Friday’s Sweet 16 game between Michigan and Kansas
featured one of the more improbable finishes in tournament history and surely
was one of the most memorable wins in the history of Michigan’s men’s
basketball program.
Things got really crazy with three minutes to go in the
game, Kansas leading 70-62. I went back and re-watched the game from this
point. Here is what I saw, ultimately knowing the unlikely outcome.
2:52: Kansas’
Jeff Withey puts home a one-handed slam on a nice pass under the basket from
Kevin Young. Kansas leads 72-62. That dunk seemed to be the final nail in
Michigan’s coffin at the time.
2:25: After
Tim Hardaway Jr. misses a pair of shots, including a 3-pointer, Kansas’ Elijah
Johnson makes a poor decision on the other end and attacks the paint instead of
slowing things down to let time run off the clock. Facing a trap from Hardaway
and Trey Burke, he lobs a pass toward the top of the key to Withey, but Glenn
Robinson III makes a great play to tip it away. He then tracks the ball down on
the other end and slams it home in stride to make it 72-64 and give Michigan
new life. It was one of a few key plays down the stretch from Robinson, and one
of a few big mistakes from Johnson.
2:03: Johnson
makes another poor decision, lazily bringing the ball up the floor after the
Robinson dunk. Burke defends him hard and draws a 10-second violation. There
was no reason for Johnson to allow this to happen. Two huge turnovers in less
than 30 seconds for Johnson and Kansas.
1:52: Burke
patiently works his way into the lane, drawing Withey to step up and get
vertical. Burke passes under Withey to Mitch McGary, who finishes the easy
lay-in. 72-66 Kansas. Four crucial points off the two Johnson turnovers, and
those two baskets really seemed to give Michigan the momentum.
1:22: McGary
called for a foul when he attempts to block a dunk attempt by Kansas’ Travis
Releford. The replay shows a clean block, but it looked bad in live action.
Releford hits both free throws. 74-66 Kansas.
1:14: Wasting
little time, Burke hits an NBA 3-pointer over Withey to make it 74-69. Michigan
with a time out after the score.
0:28.8: Michigan
elects not to foul. Kansas gets a good look at the basket with Ben McLemore
getting inside the paint, but he misses the off-balanced shot. Jordan Morgan
rebounds it and gets it to Burke, who make a great down-court pass to Hardaway,
who is wide open on the wing for 3. Hardaway misses again, but in a scramble
for the rebound, Robinson gets it and hits a tough reverse lay-in to make it
74-71. Beilein uses his final time out. Robinson again comes up with a big
hustle play.
0:21.0: Caris
LeVert fouls Johnson. He hits both free throws in a 1&1 situation. 76-71
Kansas.
0:14.0: With
Withey not on the floor, Burke quickly attacks the lane and gets a lay-in,
76-73. Michigan then quickly fouls Johnson again.
0:12.6: Johnson
misses the first of a 1&1. Hardaway boards and gets it to Burke, which
leads to…..
0:04.2: Burke
hits drains an amazing 3-pointer, nearly halfway between half court and the
3-point line. We all knew Burke had range, but this shot is incredible. Game
tied 76-76. Kansas takes a time out. Young nearly gets a piece of the shot on
replay. Kansas really couldn’t have done anything short of fouling Burke before
the shot, but I don’t think anyone expected him to launch it from there with 5
seconds left on the clock. That shot will go down in Michigan history. If the
Wolverines go on to win a national title, that shot will be the equivalent of
the Tayshaun Prince block of Reggie Miller in the Pistons’ 2004 run to the
championship.
0:00: Naadir
Tharpe misses a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Tharpe had a great look as LeVert
oddly playing very far off him. It could have cost Michigan the game. You’d
like to see a player challenge defensively and at least make Tharpe take an
off-balanced shot. I understand the concern about fouling, but he gave Tharpe
far too much room.
Overtime
4:30: Young
gets an easy lay-in under the basket. Robinson tried to double up Withey, who
was already being well defended by McGary. Robinson got too aggressive and left
his man open for the easy 2. 78-76 Kansas.
4:01: Burke
hits another NBA 3-pointer at the top of the key. Withey doesn’t step out at
all to challenge and Burke is on another planet right now. 79-78 Michigan.
First lead for the Wolverines since it was 9-8.
3:47: Releford
hits two free throws after a blocking foul. Kansas regains the lead, 80-79.
3:20: Burke
does it again, dribbling down McLemore before hitting a long 2 in his face.
Nothing but net. Michigan leads, 81-80. Kansas just can’t do anything to stop
him at this point.
2:34: After
Nik Stauskas misses a wide-open 3-pointer on the baseline, Kansas runs the
floor and Young gets a lay-in in transition. Kansas 82-81. It was the final
lead for the Jayhawks.
2:15: McGary
hits a tough turnaround jumper on the baseline with Withey in his face. One of
the better shots I have seen McGary hit. Michigan leads 83-82.
1:04: Burke
attempts a one-handed runner that goes long. Withey has the rebounding
position, but Robinson again comes up big, tipping the ball out of Withey’s
hands. McGary collects it for a quick lay-in. Michigan leads 85-82. Kansas
calls a time out.
0:52.1: Robinson
comes up big once again. Johnson tries to pass behind himself again and
Robinson gets his long arm on the ball and gets fouled before he can breakaway
for an easy 2. In a big moment, Robinson hits both free throws to close out the
scoring for Michigan. Wolverines lead 87-82.
0:45.0: Johnson
hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Michigan leads 87-85. Good shot
coming off a screen.
0:09.4: Burke
unable to put the game away, as Withey gets a piece of his runner. The shot
clock expires during a scramble. After a lengthy video review, Kansas gets the
ball with 9.4 left.
0:00.0: Johnson
goes coast-to-coast and drives to the baseline. It looks like he could have
taken a runner from an odd angle to tie the game, but had Morgan following
behind him for a possible block. Johnson instead wildly kicks the ball out to
Tharpe, who has to throw up a contested one-legged 3-point shot that hits hard
off the glass and misses. Michigan wins, 87-85.
There were so many big moments in this final 8 minutes of
play. Obviously McGary had a great game and Burke had a legendary second half
and overtime, but Robinson III deserves a lot of credit in the comeback. He had
a rough game defensively and was out-muscled a number of times by Kansas
players, but he came through in a big way. Without his hustle plays, Burke
never gets a chance to become a legend.
