Long Layoff Looms, but Michigan Is as Hot as Anyone Entering NCAA Tournament

NEW YORK — A few seconds before the final scheduled media timeout in the Big Ten tournament title game, a few specks of maize-colored confetti began drifting down from the ceiling to the court. With four minutes left to play, the party was premature. But not by much.

From start to finish Sunday afternoon, Michigan dominated Purdue, finishing with a resounding 75-66 win and a second consecutive conference tournament crown.

By the middle of the first half, it seemed Michigan was in full control. The Wolverines went to the locker room with just a single-digit lead but with the feeling it would have been much larger if not for some uncharacteristically poor outside shooting. "We were lucky to be down five at halftime," Purdue head coach Matt Painter said after the game.

In the second half, the Boilermakers weren't as fortunate, as the Wolverines improved their three-point percentage from 27.3 percent to 41.7 percent and led by as many as 18 points.

There was no dagger, but instead a death by dozens of cuts. There were the back-to-back threes by junior star Moritz Wagner with 13 and 12 minutes left, respectively. The second was a twisting, fadeaway swish that brought the Wolverines faithful to their feet.

Then there was the Jon Teske poster. The sophomore 7-footer had come into the game averaging 3.3 points but finished with 14, including the dunk over Isaac Haas that will no doubt loop repeatedly through the Wolverines' NCAA tournament run.

The result was so certain by the closing minutes of the second half that, at the under-four-minute media timeout, Painter sent his squad back out on to the floor 30 seconds early rather than remain in a perfunctory huddle.

After the game, Michigan players were able to do something no Big Ten tournament champion has been able to in 20 years: celebrate and savor the accomplishment.

As they slipped into their ceremonial T-shirts and hats and stepped on to the ladder to cut the net, there was a sense of satisfaction that would in any other year have been overshadowed by anticipation for the NCAA tournament selection show.

From a ratings and media coverage perspective, commissioner Jim Delany's decision to move the tournament up a week and into Madison Square Garden seemed to be a success. But the reaction of fans, coaches and players was mixed.

When Delany walked to the dais to hand the trophy to Michigan head coach John Beilein, he was greeted by overwhelming boos from the fans still in attendance. And when Beilein was asked about the moves, he expressed mixed emotions.

"In a perfect world it would be great [to be playing in the NCAA tournament this week]," he said. "But to play in this arena and in front of that crowd, which I feel was very pro-Michigan, that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We'll take it."

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

It's no wonder Beilein would prefer to keep playing right away. His team is among the hottest and most confident in the country. After beating the Boilermakers, the Wolverines became the only team in the Big Ten to beat each of its conferences foes. And overall, they are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak that has lasted three full weeks.

After an overtime win against Iowa on Thursday, the Wolverines easily vanquished their remaining three opponents, including archrival Michigan State in the semifinals Saturday.

"Playing four games in four days, you kind of establish a certain rhythm with how you prepare for games," Wagner said. "That'll be helpful going into the NCAA weekend."

Another thing that will be helpful is the Wolverines' vastly improved defense. Beilein has never been renowned for that side of the ball. Before this season, the best defensive side in his 11-year tenure had been the 2013 Final Four team, which finished 37th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. This year's squad is No. 6 and almost guaranteed to rise after this result against Purdue.

On offense, they're beautifully balanced, with a star in Wagner but another six rotations players behind him who each boast an offensive rating over 100.

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

After the game, Beilein talked a little about the future—he said he planned to give his players some rest before getting on the practice court.

He reminded them, and the media, many great NCAA tournament teams—such as Gonzaga, Butler and Wichita State—have started runs toward the Final Four after more than a week of rest. But mostly, he tried to stay rooted in the present and in the win, which proved not to be much of a challenge because he was drenched and shivering from a postgame Gatorade shower.

"It's just about today," he said. "We'll take tomorrow like tomorrow. There won't be any thoughts about what's next. The NCAA will put us in a good bracket. We'll do everything we can to win one practice at a time to win one game at a time. If we're still around in San Antonio, we'll be delighted."

For once, for a Big Ten team, all that's left to do is wait.