Michigan's Derrick Walton Jr.: 'I’ll bring us home'

INDIANAPOLIS — For nearly two months, Derrick Walton Jr. has soared.

Whatever Michigan needed, the senior co-captain provided, usually with his scoring.

So when he was struggling in Sunday’s second round NCAA tournament game against Louisville, Michigan’s chances of advancing were doubtful.

At 1-for-11 from the field and Michigan leading by one with under six minutes left, he took a chance and drained a three from the top of the circle.

Suddenly U-M was up four with under six minutes left and Walton knew what it meant, screaming as he looked at the Michigan bench.

“In the first half, I felt like I got so many good looks and they just didn’t go down,” Walton said after Michigan's 73-69 win. “I kept telling the guys, give me the ball, I’ll bring us home. ... Again, it’s just the confidence they’ve got in me and it raises me to another level.”

Five and a half minutes later, after he made Michigan’s last field goal, a driving lay-up, Walton was right.

They’re making a stop at home. And then heading to Kansas City and the Sweet 16.

The lay-up reminded how fearless he is and his evolution. Instead of becoming passive, Walton went right into the teeth of Louisville’s Inspector Gadget arms.

“Those dudes are so long, I was trying to make sure I got the ball on the basket before they blocked it,” Walton said. “I’ve seen the ball all the way through my hand and through the basket. That was all the difference for me, making sure I put the ball on the glass. … I saw the basket. I probably couldn’t say that for a lot of shots I took.”

His uber confidence has defined the Wolverines and, though Michigan never wants him to struggle, beating a No. 2 seed when Walton scores 10 grueling points is a positive sign that others can fill in.

It’s his lowest-scoring game in more than a month (he had five points against Wisconsin on Feb. 16), but he chipped in seven rebounds, six assists and no turnovers against Louisville’s swarming defense.

“His 1-for-11, he was shooting some long shots against some really talented long guys,” U-M coach John Beilein said. “I don’t think he’ll see that length at all the positions again this year. He did well, he did fine.”

Even when he’s struggling, his teammates have faith that with Walton, they’ll find a way because he remains unruffled.

“I don’t think he’s different at all,” U-M guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman said. “He’s still doing the same things he always does, being that leader out there on the court, playing defense well. The shots wasn’t going in but he didn’t let it affect them. … I just try to be his backbone, being in the backcourt with him. ‘Your next shot’s going to fall’ or give him pointers, give him that support.”

A week ago, after winning four games in four days with Walton as the Most Outstanding Player at the Big Ten tournament, he was exhausted and needed rest.

Sunday took nearly as much out of Walton.

“I was so gassed today,” he said. “Those dudes run so much action, scoring on those guys is so tough. It’s one of those things that tests your will. Like I said, you’ve got four other guys looking at you to be the strength, looking at you to make sure everything’s OK. You just can’t falter.”

Michigan finds mojo, overcomes Louisville to win another thriller

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Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!