At
long
last,
the
NCAA
Tournament is back. After a one-
year, pandemic-induced hiatus, the
tournament returns to captivate
and devastate. The Michigan men’s
basketball team will embark on
its journey through the madness
on Saturday at 3 p.m., when it
will play the winner of the first
four matchups between Mount
St. Mary’s and Texas Southern in
West Lafayette.
The announcement, considering
the heralded feat of attaining a No.
1 seed, seemed a tad humdrum.
As little as two weeks ago, the
Wolverines appeared primed to tear
through March. Now, their fate is
somewhat precarious. A semifinal
exit in the Big Ten Tournament,
coupled with a stress fracture in
senior forward Isaiah Livers’s foot,
dampened the hoopla.
And yet, Michigan earned a
top seed — the program’s first
since 1993 — along with an
outright regular-season Big Ten
championship for a reason. Even
without Livers, the Wolverines
possess the requisite talent to make
a run. While they appear on the
surface to have lost momentum,
those
within
the
program
adamantly insist otherwise.
“I think I’d be lying if not every
single player in that locker room fully
believes that we are the best team in
the country and that we will win the
National Championship,” freshman
center Hunter Dickinson said on
Saturday. “(We have) the utmost
confidence in the rest of the players
to step up.”
Will the Wolverines rekindle their
February fire and actually do so? The
Daily men’s basketball beat writers
take a stab at predicting Michigan’s
postseason fate:
Jared Greenspan: There’s been a
lot of conversation about Michigan’s
draw (as there always is), amongst
pundits and fans alike, so let me
preface my prediction with this: The
Wolverines received a pretty fair
draw. This is the NCAA Tournament.
Each team in the field is here for a
reason — they’re good. As simple as it
sounds, it bears mentioning.
All that being said, Michigan
certainly faces a challenging path to
the Final Four, one only amplified
in difficulty should Livers be unable
to suit up. Barring an utter disaster,
the Wolverines will advance into
the second round, where either LSU
or St. Bonaventure awaits them.
The Tigers, boasting the nation’s
fifth-ranked offense, could leave
a depleted, Livers-less Michigan
attack in the dust. On the other
hand, the Bonnies, champions of
the Atlantic-10, are led by one of the
nation’s stingiest defenses at 17th
overall. Sans Livers, the Wolverines
may struggle to counter.
Should Michigan get past the
first weekend, the slate hardly gets
any easier. Florida State, buoyed by
7-foot-1 center Balsa Koprivica, is one
of the few teams who stand equipped
to slow down Dickinson. Should they
clash with the Wolverines, the lanky
and athletic Seminoles would be an
undesirable opponent.
With Livers, Michigan would be
odds-on favorite to advance out of
the East region and waltz into the
Final Four. Without him, a successful
season suffers a sour ending in the
Sweet 16.
Teddy Gutkin: While many
will be quick to count coach Juwan
Howard’s crew out in the absence
of Livers, this is still a Michigan
team that won a Big Ten regular-
season title. With the sixth-best
offense and seventh-best defense
in the nation according to KenPom,
the Wolverines are still very much a
team deserving of a No. 1 seed.
For the Round of 64, let’s be
blunt: whether it’s Mount St. Mary’s
or Texas Southern, Michigan will
advance. Awaiting them will be either
LSU or St. Bonaventure. Neither
matchup will be easy, but in March
nothing ever is. The Wolverines
have faced tougher competition and
thrived during the Big Ten season,
and I see them squeaking out a close
win over the Bonnies’ stout defense to
advance to the Sweet 16.
In the Sweet 16, Michigan
will likely meet Florida State.
While the Seminoles possess
tantalizing athleticism, I think
the Wolverines will ride a hot
shooting night from outside and
a few timely defensive stops to
secure a date with 2-seed Alabama
in the Elite Eight. Unfortunately
for Michigan, the Crimson Tide
are one of the hottest teams in the
country right now. Led by coach
Nate Oats, Alabama has proven
that it can win in a shootout or a
dogfight.
The Wolverines won’t be able to
keep up without Livers. Michigan’s
season ends on the doorstep of the
Final Four.
