don't expect OSU to get far in the NCAAS.Every school has their share of idiots who bad-mouth other programs.OSU certainly has them.But they can't be found when their team loses. They must be IGNORED by the true fans on the message boards.We make them happy by responding to their inflammatory remarks.We must IGNORE them.
GBUCKS!
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.
Theo212....I heard in November "Enjoy your bowl loss" when the Bucks POUNDED UofM in The Pig House. I guarantee you OSU will win in the 1st, 2nd & 3rd rounds. The important thing here is I 'll be watching my school in post season play while for 2 years you'll be baggin trash!
GBUCKS!
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
I'm a Buckeyes & have to admit it was one of the most poor coaching jobs with less than 3 seconds in a hoop game I've ever seen! Life is always easier after beating the team from up North!! BUCKEYE NATION!
saginaw
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
Is this shot on youtube yet?
cutty240
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 3:11 p.m.
Beilein is a great offense coach,not a great defense coach.If you watched coach Huggins last night against his old Cincy team.Put the tallest player on the inbound passer,Cincy had to call one timeout,because of the pressure,then we got lucky and a Cincy turned the ball over.Does anybody Remember how Rick Pitno lost the game to Duke several years ago.Guarding the inbounds passer is so simple,coaches forget about.I have watched Beilein lose several Big tournament games the same way.One cost a trip to final four,one to the Elite 8,and one to the Big East Championship game.If he doesn't blow a team out,he seem to always lose the close ones,because he doesn't know what to do.Great offense coach,bad defense coach.You know the saying.Offense sells tickets,defense wins champioships.
Don
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
John Belin lost a great game for his team. And they will show OSU's great shot for the newxt 20 years. Don't gaurd the inbound? Let the best player in America be gaurded by a player that is 6'5? Now I a not a basketball coach, but why wouldn't you take 6-10 Zach Gibson and at least try to gaurd the inbound? What about Sims-who is 6'8"-Wouldn't he be a better choice to gaurd Evan Turner? Nice game boys, way to play Manny!- Our coach needs to understand that playing three ball in with short players in the Big 10 will leave you in close to last place-everytime. The boys deserved to win this game. Their own coach took it from them! A three gaurd offense will never work in the big ten. Adapt John Adapt.
trigg7
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
All in for WEST ARBOR.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:49 p.m.
At least Laettner was guarded, and made a fantastic shot off a perfect pass. Kentucky did nothing wrong. This was not a Laettner. This was a good player making an unguarded 40-point shot. Just like practice. Beilein made it easy on him. I'm still furious. That was a lapse that coaches lose their jobs over. And given the massive steps backward this year, combined by terrible recruiting, it's probably time to find a better coach - just stay out of West Virginia during the search process.
oneandseven
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
KARMA: New decade starts off like the old decade left off. Why would one expect anything else. Football: West Virginia coach, 5-6 record, win or go home game vs. arch rival who has already clinched big ten championship. Basketball: West Virginia coach, 15-16 record, win or go home game vs. arch rival who has already clinched big ten championship.
vi4mi4
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.
...the two worst basketball/football coaches in the Big Ten= MICHIGAN bline never saw the laetner vs. kentucky play... free pass, free look, hope he misses- he didn't he and rich red are officially out of their league... when will we get some leaders and best to lead the Leaders and Best?? sad. Go Blue! v
trigg7
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:33 p.m.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....... Must stink to be everyones highlight real. Now you can kick back and watch the BIG BOYS play.
braggslaw
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
Wow that stunk
jerome
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.
All you could ask for was an opportunity. Still have no idea why there was absolutely no pressure on the ball whatsoever?! I mean, last I checked, Turner is the Bigten, possibly, National College Player of the year! You can't let someone go unguarded with a wide open look, especially Turner! Douglas and Novak showed some grit. Manny finally kicked in when needed. Beilein has to be kicking himself about now! Bottomline, we need better players period. Off season will be interesting. Still the "Leaders and Best"! Class of 89
naturally
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:27 p.m.
A fitting end to a very disappointing season.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:27 p.m.
I am furious. How in the holy masked-swear-words do you not put pressure on the inbounds play with 2.2 seconds remaining and a full court to traverse? How in the other-masked-swear-words do you not have anyone within 20 feet of the player of the year in college basketball? Beilein quit on the team with 2.2 seconds to play. He owes Manny and DeShawn, among others, more than an apology. Did he not see the clock? What's the use of having four players in perfect position for a rebound when there's absolutely no time left for a rebound? Just horrid and inexcusable coaching. Whoever thought raiding West Virginia for coaches was a good idea needs more than a head examination.
rightmind250
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:25 p.m.
Just another example of that west virginia brilliance. No bowl, no tournament, start the banjo's joebob. We sa comin home.
Yelmonian
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.
Awesome... "Crushes"!
saginaw
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:20 p.m.
We have mixed feelings right now: 1. Michigan played very well. 2. OSU got very lucky.
a2roots
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:19 p.m.
How do you not guard the in-bounds pass???? Beilein is clueless. Maybe he will see the light and just leave. The pain will continue as long as he stays.
Badnewsbarrister
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.
It's too bad an outstanding Michigan effort was wasted by the curious decision not to pressure the inbounds pass. Full court in 2 seconds is not the time to fall back into a zone. It was a great shot, but OSU should not have been over half court in barely a second. What were our guys doing under the basket? Waiting for a rebound?
Detroitrocks
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.
Who would have guessed that the season would end with yet another great moral victory?
miatamich
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.
You can't single out one play and say it made the difference. How do you know that Michigan wouldn't have turned the ball over on the inbounds play following the OSU turnover? The real shame with this game is Beilein's moronic defensive call on the last play. No pressure whatsover...maybe the announcers will quit saying what a great coach he is. What a shame to throw away Manny's effort in what should be his final game at U-M. Next year's team is going to be scary. Maybe Beilein's last here.
chosen1
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
Theo, the refs weren't an issue. We had 14 fts compared to their 6 or 8. We lost a great game to a great player cause your general isn't smart enough to pressure ET or the inbounds pass. He hit a great shot, but that's what great players do. Can you one time be a gracious loser?
Blue Marker
Fri, Mar 12, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.
Why does God hate Michigan?