Michigan Basketball Honors Plane Crash Survivor Austin Hatch on Senior Day
Feb 18, 2018
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2014, file photo, Michigan head coach John Beilein, left, congratulates guard Austin Hatch (30) as he comes off the court in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Coppin State at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan basketball coach John Beilein has announced that Austin Hatch will go on a medical scholarship and remain with the Wolverines as an undergraduate student assistant. Hatch survived two airplane crashes eight years apart, including a 2011 crash that severely injured him and killed his father and stepmother. Hatch's mother, brother and sister were killed in the first crash. He played in five games as a freshman last season. Beilein said the school received approval from the Big Ten on Monday, April 27, 2015, for a medical exemption waiver. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
The Michigan Wolverines honored Austin Hatch, who survived a plane crash in 2011 that left him in a monthslong coma, before Sunday's basketball game against Ohio State.
Daniel Murphy of ESPN.com reported the news, noting Hatch was one of the seniors honored on senior day, which marked the Wolverines' final home game of the season.
According to Murphy, Hatch's father and stepmother died in the crash. His mother and siblings had died in a separate plane crash eight years prior. Hatch survived the first crash "when his father threw him from the wreckage," per Murphy.
The team's Twitter account shared video of Hatch warming up:
He was embraced by head coach John Beilein and his teammates near midcourt when he was honored.
Murphy noted Hatch—who scored one point in five games during his freshman season in 2014-15—took a medical hardship scholarship following that campaign and has since been a student assistant.
Hatch reflected Friday on what Michigan and Beilein have meant to him. He committed to the Wolverines days before the 2011 crash, per Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press.
"I don't think it's an accident I ended up at a place like Michigan," Hatch said, per Baumgardner. "I don't think there was any better place I could've been in the country given the circumstances. I don't think there's a better man that I could have played for. He's taught me more about life, and that's the ultimate measure of a coach."
While Hatch wasn't eligible to play in Sunday's contest, the Wolverines—a No. 10 seed in Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller's most recent bracket projection—were looking to bolster their NCAA tournament resume with a win against their archrival.
4-Star PF Prospect Colin Castleton Commits to Michigan over Illinois, Others
Oct 4, 2017
Power forward Colin Castleton announced Wednesday that he intends to play for the Michigan Wolverines beginning in the 2018-19 season.
Castleton went public with his commitment on Twitter:
According to Scout.com, Castleton is a 4-star recruit who ranks as the No. 70 overall player, No. 20 power forward and No. 5 player at his position from the state of Florida.
PerScout, Castleton chose Michigan over Illinois, Clemson, Georgia, Purdue, Florida, Florida State and Xavier.
Castleton is listed at 6'10" and 215 pounds, and he is a standout at Father Lopez Catholic High School in Daytona Beach, Florida.
According to Scout.com'sSam Webb, Castleton had a great experience when he visited Michigan last weekend:
"It was great. Just everything that Michigan has to offer, coming up for the first time in person. Coach [John] Beilein visited me twice in a week. He definitely made me feel good about it and getting ready for the visit and stuff. It was good. I got to see everything about the school. We went to every building, talked to all the academic people with my major and stuff like that and what I'd be taking if I go there. Just showing the facilities and doing a lot of stuff, it was really fun. Honestly I am really impressed with it all."
PerNick Baumgardnerof the Detroit Free Press, Castleton is the fourth 4-star prospect Michigan has secured from the class of 2018.
Michigan has developed into a perennial tournament team under Beilein, having taken part in March Madness in six of the past seven seasons.
With Castleton added to what was already a strong class, the Wolverines have the makings of a team that can make some noise deep into the tournament in 2018-19.
4-Star SG Prospect Ignas Brazdeikis Commits to Michigan over Vanderbilt
Sep 22, 2017
Michigan's 2018 recruiting class got bigger and better Fridayas shooting guard Ignas Brazdeikis pledged to play for the program.
Evan Daniels of Scout.com firstreported Brazdeikis' decision to play for the Wolverines.
"It's just a perfect fit for me," he said. "Even when I was just getting into basketball, Michigan was like a dream school for me. It was the first school I knew about. I used to watch them play on TV and look at them and I could always see myself playing for them. Now that the opportunity is here, it's super nice."
Hailing from Canada, Brazdeikis had the option of being part of the 2017 or 2018 recruiting class. He told Eric Bossi of Rivals.com in May 2017 he was "leaning" toward going to college in 2018.
He also listed a number of top programs that had already recruited him with the hopes of adding his skill set to their lineup.