Connor Brennan: Oh, how
quickly the tables can turn. Just
two weeks ago, Michigan stood as
a prohibitive favorite to win the
Big Ten Tournament and reach the
National Championship. Since then,
the Wolverines were demolished
by Illinois, fell to Michigan State in
their regular-season finale, bowed
out of the Big Ten Tournament a
day early — from their perspective,
at least — and lost Livers to
injury. Now, with its mid-season
momentum seemingly shattered,
many think Michigan is the 1-seed
least likely to make the Final Four. I,
for one, agree.
While I’ve wavered back and
forth about when the Wolverines
might ultimately exit the NCAA
Tournament, it’s entirely down to
semantics and borders on irrelevant.
As successful as Howard’s second
season has been, anything less
than the Final Four appearance
will likely leave a bitter taste in the
mouth of the Wolverines and their
fans. The cabinet is certainly not
bare, but without Livers, Michigan
lacks one of its most essential
ingredients. And so ultimately, the
East Region won’t be won by the
Wolverines — little else matters.
For sake of predictions, though,
I’ll be more specific. On Saturday
afternoon, the Wolverines will
thank either Mount St. Mary’s or
Texas Southern for coming out,
before
dispatching
them
with
relative ease. In the second round,
Michigan will probably play LSU
— my apologies, St. Bonaventure
— and while the Tigers have
impressed lately, they don’t have
a player in their primary rotation
over 6-foot-9. Dickinson could have
a field day.
Should the Wolverines make
it to the Sweet 16, they would
likely meet 4-seed Florida State, a
trendy pick to beat Michigan. The
Seminoles have five players who
average at least one 3-pointer a
game and forward RaiQuan Gray is
a force on the boards. Led by senior
guard Eli Brooks and sophomore
wing Franz Wagner though, I
think the Wolverines’ defense will
do enough to slow down Florida
State’s offense and advance to
the Elite Eight. There, however,
Michigan will meet its match in
SEC Champion Alabama. Between
do-it-all wing Herb Jones, 3-point
specialist John Petty and Villanova
transfer Jahvon Quinerly, the
Crimson Tide can score with
anybody — especially a Wolverine
team missing the shotmaking
presence of Livers.
Daily beat writers predict Michigan’s NCAA Tournament fate
MICHIGAN DAILY MEN’S
BASKETBALL BEAT
MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily
The NCAA Tournament begins on the weekend, with Michigan playing against either Mount St. Mary’s or Texas Southern on Saturday.
16 — Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily
Michigan will hope to capitalize on its success throughout the regular season by making a run in the postseason.
MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily
Michigan coach Juwan Howard will coach in his first NCAA Tournament this year after last year was canceled.
It was just a slight movement.
It started from the heel, just a slight raise, before
the hips and hands fired through and sent the baseball
rocketing into right field. Fifth-year senior outfielder
Christan Bullock used a no-stride, two-strike approach
to rip an RBI single into right field in Sunday’s win over
Purdue as part of the Michigan baseball team’s four-game
sweep of the Boilermakers.
But Bullock wasn’t finished. He took second base on
an overthrow into the infield and ended up scoring the
go-ahead run on a single by sophomore infielder Jake Marti
two batters later. This sequence acted as a microcosm
of the series, as the Wolverines’ aggressive approach,
headlined by Bullock, put pressure on the Boilermakers
and led to an explosive offensive output. In addition to the
aggressive approach Michigan employed, timely hits also
helped the Wolverines distance themselves from Purdue.
“We had some great at-bats with two outs,” Bullock
said. “We have the perfect mindset for the games.”
Michigan stole four bases on the weekend, with two
by Bullock, including a double steal that allowed junior
infielder Riley Bertram to score from third. Bullock also
legged out a triple and stretched what appeared to be a
routine single into a double in the third game of the series.
“It feels good to see everyone executing, from our
pitchers, to our hitters, our fielders,” Bullock said. “But
we’re always working on something and we’re definitely
going to get back in the lab.”
From little adjustments like Bullock’s two-strike
approach to aggressive baserunning, the Wolverines put a
great deal of pressure on the Boilermakers, overwhelming
their pitchers with their approach at the dish.
