Michigan crumbles in OT with Harris on bench
With 1:11 left in the game Stu Douglass nailed a monster 3 pointer to give Michigan a 56-52 lead and a great chance to pick up a key road win late in the season. However, what happened after that huge shot was nothing short of a debacle. Michigan had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but the final play was a disaster and resulted in Manny Harris hoisting an off balance 40 footer that obviously missed.
Then John Beilein decided not to play Manny Harris in the overtime and Michigan responded by laying one enormous egg on the floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In fact when Laval Lucas Perry hit a lay up with 26.9 seconds left in overtime it was Michigan’s first field goal since the Douglass triple.
So Iowa won the game and I’m going to have visions of Jake Kelly dancing in my head at least until Thursday’s tip off against Purdue. Michigan had the chance to make a big move not only in the Big Ten standings but on the NCAA bubble. I know the players and coaches are more disappointed then we the fans are. At this point Thursdays game at Crisler against Purdue is a must win for the NCAA hopes of our Michigan Wolverines.
Stu Douglass led Michigan with 14 points.
Inside the numbers: Michigan had 18 assists on 20 fields goals with only 8 turnovers. Iowa out reboundedMichigan 37-29.
Bubble Watch: The loss drops Michigan to 17-11 and 7-8 in the Big Ten. Michigan plays their final home game of the season against 21st ranked Purdue (21-6, 10-4). Winning that game would go a long ways toward erasing the memories of this bad loss. It would leave Michigan in a position where I think they would have to win one of the two remaining games (at Wisconsin, at Minnesota) to remain in contention for a NCAA berth. If they finish the season 2-1 and go to 19-12, 9-9 I think they would be a first round Big Ten Tournament win away from dancing.