"Schools likeUConn,Florida,Michigan,SMU,VanderbiltandBaylorjust to name a few," Brazdeikis said. "Washingtonis in the mix as well withOklahoma. I've been to Michigan for an unofficial,Pittsburghtoo, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati."
It's easy to see why those schools would be going hard after Brazdeikis. He's listed at 6'7", 220 pounds, rated as a 4-star recruit and the No. 91 overall prospect in the 2018 class by 247Sports' composite rankings.
The Athlete Institute star was named MVP of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association for his impressive 2017 campaign.
Your 2017 OSBA Men's MVP is Ignas "IGGY" Brazdeikis! Avg: 30p, 10r on the season
Michigan head coach John Beilein has turned his program into a national power. The Wolverines have made the NCAA tournament seven times in Beilein's first 10 seasons, including an appearance in the 2013 national title game.
Despite that consistent level of performance, Michigan has never taken off as one of the recruiting hotbeds in the nation. The Wolverines last finished in the top 25 of Scout.com's national recruiting rankings in 2014.
It's a testament to Beilein's ability to coach up the talent he does have and put the players in ideal positions to maximize their potential that Michigan has been a consistent NCAA tournament team.
The addition of Brazdeikis gives Beilein a dynamic scoring wing who will make an instant impact on the team as a freshman, and he should develop into one of the nation's premier players if he doesn't go to the NBA early.
4-Star PF Brandon Johns Commits to Michigan over Indiana, Pittsburgh, Purdue
Jun 29, 2017
Power forward Brandon Johns gave the University of Michigan an early win in the 2018 recruiting race by committing to the school Thursday.
Johns announced his intention to play college basketball for the Wolverines on Twitter:
Currently attending East Lansing High School, Johns is a 4-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 2 power forward in the state of Michigan, No. 21 power forward in the nation and No. 100 overall recruit in the 2018 class, perScout.
Johns was also considering Big Ten schools Indiana and Purdue, as well as Pittsburgh in the ACC, before committing to Michigan.
Michigan head coach John Beilein needs to make big splashes in recruiting to capitalize on last season's Big Ten tournament title and NCAA tournament run to the Sweet 16. The Wolverines also compete against conference rival Michigan State for elite prospects every year, so Johns' addition in 2018 is a huge win for the program.
4-Star Center Prospect Taylor Currie Commits to Michigan Wolverines
Jun 15, 2017
Michigan is already getting a head start on its 2019 class with the addition of Taylor Currie.
The 4-star center announced his commitment on his Twitter account:
I'm excited to announce that I've committed to play at The University of Michigan! Thanks to God, My Family, and Coach Beilein! Go Blue 〽️〽️ pic.twitter.com/7u6cvCK07H
According to Scout.com, the 6'8" player is the No. 19 center in the country and No. 91 overall player for 2019.
Currie is undersized for the position but is a good finisher around the rim. He is also capable of knocking down shots from the outside, perfect for John Beilein's offense at Michigan.
Considering he still has two more years of high school action left, there is also plenty of time to improve his game and potentially add some size to his frame.
"Obviously, I have to keep playing hard and work to improve my game because I would like to shoot the ball a little bit more consistently, and maybe handle it better," Currie said in March, per Sam Meads of MLive.com. "I just want to improve my game all-around."
The Ohio native is not only the first addition to the Michigan 2019 class, he is one of only five players in Scout.com's top 100 already committed to a school, most notably among the group is LaMelo Ball's commitment to UCLA.
Oregon vs. Michigan: March Madness Sweet 16 Preview and Prediction
Mar 19, 2017
BR Video
Bleacher Report is your one-stop source for March Madness. From the first round to the final buzzer, Bleacher Report has you covered with the latest news and analysis, plus every highlight you can't miss.
Michigan vs. Oklahoma State: Score and Twitter Reaction from March Madness 2017
Chris Roling
Mar 17, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 17: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines talks with Derrick Walton Jr. #10 in the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
A battle between star point guards went to Michigan's Derrick Walton Jr. as his seventh-seeded Wolverines overcame the No. 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys, 92-91, in Friday's opener in the Midwest Region. An explosive second half blew the top off Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Walton got the best of Jawun Evans in the offensive classic and early contender for best game of the 2017 bracket, posting a double-double with a game-high 26 points and 11 assists, helping the Wolverines to shoot 51.8 percent from the floor. He was one of four Michigan players in double digits, as D.J. Wilson added 19 and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Zak Irvin pitched in 16 apiece.
As for Evans, his best Chris Paul impersonation with 23 points and 12 assists wasn't enough even though the Cowboys shot 54.7 percent from the floor. He was one of five on his team in double digits.
