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In John Beilein's second season at Michigan he got the Wolverines back to the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 1998. With a lineup led by Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims, the Wolverines couldn't recreate the same success the following season and finished the regular season with a 14-16 record.
Heading into the Big Ten Tournament Michigan would need to put together a run to the title to have any chance of making it to the NCAA Tournament. While that was considered unlikely, the Wolverines somehow overcame a 13 point second half deficit against their much hated rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes were a top ten team at that point and rolling with the likes of Evan Turner and William Bufford, but a late offensive spurt by the Wolverines ended up putting Michigan ahead by two with under three second remaining.
Then this happened:
I remember originally being peeved at the game clock not starting immediately, something that could have been a potential issue here. But looking back this was still an amazing shot by Turner and an absolute dagger in the heart for Michigan fans, seeing their season end on a desperation heave from the team they hate the most. What stings even more here was if they had advanced to the semis they would have faced a beatable Illinois team (that went on to the NIT) and the other team that made the title game...a Minnesota team Michigan had beaten twice in the season, including a 83-55 beatdown less than two weeks prior.
As much as everyone loves the big buzzer beaters and improbable comebacks, there's always the fans on the other side that feel utter despair. Trust me, as a Purdue fan who saw his teams last NCAA Tournament end thanks to a complete collapse in the closing minutes, it stings. But at the end of the day you have to take the good with the bad because when college basketball is good, few things can beat it.