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Michigan basketball loses heart-breaker at home to No. 10 Oregon in overtime
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In No. 5 Michigan’s first Big Ten basketball game of the 2019-20 season, the Wolverines put up 103 points against Iowa in a victory. Fast forward five days and Michigan got upset by unranked Illinois.
Many believe the Fighting Illini are poised for an NCAA Tournament run this season, but the Wolverines were expected to win. Just three days after the 1-1 start to conference play, Michigan got to host No. 10 Oregon.
It will be the Wolverines’ biggest non-conference test prior to B1G play starting up again in January. And, the game itself didn’t disappoint.
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Michigan trailed 27-11 at one point in the first half against the Ducks and eventually took the lead in the second half 55-54. The two teams would play nearly even from that point on, resulting in the contest going to overtime.
Once there, Oregon led 71-70 with 36 seconds left. Michigan would keep the ball the remainder of the period, and point guard Zavier Simpson drove to the basket and tossed up one of his classic one-handed lay-ups. He missed the shot, but Michigan had a chance at a tap-in to win the game at the buzzer.
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the ball couldn’t go into the basket, resulting in a one-point defeat.
FINAL: No. 10 Oregon 71, No. 5 Michigan 70. Simpson's running hook shot bounces off the rim and tip-in doesn't drop for Michigan.
— James Hawkins (@jamesbhawkins) December 14, 2019
The game had a feel of an NCAA Tournament game throughout, and based on the talent on the floor — it felt like a Sweet 16 game at the least. After starting the season at 7-0, Michigan has now lost three of its last four.
The Wolverines quickly went from unranked to No. 5 in the country a couple weeks ago, but that ranking will likely go away once next week’s poll comes out.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.