Michigan basketball team sets school tournament record for worst-seeded loss
Michigan coach John Beilein looks on during a press conference following the Wolverines' loss to Ohio Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Michigan basketball team won a Big Ten title for the first time since 1986. It achieved another bit of history in its NCAA Tournament opener, although not the kind it was hoping to set.
The No. 4-seed Wolverines were knocked off Friday by 13th-seeded Ohio 65-60 at Bridgestone Arena. It is the worst-seeded team ever to eliminate Michigan since the tournament expanded in 1985.
The Wolverines' worst previous ouster came in 1990, when they lost 149-115 to 11th-seeded Loyola Marymount in Long Beach, Calif.
Michigan senior Zack Novak dismissed his team's piece of infamy, though, citing the growing parity in the sport.
OHIO 65, MICHIGAN 60
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"It doesn't bother me, because I think this (Ohio) team is pretty good," Novak said. "I don't even think they're the worst team we've played in the tournament since we've been here. I think that you just got to give them credit.
"Yeah, we didn't make the Sweet 16, but I know I'll leave here without any regrets because I went out there every time and played my ass off."
Ohio, champion of the Mid-American Conference, is no stranger to tournament upsets. The Bobcats, under coach John Groce, thumped No. 3-seed Georgetown in their last appearance two years ago.
Michigan is the first No. 4 seed to go down in this tournament, although two No. 2 seeds — Missouri and Duke — also were dispatched Friday. It is the first time in tournament history three teams seeded as low as 13th won on the same day.
The Blue Devils went down just as the Wolverines' locker room was being opened to the media. Novak said the result confirms his point.
"Every year is different," he said. "The seeding, it's such that it really is just for TV. There's very little difference — yeah, the 1-seeds are better, the 2s, but 3 and 6 are probably the same now.
"Anyone can win. Anyone can lose. Just look at Duke. It's sounds cliche, but there's parity. It happens."
Michigan had been 8-0 against teams seeded 12th or worse in the tournament.
This was its first matchup against a 13-seed.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
cutty240
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
John is Job Jumper.He's never stayed anyplace longer than 5 years.Whats its been 5 or 6 years at Michigan..He's like Brian Kelly of Notre Dame.After 5 or 6 years both of there BS starts to run thin.
Engineer
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
Another guy from West Virginia setting records for us! Thanks John Beilien for that. Now please kindly pack up your office and head back south because you obviously do not understand what it means to be a Wolverine or any clue how to sell this the premier University in the country
cutty240
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.
I keep telling people this.Beilein doesn't care about Rebounds,doesn't care about defense either.Loves to play that 1 3 1 defense.He cares about the 3 point shot first and foremost.His teams can pass pretty well.If they hit the shots,they are almost unbeatable.If they Don't they STINK THE JOINT UP.High Risk High Reward.You Michiagn fans should be used to this by now,and its not going to change either.John IS a BIG CONTROL FREAK TOO.Maybe worse than Rich Rod.
PHXblue
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
As long as U-M players are throwing out comments like "It doesnt bother me...."we will not compete with top tier teams...I am all for good sportsmanship but this is a good indicator of how badly this team wanted to make a statement.... Not very much.
azwolverine
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
A disappointing end to an otherwise very good season. I agree with Dave in that UM did not play well in their last three games. Perhaps let off the gas once they captured a share of the B10 title...or just beaten by better teams in the last two. Either way, this season was a step forward for the UM program and with a a top recruiting class coming in next season, they should only get better. Further, their goals will be higher from this point forward and there should be no chance of them letting up in the future if they are fortunate enough to win a B10 title.
bigtenknight
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.
Engineer, 'There is absolutely no reason for Michigan to be out recruited by these other clowns north and south of us'... You're right...no reason at all. I mean what recruit would want to play for a university named 'Ohio' or for a coach who takes any kid who stays all four years in his program to a Final Four...you're right, no reason at all. Speaking of clowns, have you received your application from Barnum and Baileys?
Engineer
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
Let off the gas? They did not know they won the title until after they had played all of their games and were watching moo u play buc nuts afterwards. We simply do not have the players due to poor recruiting on Beilien's part. He has been here 5 years and what you see is what you get. I do not think he understands what he has in the University to sell. There is absolutely no reason for Michigan to be out recruited by these other clowns north and south of us.
Captain Dave
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
No inside game, rebounding poor, missed lay ups, bad porous defense, shooting percentage bad. The only hope is the three top recruits we have coming in to take starting positions next year. The last 3 games were horrible.