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DANIELLE RUMORE Rumore Has It |
Maceo Baston's soaring one-handed slam toward the end of the Wolverines' win over Miami (Fla.) last night was the icing on the cake, and a symbol for the Wolverines.
He soared through the air, and so did Michigan - into the second round of the NIT.
He smiled and pumped his fists as the crowd erupted with the basket and subsequent foul on the play, and so did the Wolverines as the clock expired and they danced into the lockerroom.
The Wolverines haven't smiled in a long time, and they didn't deserve to either. You remember the five-straight losses, blowing the game against Minnesota and having it rubbed in their faces in their own house? Remember Illinois reeling off a 41-9 run? Remember how the Wolverines needed overtime to beat Ohio State, not making the NCAAs and the most recent buzz about possible NCAA violations - big time violations?
So Mr. Baston, tell the world why you are so happy.
"I'm just happy that we have a postseason win for the first time in my career," he said.
Bingo, give the man a dollar.
The win is what it's all about.
This group of Wolverines won a game in the postseason for the first time. It doesn't matter that it wasn't in the NCAAs, but just in the NIT - the "Not Invited Tournament," the "Not Interested Tourney," the "Not in Tucson" tourney (my personal favorite).
But whatever, you get the picture and the Wolverines get the win.
Personally, I'm in shock that Michigan was able to beat the Hurricanes so soundly with all that has been going on.
The Wolverines won despite just 18 fans on hand at Crisler Arena. Even Maurice Taylor said, "... we only had about 150 people here," (his estimate is probably closer: after all, he did have the better view). They won despite reading all of the newspapers dotted with those ugly accusations and tales of big, bad boosters.
The Wolverines won despite playing probably the scrappiest and gutsiest team they have faced all season, a team they would have lost to just a few weeks ago because they would have given up. They would have made excuses, made stupid plays and they would have lost any semblance of chemistry, exploding like gasoline in the presence of a match.
Michigan found a purpose, a reason to play a few more games and a reason to care again. Maybe it's pride or maybe it's the aura of postseason basketball. Who knows? And it really doesn't matter.
They now deserve to smile, a least a little, after their season turned from possible greatness to absolute disgust like it has the past few years. This season turned faster than Robert Traylor's brand new Chevrolet Suburban ever could.
And the Wolverines had reason to smile at the end of the game because they played with the most heart they have displayed all season long.
And because they were able to focus on the bigger issue at hand - winning in the postseason - knowing that the demons were lurking, and will continue to lurk today, tomorrow and the next.
They have been here for the past 13 months and they won't disappear. Ever since Taylor's Ford Explorer flipped over last year, the NCAA has been knocking on Michigan's door - and the knocks are getting louder and louder.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher knows it, the players know it and so do the fans.
"I think, probably, I was affected more than anyone in terms of concentration," Fisher said. "I'm sure it's not going to all of a sudden disappear. For 13 months, it's been here."
He's right, and whether the accusations should disappear is an entirely different issue, and will be saved for a column at a later date. For now, though, the Wolverines can flash their pearly whites
They're moving to the next round.
- Danielle Rumore can be reached over e-mail at drumore@umich.edu.