Michigan avenges February defeat with 84-80 win over Indiana
By Joel Greer
Mar 8, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines players and coaches pose with the regular season Big Ten championship trophy after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Crisler Arena. Michigan won 84-80. Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
In a game that Indiana (17-14, 7-11) desperately had to win, the Hoosiers came up short, 84-80, to a Michigan team (23-7, 15-3) who has already driven around campus with its swag firmly intact.
The Wolverines, who clinched the outright league title at Illinois Tuesday, needed a huge jumper from Glenn Robinson III with 1:08 left, plus a string of made free throws to seal the victory. In doing so Michigan avenged an earlier 63-52 loss at Indiana in February.
Robinson, who has played more aggressively of late, might be thinking what a first round draft pick would mean. His 20 point effort was his fourth of the season and first since he tallied 23 on Feb. 2.
March Madness is here
Nik Stauskas is another Michigan player who might be heading to the NBA, but not before Michigan makes a good showing in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
Stauskas had 21 points including 8-of-9 from the line and showed that he’s over the mini-guard problems he especially84-80 faced with Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell last month.
Wouldn’t it be a feather in the cap of Coach Beilein if he can take this squad deep into the NCAA tournament, after losing Trey Burke and Hardaway, Jr. to the NBA last year, and losing Mitch McGary to back surgery this season.
The Wolverines have an RPI of 13 and the 13th toughest schedule. Depending on how they do in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines could end up with either a two, three or four seed in the NCAA tourney.
Morgan shines
Jordan Morgan played to the delight of the Crisler Center fans who wish he had another year of eligibility.
Morgan had 15 points and 10 rebounds in his last Crisler Arena game.
Tonight’s loss all but placed the Hoosiers on the wrong side of the NCAA bubble. They will have to win at least twice in the Big Ten tournament then hope the selection committee looks fondly at their earlier wins against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Indiana came into the Michigan game with an 85 RPI and only the 60th toughest schedule.
The Hoosiers stayed in the game by driving hard to the basket, which was demonstrated by their 60 percent shooting, 35.7 percent from three, and 15 of 17 from the line. Ferrell, who torched Michigan for 27 points in Bloomington last month, had a more manageable 16 as Indiana had four players in double figures. ♦
Big Ten Standings
TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
Michigan | 15-3 | 23-7 |
Wisconsin | 12-5 | 25-5 |
Michigan State | 12-5 | 23-7 |
Nebraska | 10-7 | 18-11 |
Ohio State | 9-8 | 22-8 |
Iowa | 9-8 | 20-10 |
Minnesota | 7-10 | 18-12 |
Indiana | 7-11 | 17-14 |
Illinois | 6-11 | 17-13 |
Penn State | 6-11 | 15-15 |
Purdue | 5-12 | 15-15 |
Northwestern | 5-12 | 12-18 |
Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others write. Go ahead and give us your thoughts, agree or disagree.
Just a reminder you must be a member to participate on the Message Board. Here is the link GBMWolverine Register for those people interested in becoming a member.
You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine
Follow us on Twitter:
@ErocWolverine
Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Joel Greer