Top-seeded Ohio State knocks Michigan basketball out of the Big Ten tournament, 68-61
Updated 6:19 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Darius Morris and Jordan Morgan sat next to each other on the bench, trying to calm one another down.
The roommates and catalysts to Michigan basketball team's surprising run for a potential NCAA tournament berth were on the sidelines for the final five minutes of Ohio State’s 68-61 win over the Wolverines in a Big Ten tournament semifinal, helpless to do anything about it.
Both had scuffled with the Buckeyes -- verbally, in Morris’ case and slightly physically in Morgan’s -- and they watched as the nation's top-ranked team stretched out a lead that would eventually lead to Michigan’s unraveling.
A 16-0 run like the Buckeyes put together is the difference right now between Michigan and Ohio State, between a veteran team with experience and one still finding its way. Between a team that will play in Sunday’s Big Ten final against Penn State and one that will bus back to Ann Arbor in the morning.
OHIO STATE 68, MICHIGAN 61
“They are the No. 1 team in the country,” Morgan said. “They have a really tenacious defense, so they make it really hard for you to get the things you want to get and take you out of your element.”
The Ohio State explosion coincided with a temporary Michigan implosion. The team that has frequently found ways to come back throughout the season couldn’t. Not entirely.
Against everyone else the Wolverines (20-13) had played for the most part — including top teams like Kansas and Syracuse, and in the Big Ten quarterfinals — Michigan made a run.
It couldn’t against the Buckeyes.
“That’s one of the weapons that we have, that we possess,” Ohio State senior guard David Lighty said. “Anyone can get hot at any given time and you never know who it is going to be.”
ANNARBOR.COM THREE STARS
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First Star: William Buford, Ohio State
The junior scored 16 points and was crucial during the Buckeyes' 16-0 run that broke the game open. He also sparked a scuffle with Michigan forward Jordan Morgan and was a reason the Wolverines were rattled in the second half. -
Second Star: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
The freshman forward is one of the nation's best players and grabbed a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He put Morgan in foul trouble, did a good job guarding Zack Novak and staying in front of Darius Morris. -
Third Star: Darius Morris, Michigan
The sophomore point guard didn't have his best game, but he led Michigan in scoring with 16 points and kept the Wolverines in the game before the 16-0 Ohio State burst -
Readers’ choice
That is what makes Ohio State different from everybody else. It has six players who are capable of taking over a game — from star forward Jared Sullinger, who had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, to freshmen Aaron Craft and DeShaun Thomas coming off the bench.
Ohio State (31-2) can create offense and go on a game-breaking run in an instant. All it takes, Michigan players said, was one or two mistakes. Midway through the second half, after the Wolverines had cut the Ohio State lead to 47-45 after a Tim Hardaway Jr. finger roll layup with 9:50 left, those mistakes came.
Ohio State then went on a 16-0 run led by Sullinger, Craft and William Buford, who had 16 points. As the Buckeyes did so, Michigan missed open shots, turned the ball over and reverted back to a team that struggled throughout January.
“You kind of just want to stop it, but sometimes that can get the best of you because you’re like ‘Maybe I can score this bucket, maybe I can stop it,’” Morris said. “But when they go on runs like that, you can’t stop it immediately.
“It’s going to take a couple of plays and we’ll learn that as a team as we grow together.”
Michigan, unlike most other teams in March, has that luxury. Returning every player from this year’s team and adding guards Trey Burke and Carlton Brundidge gives the Wolverines a chance to still learn at a time when most teams are holding on to careers with everything they have.
But in the Big Ten tournament semifinals, the run doomed them.
The Wolverines tried to come back late with Morris, who led Michigan with 16 points, and Morgan on the bench for unknown reasons. Michigan cut the Ohio State lead to four, 65-61, after an Evan Smotrycz 3-pointer with 23 seconds left — but the Buckeyes did what makes them the nation’s top team.
They hung on to close the Wolverines out and make them wait 24 hours to see if they’ll make the NCAA tournament or be banished to the NIT.
“You’re just praying, hoping that they call us. We tried to come down here this weekend and get a lot of wins and get to the championship to solidify that spot,” Morris said. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to do that.
