Michigan archrivals collide in Big Ten hoops semifinal
RALPH D. RUSSO
Maybe the most familiar fight song in college sports filled Madison Square Garden as the Michigan Wolverines turned the last six minutes of its Big Ten Tournament quarter-final against Nebraska into garbage time. “Hail to the victors valiant,” the many Michigan fans sang as they were able to start turning their attention to a semifinal on Saturday that will bring a little extra juice to the Garden. For just the second time, Michigan and Michigan State Spartans will meet in the Big Ten Tournament.
“It’s a rivalry game, even though it’s post-season you want to come out and have a sense of urgency and be ready for a fight,” Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman said after the 15thranked Wolverines eliminated the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers 77-58 on Friday. Abdur-Rahkman scored 21 points and Moe Wagner had 20 as fifth-seeded Michigan (26-7) dealt a significant blow to Nebraska’s NCAA hopes.
Michigan and Michigan State’s only other meeting in the Big Ten Tournament came in the 2014 championship game at Indianapolis. The Spartans won 69-55. “I expect it to be really exciting,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “I think there will be a lot of Michigan fans here, but I expect Michigan State fans to travel well. I don’t know the numbers, but we are in New York City. Our alums and our fans are.”
The Michigan fans had plenty of time to sit back and enjoy Friday ’s game against Nebraska. Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were both limited by foul trouble in Michigan’s opening tournament victory against Iowa on Thursday. The Wolverines’ stars fouled out in the overtime game against the Hawkeyes, but Michigan survived without them.
Against the Huskers (22-10), Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were full-go and Nebraska could not do much to stop them. Wagner drove the baseline for a dunk late in the first half that helped the Michigan go up 34-24 at the break. Abdur-Rahkman’s triple with 6:01 left in the second half made it 61-42 for the Wolverines, giving their fans the opportunity to sing and chant “N-I-T” at Nebraska. Isaiah Roby and James Palmer Jr. led Nebraska with 16 points each.
The Wolverines lost by 20 at Nebraska back in January in one of their worst offensive showings of the season. Abdur-Rahkman said Michigan failed to adjust to the Huskers’ defensive switches. “I think we just seen it a lot more. As of late, teams have been trying to switch out their defences against us,” Abdur-Rahkman said. Whatever the issue was in Lincoln, it was solved the second time around. The Wolverines got to the basket effectively in the first half, and the 3-point shooting that was off against Iowa (3 for 19) was on against Nebraska (11 for 23).