(Yeah, I know, we owe you a Northwestern preview.  Well, it's not ready yet.  Blame Northwestern's schedule-makers for releasing the non-conference slate at such a late date (yes, that rhymed).  Or blame Mike's day job.  But don't blame me.)

The moment Evan Turner hoisted his 35-footer over Michigan’s Stu Douglas at the buzzer, I thought of two things: 

 
That’s good; and
 
Mack Robinson.
 
On the former, I really believed the shot was going in.  How could it not?  The best player in the country just got a clear shot at the basket.  Of course he would make it.
 
On the latter, I suppose some context is necessary.  Although most probably remember Turner’s contribution to the game the most, the reality was that Turner was not the best player on the floor that day.  That guy was wearing #3 for the maize and blue, and it was his last--and perhaps best--performance in that uniform.  Of all of the Big Ten talents in the amazing class of 2007, Harris has to be the most interesting.  As a freshman, he finished third in the conference in points per game, and made the All Freshman team.   Indeed, Manny’s “traditional” stats have always been eye-popping.  But his tempo-free numbers, at least in conference play, were less than great throughout his time at Michigan.  This resulted in one camp of analysts singing his praises, while the other downplaying his talents.  In this way, Harris was the Derek Jeter of Big Ten hoops--overrated by one camp, underrated by another.  
 
But one thing was rather clear--Harris had not really improved very much on his promising freshman campaign: 

But in the second half against Ohio State, Harris was scintillating, scoring 22 points on just eight field goal attempts, including 11 of Michigan’s last 14 points.  The last shot he made, however, was possibly the best shot of the entire game--and that includes Turner’s heave.  As Harris came off a screen, Ohio State’s Dallas Lauderdale--one of the best shotblockers in the country--switched to Manny, forcing him to hit a 16-footer over the 6-9 forward.  And he did.
 
But then Beilein calls for a questionable defensive alignment, Turner hits a three, and Michigan’s season (and Manny’s collegiate career) is over.  
 
Which brings me to Mack Robinson.  In 1936, Mack ran the 200 meters at the Olympics faster than anyone on the planet had before.  He did this in Berlin, in front of Hitler, and he would have been the crown jewel of western civilization, except for the fact that the guy to his left was Jesse Owens.  As a result, Mack Robinson doesn’t show up on any “Greatest Athletes” lists (but his younger brother, Jackie, does).  He’s just an answer to a trivia question.  
 
The good news for Manny is that, despite going undrafted in June, it looks like he’s got a reasonable shot of carving out a living in the NBA.  Cleveland’s gain is Michigan’s loss, however.  I’ll explain all the big shoes that need filling in Ann Arbor in the next post.