Michigan basketball team rallies to beat Illinois, 60-55, in Big Ten quarterfinal

Posted on Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 6:47 p.m.

Michigan basketball team rallies to beat Illinois, 60-55, in Big Ten quarterfinal

By Michael Rothstein

Michigan's Darius Morris (4) dribbles past Illinois' Brandon Paul during the Wolverines 60-55 Big Ten quarterfinal win at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday.

Darrell Hoemann | for AnnArbor.com

Updated 6:47 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS —John Beilein saw his players' faces and slumped shoulders and voiced his own frustration. He told his players, who looked emotionally dead in his opinion, they were exactly that: Dead.

From the death came life. Darius Morris started clapping his hands. Players started jumping up and down. Beilein wanted his team to search for their ‘Yes’ faces — as in, yes, you can come back. And, yes, you can win.

The Michigan basketball team translated the pep talk into a come-from-behind, 60-55 win over Illinois in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal on Friday.

The Wolverines responded with a 19-4 run, one that erased a 12-point Illinois lead, and led them to a berth in a semifinal against No. 1 Ohio State (1:40 p.m., CBS) and potentially into the NCAA tournament.

It all came from that huddle during a television timeout with 8:55 left. One that altered the rest of Michigan’s season.

“Coach looked at all of us and said ‘You’re dead. Get excited.’” Michigan redshirt freshman forward Jordan Morgan said. “We all got excited and changed our emotions from that point on and crawled back into the game.”

Michigan didn’t so much crawl as sprint.

MICHIGAN 60, ILLINOIS 55

Hardaway wills a win
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Freshman forward Evan Smotrycz hit a 3-pointer. Then Morris, who led Michigan (20-12) with 17 points, hit a layup. That was followed by another Smotrycz 3-pointer and two more Morris baskets.

The 12-0 spurt tied the game at 51-51, fully grabbed momentum and allowed Michigan to do something in March against Illinois (19-13) that it couldn’t do in a 54-52 February loss in Champaign, Ill.

Michigan finished the rally when freshman forward Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 left to give the Wolverines a 56-53 lead. It was Michigan’s first double-digit, second-half comeback since it trailed Harvard by 12 points with 18:17 left on Dec. 4. Statistically, and in the Ratings Percentage Index, that win was Michigan’s best of the season.

Until Friday, when the entire run, game and perhaps Michigan’s season all changed in one huddle.

“After that, it kind of just clicked,” sophomore guard Josh Bartelstein said. “The entire team, the bench, the guys in the game.

“We kind of needed to get our swagger back.”

ANNARBOR.COM THREE STARS

First Star: Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan
The freshman forward continued his massive first season, hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:44 left as part of his 16 points.
Second Star: Darius Morris, Michigan
The sophomore point guard led Michigan with 17 points and seven assists. He had critical back-to-back baskets during the 12-0 portion of Michigan's game-changing 19-4 run.
Third Star: John Beilein, Michigan
The Michigan coach pulled his players together and woke them up midway through the second half. In his 1,000th game as a head coach, he had another masterful performance, willing his team to a win and possibly to the NCAA tournament.
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When the confidence returned, Michigan did something else many didn’t think possible in the preseason.

The Michigan players have admitted being unable to move away from the constant bubble conversation over the past month. So they understood what a win might do for their case to reach the NCAAs for the second time in three years. They also knew what a loss would do.

They can’t avoid it — well, unless they go to the new Justin Bieber movie, as some Wolverines did over the past two weeks.

“Before the game (I thought about it) a lot,” Smotrycz said. “During the game, we were just focused on winning. But, definitely, we all get caught up in the whole Bracketology thing a little bit.

“We knew this could be big for us.”

Still, Michigan’s focus right now is winning the Big Ten postseason, something the Wolverines haven’t done since the first tournament in 1998. Right now, the only team in the Big Ten playing as well as the Wolverines is Ohio State.

Michigan knows where it stands in Indianapolis: Two wins from not having to worry about anything on Sunday except where it’ll be playing in the NCAA tournament, not if it’ll be playing in the NCAA tournament.

