The Michigan men’s basketball team hasn’t played in a whole host of close games this year. In fact, only six of their 28 games have finished within two possessions either way. However, come March Madness, there will almost certainly be nailbiters to get through. Today’s discussion question is this: if Michigan gets in a position where they need a basket in the last 10 seconds of a game, who should have the shot drawn up for him?
Let’s start by examining those six close games to see what Dusty May
has preferred so far.
The Wolverines narrowly escaped in an overtime battle at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit over Wake Forest early in the season. At the end of regulation, Aday Mara missed a jumper with 37 seconds remaining, but the Wolverines corralled an offensive rebound before Elliot Cadeau hit a game-tying layup. Michigan then got a defensive stand to send it to overtime.
In overtime, the game-winning bucket was actually a free throw by Elliot Cadeau as well. He was fouled with 13 seconds left in a tie game. Cadeau made the first of two and then the Wolverines got a defensive stand.
Next, we look to TCU just one game later. The Wolverines didn’t have a key offensive possession in clutch time here as they led by three before the Horned Frogs had to play the foul game. Both Nimari Burnett and Yaxel Lendeborg hit a pair of free throws in the last few seconds.
The next close game wasn’t until Michigan’s narrow escape in Happy Valley. Despite playing an all-around dreadful game, Michigan didn’t have the ball in their hands at the last gasp as another defensive stand was warranted. Fortunately, Freddie Dilione V missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, allowing Michigan to escape with a two-point win.
The Wolverines then lost to Wisconsin, their only Big Ten loss this season. Roddy Gayle Jr. was surprisingly tasked with shooting a three-pointer just before the buzzer. He missed, and Morez Johnson Jr. was unable to tap the rebound back in.
A few weeks later, Michigan picked up a huge home win over No. 5 Nebraska by three points. Trey McKenney hit a go-ahead layup with just over a minute left. However, yet again, a defensive stand is what allowed the Wolverines to hang onto the win as Nebraska was unable to hit a game-tying three at the buzzer.
Lastly and most recently, Michigan lost to Duke by five just last weekend. In the waning moments of the game, Michigan never had a chance to tie or go-ahead. The closest they got was a three-point deficit with 51 seconds remaining. Needing a stop, the Wolverines got Patrick Ngongba II to miss a layup, but he rebounded his own miss and the foul game ensued.
In summary, of the six close games Michigan has played in this season Elliot Cadeau and Roddy Gayle Jr. each had clutch shot attempts in a game apiece, defensive stands were needed in two others, and the remaining two never had consequential possessions down the stretch despite the score being close.
It’s safe to say that there are no recurring themes to who gets the last shot for the Wolverines. Dusty May and the Michigan coaching staff will need to figure out who has the proverbial clutch gene on this team in order to push the Wolverines further and further into March. Should Michigan get into a nailbiter in any of their last three games of the regular season or the Big Ten Tournament, it will be fascinating to see how Dusty May handles his offensive calls.
Who do you think should be given any last-minute shots from this Wolverine team? Is it Yaxel Lendeborg no matter what, because he’s Michigan’s best player? Is Elliot Cadeau specifically suited for March? Should Trey McKenney be on the court late in games? Do you go to Aday Mara in the post no matter what, if the deficit is less than three?
Dusty May has a plethora of options. Let us know in the comments below which option you would be the most comfortable with.
