Kornacki: Simpson's Impact Extends Well Beyond Triple-Double Stat Line
1/30/2019 8:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Two minutes remained in the blowout victory and the fans in Crisler Center began chanting: "Zayyyyyvier Simpppssson! Zayyyyyvier Simpppssson!" Over and over, they sang the name of the hero of the Wolverines' 65-49 win over Ohio State Tuesday night (Jan. 29).
Zavier Simpson became just the sixth University of Michigan men's basketball player to record a triple-double with a career-high 12 assists to go with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He seemed to be everywhere on the court, hounding his home state's team. The Maize-and-Blue faithful chanted his name again when he came out of the game to a standing ovation with 1:22 remaining, and once more when he was interviewed on court for television.
It was quite a night for the 2016 Ohio Mr. Basketball from Lima and the Wolverines, who held the Buckeyes to their lowest point total in the rivalry since 70 years ago to the day, when Michigan triumphed, 54-48, at Yost Fieldhouse.
"To be able to do that shows our intensity, shows our continuity," said Simpson, "and for me and my teammates it means a lot. It gives us the hunger to do even more, achieve even more."
Wolverines coach John Beilein said, "It's who we are. Defense is our identity right now, and we've got to continue to do it and get better offensively. And Zavier was at the center of that great defense, too, along with Charles Matthews."
When the 6-foot-tall Simpson came from behind, jumped, went over the top of the ball and blocked 6-foot-9 OSU power forward Kaleb Wesson on a breakaway to the basket it might have been his most impressive play of the game. Wesson had 80 pounds and nine inches on Simpson, and the sellout crowd of 12,707 lost its collective mind over his ability to deny Wesson what seemed to be undeniable.
"But the three-point shot was my favorite play," said Simpson, who swished it with 8:21 remaining for a 50-38 lead and then stared down at both his hands. He'd missed three previous shots from behind the arc.
Simpson said, "I looked at my hands and said, 'Come back! Work for me.' I work so hard but needed some shots to fall to get me going. At that moment right there, we needed that. Not just for myself, but for the team. Some games I've got to bring some scoring because the way they are playing me. I have to step up."
No. 5-ranked Michigan (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten) never led by less than those 12 points the rest of the way.
Which of the statistical totals was most impressive?
"Twelve assists and no turnovers," said Simpson, reading from the final stats. "See, that's what meant the most. That lets me know how good I'm playing. No turnovers is special for a point guard."
Beilein concurred: "To have the ball that much and have 12 assists and no turnovers, I don't recall seeing that in coaching ever. No question, that's it. That was really hard to do.
"He was the sparkplug. This game means a lot to him and Jon (Teske from Medina, Ohio). You could see it. And a triple-double with Jon Teske getting a technical foul was certainly a unique thing."
"He's 6-foot and is rebounding, coming down helping Jon (Teske) going against Wesson? That's major," said Livers.However, Wolverines forward Isaiah Livers begged to differ on what was most impressive: "Rebounds, man! He's 6-foot and is rebounding, coming down helping Jon (who is 7-foot-1) going against Wesson? That's major. It was probably one of the key points why we won the game. Our point guard had 10 rebounds.
"He wanted the rebounds, trust me."
Livers was asked about backing off on the final Simpson rebound to assure he got it to finish off the triple-double, and he admitted that he had done that.
"But, honestly, if I had gone for it," said Livers, "he'd have taken my arm off anyway. We all knew he was one away, and we had to get it for him. He deserved it."
Simpson got the 10th assist setting up a three-point shot by Ignas Brazdeikis with 11:24 remaining.
He got the 10th and 11th points on his now classic hook shot from right in front of the basket with 3:56 left.
But he had no idea he was closing in on history until a timeout with 3:08 on the clock.
Simpson said, "Two of my assistant coaches whispered my ear during that timeout, 'You just need one more rebound for a triple-double.' I looked up at the (statistics listed on the) scoreboard and said, 'This is surreal.'"
He admitted that he wanted it, and wanted it pretty badly. It took him only 19 seconds to get it. Simpson pulled down a defensive rebound with 2:49 remaining, and the crowd roared.
"You can't say enough about what Zavier Simpson accomplished today," said Beilein, who got his 120th Big Ten win to tie Johnny Orr for the most by any Michigan coach. "The triple-double is incredible. He just competes. He's relentless in his desire to win."
The first Wolverine to record a triple-double was Gary Grant against North Carolina in the 1987 NCAA Tournament, and he went on to be named Big Ten Player of the Year the following season. Then Manny Harris got one against Northern Michigan in 2009, Darius Morris did it against Iowa in 2011, and Caris LeVert registered one against Northern Kentucky in 2015. Derrick Walton Jr. turned the trick on Dec. 19, 2015 against Youngstown State.
"I'm surprised Trey Burke didn't have one," Beilein said of the electric point guard who led the Wolverines to the 2013 NCAA championship game and was elected the Associated Press National Player of the Year.
In addition to his triple-double, Simpson had two steals, one blocked shot and zero turnovers in 36 minutes while being "at the center of that great defense, too," according to Beilein.
Simpson arrived in Ann Arbor the season after Walton, his mentor, had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for his triple-double. Walton led the Wolverines on a wild ride to the Big Ten Tournament championship and NCAA Sweet 16 in the one season he played with Simpson, and he passed along every bit of knowledge he had to the young kid who aspired to be great but barely played as a freshman.
Walton also went at Simpson hard in practices, showing him the standard to strive for if he wanted to be special.
"I give a special shoutout to Derrick for the player I am today," said Simpson. "I did not just listen to him, I learned from him. He was my mentor."
Did Beilein ever imagine that Simpson, who didn't become the starter until well into his sophomore season last year, would start doing some of the great things Walton did?
"He is so determined to be a good player and be a winner," Beilein said. "But sometimes he got in his own way. And now he's understanding to keep that determination, keep that grit, but now he's really progressed with a high basketball IQ. And now he's using that in combination with his grit, and that's been a big difference for him."
What went through Simpson's mind when the fans chanted his name, just as they had Walton's down the stretch run of his fantastic senior season?
"That made me proud of myself," said Simpson. "I knew I had done something special. It was a blessing -- definitely a blessing -- a special moment for me and my teammates as well."
