SOUTH REGIONAL

Young Wolverines fabulous in advancing to Final Four

Michigan guard Trey Burke (3) makes a pass to Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) as Casey Prather (24) defends during the second half of Sunday’s South Regional final in Arlington, Texas. Burke had seven assists and 15 points and Hardaway finished with nine points as Michigan won 79-59.
Michigan guard Trey Burke (3) makes a pass to Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) as Casey Prather (24) defends during the second half of Sunday’s South Regional final in Arlington, Texas. Burke had seven assists and 15 points and Hardaway finished with nine points as Michigan won 79-59.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The championship trophy for the South Regional is headed to Ann Arbor, while another fabulous group of young Wolverines is going to the Final Four.

Led by sophomore Trey Burke and sharp-shooting guard Nik Stauskas, one of three freshmen starters, Michigan controlled Florida from start to finish in a 79-59 victory Sunday.

“It means the world - 20 years has passed and we haven’t been on that stage yet,” said Tim Hardaway Jr., the junior elder statesman in the starting lineup.

The last time Michigan made it this far was the Fab Five era of the early 1990s, what until now had been considered the program’s glory years.

It might be time to start rethinking that.

Once they got ahead Sunday, the Wolverines (30-7) maintained a double-digit lead against the experienced Gators (29-8), who won the regular-season SEC title, but lost in a regional final for the third consecutive year.

“We’ve almost become numb to it now. Been here before,” Gators junior center Patric Young said. “I just really wish we were out there cutting the nets down.”

Stauskas scored 22 points while making all six of his three-pointers. Burke, the regional’s most outstanding player, scored 15 point seven while dealing with spasms in his upper back, and 6-10 freshman Mitch McGary had 11 points and nine rebounds.

When the game ended, Burke and several of his teammates went to the opposite side of the court toward Michigan fans behind press row with fingers raised. Fans were chanting, “It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine!”

“Seeing it all come together, I don’t what to say,” sixth year Wolverines Coach John Beilein said. “I’m a little bit speechless.”

Michigan hadn’t reached the Final Four since consecutive finals appearances in 1992 and 1993, the freshman and sophomore seasons of the Fab Five - Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King.

With four victories in this NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines already have more tournament victories than their total (three) from the end of the Fab Five era to this season. They won a game in 1998, and then didn’t even make the field again until 2009.

Burke is from Columbus, Ohio, and grew up an Ohio State football fan while rooting for Duke basketball. The sophomore isn’t surprised to be back in the Final Four again so quickly after arriving in Ann Arbor.

“I said it in the summer and the coaches kind of got on me saying we can be national championship contenders. But that was coming from my heart,” said Burke.

“I knew once we put the talent with the toughness and execution, then I knew this team could be special. We’re coming together at the right time.”

The Wolverines overcame a 14-point deficit in the final 7 minutes against top seed Kansas two days earlier, getting to overtime after Burke’s long three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation.

Despite being the only team to make regional finals each of the last three seasons, the Gators haven’t been to the Final Four since winning consecutive national titles in 2006 and 2007 for Coach Billy Donovan.

Kenny Boynton and Will Yeguete had 13 points apiece for the Gators.

Sports, Pages 13 on 04/01/2013

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