Kornacki: A Look at Walton's Fabulous Stretch Run
2/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2017
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There was no question who the best player on the basketball court was in this game.
Derrick Walton Jr. was doing it all. He was canning three-pointers as if in a shooting drill with nobody defending. He was timing rebounds at the perfect point when the downward descent of the ball begins and diving through others and onto the floor in search of a loose ball.
But he wasn't enough Saturday night (Feb. 4) for Michigan to avert a draining 70-66 loss to Ohio State at the Crisler Center.
Walton had 25 points -- one shy of his career high last season at Minnesota -- as well as 10 rebounds and three assists. He nailed six of nine three-point attempts.
However, the Wolverines were out-rebounded, 42-24, and only guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman played up to expectations with 12 points and seven rebounds.
"Derek is playing great, and Muhammad is playing great," said Beilein. "I really feel great about the consistency we are getting from those two, but right now our front line has got to play better.
"I just love the way (Walton's) playing right now."
It's hard seeing a player leave his heart and soul on the floor and still lose. And that's happened in consecutive games, including the loss at Michigan State, where Walton had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
That's been difficult for Beilein to watch.
"It's hard," he said. "He's the leader on this team, and I just love what he's been bringing to this team, and he worked hard all summer to do this. He was, if not the hardest worker, one of our hardest workers in the summer time, and it's paid off for him.
"He's peaking at the right time. We've worked him hard in practice, and it's really paid off."
There was a storybook ending to be had for Walton. He hit a trey from the right side to make it 67-66 with 26 seconds remaining, and then JaQuan Lyle made one of two free throws after quickly getting fouled by Walton.
That left Michigan 25 seconds to attempt a shot that would tie the score or a three-pointer to win.
"Coach (Beilein) did a great job," said Walton. "He drew up a great play. I took a shot that I thought was the best shot available."
He came open for a mid-range jumper from the right side.
"I've made that shot a thousand times, but it swirled out," said Walton. "The ball just didn't go in. I thought it was a great shot."
It didn't seem like it would come down to the final shot in the early going, when Michigan came out of the blocks just as it did in the 90-60 win here over Indiana last week.
The Wolverines were sailing in the early going with all five starters contributing to the first 11 points scored. Michigan took off to a 14-3 lead in the game and had a comfortable margin until D.J. Wilson came out with his second foul with just over five minutes left in the half. A seven-point Wolverines lead became a 36-35 halftime lead for OSU in that time.
"When he's out of the game," said Walton, "it's a totally different game. Having him out of foul trouble would've changed a lot of things for us."
Wilson had 11 points and one rebound in 25 minutes.
The Wolverines trailed by as many as eight points in the second half, and Walton said it took a toll on the team to fight back. Still, as fatigued as the team got in coming back, Walton said a way had to be found to win.
And it wasn't.
Walton, though, is inspiring his teammates despite the consecutive defeats.
"Watching Derrick play like that makes you want to play better yourself and do more," said Abdur-Rahkman.
His career has been impressive.
Walton is close to becoming the first Wolverine ever to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in his career. He currently has 1,204 points, 488 rebounds and 392 assists.
"Wow," said Beilein, when informed of that. "Wow. His ability to rebound is just such a separator for him. That's what puts him in a whole different category, and it's amazing. The guy will probably never have a dunk here, but his rebounds are well above the rim. His timing is really something."
Walton is only 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds but will finish with 530 rebounds at his current 4.7-rebound average if he plays only the nine games he's guaranteed. Michigan lists its top 25 career rebounders, and Thad Garner is last on that list with 603. There is only one guard or player under 6-6 in the top 25, and that's 6-4 Zack Novak with 609.
It's pretty safe to say that the Wolverines have never had a player Walton's size who could rebound like he does.
Neither Gary Grant nor Jalen Rose, both NBA first rounders, could reach 500 rebounds. They are Michigan's only 1,000/400/400 men in points, rebounds and assists.
Walton couldn't score like those two until now. He's had seven of his 11 career 20-point games this season -- including four of his last six games.
The senior from Detroit and Chandler Park Academy, where he was coached by his father, is going out the way every player hopes he does. He's playing the best basketball of his career down the stretch run.
"We get after him because he's the quarterback," said Beilein, "and he's got to do the right things on offense and defense when he's out there so much. We're really going to miss him, and I hope in these last games he continues to play as he is right now."
Walton is averaging 19.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists and shooting .500 (16 of 32) from three-point territory and .525 (32 of 61) overall in his last six games.
"I don't really take those stats to heart like that," said Walton. "Whenever the opportunity presents itself to get the best shot available, it's my job to make sure we get that shot. It just so happens it's (been) me.
"But stats don't matter. I'm more concerned with winning."
This was a crucial loss for Michigan (14-9, 4-6 Big Ten), which has eight regular-season games and at least one Big Ten Tournament game remaining.
"I'm a person who looks at the positives," said Walton. "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."
That's the way the remainder of the schedule looks to a player who's shooting at a net that somehow seems to have a wider circumference than it used to have. What he needs now is more help making those dreams realities.
