Top Five Michigan March Madness Moments: Number Three

Welcome back to the countdown everyone. Quick recap before we get into #3 on our list.

Coming in at #5 was the Bench Mob’s thrashing of Texas A&M

Jon Teske slipped into #4 with his theft of Isaac Haas’ soul

Now, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton caught A LOT of heat for not fouling Duncan Robinson at the end of FSU’s loss to the Wolverines Saturday night. There were 10 seconds left, Michigan is a poor free throw shooting team, and the Seminoles were only down four. Conventional wisdom says to extend the game.

But Leonard Hamilton knew that this game was over; everyone else was focusing on the wrong numbers. The only one that mattered: Six.

The previous two free throws by Robinson had put him over six for the game, meaning the game was over. Michigan is 28-0 (8-0 during the post season) when Robinson scores six or more. No stat better shows the impact of the B1G’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year. Six points for the Sixth Man = Michigan Win.

Robinson knew he was on the edge of Garnet Wedding’ing the Noles when he splashed this three only a couple minutes earlier. This gave him 5 points for the game. With the lead, Duncan - spelled WITH the D - knew he’d likely be back at the line to close things out with the six point target in his sights.

Blouses. And Hamilton was less than thrilled answering why he kept Duncan off the line for the second time.

As a quick aside, I actually am so glad a coach finally did this. Watching the end of a game, ESPECIALLY if you bet on it, becomes the last ring of hell when teams foul every possession in a multi-possession game. I get the logic, and occasionally it works, but I thoroughly enjoyed Leonard letting the clock die. I teased the spread at -.5 so wasn’t in need of any more cushion

Fun fact: This is actually Duncan’s 2nd career final 4: