Michigan Basketball: John Beilein won’t let Wolverines overlook Montana
Montana is a dangerous team, but Michigan basketball head coach John Beilein knows it and he’s the reason they have a good chance to survive it.
Every year during the NCAA Tournament, teams you have never heard of knock off national title contenders. We have seen it time and time again in March Madness, but this week, Michigan basketball is going to do everything possible to avoid being an upset victim.
It’s hard to say what causes an upset or what the formula is. But generally, most upsets have to do, at least in part, with the favorite not playing up to par. Certainly, that can be caused by an opponent, forcing turnovers, canning 3-pointers, etc. But with Michigan basketball at least, if it plays how its capable of playing, it should advance Thursday night.
Yet, that doesn’t mean it will be easy. In fact, the Wolverines expect that it won’t be and Beilein wouldn’t want it any other way. Here’s what Duncan Robinson had to say to local media Wednesday. This is via the Detroit Free Press.
"“We’re focused right now on getting one (Thursday). Like we just said, we know this is a really good Montana team that’s won a lot of games this year. So first and foremost, we’re focused on Thursday.”"
Robinson is a senior and he knows what to say. But at the same time, you believe him, because he and his teammates know just how dangerous the Grizzlies are. Ahmaad Rorie is legit and he averages 17.2 points per game. He also shoots 37 percent from 3-point range.
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Guys like that can take over a game and that’s always scary in March Madness. Montana has two others that score in double figures. Kenpom has the Grizzlies in the top 100 in adjusted offense and defense. He also has them ranked 70th overall in the NCAA. That doesn’t sound like a normal 14 seed.
The Grizzles went 19-2 in their conference. They won the regular season title and the tournament. Montana is capable of winning in this tournament and the Wolverines know it. However, one advantage Michigan basketball has, is being in this position before, a few times in fact.
The first couple times Michigan made the tournament under Beilein, it was seeded much lower. But in 2012, 2013 and 2014, UM was a four seed twice and a two seed. Then, in 2016 it was an 11 seed and last year a seven seed.
The saying is that the first game in a tournament is always the most difficult to win, but under Beilein, Michigan is 6-1 in its opening game in the NCAA’s. The one loss came as a 4 seed to Ohio in 2012, but that was the last time the Wolverines went one-and-done in March Madness.
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Hopefully, that pattern will continue. Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed, not in the NCAA Tournament, but as Michigan basketball fans, you have to at least feel good that John Beilein is on your side.