ESPN's John Gasaway documented the high-octane pace of the second half:
Final ridiculous numbers: Michigan and Oklahoma State both scored 1.58 points per trip in the second half.
Michigan (ranked 30th in RPI at ESPN.com) entered the tourney a Cinderella of sorts after a scary plane mishap before going on to win the Big Ten tournament, the program's first conference title since 1998. Oklahoma State (39th in RPI) could claim similar status, though less dramatic, after starting 0-6 in Big 12 play before bouncing back.
Observers rightfully went into Friday's encounter expecting a shootout given Michigan averaged 75 points per game and Oklahoma State 86. A bracket famous for its madness, though, produced the exact opposite to start. Oklahoma State had four turnovers in the game's first five minutes and compensated by putting the clamps down on the defensive end of the court.
Justin Rose of WXYZ in Detroit and Tom Eschen of WEYI explained how the Cowboys were doing this and why it was unexpected:
So far, Oklahoma State doing a better job defensively. Forcing Michigan late into shot clock while getting the looks they want on other end.
By the half, the game boasted eight lead changes with Michigan ahead 41-40. Evans and Walton only combined for a 4-of-18 mark from the field, but the 11 assists between them spoke to their impact. That said, ESPN Stats & Info pointed out the Wolverines were 18-3 this year when scoring 70 points, a mark the game seemed sure to pass.
The fireworks continued in the second half as both teams shot better than 60 percent by the 10-minute mark to go alongside 15 lead changes. The pace was prone to give an invested fan on either side a heart attack, while casual observers were happy to grab some popcorn and watch.
ESPN's Jay Williams was one of many bringing the hype:
With less than three minutes left in regulation, Oklahoma State was scoring 1.47 points per possession in the second half and Michigan 1.63, according to Gasaway.
Evans, on cue, dropped a dime capable of making an NBA point guard blush:
Despite charging down the court several times in the waning seconds and helping close the gap, Evans couldn't will the Cowboys all the way back while playing the fouling game.
With the win, Michigan advances and will play either second-seeded Louisville or a true potential Cinderella in No. 15 Jacksonville State. There, Walton will need to continue his epic tear to advance.
Postgame Reaction
After, Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood was quick to point out the quality game played by the Cowboys, including the 50 points in the paint in the loss, according to Tyler Fenwick of GBM Wolverine. He also pointed out his team won the battle on the glass 40-21 and still lost.
Then there was the simple burden of combating Michigan's electric second half, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press:
OK State's Brad Underwood: "The second half was -- you go 11 of 15 from the 3, that's hard to do in a gym by yourself."
As for Michigan head coach John Beilein, coughing up more than 90 points wasn't what he had planned, according to DetroitSportsPodcast: "If I thought we would would give up 91, wouldn't think we would win the game."
Beilein finished with compliments for his star point guard, according to Rachel Lenzi of Land of 10: “But today, we were really good at hitting the open man. Derrick’s 11 assists, overall 19 assists, that’s a big number with only 4 turnovers especially. We valued every possession."
Stats and information courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.com.
Michigan vs. Wisconsin: Score, Twitter Reaction for Big Ten Championship 2017
Mar 12, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Derrick Walton Jr. #10 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after hitting a three pointer against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament Championship game at Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Michigan Wolverines completed their week to remember by winning the 2017 Big Ten tournament championship with a 71-56victory over the Wisconsin Badgers.
With four wins in four days, all coming after the team's airplane slid off the runway during takeoff at Willow Run Airport on Wednesday, the Wolverines locked down an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Jon Solomon of CBS Sports was able to have some fun with the Wolverines' interesting week after winning the Big Ten title:
Michigan has forever redefined "survive and advance."
This marks Michigan's first official Big Ten tournament title since the event's inception in 1998. The Wolverines won the inaugural event 19 years ago but later vacated due to sanctions imposed from the Ed Martin scandal.
The Wolverines were able to triumph over Wisconsin thanks to a combination of lights-out shooting and defense preventing other Badgers players aside from the trio of Bronson Koenig, Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes from doing anything.
Michigan's offense has been firing on all cylinders this week in Washington D.C. Sunday marked the team's third time in four games shooting at least 50 percent overall.
Senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. led the Wolverines' barrage with 22points, his second straight game with at least 20 points and seven assists.