The Wolverines also utilized great two-out hitting
to stifle Purdue. Michigan scored 17 of its 33 runs with
two outs, capitalizing on the Boilermakers’ mistakes and
executing when it mattered the most. Sophomore catcher
Jimmy Obertop showcased the Wolverines’ offensive
prowess with two outs this weekend, as he launched a two-
out grand slam in the first inning of the third game of the
series, giving Michigan a lead it would never relinquish.
“The clutch hitting stood out for me,” Michigan coach
Erik Bakich said. “We had the timely hitting throughout
the weekend.”
Staying aggressive and executing was what got the
job done for the Wolverines this weekend. With its
roster locked in and playing sharp, Michigan can use its
mentality and focus to bring continued success.
“I don’t even think we can call each other a team; we’re
a family,” Bullock said. “We’re all bonded together, we’re
all brothers and we all want to see each other succeed.”
STEEL HURLEY
Daily Sports Writer
Aggressive offensive
approach powers
Michigan’s sweep
ALEC COHEN/Daily
Fifth-year senior outfielder Christan Bullock
Michigan earns first No. 6 seed in program history
After missing the NCAA tournament last year due
to COVID-19, the Michigan women’s basketball team
awaited its fate.
The fate would be a No. 6 seed in the River Walk region.
Michigan earned its highest seed in program history,
with its previous best coming in the 2018 tournament
when it earned a No. 7 seed. Michigan is joined in the
region by fellow Big Ten school Iowa, who earned a No.
5 seed. Michigan’s first game will be against No. 11 seed
Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday at 3 p.m. If the Wolverines
win, they will face the winner of 3-seed Tennessee and
14-seed Middle Tennessee matchup on Sunday.
The Eagles present a difficult challenge for the
Wolverines. On a 24-game unbeaten streak, Florida
Gulf Coast has yet to miss a game due to COVID-19
— something Michigan can’t say, having missed 10.
The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Kierstan Bell,
who transferred from Ohio State. The dynamic point
guard can score as well as feast on the glass, averaging
24 points a game and 10.9 rebounds. Florida Gulf Coast
is a team that loves to stroke it from beyond the arc,
shooting 969 threes over the course of the season at a
33% clip. Defending the 3-point line could be crucial to
the Wolverine’s success.
“They spread you out and play five out,” Michigan
coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “We played them a
number of years ago in the WNIT and it’s hard for post
players to play because they are guarding guards. It’s a
tough matchup for anyone.”
Going unbeaten in their first 10 games, the Wolverines
struggled toward the end of conference play. Michigan
went out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to
Northwestern, losing 49-65. Having previously beaten
the Wildcats twice, the Wolverines struggled to find
their shooting form and had early foul trouble. After
three detail-oriented practices, Michigan switches gears
to Florida Gulf Coast and their versatile offense.
“(The tournament is) something we’re very excited
for, to have the opportunity to play in the NCAA
Tournament,” Barnes Arico said after the Northwestern
loss on Thursday. “It’s something that we weren’t able
to do last year. I like the fact that we have some time for
preparation because our team could really use it.”
The Wolverine’s No. 6 seed ranking has much to do
with the department-wide 14-day pause in January,
which caused Michigan to miss six games. It’s possible
the Wolverines would have found themselves in a higher
seed had the pause not occurred, as they struggled to
recapture their early-season form during the last stretch
of the year. At a point in its season when Michigan should
be in prime fitness, it is still working towards its peak.
“I keep a notebook of our practice plans every year
and I wrote on practice plan 82 today,” Barnes Arico said.
“Typically at this time, we’re on practice 102. That gives
you a little bit of where we are.”
The Wolverines have an opportunity against the
Eagles in the NCAA Tournament. Florida Gulf Coast
can do everything the Wolverines have struggled to do:
Shooting 3-pointers, taking opponents off the dribble
and winning games down the stretch.
After a slow finish, San Antonio presents Michigan
with a chance to recapture its first-half magic and prove
its doubters wrong along the way.
NICK MOEN
Daily Sports Writer