“But hopefully these two games put us closer.”
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
48104
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 4:44 a.m.
Stars of the game? No question -- Ed Hightower and Ted Valentine. You watched, you should know!
Engineer
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
Mr. Beilien, Taking 5 minutes off in the middle of a game is probably not a good idea. Need to play the entire game. Oh yeah the were young stuff seems silly when a freshman was taking it to you for most of the game. It is more of a recruiting issue than age.
spartyisyourlilsister
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
Man, get over yourself!! This Michigan team was supposed to do nothing this year!! Many pundits and posters on this board had them slotted in the number 10 spot in the conference! They ended up fourth with a probable NCAA tournament invite. Give Beilein some credit for that!!!
81wolverine
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.
IMO, Michigan achieves MUCH more with what they have than OSU. I think we'd have beaten them at least 2 out of 3 without Sullinger in the lineup. I think he's a very good player, but is soft on defense and lacks an outside shot. Several times, Michigan players breezed right past him for baskets on plays he could have defended. Certainly, we have some gaps that need to be filled, like a better inside game and players who can rebound/block shots. Also, we need to improve our shooting %. But, that will happen given some more time. Next year, OSU will not be so successful against us. Go Blue!
leonard914
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
This game might be the last game my Bucks will win against Michigan for a while.We will probably lose 4-5 players and will be very young next year.If Um can keep that never-quit attitude it could serve them well in the Big Dance.I think Sullinger is getting so many calls because Matta is constantly in the ref's ears.
catfishrisin
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
Geeshh, this is getting so boring. OSU beats UM AGAIN. Football, basketball..it doesn't seem to matter..perhaps UM needs to switch to boccie ball as their big-time sport.
jcj
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
Enjoy it while you can! Does OSU even play any other sports?
larry kramer
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.
the officials put a stop to Michigan's game with 5 minutes to go by giving Sulliniger 2 calls so egregious that the announcers even commented on them. He's been getting those calls all season. Michigan did its best! OSU wont get those calls in the ncaa tournament.
heartbreakM
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 10:51 p.m.
Michigan needs to learn how to win these games they "aren't supposed to win". I think this year will help them next year, as most if not all their players will be back. Darius should be great, and hopefully Novak and Douglass will continue to improve. Hardaway plus muscles should be a huge step up and hopefully Morgan will assert himself. Add in the bench, the rest of the newcomers, and they might have learned from this year. Let's hope they make the big dance and can win a game or 2. Much better results than we thought even 1 month ago. Go blue.
ogel1209
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
You got it right, John B.!! This is a team we can all be proud of. Beilein is a class act! GO BLUE!!!!
tater
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
There is nothing to be sad about today. Michigan isn't quite ready to beat TSIO and its impressive combination of role players and rent-a-payers on their way to the NBA. There are two very big silver linings. 1. Michigan proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they deserve to be in the 68-team NCAA draw. 2. MSU won't have a chance to diminish Michigan's two victories over them this year in a third game. It's been a much better season than even the most optimistic Michigan fans thought it would. Congrats to the Wolverines on an unexpectedly good regular season, and good luck in the NCAA Tournament.
Blu-dogg97
Sun, Mar 13, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
Well said Tater..
John B.
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 9:19 p.m.
I'm very proud of how well the team played in this game. They never give up, even against the #1 team in the nation! Think about the possiblilities for the next few years! It's so nice to have a team like this to root for, with a coach that quietly goes about his business, teaching his players well, making improvements over time, and never whining about anything. It's refreshing. When you have many national-level commentators making very positive comments about a team and it's coaching staff, you know you're doing things the right way. I wish them much continued success. Go Blue!
NoBowl4Blue
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
U of M has played OSU tough 3 times and didn't give up when OSU started to relax at the end of this game. They have better talent and Sullinger is a beast down low and one of the best rebounders in the nation. Coach B and the boys should dance.....we'll see.
jcj
Sat, Mar 12, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Jared Sullinger is a brute, the kind you would love to have on your team! But he was getting away with murder today!