Michigan Upsets Iowa

Michigan traveled to Iowa last night to kick off Big Ten basketball for the season. Daniel Horton made his return, and helped lead the Wolverines to a 65-63 upset over the 15th ranked Hawkeyes.

Horton, who did not start the game, said "It felt good to get a big win on the road and to get back out there and play. It’s a good feeling right now for everybody."

Michigan started off the game strong, ending the first half with a 44-30 lead. Iowa staged a second half come back, but was only able to tie the game 59-59 with 1:51 left in the game. After that, Michigan pulled back ahead, and held on for the victory.

"I can't say enough about the toughness that our kids showed, especially down the stretch," said Michigan coach Tommy Amaker. Amaker has been downplaying the injury problem the team has recently faced. He said they were still capable of winning games against tough opponents.

He was right.

Iowa came into this game 12-1, ranked 15th in the nation. They have been shooting well all season, but struggled against Michigan’s defense, shooting just 37.3 percent from the field. "Obviously a frustrating way to start our Big Ten season," said Iowa coach Steve Alford. "It's my responsibility to make sure the team was ready, and they obviously weren't ready. I take full responsibility for that."

Iowa will remain a contender for the second spot in the Big Ten. Illinois will, without much doubt, take the Big Ten title this year, and have a legitimate shot at the NCAA title.

Michigan now has a chance to go into the Big Ten conference play, and make a run for a spot in the tournament. They’ve shown they can win against ranked teams, and do it on the road. Grabbing some early wins against Northwestern, Fairfield, and Indiana could give them the momentum needed to host Wisconsin, and put up a fight.

It all comes down to how well Horton plays and his affect on the team on the court. He must be a leader, and he must contribute to the shooting. Horton missed two free throws at the end of the game that could have padded their lead. The two misses could have also cost them the loss.

This will be looked upon as the game the Wolverines came to age. They’ve been building for three years to get back to the NCAA tournament, now could be their opportunity. If they can find ways to win games against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and play well against Illinois, we could see them third or fourth in the Big Ten at the end of the season.