Michigan Basketball Will Follow Derrick Walton Jr. In NCAA Tournament

As if it wasn’t already suspected, Michigan basketball will indeed be going as far as Derrick Walton Jr. takes it in this NCAA Tournament.

There were some really good performances in Michigan basketball‘s 92-91 win over Oklahoma State on Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Related Story: Wolverines out-shoot Oklahoma State to advance to Sunday

D.J. Wilson played all 40 minutes and finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. He also hit the two free throws that ultimately sealed the game for the Wolverines. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman was the main catalyst for Michigan in the first half with 11 points, and he ended up with 16 overall. Zak Irvin had four 3-pointers and 16 points.

Great as those performances were, they’re resting in the shadow of what Derrick Walton Jr. did against the Cowboys.

After only making 1 of 6 shots in the first half, Walton spent the next 20 minutes looking like the player who lit the Big Ten on fire in Washington D.C. in the conference tournament. Without that spark, the Wolverines would have never been able to keep up with Oklahoma State’s offense.

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He ended up leading all scorers with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He was 6 of 9 from behind the arc. Walton made it a double-double with 11 assists and also added five rebounds. That combination—25,10 and 5—made him the first Big Ten player since Magic Johnson in 1979 to reach those heights in an NCAA Tournament game.

It was also the first time those numbers had been reached in a tournament game by any player since Dwyane Wade did it in 2003 at Marquette.

This wasn’t exactly a new thing from Walton, who averaged 20.5 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds in the Big Ten Tournament. But the fact that he just keeps doing it—that’s the amazing part. And so far as anyone can tell, he’s not cooling off.

Irvin and Duncan Robinson were asked after the game what it’s like to be playing alongside a point guard whose on the level that Walton currently is.

Irvin voiced his optimism.

“He’s been on a tear, and I know he’s going to continue to do it.”

Robinson was a little more blunt with his assessment.

“He’s been so good, and we go as he goes. So hopefully he’s got more left in the tank.”

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He’s not kidding. Walton’s going to be that dude for as long as Michigan stays in this tournament. And if he’s anything but that, especially with Louisville waiting on Sunday, the Wolverines will have to pray a new source of holy basketball emerges.