What has become of the Michigan Wolverines is not to be taken lightly. A team that is far removed from its time as the embarrassment of the Big Ten, is one win away from winning another Big Ten tournament. While that, in itself, is an amazing feat, what is more amazing is that the Wolverines have become a team...that anyone can root for.
Wisconsin's Austin Rapp, alone, could have taken the Badgers all the way to a win on Saturday afternoon. Making six 3-pointers in the second half; he could not miss. It would have almost seemed like destiny if he could have willed the Badgers to a win and a spot in the title championship. But Michigan did not waver, even when it seemed they had no answer for Rapp. They remained calm.
No one was calmer than Elliot Cardeau, who, after missing a 3-pointer, lined up and took another one with 45 seconds left to give Michigan a 65-62 lead. And while the Badgers responded with a tying three, no one was calmer than Yaxel Lendeborg, who made the game-winning three with 0.4 seconds left. The Wolverines responded when their backs were proverbially against the wall and once again, showed that this Michigan team has what it takes to win it all.
Avenging their regular season loss may have not been an easy feat but it was done. Wisconsin had handed Michigan one of their two losses of the season.
While Michigan will play Purdue in the Big Ten championship, what was done against the Wisconsin Badgers could almost have been the championship game in itself. And what happens against Purdue does not change the fact, that this team is who we thought they were all season. Winners.
It takes one bounce one way or another to win the college basketball tournament. Some call it luck. Some call greatness. Either way, the Michigan Wolverines will go into the tournament with a little bit of both. That is a winning combination.
Not to be taken lightly are the Michigan Wolverines.