Kornacki: The Stories Behind Abdur-Rahkman's Heroics in Maryland Victory

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat because forward Isaiah Livers has a strong, accurate arm and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman was "cooler than the other side of the pillow" with the outcome of the game resting on his shoulders.

Abdur-Rahkman caught a 60-foot bullet pass from Livers, was fouled by 6-foot-10 Bruno Fernando on a drive to the basket, and calmly swished two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining to make No. 23 Michigan a 68-67 winner over Maryland on Monday night (Jan. 15).

"It just felt normal," said Abdur-Rahkman. "During our timeout, coach (John) Beilein said, 'This is easy.' I think he was just trying to instill confidence in himself as well as me. But I already knew I was going to make 'em.

"I guess it's easy to say that now because I made 'em both, but, yeah, I knew. I zoned everyone out and knocked them down."

Abdur-Rahkman said they were the first win-or-lose free throws he'd ever taken in a game.

"Now that 'Rahk' has made those two shots," said Beilein, "that's the ultimate test that you're cooler than the other side of the pillow. You can act like it, but then you have to do it, and he did it."

They were his 24th and 25th consecutive free throws made for his 999th and 1,000th points at Michigan.

"The funny thing is that every time I had a milestone in high school it would be on something special like this," said Abdur-Rahkman.

The free-throw streak was a big factor in his self-assuredness.

"I was definitely confident," Abdur-Rahkman said. "It's been awhile since I've missed a free throw. If I'd missed my last couple, then maybe there's some doubt. But it helps when you make the last couple."

The senior captain from Allentown (Pennsylvania) Central Catholic has had nothing but good things happen on the court ever since he went home last month, found the pink shoes he wore during last year's postseason run stored in a Hefty trash bag.

Abdur-Rahkman had his game shoes trapped in the belly of the team charter plane that crashed on the runway during a first attempt to fly to the Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C. He wore the pink shoes in the tournament opener against Illinois because they were the only basketball shoes he had, and he wasn't about to change them as the Wolverines won six consecutive games all the way to the Sweet 16.

His intention was to put the shoes and some mementoes of the emotional tourney run in a Plexiglas case someday, but "Rahk" believed there was some good mojo in those pink Jordans and brought them out of retirement.

"I went back home for Christmas break and wanted to bring back a pair of shoes that I had played well in," he said. "I like them and they felt comfortable, and I saw the pink shoes and said, 'I've got to bring these back.' They were from when we made our run in the NCAA Tournament and I was wearing them.

"They felt better on my feet than I thought they would. I'm going to keep wearing 'em."

"Rahk" scored 20 against Jacksonville his first game back in the pink shoes on Dec. 30, and then 15 at Iowa and 13 against Illinois. He only scored seven against Purdue, but had 14 big points in the upset win at Michigan State.

"We want our kids to be comfortable," said Beilein. "Now, there are some extremes we will not go to. But if they're Jordan brand, and they were issued by the coaching staff, and there's a compelling reason to wear those, and they feel good, and they're supporting the fight against breast cancer. Well, it's a great reason to wear them."

"Rahk" had only two points in the first 38:57 of the Maryland game, and Beilein said Rahkman was "dog-tired" but inserted him down the stretch anyway for his veteran presence. Then he swished a three-pointer with 1:03 left and it was determined in the timeout huddle that he would be the first option for Livers.

"Once I caught it," Abdur-Rahkman said, "I either was going to make the play or find somebody open to pass to."

Michigan trailed Maryland by one point with 3.2 seconds remaining and Livers stood uncontested on the baseline, 94 feet away from the basket. He cocked his arm and fired a strike down court to Abdur-Rahkman, located to the right of the basket and just over the half-court line. "Rahk" said he intentionally waited until the last instant to raise his hands to catch because he didn't want to tip defender Anthony Cowan Jr. on what was coming.

Wolverines head coach John Beilein said Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman is not an especially emotional player and joked he had to enourage Monday's hero to "show some emotion" before leading the team in "The Victors" after the win.

Beilein said it helped to have "a baseball player" throwing that pass. Livers was a standout pitcher and centerfielder until his junior season at Kalamazoo (Michigan) Central, which just happens to be the alma mater of Derek Jeter.

"I could throw my fastball in the low 90s (mph)," said Livers. "When I quit, the baseball coach was pretty mad. My sophomore year, I became the ace. But it became too hard trying to play basketball and baseball with practices conflicting.

"I had it so easy on this throw because I got to wind up and pass it. I didn't have to run the baseline to get myself open to throw, and luckily Muhammad was right where I was throwing it to."

Abdur-Rahkman said, "I don't know if you know this, but used to play wide receiver and I think I have the record for the longest touchdown catch in Pop Warner history back in the day. I can show you the clip if you want. So, it wasn't nothing new. I just wanted to look it all the way in and once I turned around and saw nobody there, I just tried to get downhill.

"I tried to bring it over the top and (Fernando) kind of stuck his leg out so I tripped."

Now it was time for the fateful free throws.

You could cut the tension with a knife because Moritz Wagner, who scored 18 points, missed two free throws with four minutes remaining. And then point guard Zavier Simpson missed two free throws with 19 seconds left.

"I didn't even look at them," said Livers. "I just put my head down, looked at my shoes, and hoped for the best. I heard the (second) shot go through, bounce and the crowd goes crazy. Then I hustled back to play defense."

Kevin Huerter, who had given the Terrapins the lead with a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining, put up a desperation shot that fell well short of the basket.

Michigan had survived, and Abdur-Rahkman had saved the game.

"He is one of those guys who's not in a hurry to go anywhere and just keeps getting better," said Beilein, who got in touch with Abdur-Rahkman when a scholarship came open late and an old coaching friend recommended him.

His scoring averages for four seasons: 4.5, 8.6, 9.1 and now 10.8.

"He's very close to a 3.0 (grade-point average) student and there's like almost no maintenance to him," added Beilein. "He comes from a great family, great mom and great dad. They've raised him right. I think his mom, two of his brothers and a nephew were at the game today.

"Just so solid, even though you're not going to see him real emotional."

Beilein joked about having to encourage him to "show some emotion" in leading the team in the singing of "The Victors" afterward.

But he's dependable in the clutch, and solid like a "Rahk."