Kornacki: Walton Unlocks His Talent against Nebraska
1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2017
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Where had this team been?
That was the question being asked Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14), after the Wolverines got the win they desperately needed in a 91-85 shootout with Nebraska, playing with the fire and spark they had lacked lately.
The answer?
Michigan's players had been locked out mentally and had lost confidence as well as games, dropping to 11-6 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten. Through an interesting link of communication that involved many, the Wolverines found the keys to the closet and let themselves out to play.
There were plenty of reasons why Moritz Wagner (23 points, six rebounds), Zak Irvin (21 points, seven assists and five rebounds) and Derrick Walton Jr. (20 points, three rebounds and three assists) played like they did against a tough bunch of Cornhuskers who entered the game with a 3-1 conference record.
However, skill aside, and Michigan coach John Beilein says he's never doubted that quality in this team, it was about the power of the spoken word and communication.
It began with Illinois forward Maverick Morgan referring to the Wolverines as "traditionally a white collar team" after blowing them out, 85-69, Wednesday (Jan. 11) in Champaign.
It continued when Walton called a players-only meeting Friday night (Jan. 13) in his room at the team hotel.
It took another step when Walton sat down with Greg Harden, Michigan's director of athletic counseling, prior to the game for their regular locker room talk.
It peaked with the players looking for one another and encouraging one another before, during and after the game.
Michigan beat Nebraska primarily because Walton wasn't going to let his team lose, scoring 15 points in the final seven minutes after sitting out much of the first half in foul trouble. He hit a pair of dagger three-pointers within 1:07 of one another.
While awaiting a postgame TV interview with Stephen Bardo of the Big Ten Network, Wagner approached Walton at mid-court. The big guy hugged his point guard after handshakes, patting him on the head and the back while exchanging good words.
"I told Derrick that I'm very proud of him because I know what he's capable of, and I knew what he was going through the last couple games or weeks," said Wagner, the sophomore from Berlin, Germany. "I was so relieved and happy for him.
"He kept believing in himself and working and has that look back in his eye. I love him for that."
Walton, the senior from Detroit, said, "Me and Moe have a really interesting relationship. We bicker and fight with each other, but it's because we're so passionate about the game. I think I can say this: 'He has NBA talent.'
"And his message to me was our kind of moment. We take criticism for not having great games sometimes, but the love between us in unconditional. He's my younger brother even though he's a lot taller than I am."
Walton, who is 6-foot-1, laughed about the 10 inches he gives up to Wagner.
It was about being "more aggressive" for Walton, and at the root of that drive was his pre-game conversation with Harden, who was hired by Bo Schembechler more than 30 years ago and has impacted some of the biggest names in Wolverines athletics such as Tom Brady, Desmond Howard and Nik Stauskas.
"G Harden is the guy I talk to, and he's a powerful guy," said Walton. "I respect him so much. He really helps me with the mental game, and the game is so mental, especially at this level.
"You just have to be a 'next play' kind of guy, and that's the only way you can play this game and be the guy who you think you are. He gave me this look and this smile before the game, and said, 'You know it's time to get down. Let everything else go. Walk into the game and clear your mind and be the alpha dog you know you are.' We talk before every single home game."
He also acted like the "alpha dog" the night before the Nebraska game. Walton knew the time for a team talk had arrived after a 16-point loss at Illinois that included having some salt rubbed in the wound with the "white collar" quote.
"The 'white collar' comment that was made by the Illinois player really ticked this team off," said Walton. "We don't take that lightly. We heard that, and it's attacking us personally. We're just going to be a lot more aggressive going to the basket and showing them we're a blue collar team."
Illinois visits Ann Arbor on Jan. 21.
While that comment definitely didn't sit well with the Wolverines, they knew they weren't playing up to their capabilities.
"Everybody was down for it," Walton said of the 9 p.m. meeting. "I think it was a great step. Everybody aired everything out that we could do better. A meeting like that, when you see guys so passionate about wanting to win, we really did it justice tonight by taking some strides toward areas of concern.
"There's only so many games left. It's time to make some noise, and we're a ton better team than we've shown, and our record doesn't show that. But guys are ready to show that. Going forward, that (meeting) is going to make a big difference. It was time to play like the great team that we are and get it done no matter what it takes -- scratching, clawing and fighting. Whatever it takes, make things happen."
He said many players spoke and seemed particularly impressed that freshman point guard Xavier Simpson, his heir apparent, did so, saying he "was shocked" by that.
Walton responded by scoring 20 points, and when he hit the second three-pointer after a pair of pump fakes from about one yard behind the arc, he clearly had something very important back in his game.
"My dad (who coached him in high school) made me stretch my game out a lot," said Walton. "So, when I'm that far out, I don't feel like it's a bad shot. I'm not lacking confidence out there, and Coach (Beilein) loves when I shoot the ball."
Beilein was asked after last Saturday's (Jan. 7) loss at Crisler Center to Maryland what Walton was lacking.
"Confidence right now," said Beilein. "Confidence, swag. He's a really good player. He's scored over a thousand points and been a four-year starter. He just needs to get that swag back."
After Walton made five of six field goal attempts and all three trey attempts, while going seven-for-nine on free throws, Beilein talked about Walton regaining his confidence and swag.
"Hopefully it was great today that he could do that," said Beilein. "I want him to shoot the ball. He's really an elite shooter, and that is something he has to continue to do, knowing it's okay for him to shoot.
"That's what he's capable of, and we needed him badly. He needs to be aggressive. It's not often you have a point guard who can shoot like that. So, I'm really proud of the way he shot and ran the offense."
Walton said he feels it again.
"Yeah," he said. "I knew I wasn't playing like the player I know I am. I had to let mistakes roll off my back and be the playmaker that I know I am. That was all the difference for me, just believing that I'm a great player."
That's where Harden impacted him.
"The mental game is a much bigger part of this than people think," said Walton.
That side of the game begins with the simple art of communication, and so much of that goes on behind the scenes.
"This team is so much connected from top to bottom as a group," said Walton. "We talk about any and everything and deserve more credit for that."
Beilein completely agreed.
He said, "One of the biggest issues today is that point of communication -- communicating face to face with each other. It's so rare now, and it's really important for us to do."
It's the key to unlocking the things that can put talent in a closet, waiting to hear a knock on the door so it can come out and play.
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