Zak Irvin had a pointed quote about Michigan's aspirations coming into Sunday's showdown against Wisconsin, via Big Ten Men's Hoops:
Even though this was the Wolverines' fourth game in four days, they showed no signs of fatigue. Irvin was a key reason for that, doing a little bit of everything with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Irvin also had one of the game's biggest plays. After Wisconsin went on a 5-0 run to cut its deficit to 51-45 with just over six minutes remaining and appeared to finally get in rhythm, Irvin nailed a contested three-pointer with Jordan Hill right in his face to put momentum back on Michigan's side.
MTV's Jane Coaston had the perfect analogy tweet to sum up Irvin's ascent throughout the Big Ten tournament:
Seriously Zak Irvin figuring out he can drive the lane is like when Luke turns off his targeting computer
As good as Irvin and Walton have been, though, credit also goes to Michigan's defense for upping its game throughout this week.
Defense has been an Achilles' heel for the Wolverines during the season. They finished a respectable 40th in points allowed per game, but that ranking dropped all the way to 166th in efficiency with 102.1 points allowed per 100 possessions, per Sports-Reference.com.
Hayes, Happ and Koenig were able to get theirs with a combined 43points, but four other Badgers combined for just 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
Because of Wisconsin's inability to get any consistent rhythm on offense and committing 15turnovers, holding a 14-3advantage in offensive rebounds didn't matter.
Badgers head coach Greg Gard has struggled to develop a fully formed offense. They've been so dependent on Hayes, Happ and Koenig all season that when they go up against an explosive group, like Michigan, that breaks through their defense, it's been difficult to keep up.
In defeat, Wisconsin becomes more interesting heading into the NCAA tournament. The Badgers closed the season on a miserable stretch with six losses in their last 10 games and were held under 60 points four times in that span.
The Badgers will still be an at-large tournament team, but Gard needs to find ways to open up his offense before the tournament or be faced with an early exit next week.
ESPN's Dana O'Neil gave praise to Michigan head coach John Beilein:
Impossible to praise John Beilein enough. Calm, reassuring and empowering this entire week. Wow.
Beilein has had a fantastic run with the Wolverines since taking over in 2007. This will be the program's seventh tournament appearance in 10 seasons, with a trip to the national title game in 2013 and Elite Eight in 2014 along the way.
This season was one in which Michigan was an afterthought, both nationally and in conference play. It wasn't an undeserved status as the No. 8 seed in a year when the Big Ten wasn't as strong as it usually is.
Heading into the NCAA tournament, though, the Wolverines look like a dangerous opponent. They are scoring in bunches and with efficiency while playing strong defense to back it up.
There's also this nugget that's relevant to tournament play provided by Maize N Brew's Drew Hallett:
Michigan is 6-0 on neutral sites
Beat Marquette by 18 Beat SMU by 22 Beat Illinois by 20 Beat Purdue in OT Beat Minny by 7 Beat Wiscy by 15
By virtue of having 11 total losses, Michigan will likely be looking at a middle-of-the-pack seed when the brackets are announced later Sunday. That's not indicative of how this group is playing right now, so another deep tournament run feels expected at this point.
Postgame Reaction
An emotional Beilein praised the fight in his team, especially the seniors, after the win, via CBS Sports:
Following his coach's lead, Walton described the steps Michigan took before and during the game to secure a victory over Wisconsin, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free-Press:
Yesterday, we were talking about how we were 40 away from being 40 away. We went into halftime talking about how we were 20 away. They made a run but I looked our guys and no one was even thinking about being tired. Being tired wasn't even an option. This feeling is surreal. The confetti. I dreamt it, I saw it. Now it feels great to have it in fruition.
Irvin focused on everything that happened to Michigan throughout the week leading to this moment for the program.
“It means so much to all of us," Irvin said, per Snyder. "All of the adversity that we've been to throughout the whole tournament. We stuck together as a family and got the job done.”
Scout: Michigan's Mark Donnal Talks on Emotional Win After Plane Scare
The Michigan men's basketball team was involved in a plane accident on its way to Washington, D.C., for the Big Ten tournament. Nobody was harmed, and the team made it to Verizon Center for Thursday's first-round tournament clash with Illinois.
As noted by the team's official Twitter account, the uniforms stayed on the damaged plane. The circumstances forced the Wolverines to call a last-minute audible and wear their practice uniforms:
Fans have been asking. Yes, our game uniforms did not make the trip. Today we wear: Tops - 💛 Shorts -💙 Shoes - 💙
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 9, 2017
At least the players made it. According to MLive.com's Brendan F. Quinn, the Wolverines arrived at 10:41 a.m. ET for a game pushed back 20 minutes from a scheduled start time of noon.
Although far from the sleekest gear, it's easier to appreciate the insignificance of clothing after walking away from a plane accident.
