Michigan’s bench came up big in the first half – and the Wolverines hit their three pointers in the first half to take an 11 point half time league.  But just like in the first game, Syracuse never gave up and slowly pecked away at the lead.

With the game on the line, the Wolverines were able to hang onto a 6 point lead in the last 70 seconds – despite missing 5 FTs.  James Southerland from Syracuse made it one point lead with 42 seconds with a huge three-pointer.  Then, there is the play that might have saved the game and will never go on the scoresheet.

As Trey Burke tried to break a double team at half court, he tried to pass the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr. but instead sent it towards the crowd.  Hardaway quickly came back to the ball, saving it just before it went out of bounds, and was able to get it under control to get the ball back to Burke.  Burke only hit one of the FTs – but a turnover at that stage could have totally changed the game.

Then, the potential controversy – Brandon Triche comes barreling down the lane trying to get to the basket and tie the game.  Jordan Morgan – the Michigan forward who started for most of the season, but had played only 12 minutes in the NCAA Tournament as Mitch McGary turned into a tournament super-star – stepped in and drew the charge.  In real time, it totally looked like a charge.  Triche was rushing to the basket and it looked like Morgan had position.  But replays showed that you could see Morgan quickly slide into place after Triche took to the air for his shot.  Tough call to go against the Orange – but also not sure you can blame the refs, even in slow motion, it wasn’t obvious if it should have been a blocking foul – so can’t imagine having to make it at full-speed.

Needless to say, Michigan still only hits 1 FT – now Syracuse has one last chance with it being just a 3 point lead.  But Southerland misses his drive to the basket, Tim Hardaway Jr gets the rebound and flips it into play, where Wolverine reserve guard Caris LeVert smartly passed the ball forward to Morgan – who could run off to an uncontested dunk (and more importantly run off the final seconds on the clock).

So, the Wolverines hang on – thanks in large to their bench players.  Amazing the unlikely heroes that happen during the tournament.  But Caris LeVert – a player who averages 2 points a game – came out in the first half and drilled two threes that fueled the big run to give Michigan their double digit lead.   And then of course, there was Morgan’s big defensive play to force the charge on Triche.

This creates a battle between the Big East and the Big 10 for the NCAA Championship – kind of fitting considering how good these two conferences have been this year.  And John Beilein – the coach who led our own Richmond Spiders to a huge NCAA Tourney upset as a 14 seed in 1997 – gets to go to his first ever championship game, leading the youngest team entering the tournament, who are starting to draw comparisons to Michigan’s Fab Five – the last Wolverine team to make the Final Four.

For many reasons, these Wolverines don’t want to be compared with the Fab Five and so they quietly try to say that they haven’t done what the team filled with scandal did in 1992 and 1993.  But this team has a chance to be greater – they will get the chance on Monday to do what the Fab Five could not – win the National Championship.

Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines on making it to the National Championship game.  Good luck to both the Cardinals and Wolverines on Monday!!!!