Controversial ending spoils Michigan-Ohio State
by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan vs. Ohio State was overshadowed by Trey Burke vs. Aaron Craft on Tuesday night.
Burke, a player of the year candidate averaging more than 18 points and seven assists, met his defensive match against the player who was recruited over him. Craft’s scrappy, loose-ball diving, lockdown defense was on full display Tuesday night.
But in the end, Craft was left sprawled out on the floor starring at officials and teammates with a perplexed, how-is-that-not-a-foul look on his face. Michigan escaped with a 76-74 victory in overtime after Craft’s coast-to-coast drive off a missed Michigan free throw was swatted away by Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr.
“You’ve gotta call that. I think you have to blow the whistle there,” ESPN analyst Dick Vitale said.
via @WorldofIsaac
While it looked like a clean block from first glance, replays show Hardaway had some contact against Craft. Still, it was the end of the game. Burke, however, looked to have fouled Craft before the shot.
“I like the way our defense was down the stretch,” Michigan coach John Beilein said after the game on ESPN. He also referred to Ohio State as “Ohio.” Oops.
Craft’s defense was impressive all game. But why is he shooting the last shot? Why not Deshaun Thomas, the team’s best scorer? Craft raced to the basked quickly, but Hardaway (who had 23 points off six three-pointers) played the hero by smothering the Ohio State guard’s last-ditch attempt to tie it.
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