I know earlier this week I said that I do not like to do quick takes hours after a basketball game, but after watching Michigan get beat by Oregon, I'm changing my stance on that rule.

Earlier this year I wrote that I had given up on the Wolverines men's basketball team. At that point they were 14-9 and looked to be going down. From then on out, they finished the season 12-3. They beat some decent teams during that 15 game stretch. At times they looked bad, at times they looked really good. But, for the most part, they made me eat my words, and I loved it. There is nothing I love more than when my team proves me wrong and makes me look stupid because it means that they are winning, which is what the Wolverines basketball team did. Finishing up the regular season, they had that brutal loss to Northwestern on the final play, then crushed Nebraska in Lincoln during the final regular season game. The Big Ten tournament was next. I had little hope. I assumed, with the 8th seed in the conference overall, they'd squeak by Illinois, then get crushed by Purdue.

Well, before they even got to Washington D.C, they had a plane wreck. Luckily no one was hurt, the plane never took off due to mechanical issues, so thank goodness for that. But, the team had a meeting to decide if they even wanted to travel to D.C. for the tournament. One of the guys most vocal about not wanting to go was Derrick Walton Jr. I was right there with him. I didn't think they needed to risk the trip. I figured they were already firmly in the NCAA tournament, regardless of how they played in the Big Ten tournament. They finished the season at 20-11, 20 wins in a major conference is the magical number for me, and if they had to forfeit the first round, so what, they are 20-12, still in the NCAA tournament easily. But, the majority of the other players said they still wanted to go, so they went.

They arrived in D.C. for their first round game at 7 in the morning and tipped at 11am. They were so scattered they didn't even have their game jerseys. They had to play in practice jerseys. So know I was thinking, okay they made the trip, but I did not expect them to win. After all they went through, it was a reasonable thought.

Well, as we all know by now, not only did Michigan win their first game over Illinois, they won the next three over Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin, easily beating all of them with the lone exception of Purdue. I was stoked by this. This team I had given up on a few months back was playing inspired basketball on both ends of the floor and they were winning, which was most important. They looked so good in the Big Ten tournament, they upped their seed from a projected 9 or 10 to a 7. I thought they should have, and could have, gotten a 6 seed.

Going into the NCAA tournament I predicted on the podcast that Michigan would get bounced by Oklahoma State in the first round. Well, they proved me wrong once again, hitting 16 threes, 11 in the second half, and winning a great game 92-91, with Derrick Walton Jr, the guy who did not want to fly to D.C., leading the way. In fact, Walton Jr was playing possessed after they landed in D.C. He was awesome and he looked like the leader I expected to see all year.

In their second round game they were facing the second seeded Louisville Cardinals. Louisville is hyper athletic, a great rebounding and shot blocking team and has length everywhere on the floor. Well, Louisville shut down Michigan's outside game, but Moe Wagner and DJ Wilson were doing business on the interior. Walton Jr, and even Zak Irvin, were hitting big mid range shots and highly contested lay ups. Wagner was great against Louisville. He had 26 points, a good amount of rebounds and was making big shot after big shot and the right cuts to the rim at the perfect times. DJ Wilson was tough on the interior and hit 4 of the most clutch free throws I have seen. Michigan beat Louisville. The did it. They won back my confidence and I was rooting for them just as hard as I root for their football team. Those that know me well know how bold of a statement that is.

So, tonight, this will go up Friday, but I'm writing it a mere hour after watching the game, I figured the Wolverines were going to win. I thought they matched up great with Oregon especially with Boucher being out, and I just figured this ride was going to continue.

Well, they came out flat. They weren't hitting shots and their bigs looked a little timid. But, Oregon wasn't doing much better. Both teams came out flat. Michigan could not knock down a three. Oregon was getting to the rim, but they were either getting fouled or missing bunnies. It was sloppy. The second half wasn't much better, but it was more exciting. Every time Oregon would get a 5 or 6 point lead, Michigan would go on a 6-0 or 7-0 run to take the lead. This all happened late in the second half too. I really got my hopes up when Michigan took a three point lead with just over a minute left in the game. This is what they did in their first two tournament games, so I figured with the ride they were currently on, they would finish it off.

Oregon had other things in mind. They kept attacking the rim, and much to my surprise and chagrin, they started to grab offensive rebounds which is Michigan's Achilles heel. Oregon took a 1 point lead with 14 seconds left and Michigan got the ball and had a chance. The right guy took the shot, Walton Jr, but it was short, hit the front rim and the run was over. Michigan got beat.

Their run was over.

I was shocked. I just assumed they were going to win because that is what they did for 6 straight games. But, alas it was not meant to be I suppose.

With all this being said though, I want to thank this team for making me a believer again. I was frustrated when they were 14-9, but they figured it our and turned it around. I was never one of those that said maybe Beilien's time was done. He's done a wonderful job at Michigan. Good thing about this team though, they have a lot of talent retuning. I do not see anyone going pro early. So that means that Moe Wagner, DJ Wilson, Duncan Robinson and Muhammed Ali Abdur Rahkman will be back. They also have Xavier Simpson who got some decent minutes this year. Jon Teske is another big man, a 7 footer, they will use next year. They have a few decent incoming freshman that should be good. I have hope now. I will not miss Zak Irvin or Mark Donnal. Both guys regressed from where they were 2 or 3 years ago. Donnal got flat out beat out for the starting spot by Wagner before the season. And Zak Irvin, while he had his moments, he was horrific on defense and he got worse every year from his freshman season to now. Yes he could score, but for every 3 or reverse lay up he made, there was a missed defensive assignment, a poor block out that involved an offensive rebound, an air balled three, just too many bad moments compared to the good ones.

But I will greatly miss Derrick Walton Jr. Not just for the recent run, which I think will give his a legit shot to make an NBA team, but for four years he was Mr. Reliable. He was always in the right place at the right time making the proper choice. He was a great leader and the reason they turned it around this year. He didn't want to go out with a whimper, he wanted to go out with a bang, and boy he did just that. I wish nothing but the best for Derrick Walton Jr. He was a better point guard for Michigan than both Darius Miles and Trey Burke. Yeah, I said it. He was clutch and you could always count on him. If they needed a big shot, a defensive stop, a great pass to a cutter, a big time free throw, anything and everything that was asked of him, he did it.

So, yes Michigan got beat, but let us not forget that they weren't even considered a tournament team a month and a half ago. Then, the plane incident. Then the run in the Big Ten tournament. Then three great games in the NCAA tournament. This team turned me around. I know care a lot about Michigan basketball. That's not to say I didn't care as much before, but now they are the only team I will openly root for in men's college basketball. I've rooted for UNLV, Connecticut and Kansas on many different occasions, but those days are done. It is just like college football for me now. Michigan is the one and only team that I truly care about. Thank you 2016-17 Michigan men's basketball for making me a believer again.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was wondering why no one named Logan has recently played for the Wolverines. That would be awesome. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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