Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from an excruciating loss to Illinois

Michigan basketball’s three-game winning streak was snapped in double overtime in Champagne and its postseason chances are fading once again.

Michigan basketball was stride-for-stride for 45 minutes with Illinois at the State Farm Center. In the final five minutes of double overtime is where they finally surrendered. Jett Howard sent it into overtime at 70 apiece, but the Wolverines could not hang on in the extra period and let the Illini steal one from their grasp.

Here are the three takeaways.

1. Michigan’s wasted opportunities

Three times Michigan basketball had a shot to tie it or win it that stand out the most from Thursday night’s agonizing loss.

After Howard banged the three in regulation, Michigan basketball had one last attempt that didn’t fall for Hunter Dickinson with just seconds remaining. It wasn’t the cleanest look because of the Illini defense.

In the first overtime, Michigan got on top by seven with under two minutes left and completely blew it. Illinois went on a 7-0 run to even the odds again and send it into a second overtime. Terrance Shannon made five of the seven and actually got hacked on an and one. He missed the free throw and gave Michigan a look, but Joey Baker missed a three and things went on.

Finally in double overtime, the maize and blue were down three and Dickinson made a basket, all while getting fouled in the act by Coleman Hawkins. He went to the free-throw line for a chance to even it up at 88, but he missed and that basically ended Michigan’s hopes for a win. Shannon added the final three points at the charity stripe to ice it away.