Michigan Basketball: A season of what-ifs

Being in Argentina now, I was not able to catch the Michigan-Ohio State Big Ten Tourney Basketball tournament game that took place earlier today. But after reading about it and watching highlights, I'm certainly glad that I wasn't following it live, because this not-so-happy ending was just the cherry on top of a season gone horribly, horribly wrong. For those that didn't watch the game, Michigan lost 69-68 on a near-half court, desperation three pointer by who else but Ohio State stud Evan Turner:



I wish I could say that I was surprised with today's sequence of events, but Michigan basketball's season has been full of potential highs followed by devastating lows. We start off the season winning three straight, then struggle, going 2-5 in the next seven games. We beat teams like Ohio State and Connecticut before losing to teams like Northwestern. Even within the span of games, the Wolverines could never find any sort of consistency, almost getting back on track against Michigan State earlier in the season before a Kalin Lucas jumper did them in before the buzzer. Then, in a game where Michigan was losing for the majority, we fight back to take a lead on Manny Harris' jumper with two seconds left. Only to see constant Michigan nemesis Evan Turner (who had been having a relatively quiet game by his standards) hit the shot that ended any chance Michigan had of getting another opportunity to show the college basketball world that they are capable of playing up to their talent level.

Hopefully, Harris will return to school to give Michigan the athletic penetrator that Michigan so desperately needs for next year, and underclassmen will come in/continue to develop, but you have to be hurting if you're a Wolverine. This has been one of the worst sports years that Michigan has had. Better times lie ahead, but for now, the book closes on a disappointing season.

A final shout-out to Deshawn Sims, who played hard all season even when others did not. Your hustle will be missed and hopefully you served as a valuable role model for others (besides Zach Novak, who doesn't need any more hustle).