The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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last six years Michigan has reached the tournament, giving credence to Robinson's words. But it was by no means easy, after injuries last season sent the Wolverines spiraling down to a 16-16 record and no postseason play. Injuries again ravaged this year 's Wolverines, taking from the lineup se- nior guard Caris LeVert, a preseason candidate for national player of the year awards, along with senior guard S p i k e A l b re c h t . Junior wing Zak Irvin's offseason back surgery made for a major setback to his effectiveness at the start of the season. Without a last- second three-point shot from backup sophomore wing Kam Chatman to beat regular-season champion Indi- ana in the Big Ten Tournament, Mich- igan probably wouldn't have gotten the NCAA call. Chatman received numerous renewed backslaps once selections were announced. Meanwhile, Beilein assured the Wolverines are making no apologies for stepping in as part of the 68-team field. "Given the injuries and the attri- tion, we're just going back up again," Beilein said. "We weren't going in the wrong direction. We're going back up again, after 16 wins … it's great to have that verified by being back in the NCAA Tournament. "It's just good for us, overall, for our kids' psyche and for our fans to just feel good about the future. We are getting better. We've got everybody coming back next year that was play- ing at the end of the year." He acknowledged all along the Wolverines would accept the selec- tion committee's judgment about whether or not the Wolverines be- longed. But he clearly harbored some strong feelings on the matter. "I know what we can accom- plish," Beilein said. "When we played at Maryland, didn't you think we could p l a y w i t h a n y - body? We scored a lot of points on Maryland. "We can do that, w h e n w e ' re a l l playing together, playing as one, and everybody is do- ing what we have to do. I know who we can be at times. Sometimes we just can't pull it all together. There are a lot of reasons for that. "This is one of those times when we have to, or our season will be over." Michigan certainly came into Selec- tion Sunday believing it had made its case, the Big Ten Tournament semifi- nal loss to Purdue notwithstanding. The Wolverines knocked off Big Ten champion Indiana, in Indianapolis, at the time of year when the heat is turned on high. They'd also taken down Big Ten contenders Purdue and Maryland ear- lier in the season. They'd posted non- conference wins against Texas and North Carolina State. They'd racked up 10 victories in the regular-season Head coach John Beilein "I'm so happy for our guys, that we've been selected to go into the NCAA Tourna- ment again. We're thrilled to be in, in any way, shape or form."