And treat those two impostors just the same…"
—Rudyard Kipling, "If—"
Friday, 14 March 2014
B1G Tournament Quarterfinals
(№ 8) Michigan 64-63 Illinois
24-7, Big Ten 16-3
The valiant Wolverines' unexpectedly & uncomfortably close shave against the feisty Fighting Illini was an excellent reminder of a maxim I'd repeatedly over & over again, but insufficiently internalized: There are no easy wins in the Big Ten, above & beyond the ancient & true wisdom that any given club can beat any other given club on any given day. The conference was even more fratricidal than usual this season; all twelve Big Ten cubs finished the season with at least five conference wins; no club finished the schedule with fewer than three conference losses. I remarked to my father on Wednesday that it was unfortunate that come Friday's quarterfinals Michigan would face either Indiana or Illinois, our two most recent opponents. That familiarity, plus greater post-season vim & vigor by the feisty Fighting Illini—those wonderful, terrible intangibles that are so much a part of sport's majesty—made Friday's contest much closer than it needed to be. But the valiant Wolverines were able to prove once again that they do not lose their nerve in close games, something that can only serve them well going forward. The multiple, multi-minute scoring droughts were worrisome, but, one, we must remind ourselves that Illinois was possible the best defensive clubs in the conference in the late-season stretch & two, it's too late to do anything now but stick to our fundamental strengths, roll with the punches, & play our game.
Historically, Illinois has overachieved in the Big Ten tournament, while Michigan has underachieved. So, woot!
Chief Illiniwek forever!
Saturday, 15 March 2014
B1G Tournament Semifinals
(№ 8) Michigan 72-69 Ohio State (№ 24)
25-7, Big Ten 17-3
The valiant Wolverines' usual script was turned on its head against the hated Buckeyes: instead of falling behind early & clawing back into contention, it was Michigan who built up the first-half lead that was eventually whittled down &—egad!—converted into a deficit. The ending was the same, though, for while the valiant Wolverines are able to fight their way back & come away with the victory, they were able to thwart the hated Buckeyes' comeback attempt. Once again, the valiant Wolverines proved their mettle in a close game. I took an unseemly amount of satisfaction in Ohio State senior guard Aaron Craft's mishandling of the ball in the game's dying seconds, a fumble that doomed his club's slim chance at the upset. I had earlier remarked that if Michigan had to pick its poison, I was comfortable shutting down the rest of the hated Buckeyes & then daring Craft—who is a player with an extraordinary & laudable work ethic & a living exemplar of the virtues of hustling, but a mediocre shooter—to beat us with his offense. Craft is the kind of player we should all root for, except for the fact that he's a hated Buckeye: he'll never play pro ball, but for four years he played his heart out every night; he hustles more than any two other players on the court; & he makes his opponents better by making them pay for every miscue, for every sloppy or lazy play. Craft so many things that are right about collegiate sports, except that he owes his allegiance to THE Ohio State University & its sinister purposes.
Next: Michigan State, for all the marbles, in the Big Ten tournament final, getting under way as I type these very words.
Go Blue!
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