The Victors | Project OSPREY

Thursday, 20 March 2014
N.C.A.A. Tournament, Midwest Region Round of 64
(№ 2) Michigan 57-40 Wofford (№ 15)
26-8 (includes postseason), Big Ten 15-3 (regular season only)

Saturday, 22 March 2014
N.C.A.A. Tournament, Midwest Region Round of 32
(№ 2) Michigan 79-65 Texas (№ 7)
27-8, Big Ten 15-3

Friday, 28 March 2014
N.C.A.A. Tournament, Midwest Regional Semifinal
(№ 2) Michigan 73-71 Tennessee (№ 11)
28-8, Big Ten 15-3

Sunday, 30 March 2014
N.C.A.A. Tournament, Midwest Regional Final
(№ 8)Kentucky 75-72 Michigan (№ 2)
28-9, Big Ten 15-3

Alas! The most gutting thing about the valiant Wolverines' loss to the epithetless Wildcats in the "Elite Eight" is that Michigan could have won, should have won. Two more made shots, shots that we made all season but didn't drop on a slightly sub-par shooting night, & a second consecutive berth in the Final Four was in the offing. Alas! There is no goat, no player who lost the game for Michigan; the valiant Wolverines in 2013-2014 were the embodiment of Bo Schembechler's "team" philosophy; they won together & we lost together. 'Twas a wonderful season, a season that saw Michigan win an outright Big Ten championship for the first time in decades. 'Twas a season that proved that the 2012-2013 squad's tournament run was no fluke, that head coach John Beilein has built a solid program in Ann Arbor, one that can & will reload for the years ahead.

There are major question marks over the roster of the 2014-2015 edition of the valiant Wolverines. There is the possibility that all three or some combination sophomore guard Nik Stauskas, sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III, & sophomore forward (center) Mitch McGary might leave school early & try their luck at professional basketball. If all three return, next season's valiant Wolverines will be well-positioned to make another run at the Big Ten title & national glory. If all three depart, the valiant Wolverines will still be fine, as others will step forward & carry the banner for the maize & blue. These are extraordinary days in the up-&-down history of Michigan basketball. Appreciate them as the rarity they might prove, but keep your fingers crossed that as long as Coach Beilein remains, this level of achievement will remain laudable, but become ordinary.

Go Blue!

Project OSPREY
Regarding tonight's national championship game, I have no love for the University of Connecticut (known almost universally as "U.Conn."), but I adhere to the A.B.C. school of thought: Anybody But Calipari, meaning Kentucky's sleazebag cheater of a coach, John Calipari, who is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with collegiate athletics. Calipari is human garbage, & the thought of his club winning it all makes my stomach turn. A.B.C.! Go, epithetless Huskies!