WICHITA, Kan. — Rob Gray torched a pretty strong San Diego State defense in Houston’s NCAA Tournament opener. For his encore he’ll have to get the best of an even better one, Michigan’s eighth-ranked unit, to send his sixth-seeded Cougars to the Sweet 16.
“We got to come out [Saturday] breathing fire,” the senior lead guard said on Friday as the Cougars prepared for their West Region second-round contest against the third-seeded Wolverines.
Gray poured in a career-high 39 points on 12-of-25 shooting, and dropped in the game-winning layup with 1.1 seconds left to send the Cougars (27-7) to their first tournament victory since 1984 and the days of Phi Slama Jama. Michigan followed that up by grinding 14th-seeded Montana to dust, limiting the Grizzles to 47 points on 32.1 percent shooting after falling into an early 10-0 hole.
“I was excited when I got back to the hotel [Thursday] night,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Then I messed up and watched one of their games in the Big Ten Tournament, and I went from being excited to, ‘Oh, no.’ ”
Michigan coach John Beilein has been asked the same questions about his team’s defense frequently of late, because under his watch, the Wolverines (29-7) have been known for their offense. That changed this year, with the team allowing a paltry 63.1 points per game. It’s what carried to them to the Big Ten Tournament crown and a high seed in the tournament. Beilein credited his staff, and giving them more power. He’s always been more offensive inclined.
“I’m really letting [assistant coach] Luke Yaklich and last year Billy Donlon just really talk defense the whole time,” he said. “But there’s been a lot of good changes that we’ve made, and that’s the only reason I’m coaching now 43 years after I started is because I’ve always embraced change.”
He’s also got some pretty good defenders, led by Xavier Simpson, Charles Matthews and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. That always helps. All three will get a crack at the 6-foot-1 Gray, who Beilein compared to Purdue star Carsen Edwards. Edwards got the better of Michigan the first two times he faced them, but was held in check in the Big Ten title game, limited to 12 points.
“We have to [defend] more tomorrow like we did the third time [we faced Edwards] or we won’t be playing anymore,” Beilein said.
