Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
WICHITA, Kan. -- Michigan beat Houston Saturday night 64-63 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Freshman Jordan Poole hit a deep 3-pointer as time expired to win the game and send Michigan to the Sweet 16.
After Houston senior Devin Davis missed a pair of free throws, Moritz Wagner grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 3.6 seconds left.
Michigan's Charles Matthews and Duncan Robinson had fouled out. Head coach John Beilein went with Wagner, Isaiah Livers, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Ibi Watson, and Jordan Poole for the game's final play. Beilein called for the same play Michigan had used to beat Maryland on Jan. 15, a play Michigan practices a couple of times of week.
Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
U-M senior Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman: It's been a play for us for a while. We go over variations of that play, and we did that at our practice at Friends University (on Wednesday).
U-M assistant coach Luke Yaklich: That's a culmination of four months of special situations. We practiced that play back in October. Coach B was cool, calm, and collected throughout the huddle. He said we're running this play and drew it up for the guys. Our guys didn't bat an eye.
U-M redshirt senior Jaaron Simmons: We've been in situations like that before this season. Everybody had confidence. Jon Teske told me, 'We're going to win this game.'
Michigan sophomore Ibi Watson: Coach wanted to get guys in who could shoot it, so he put me in at the last second. I was kind of surprised.
U-M freshman Jordan Poole: Before I went out there I thought, What if I hit this shot right now, as a freshman?
U-M head coach John Beilein: There are three or four different options that could roll out of it. It depends where Isaiah throws the ball.
Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
U-M freshman Isaiah Livers: It was a dead ball after a timeout so I couldn't run (the baseline). Luckily they didn't have a man guarding me, so I did my little (Matthew) Stafford pass under the rim, got it right to Ham.
Poole: When I turned around I saw Ham had the ball and there were three people on him. I was just assuming someone was off me.
Beilein: If they hadn't double-teamed and came off and gapped on Muhammad, he could have taken it right to the basket in that amount of time.
Houston junior Galen Robinson, Jr.: I tried to cut him off, make him pass it.
U-M freshman C.J. Baird: I saw it from the bench. I saw Muhammad draw two defenders. My eyes lit up when Jordan came up because in practice he always hits that shot.
Abdur-Rahkman: I missed my chance before so I was like, Maybe it's time for somebody else to step up and make a play. I'm a pretty selfless guy. I'm not really selfish. The team wants me to be a little bit more, but that's not me. I just kept my head up and found J.P. He was saying, 'Ham,' my nickname. Once I heard that and saw he was open, I knew to pass it to him because he makes those shots all the time.
Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson: They're going to get a shot. You just hope you contest it. ... They swung it to a guy from 32 feet. He caught it, Corey (Davis) contested it.
Baird: Once he caught the ball, we all knew it was good.
Poole: I kind of feel every shot I shoot is going in. I just kind of put it up.
Livers: I was under the rim like, I'm right here. I sprinted all the way up there. I was trying to get a tip in.
Poole: I saw the bench go crazy and I knew it fell at that point.
Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
U-M freshman Luke Wilson: From our view (in the stands behind the U-M bench with the other walk-ons), it took me a while to actually comprehend that it went in. I just ran on to the floor but I didn't know what happened.
U-M sophomore Zavier Simpson: I don't know (what happened after the shot went in). It's like a blackout.
Yaklich: I know that I still have jumping ability because my feet still haven't hit the floor yet. It was crazy on the bench. I don't even know what happened. I'd have to watch the video. Surreal.
U-M junior Moritz Wagner: I'm tired, chasing Jordan Poole around the court. I don't know why he did that. We all looked around like, What just happened?
U-M sophomore Jon Teske: Chasing him around the court is something I'll always remember. He zig-zagged, did circle 8s. We finally brought him down.
Wilson: (Poole) ran right into me. It was unbelievable.
Photo: Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Wagner: I think they're all seniors (on Houston so I consoled them). At the end of the day you are human. I knew if (Poole) doesn't make that shot, it's us laying on the floor.
U-M senior Austin Hatch: I just saw a replay. I didn't have a great view because it was kind of far away and there were a lot of players (in my view). He got fouled, I think, too.
U-M redshirt senior Duncan Robinson: (Poole) is the perfect person for it. It wouldn't be anybody else. It had to be him. He hits a ridiculous amount of game-winners in practices and drills.
Poole: I don't even watch (NCAA Tournament) games. I usually watch "One Shining Moment." Being able to see my shot, listening to that music, my parents will probably send me video of it.
Simpson: I'm at a loss for words right now. I guess this is March Madness.
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