Men’s Basketball

Jonathan Epstein

The Wolverines are hanging on to NCAA Tourney hopes by a very thin thread

Almost everyone believed that Michigan needed a couple more wins in their last four games in order to boost a resume that was once glorified but was now ‘just short of tournament ready.’ Questions rose on whether the Wolverines could recover from such a tough loss and from Harris’ benching. The questions were answered last Thursday, when the Wolverines held ground on their home floor against a top 25 ranked Purdue Boilermaker team. Deshawn Sims scored the most for Michigan with 29 points. Not to be outdone, however, by the 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists that Manny Harris put up. A statement game for a team that most, including many fans of the Wolverines, was thought of as down and out.

But they forgot about Michigan’s heart. They forgot that this team has been working relentlessly since last years big ten tournament defeat, eager to prove to the world that last year was just a transition. They forgot that this was a team coached by a man who prides himself on his work ethic. And they forgot about the Detrot duo of Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims, who come from a city, Detroit, that isn’t exactly a place where words like soft and pushover get thrown around.

And so Michigan, coming off a 5 point loss at Wisconsin on Sunday, has one more chance to show the world that they are for real before the big ten tournament begins on March 13th. 5 RPI top 50 wins, including 4 wins over top 25 opponents, doesn’t seem like it will be enough right now, so Michigan must win this Saturday at Minnesota to prove they are worthy of a bid on selection Sunday.

“The barn,” as Williams Arena has come to be known as, is a tough place to play, especially when the home team Golden Gophers are also playing for a tournament bid. If Michigan is going to win there, they will have to scrap and claw like Wolverines. It won’t be easy, but something tells me that the Wolverines will show their heart again.