After playing one of its best games of the season, Michigan was stunned on a last-second heave prayer shot by Wisconsin’s Josh Gasser at the buzzer as the Badgers scored a stunning 53-52 victory at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor Wednesday night.
Michigan’s best hope for a signature win this season, one that would probably have helped propel the Wolverines to the postseason NCAA tournament, was lost on that awkward-looking three-pointer that somehow banked in at the buzzer.
Michigan is 17-12 overall and 7-9 in Big Ten play and firmly on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, along with a number of other teams. The Wolverines have two games remaining – at Minnesota on Saturday and at home against Michigan State to close the regular season.
Most experts feel Michigan must sweep its remaining two games and then will have to win one or two games in the post-season Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis to gain entry to the Big Dance.
Wisconsin, ranked No. 12, was only the last ranked team that Michigan played close but lost. The Wolverines lost in overtime to No. 3-ranked Kansas, and also had close losses to Ohio State and Syracuse.
“I really feel bad for them (my team) right now,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “But my role is to get them back. They’re all going to think what we could have done but we can’t use that as a crutch.”
Michigan took a 52-50 lead on a spin move by center Jordan Morgan with 2:15 to play. Michigan then missed a chance to increase its lead when Darius Morris missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw. The Wolverines missed its last six free throws and finished at 5 of 11 from the line for 46 percent. Michigan came into the game as the poorest shooting free throw team in the Big Ten. Wisconsin was 3 for 3 at the line.
Wisconsin got the ball back with 26 seconds to play but Michigan had four fouls to give and the Wolverines took all four. The Badgers then got the ball back with 6.9 second to play.
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin’s top player on the night, had scored a game-high 20 points and he received the inbounds pass from freshman Gasser. Taylor was double-teamed by the Michigan defense and Taylor passed the ball back to Gasser who was at the top of the key, beyond the three-point-line.
Gasser awkwardly released the ball as Michigan’s Stu Douglass tried to switch on to him defensively. Gasser’s shot banked off the glass, hit off the front of the rim and fell in.
“We just found a way,” said Taylor.
Tim Hardaway, Jr. led the Wolverines with 16 points but was 0 for 2 from the free throw line. Morgan added 12 points. Michigan shot a season-high 67 percent from the field in the first half and 49 percent for the game. Wisconsin hit just 32 percent of its shots
Michigan’s best wins this season remain a victory at Clemson, a home win over Michigan State and a home win over Harvard. None are top 25 teams.
The last-second shot brought back memories of last season when Michigan’s campaign ended on a last-second shot by Ohio State’s Evan Turner at the buzzer in the Big Ten tournament, seconds after Michigan’s Manny Harris had hit a shot to give the Wolverines the lead.
“At least this time we have a chance to play again,” said Beilein, when asked about last year’s stunner.
The Wolverines meet Minnesota at 4 p.m. Saturday in a game to be telecast on the Big Ten Network.
For more info: mgoblue,annarbor.com, Detroit News
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