How Hungry are the Wolves?
Should we be taking the Michigan Wolverines more seriously?
Some may say yes, other may disagree. I for one am a believer. Michigan hasn’t had the most glamorous resume in the NCAA tournament in recent years. The most recent run was that of the 2012–13 team that made it all the way to the championship game before losing to Louisville. I’m sure we all remember the way they got past Kansas that year. If not, here’s a refresher of how they got to overtime.
This year, there’s a special feeling in Ann Arbor. Michigan finished just 5th in the Big Ten Conference this year and had won their first game in the Big Ten Tournament against Nebraska 93–57.
Then came the plane incident that has become what marked the start of their journey.
Michigan was on board a plane to take them to Washington D.C for their second round matchup against Illinois. The plane was unable to take off after high winds were a major factor and the plane had to brake and skid off the runway. The team made it out all okay. The thing is, they still had a game to play the next day.
So what do they do?
They board a new plane the next morning, land in D.C, and go straight to the arena. They play the game in their practice jerseys and blow through the Fighting Illini by 20 points. Impressive to say the least.
They make their way through the rest of the tournament with only a scare from Purdue. In the championship, they beat down on the Wisconsin Badgers 71–55. After seeing that score, I thought they were gonna be eager to play again
They draw a #7 seed in the tournament. This Wolves team looks as hungry as they were expected to be as they have taken down #10 Oklahoma State and #2 Louisville.
For Michigan, Derrick Walton Jr. has looked great recently running the point. He may not have had an enormous impact against Louisville, but after dropping a double-double with 26 points and 11 assists on Ok. State, he had to be accounted for.
This gave some room for the two big forwards Moritz Wagner and D.J Wilson to get 26 and 17 points, respectively. These two look like studs for the Wolves.
Now Michigan faces off against the #3 seed Oregon Ducks in the Sweet 16. The issue for Oregon in this game is that they will be without star player Chris Boucher. Michigan may have a little bit easier time, but the Ducks are still strong with Dillon Brooks leading the way and has come out and said that they weren’t gonna give up.
The way Wolves have been playing seems like Derrick Walton Jr. and company and ready for the task. Whether the Ducks will give up or not, they’re next on the menu for these hungry Wolves.