“We figure, why leave it up to the committee?” Morgan said. “Why not just win the whole thing?”

Michael Rothstein covers 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

Theo212

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.

Illinois, msu, osu, wiscy, and purdue are in. This isn't right, but it's now between us and psu for the Big 10's last bid. Listen up kids, 'cause this is important. We will root our you-know-whats off to beat clarett u today. But we also need to root just as hard for potluck u to beat penn state. Queme los barcos!

InsideTheHall

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.

This is Michigan for God's sake! Beat the Bucks! GO BLUE!

Oscar Lavista

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.

I can get behind this team! Somehow Beilein has gotten it together, and the guys are meshing well. No big egos either. Beating the Buckeyes would be a dream (and possible based on their close call today), but the Wolverines should be playing on regardless. Hardaway and Morris are super-talented, but Novak's my guy. A final against the elite program up north may be too much for my heart! At least we've been their equal for one year. Now to start catching up on the gridiron. A few more years, and we may be able to reclaim status as the best in-state school.

ArthGuinness

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 4:13 a.m.

Think back to how you felt after they lost six straight. Now back to the present. Very, very nice change. Congratulations to Beilein who has apparently made the tournament twice in four years, and good job to the kids who have worked hard.

heartbreakM

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 2:39 a.m.

Well, during the year, I held my breath and said, let's see what happens when the competition is fierce. Good win at Clemson, but didn't know what it meant until later. Well, the last 11 games have been great and I think Beilein deserves credit for getting this team to go. I have expressed disappointment during the year in Douglass' play, but today, he gets big time kudos. He didn't score a ton, but he led the team in rebounds, defended well, and finally, showed that senior leadership I have been waiting for. When you grab 7 boards as a 6'2" or so guy, you will your team to victory. I hope he finds his shot some time, but more efforts like that will take this team further. Therefore, Douglass is my MVP today. (Novak is just behind him, for keeping us in the game).

johnnya2

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 6:47 a.m.

And senior leadership from a junior is pretty amazing. Every single player will be back nnext season, with a few nice additions.

Macabre Sunset

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.

Looks like Moo just played its way into the dance as well.

vi4mi4

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:22 a.m.

..an incredible job of COACHING and PLAYING!.. coach Beilein for Life!. classic Michigan Victory.. onward.. Go Blue! v

maizenbluedoc

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:06 a.m.

Maybe this is the turning point of the season. These guys now know that they can come back------and win. Great job for a very you team. They played like veterans today.

jcj

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 2:49 a.m.

I think that turning point happened a few weeks ago.

dowel

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.

I'm ashamed to say I gave up on them at the 10 min mark...but I didn't keep watching, thank god! Now what ever happens in the game tomorrow against OH-LIE-O State, I will not stop believing in this amazing bunch of kids.

dowel

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.

Is it just me or does everyone think this has to rank right up there as one of the greatest come from behind wins in the history of Michigan sports? I mean right up there with the win over Virginia Tech in football.

johnnya2

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 6:45 a.m.

I am guessinvv you are rather young to rank the VA win asd the best (though a great come from behind victory). I will give the nod to the ultimate two in my mind. Anthony Carter against IU is far and away the best and the last second touchdown against PSU ranks ahead of either of those. Tonights win was a good one for this group though.

heartbreakM

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 2:42 a.m.

Uh, it was University of Virginia, and I don't think either of these two victories gets ranked up there. They are exciting, but best ever? I would give many other games the awards.

johnnya2

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.

Amazing how the "excuse" of being young or starting freshman has never left Beilins mouth like it did RR and his sycophants. Beilin has been competitive in every game, while the football team folded like a cheap suit. Congrats to the team and just play hard.

heartbreakM

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 2:40 a.m.

It's called "composure" and "leadership". At least this WVU coach has it, and it translates. I think Hoke has it also and it will show.

BigWolverine13

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.

Goof point.

Chase Ingersoll

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

Biefeldt <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxGI8Ie3fE&feature=related" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxGI8Ie3fE&feature=related</a>

Chase Ingersoll

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:26 p.m.

