Kornacki: Walton Instilled Belief in Wolverines' Turnaround
2/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2017
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The point of no return had come knocking for the University of Michigan men's basketball team back on Feb. 4.
The Wolverines lost at home to Ohio State that day, and the time to turn around the season had arrived. Any hopes for a successful season were going to fade away very quickly if they couldn't rebound right then and there after a 4-6 start in Big Ten play.
Point guard Derrick Walton Jr., the senior co-captain, had played his heart out in that game with the Buckeyes, getting 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. However, not enough of his teammates stepped up along with him in that game to make victory possible.
Still, as frustrated as Walton had to be on the inside after that defeat, he stayed positive in the postgame press conference and didn't throw anyone under the bus or the season into the trash heap.
"I'm a person who looks at the positives," Walton told me that day as we walked back toward the locker room. "I know we're got nine games left, and if I had it my own way, we will win all nine.
"If the lumps we're taking right now help us spearhead a run, then I feel like it's worth it. So, we've got lots more opportunities in front of us to make our dreams realities. ... I think it could make for a better story."
And, with road games at Northwestern (Wednesday, March 1) and Nebraska (Sunday, March 5) remaining before the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan is becoming a very good college basketball success story. The Wolverines have gone 5-1 since that loss to OSU, losing only at Minnesota in overtime, and have beaten the conference's top two teams, Wisconsin and Purdue, in convincing fashion at home.
They have followed their leader, Walton, back into NCAA Tournament talk with a 19-10 overall and 9-7 Big Ten record. ESPN's Joe Lunardi currently has the Wolverines as a No. 11 seed in his bracket projections.
"This doesn't surprise anyone in our locker room," said forward Moritz Wagner. "It doesn't surprise Coach (John Beilein). You just have to believe when you're going through tough stretches and keep working very hard and good things will happen.
"Now we have three guaranteed games left to focus on. You can lose two in a row just like that."
Wagner clicked his fingers and continued, "So, we've got to keep keying off Derrick."
Walton has been excellent over the last nine games. He's averaged 18.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists, and Purdue coach Matt Painter referred to him as a first-team All-Big Ten selection after Michigan's win over his team on Saturday (Feb. 25).
"Derrick is a special young man," said Beilein. "We coach Derrick pretty hard because we believe he has more talent than he even knows he has. He's turned that around to think, 'These coaches believe in me, they want me to be a better player every day and not accept complacency.'"
Walton's taken things to a whole new level and is actually imposing his will on games.
"That's exactly right," said Beilein. "So, it's really been a great run for him to this point. I really hope there's a lot more highlights in the season."
Senior co-captain Zak Irvin, another quality leader, reiterated that the approach that "it's a one-game season" has served the team well.
"As long as we keep playing the way we are now," said Irvin, "we're setting ourselves up for a great finish."
Senior forward Mark Donnal added, "We were kind of in a do-or-die situation. We had to bounce back to achieve our goals and make the NCAA Tournament. We had that in the back of our heads and really locked in. So, we've gotten it going, and we've got two games left, and we have to make sure that we're locked in for those as well."
Walton said, "We're playing with confidence and conviction."
He believed in this team even when it was two games under .500 in the conference and showing few signs of promise.
"I have a strong will," said Walton. "There was something telling me that we were going to start cooking, and I believed we would step up to the opportunity. It's coming to fruition, and it's a great feeling to be a part of that."
He's become the team's best player and a great leader.
"He's really become the guard that I think he always wanted to be and we always wanted him to be," said Beilein. "It's not that he'd been bad. It's just that he's such a great unselfish player that he's always about the team.
"I think he convinced himself that if it's about the team, then I need to do more."
While turning around his team, Walton has become the first player in Michigan history to record over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists.
His father, who coached him at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, Michigan, and now coaches St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, has taken great joy in watching his son take off down the stretch run of his senior season.
"I knew it was going to take a little time," said Derrick Walton Sr. "He's not a vocal guy and always led by example. I told him that's okay sometimes but that sometimes they might need to see a little fire.
"And he's finally bringing it out, and I'm just happy for him and Coach Beilein. In his system, you have to be trusted, and I'm glad that he gave Derrick the keys and let him run the team and be sure everyone is where they need to be.
"That's what I've taught him all of his life. I told him to know when to take your shot and also when to make everyone else better."
His father, after coaching Lake Shore earlier that day, walked out of Crisler Center on Saturday night carrying his son's framed No. 10 jersey from the Senior Night presentation.
He's so proud that his son believed in this team and got the team to believe in itself. I asked what's at the root of his son's great belief.
"First of all," he said, "we thank almighty God for Derrick's ability. I always taught him that things aren't over until they're over, and that you have to put your will into it, and that your will will instill belief in your teammates that anything's possible.
"He just has a will to win and really doesn't like to lose. Even in defeat, when he has to shake hands, he's very upset, even with the smile. He just wants to make his teammates better and has that fire to win. I'm proud. I don't know if that comes from his mother (Angela's) side or my side, but he just refuses to lose."
His father is enjoying his son's final games at Michigan and wishes he could make more games. However, he has his own team to coach.
"I will watch on TV and text Derrick: 'I'm here in spirit. So, just go handle business.'"
The father said he's driving to Evanston, Illinois, for Wednesday night's game even though it's a challenge for a man with his own team to run.
"I have to be there," he said. "I've got to do that."
