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Michigan Basketball: Gut reactions from agonizing loss to Illinois

By Chris Peterson

Mar 2, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard reacts during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard reacts during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball lost in the most brutal way possible. Yet, it has happened over and over for a team that clearly doesn’t deserve the NCAA tournament. 

When Michigan basketball is sitting at home during the NCAA tournament, the Wolverines will only have themselves and their numerous late-game collapses to blame.

After rallying from a nine-point deficit late Thursday, Michigan basketball got up by seven points with less than two minutes to go in overtime. But three straight fouls, one of which was a turnover, and some terrible defense, allowed Illinois to tie it up.

Missed free throws, turnovers, and a number of other mistakes led to a 91-87 loss, one that felt all too familiar to the defeats against Indiana, North Carolina, Iowa, Virginia, Kentucky, and on and on.

If there has been a more frustrating Michigan season in any sport, I don’t know that I’ve encountered one. Michigan has an All-American in Hunter Dickinson and two future lottery picks. It has played like a top-20 team since January, yet won’t make the tournament unless it wins at least the next two games, and even then, it might not be enough.

Dickinson was incredible, except at the free throw line. Jett Howard hit some clutch 3-pointers but couldn’t guard anyone to save his life and didn’t box out on the last possession of the game. Instead of Michigan having the ball down one, it was down three and Jett was fouled out.

I’m extremely frustrated but here are the gut reactions to the most brutal loss yet.

Gut reactions to Michigan loss to Illinois

  • It feels like Michigan will never beat Illinois again.
  • I still don’t know how the Wolverines lost that game or the Iowa game or the Indiana game or the Virginia game…
  • Juwan should have never called timeout at the end of regulation. Get it to Kobe and let him win the game.
  • This would have been a legacy game for Hunter. Instead, his missed free throws negated it. No one cares how many points or rebounds you had in a loss.
  • Kobe Bufkin and Hunter carried Michigan. Bufkin is the best player on the team and he needed the ball more at the end.
  • Jett Howard is so one-dimensional he’s like a YCMA sharpshooter.
  • If Joey Baker can’t make shots, he can’t play. The ball should have never touched his hands on the last play of the game.
  • I don’t know if winning the next two games will be enough. Might need 3 after listening to Joe Lunardi. Depends on the team in the first game of the Big Ten tournament.
  • I can’t take much more of this agony.
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