Tip: Thursday, 2:30pm
Location: Conseco Fieldhouse
TV: ESPN2
Broadcast crew: Dave O’Brien and Steve Lavin
Michigan heads into the Big Ten Tournament with a To the Moon or Bust sign on the back of their team bus. “It’s [an] all or nothing situation,” said DeShawn Sims. At 14-16, which is actually 13-16 because the win over DII Northern Michigan doesn’t count, their only hope of doing anything hinges on a miracle run in the Big Ten Tournament. The good news is they open the tourney against Iowa, a team that Michigan has defeated six of the last seven times they have played. The bad news is if they do beat Iowa, Ohio State will be waiting for them in the quarterfinals and the top seeded Buckeyes are the favorite to win the tournament.
Stu Douglass (photo, Todd White/isportsweb)
Michigan is 4-9 in their last 13 games and has no momentum heading into this tournament. “One game at a time,” said John Beilein. “Not we’ve got to win four, but just one at a time. I know it’s coachspeak, but you can’t do it any other way. At the same time, you are four wins away from going to the NCAA Tournament. It would be an incredible story, but it’s happened.” I’m certainly not expecting Michigan to win this tournament. However, if they could get hot from three-point land anything is possible.
If Michigan beats Iowa on Thursday they would have to play the Buckeyes at noon on Friday. If they somehow got past Ohio State, they would play the winner of Wisconsin vs. Illinois on Saturday.
The only time Michigan has ever won more than one game in the Big Ten tournament was the inaugural tourney back in 1998 when Robert Traylor and Jerod Ward powered the Wolverines to the championship. They have been bounced in the second round 6 times, failed to advance past the first round 4 times and actually played in the semi-finals in 2004 (they had first round bye).
This is the third straight year Michigan and Iowa have been matched up in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. In 2008 Michigan defeated Iowa 55-47 and last year they routed the Hawkeyes 73-45.
Prediction: Michigan will beat Iowa in a hard fought game 64-62.
Notes: It is being reported that Michigan has offered Jon Horford (Grand Ledge, Michigan) a scholarship. Horford is a 6-foot-9, 225 pound forward who has enjoyed a stellar senior season. He averaged 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game. He is the brother of Al Horford. It will seem strange to see Joe Dumars, Tim Hardaway Sr, and Al Horford hanging around Michigan games.
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About Rob WhiteCo-founder and Michigan Wolverines correspondent at isportsweb.com
I've been covering Michigan Football and Michigan Basketball since 2009.
You can follow me on Twitter @isportsRob