Illini collapse as Michigan rallies
INDIANAPOLIS — You'd think during a season overloaded with last-minute losses and searing disappointments, Illinois might know better than to relax with a nice second-half lead.
In March.
When the other team believes it needs to win in order to get into the NCAA Tournament.
The Illini owned a 12-point lead with 8:33 to play in Big Ten quarterfinal action Friday, yet gave it away in rapid-fire fashion as Michigan rallied for a 60-55 victory at Conseco Fieldhouse.
“I definitely feel a lot of us, pretty much everyone involved including myself, we got a little tentative with it,” said Illinois sophomore guard Brandon Paul, who contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.
“We thought we had it in the bag, but that wasn't the case obviously.”
While the fourth-seeded Wolverines reeled off 20 points in the final 8:04, Illinois (19-13) managed just 4 points in its final 13 possessions.
The fifth-seeded Illini's collapse felt even more pronounced because they had been so solid for the previous 20-plus minutes.
Senior forward Bill Cole even suggested the offense, which generated plenty of post touches for Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis, worked as well as it had all year.
Then came the final eight minutes, when the Illini shot 1 for 8 from the field and committed 5 turnovers.
“We haven't been able to get over the hump,” said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. “I thought we were on a pretty good run. We were playing well. It was energized. It seemed like it was all clicking.
“Then just a couple of possessions and you could just see our body language change. We didn't have one guy that could step up and make a couple plays.”
Compare that to the body language exhibited by the Wolverines (20-12), even when Illinois grabbed an 11-point halftime lead and parried every Michigan run for the first 12 minutes of the second half.
“Coach always talked about in the huddle keeping a ‘yes' face no matter what the score is,” said Michigan point guard Darius Morris, who led everyone with 17 points and 7 assists. “That means just positive energy.”
Michigan even turned what appeared to be a giant negative — big man Jordan Morgan's fourth foul with 8:55 to go — into a positive.
Freshman forward Evan Smotrycz entered for Morgan and cashed a pair of 3-pointers to kickstart Michigan's rally.
Tim Hardaway Jr.'s 3-pointer with 1:43 to go gave Michigan the lead for good.
While the Wolverines were jubilant after hitting 11 of 24 3-pointers, the Illini slumped silently in their seats in the postgame locker room.
That began the team's 49-hour waiting period before CBS reveals the NCAA Tournament field.
On Tuesday, Weber said he'd be “dumbfounded” if his team didn't get into the NCAA Tournament.
Are the Illini still a lock with a 19-13 record?
“Last year, we were in the same spot,” Tisdale said. “I really don't want to get the hopes up too high, but I'm going to keep praying that we do (get in). It's out of our hands now.”