The stage was set. Michigan had fought hard all game and held Wisconsin, the nation's most efficient offense, to just 50 points in 54 possessions. With a two point lead, the Wolverines were a couple free throws away from a huge win that could propel them into a surprise NCAA Tournament bid. Michigan's best player, Darius Morris, stepped to the free throw line for a one-and-one opportunity...

What happened next will live on in Michigan basketball infamy. Morris missed the front end, and Wisconsin grabbed the rebound with just under 30 seconds left. The Wolverines still had four fouls to give, and they wisely gave them one after another, milking the clock down to 6 seconds without Wisconsin getting a shot off. One last stop, one last possession, and even the missed free throws wouldn't have mattered. The ball came in to Jordan Taylor, the potential Big Ten Player of the Year, and he was guarded well. Taylor passed off to freshman Josh Gasser, who threw up an awkward three-point attempt that banked off glass and through the net as time expired. Wisconsin stole the victory by a 53-52 score.

For many reasons, this is a game Michigan should have won. Putting aside the banked three (who says that luck isn't involved in winning close games?), the Wolverines shot just 5 for 11 from the foul line, including a combined 0 for 6 from three guys--Morris, Tim Hardaway, and Evan Smotrycz--that came into the game cumulatively shooting 72 percent. Make another 2 or 3 free throws earlier in the game and it doesn't come down to a last shot.

Looking at the Wolverines after the game, I couldn't help but remember Evan Turner ending their season with a shot from just inside halfcourt in the Big Ten Tournament. It's been a rough 12 months for the Michigan basketball team, as they've missed so many opportunities at huge wins. This team lost by four points or less to Syracuse, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, and they lost to Kansas in overtime. If John Beilein's team could have flipped just one of those games to a win, their chances for an at-large bid would still be fairly strong. As it is, they need to win at Minnesota and at home against Michigan State to reach 9-9 and even be in the discussion--a scenario that Pomeroy's odds give just an 18 percent chance of occurring. Even if Michigan pulls that off, they'll probably need a good showing at the Big Ten Tournament to get themeselves an at-large bid. This is just a huge, huge loss for this young team.

Jordan Taylor finished with 20 points (19 shots) and 5 assists (1 turnover). Jon Leuer posted a 12-11 double-double, but it took him 14 shots to get there. Tim Hardaway led Michigan with 16 points on 13 shots, while Jordan Morgan scored 12 points on 7 attempts.

In the night's other action, Purdue handled Indiana 72-61 in an emotional Assembly Hall. The Boilermakers continued their recent offensive binge by shooting 63 percent on twos and 35 percent on threes, resulting in 1.23 points per possession. Indiana actually wasn't bad offensively--they hit 42 percent from downtown and kept their turnovers under control--but it wasn't enough to keep up with their red hot in-state rivals.

JaJuan Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while E'Twaun Moore posted 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. D.J. Byrd had a very good game with 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Terone Johnson, who came into the game shooting 27 percent on threes, made 3 of 6 from downtown for 9 points.

Indiana was led by Christian Watford's 18 points and 9 boards, while Jordan Hulls and Verdell Jones combined for 28 points on 24 shots. Indiana has just a 36 percent chance of winning another regular season game to possibly avoid the #11 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, with trips to Ohio State and Illinois surrounding a home game against Wisconsin. Indiana has shown major progress this season that won't be fully reflected in their win-loss record.

Tonight, Penn State takes their dim at-large hopes to Northwestern (8pm CT, ESPN2). The Nittany Lions need to win out, including the home game against Ohio State, to get themselves any bubble consideration. That's extremely unlikely (on the order of 2-3%), but a win tonight would at least keep that possibility alive. Northwestern is in a similar situation, with their winning out requiring a victory at Wisconsin, so this is most likely a game for NIT positioning. The winner can at least keep the dream of a miracle finish alive, while the loser can start devising ways to win four games in four days.

- Posted by Mike Portscheller