The win probably helped Michigan in recruiting Peoria [Illinois] Notre Dame senior forward Max Bielfeldt, [ 6-foot-8, 240-pound pivot] who has also been offered a scholarship by the University of Illinois . <a href="http://www.sj-r.com/illini/x1174964771/Michigan-battles-Illinois-for-Peoria-N-D-s-Bielfeldt" rel='nofollow'>http://www.sj-r.com/illini/x1174964771/Michigan-battles-Illinois-for-Peoria-N-D-s-Bielfeldt</a>. I've got a newphew on the Peoria Notre Dame JV team, so my father is at most of the games sitting next to Bielfeldt's grandfather. Despite all of their contributions to the University of Illinois over the years, the Bielfeldt family likes the Michigan basketball program, academics, and I suspect the atmosphere of Ann Arbor of Champaign Illinois is a big selling point. Illinois was late to the game in recruiting Max and offering him a scholarship so I think the family was a bit put off. My observations [as a U of Illinois alum] is that U of I recruits a lot of kids out of Chicago, that are frankly just not as coach-able as kids who are both athletic and academic achievers.

Rich Rezler

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:01 a.m.

Michigan doesn't have one of these, however. Named for his family: <a href="http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/bielfeldt/default.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/bielfeldt/default.htm</a>

Yeah buddy

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.

Funny to see that the final score between these teams in football this season was higher than in the basketball game.

AceDeuce

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.

GO BLUE!!!! Have to be honest and say I thought we were done around the 8 minute mark, but this young group of guys really left it on the court today. And I hope they aren't done yet. I want to make a run in the big dance, but since we're here we may as well try and upset some buckeyes.

David Vande Bunte

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.

I am confident that this win solidified Michigan's NCAA Tournament selection. I gotta be honest, despite most bracket prognosticators putting them in as an 11 seed, I had doubts that if Michigan lost today that they would have made it. I have a feeling that the Big Ten will send no more than five teams, and after Ohio State, Wisconsin and Purdue, that left Michigan, MSU and Illinois fighting for at the max, two spots. We had a compelling argument against MSU, but with a second loss to Illinois this season, I thought that somehow MSU would get selected over Michigan due to their Tournament history, that they would get the benefit of the doubt over the Wolverines. Granted, its still possible that all 3 teams get in, but by beating Illinois today, I think Michigan would be chosen before either Illinois or MSU, if it came down to only picking one of two of the three teams. Forget being an at-large selection, lets just win the Big Ten Tournament and get an automatic bid!

Buster W.

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.

Nice rally!! Now let's get some revenge from last year's heartbreaker at the buzzer!!

Blu-dogg97

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.

It wasn't pretty..the usual cold streak in the first half,then great D to win it down the stretch.. The youngest team in the B1G ,has to learn how to dance now.. Be great to see a win in the semi-final game over Tsio ... (thatschoolinohio) Go Blue..

81wolverine

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.

Great comeback! It's so great to see a Michigan team that over-achieves. We don't match up well against Illinois because of their size and experience. But, the difference is tough D. That's how we came back in this game. And that 3 by Hardaway late in the game was HUGE! Can't wait to get our crack at the Stinkeye's tomorrow. 3rd time's the charm! Go Blue!

D21

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.

Virtually a shoo in and congrats to Mich for making the NCAA tourney. As for dem little brothers, have fun in the NIT (Not Important Tourney).

treetowncartel

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.

I believve the tip against The ohio State University is at 1:40 pm EST.

Kubrick66

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:44 p.m.

Lets roll into the dance with a win over that tattooed school down south!

Drew Burton

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.

Does anyone know the time for tomorrow's game?

clarklaker

Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.

1:40

MjC

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.

This is why I love this team - they never give up! So proud of these kids... GO BLUE!

Forever27

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.

As the great David Bowie says, LET'S DANCE!

Macabre Sunset

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:38 p.m.

I think that solidifies their NCAA bid. Good job not panicking when Illinois looked like it was about run away with it.

John B.

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.

Wow. That one looked pretty bad at the half, but what a comeback. More passing, less dribbling in that second half. Great job, guys!