Michigan basketball’s close-game magic continues in March: “Spoken it into existence"
DENVER — Michigan basketball got a big lead. Then blew a big lead. Then won the game.
The 5-seed Wolverines outlasted 12-seed UC San Diego 68-65 at Ball Arena in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the round of 32. They did so following an all-too familiar trend: winning in a way that likely gave their fans a near-heart attack.
Though it feels like it’s taken years off of the lives of many, players like Will Tschetter maintain that the team really never feels in doubt in these tight game situations that continue to pop up.
“I don’t know, I mean we’ve been in that situation so many times,” the senior said as he smiled in front of his locker postgame. “I don’t think we’re necessarily nervous — we’ve won in every way possible this year.
"For us to be able to stay composed, know we got this and you’re in that huddle, you look everyone in the eye and it’s like ‘I know what I got to do’ and that’s what happened.”
At one point that may have felt like a talking point, but at this stage it’s hard to take the words for anything other than face value. The Wolverines are 13-4 this season in games decided by four points or less. They were 2-4 in their first six such games, but have since won 11 consecutive games decided by those thin margins.
For perspective on just how infrequently that happens, Bradley in 1985-86 is the only other team in NCAA Division I history since the start of World War II to win 13 games by four points or fewer in one season.
“Talking with some of the guys who were there (last year), it was like we were paying it forward,” said Tschetter about how many close games U-M lost in 2022-23 when U-M was 3-13 in 16 games decided within two possessions or in overtime. “We were losing all the close ones then, but I’m just proud of our team being able to stick with it and get it done.”
While so many games have come down to the wire, no two have been the same. On Thursday, U-M led the Tritons 42-27 early in the second half, when UCSD blitzed U-M on a 12-0 run.
Tre Donaldson answered with a 3-pointer, then UCSD hit a 3 and moments later got within one, 45-44. After Michigan’s lead grew again to 10, the Tritons had yet another run. Tyler McGhie went on a heater, going on a personal 9-1 spurt, which included back-to-back shots over Danny Wolf and gave UC San Diego its first lead of the game, 65-63.
“When Tyler McGhie hit that 3 on me, I just had a smile on my face and I was just like, ‘It’s going to be OK’,” Wolf said afterwards. "I mean that’s what March Madness is and guys are gonna hit big shots, but it’s just how you respond.”
Sixteen seconds later, Michigan got its March moment from Donaldson, who drilled an NBA range 3-pointer inside the Denver Nuggets home arena to give U-M the lead for good.
Michigan wasn’t great in the second half, shooting 28% (7 of 25) and making 50% (9 of 15) of its free throws. The Wolverines still made a number of key plays down the stretch.
At least three different players postgame brought up the tip-out offensive rebound by Rubin Jones with 77 seconds left to extend U-M’s possession. Those who didn’t mentioned Vladislav Goldin, who grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final minute and drilled two clutch shots from the stripe with less than 20 seconds to play to help ice the game.
“I’ve always taken pride in these games look so different,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “You’ve got to take what the game gives you. And also, I think our group really believes in each other. We’re going to get the stop, we don’t know how but we’re going to figure out a way to make it work.”
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What the game has given them is more confidence than could reasonably be believed at this point in time. The Wolverines are one victory away from a Sweet 16, and that was the mission as dubbed by coaches (according to Tschetter) known as the “Denver Invitational.”
Michigan already is 2-0 in tournament settings this year, having won over Thanksgiving in Fort Myers before winning last week’s Big Ten tournament championship.
While in Florida, U-M won lopsided. And twice the Wolverines had to win in the final minute in Indianapolis just last week. Michigan (26-9, 14-6 Big Ten) has had more games decided within two possessions (19) than it hasn’t (16).
It may have been stressful all year long, but in a win-or-go-home scenario like the Wolverines find themselves in now, they’re quite grateful to have the experience.
“Maybe we’ve spoken it into existence,” May said. “But deep down I think because of the work they’ve put in, the adversity we’ve faced, and most importantly doing this 17 times.”
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball’s close-game magic continues in March Madness
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