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NCAA Basketball: Unlikeliest Conference Tournament runs of the Decade

By Joey Loose

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12: The Connecticut Huskies celebrate with their trophy after defeating the Louisville Cardinals during the championship of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 12: The Connecticut Huskies celebrate with their trophy after defeating the Louisville Cardinals during the championship of the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament presented by American Eagle Outfitters at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate with the trophy after the Wolverines defeated the Wisconsin Badgers to win the Big Ten Basketball Tournament Championship game at Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 12: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate with the trophy after the Wolverines defeated the Wisconsin Badgers to win the Big Ten Basketball Tournament Championship game at Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

4. Michigan (2017 Big Ten, 8-seed) (20-11, 10-8)

In all likelihood, the Michigan Wolverines were a little better than the 8-seed they were given for the 2017 Big Ten Tournament. They had already won 20 games, were over .500 in league play, and were likely headed to the NCAA Tournament if they could pull of a couple of wins in Washington DC. The tricky part, however, seemed to be getting to Washington DC.

Travel turned out to be a disaster as the Wolverines’ plane slid off the runway. The team was very shaken and arrived only a few hours before the opening tip against 9-seed Illinois. Due to their plane trouble, they were forced to play wearing practice jerseys. Regardless of all the delays and distractions, they shot 53% and took care of the Fighting Illini. They built an early double-digit lead and controlled the game, winning by 20 points.

The following day, a battle with top-seed Purdue posed a much tougher challenge. They were now just two days removed from their scary airplane issues, but their play was outstanding. DJ Wilson scored 26 points and the Wolverines shot well enough to stall every Purdue run. Zak Irvin made a late shot to send the game to overtime and the Wolverines prevailed, knocking off the 13th-ranked Boilermakers.

4-seed Minnesota was Michigan’s next challenge; their third game in three days. Once more, they shot incredibly well (53%) and pulled away from the Golden Gophers earlier. Minnesota fought back and tied the game in the second half, but Michigan had enough to pull away again. Derrick Walton Jr. had 29 points and 9 assists, and the Wolverines hit their free throws late to win by seven.

The Big Ten title game was next. The 2-seed Wisconsin was nationally ranked and expected to win; but once more this isn’t what happened. Walton had 22 points as Michigan shot incredibly well yet again, shooting 56% from the field and hitting enough of their 3-pointers. A tight game early, they pulled away late and beat the Badgers by 15 points.

The Wolverines won their first Big Ten Tournament title and did it in incredible fashion. Just four days after their airplane skidded off the runway, they were hoisting a trophy and heading to the NCAA Tournament with incredible momentum. They received a 7-seed and kept that momentum going, knocking off Oklahoma State and upsetting Louisville to make the Sweet Sixteen. John Beilein inspired this team and pressed all the right buttons on their incredible run.

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