Wolverines Reflect on No. 2 NCAA Seed, Learning From Tough Defeat
3/17/2019 11:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Features
By Steve Kornacki
CHICAGO -- There was a lot for Wolverines head coach John Beilein to digest, compartmentalize and act upon here Sunday (March 17) at the United Center.
First, his University of Michigan men's basketball team lost a 13-point lead and the Big Ten Tournament championship game to Michigan State, 65-60, to fail in its bid to become the first conference team to win three consecutive tournaments.
Then he had to sort out what happened for his players in a solemn locker room, pointing out where they erred while adding how he also was "proud" of the grit they showed for all 40 minutes.
Next was a team gathering and buffet dinner in a swank club room with leather booths and chairs to await hearing "the University of Michigan" called on the CBS-TV "Big Dance" bracket announcement show.
Beilein sat in the front row, granddaughter Finley Rose Hendricks, 8, on one side and grandson Johnny Hendricks, 6, on the other, both decked in full maize and blue gear. Youngest grandchild, Charlie Hendricks, 3, also was there.
"My family goes through a lot of stress during those games and a lot of disappointment," said Beilein, whose wife, Kathleen, sat next to him in the locker room as we spoke. "And that's when you have to be a great role model as a father, as a husband, as a grandfather. Right?
"You know, losses are tough, but it's a journey and you've got to embrace it and improve through it. To be in a championship game like we were is tremendous. You don't win it, and you've just got to move on."
One of the points he stressed to the Wolverines immediately after the game was that, despite the lack of a conference title, they had finished 28-6. They had started the season 17-0, beaten last year's national champions, Villanova, and one of this postseason's No. 1 seeds, North Carolina, both in convincing fashion.
And the NCAA Tournament selection committee validated what Michigan had accomplished with a No. 2 seed in the West Region, where it opens with No. 15 Montana for the second straight postseason, Thursday night (March 21) in Des Moines, Iowa. The Spartans received a No. 2 seed in the East.
"It's incredible that we're not the champion in our league and yet we're a two seed," said Beilein. "There's been one other time we were a two seed in 2014. So, you look at it, right, and Michigan basketball is one of the top eight teams in the country right now. We weren't in the top 25 to start this year.
"So, these kids did a great job and now we've got to represent from that two seed. A 15 seed is not easy and then we play a seven (versus) 10 seed (Nevada or Florida) after that, and it's not easy. Everyone's good right now."
His players also realized the significance of receiving a No. 2 seed.
"That's a great accomplishment to be rated as one of the top teams in the country going into this tournament," said freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis, who scored 47 points in three tourney games and made the all-tournament team with point guard Zavier Simpson (31 points, 30 assists and two turnovers). "So, it's a great honor."
Simpson
Junior center Jon Teske said, "It's something special. We wanted to win today, but now we just have to keep winning out, move on and get ready for this next game. It's going to be a lot of fun. Let's win it all now! The young guys got a taste of that this weekend. We'll be ready."
Sophomore forward Isaiah Livers said, "Of course, we're going to appreciate it. We're blessed. But we know we could've gone higher. As a man, you've just got to grow up and learn to be appreciative of everything."
Forward Charles Matthews added, "It's always big to be a two seed. We didn't finish like we wanted, but we still had a pretty good season. This loss hurt, but we've got to forget about it now, make a long run in the tournament and try to be national champions."
Simpson set a Big Ten tourney record with those 30 assists, getting one more than MSU's Mateen Cleaves had in 1999. Still, Michigan lost the Big Ten championship game by failing to score a field goal in the final 2:29 of the game.
The Wolverines led by as many as 13 points, were up, 31-23, at the half and had the lead for 27 minutes in a hard-fought game that was tied for four minutes. But, when it mattered most, Michigan couldn't pull ahead.
Beilein touched on that in his pointed postgame speech to his team.
"It was nothing like our last two games (with MSU) that we just wilted," said Beilen. "You battled and we came back. With two and a half minutes to go, we make some shots. … But we didn't. That's going to happen, but you've got to control what you can control. I don't remember them taking a bad shot the whole game, but we took about four or five. So, those are five empty possessions that were huge.
"This is not the time for saying, 'My bad.' When you're playing for a championship, it's not the frickin' time. So, as we get into the tournament, we'll play teams just like them. We can go as far as you guys. …You've got to stay persistent, you've got to stay on this. It's got to be your attitude and IQ together. 'I'm going to be smarter.' And we've got to win these championships. We've got a chance.
"We had opportunities to win this game, but we didn't take advantage of them. They did. Then, sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way, and you've just got to live with it. So, as usual, we grow from it. We're 28-6, got to the championship game again. Give them credit -- they beat you fair and square three times (this season). But this time, you did not lose your poise. You just did some things in the middle of the game that didn't make sense.
"So, we have another opportunity and we're going to make the most of it. Hell, you could play them again (in the Final Four semifinal). So, let's grow from it. Let's get better. I'm proud of you. I love coaching you guys, and I love how you grow."
Brazdeikis
The starters, seated in the front row, had taken the defeat hard. They were showing emotion, but eventually became focused on their coach's words as he paced before them and spoke.
"It was simple stuff -- we've just got to play smarter," said Livers, who scored 41 points in three tourney games. "Down the stretch, we had a lot of bad shots. Careless shots just mess up the flow. Having a possession back can change the whole game."
It wasn't easy to immediately turn the page, but they all realized another run to the Final Four was there for the taking if they could do what they did last year in reaching the championship game in San Antonio. If they could play smart and hit clutch shots, the sky remained the limit.
The Wolverines haven't lost consecutive games this season, and Beilein hopes the defeat will once again summon resolve and improvement from his players.
"I hope that we answer just as we have every other time," said Beilein. "We played really good basketball and I expect nothing less from our team."
Brazdeikis said, "We're going to get locked in, get ready and get better from this game. We've got to get better, we've got to get smarter."
