#3 Michigan Goes Down to Wisconsin in OT
Okay, now it is just getting ridiculous. Not only are the Duke Blue Devils the only top-five team not to lose this week, but now they are losing games after taking a three-point lead with 2.3 seconds left. The Michigan Wolverines got a three from Tim Hardaway Jr. to go up 60-57. That shot looked to be a game winner but the Wisconsin Badgers were not done yet. Ben Brust threw up a shot from just inside half court to beat the buzzer. The shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net and the game would go into overtime. Brust then hit another three in overtime as they outscored the Wolverines 5-2 in the extra period to win the game. This was the Badgers second upset of a top-five team this season. The Badgers could have fouled the Wolverines on the last possession, in fact more than once as they had three fouls to give. Choosing not to would have surely been second guessed if not for Brust’s buzzer beater.
Michigan led by six with six and a half minutes left but then went on a five minute scoring drought which allowed the Badgers to get back in it. They tied it on an emphatic dunk from Jared Berggren on an “and one” play. Brust led the Badgers with 14 points as they improved to 17-7 and 8-3 in the Big Ten. Michigan was led by Trey Burke with 19 points as they dropped to 21-3 and 8-3.
With Michigan’s loss, four of the top five teams have gone down this week. The #1 Indiana Hoosiers lost to the Illinois Illini, the #2 Florida Gators lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks and the #5 Kansas Jayhawks lost to the TCU Horned Frogs. The #4 Duke Blue Devils will be on the road against the Boston College Eagles on Sunday trying to avoid making it five for five. The Hoosiers have a tough one on Sunday against the #10 Ohio State Buckeyes while the Gators host the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Jayhawks play the Oklahoma Sooners before the next polls come out.
If the Hoosiers go on the road and beat the Buckeyes they could make a case to remain #1, especially if Duke struggles. Duke would also be a good #1 candidate which would be their third stay on the top spot this season. Other worthy candidates might be the # 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs and the #8 Miami Hurricanes. Both of them are red-hot and undefeated in their conference play. The Hurricanes are probably playing the best basketball in the country right now.
