Chicago – The Wolverines aren’t used to this, scratching for offense, sweating to the final minute. It’s hard to get used to when you win 13 games by 20-plus points.
Well, it’s time to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. At college basketball tournament time, there are no style points. That’s why they call it survive-and-advance, not survive-and-thrive, not survive-and-arrive.
This was an unusual test for Michigan, and especially for star Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year. Ohio State slapped on a sticky defense, guarded Lendeborg all over the floor and took it down to the final seconds. The Wolverines prevailed 71-67 in their Big Ten tournament opener at the United Center Friday, and their hope is, they learned more from it than most of their blowouts.
Michigan (30-2) is known for its depth and tenacity. Both were needed against the Buckeyes (21-12) who have a spot secured in the NCAA Tournament but played like they needed more. UM beat Ohio State in the regular season by 12 and 21, but trailed 62-60 with 5:08 left in this one.
Lendeborg hit two free throws to clinch it with six seconds left, and finished with six points on 1-for-4 shooting. Teammates sometimes implore him to be more selfish but Lendeborg rarely pushes it, and usually recognizes where to go.
This time, it was 7-footer Aday Mara operating all over the floor, inside and out, finishing with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Elliot Cadeau finished with 15 points and seven assists. Dusty May appreciated how his team adjusted, knowing it won’t be the last time. Wisconsin (24-9) is up next in Saturday’s semifinal (1 p.m.), the only Big Ten team to beat the Wolverines. Lendeborg has an idea he’ll face a similar plan.
“I feel like I was kinda getting face-guarded, so I just tried to get out of the way as much as I could,” Lendeborg said. “And once I realized they weren’t helping off me (on defense), I was perfectly fine with just sitting in the corner letting everybody else work.”
He played it correctly, dishing out six assists. But for the Wolverines to get their big moment, Lendeborg will have to get his big moments, even if he has to be a little selfish at times. This is what a target feels like and Michigan has worn it for a while, and experienced it full force against the Buckeyes.
In defeat, OSU coach Jake Diebler praised his team for playing its best basketball, led by Bruce Thornton (22 points). In victory, May was less effusive.
“There’s some things Yax can do better, and also some things that I/we can do better to get him in space,” May said. “To be honest, once Elliot found a little bit of a groove and we found our rhythm, we just wanted to almost use Yax as a decoy. Fortunately he’s OK with it. … That’s one thing about Yax, he can get down on himself, but he always responds. For the Big Ten Player of the Year to have an off night and still beat a quality opponent like Ohio State, is once again a testament to how good of a team we are.”
They’ve shown it all season. Their lone conference loss: 91-88 at home against the Badgers, who could have a significant homecourt advantage Saturday against UM. Oddly, 91-88 was the same score in Wisconsin’s victory over Illinois Friday.
May knows all about tournament play, having directed Florida Atlantic to the Final Four before coming to UM. He led the Wolverines to the Big Ten tournament championship last year, then reached the Sweet 16.
Now he has an almost entirely new starting lineup, which has uniquely talented pieces, including Mara. If a 7-3 center can be a not-so-secret weapon, that’s Mara, who stepped outside for shots and also converted all three of his free-throw attempts. And as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year, he was his usual menacing presence in the paint.
“I give the credit to all my teammates, with their pressure on the ball and playing good defense, and I’m able to do the easiest part,” Mara said. “I think many people are scared as soon as they get to the (interior) zone. You see they keep dribbling the ball and try to find something else. They change their game to our defense.”
That can be UM’s antidote in tournament play to counter off-games by shooters or ball-handlers. Cadeau was clutch when needed, but had four turnovers. The Wolverines also missed three free throws in the final 90 seconds, a malady that periodically has popped up.
This is how you can tell a team is driven by expectations, when they talk about “bouncing back” after a win. They posted their third-lowest point total of the season but didn’t get frazzled. They were sluggish at the start, late to loose balls, but clamped down at the end.
“They just played a lot harder than we did,” Cadeau said. “We’re going to have to have a different mindset coming into the next game, just playing a lot harder. Because if we play the way we did today, I don’t think we’ll win tomorrow.”
Maybe the Wolverines needed to shake off a little rust, and with a No. 1 seed locked up, dig up some fresh urgency. The Buckeyes came in playing their best basketball, which will be the case for most opponents from this point forward.
After all their lopsided victories, the Wolverines got a taste of tournament reality. It’s officially survive-and-drive time, both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.
bob.wojnowski@detroitnews.com
@bobwojnowski
Big Ten tournament semifinal
MICHIGAN VS. WISCONSIN
Tipoff: 1 p.m. Saturday, United Center, Chicago
TV/radio: CBS/94.7
Records: Michigan 30-2; Wisconsin 24-9
At stake: A spot in Sunday’s Big Ten tournament championship
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wojo: Ohio State makes Wolverines sweat; they better get used to it
Reporting by Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
