Michigan downs Miami

The Diag, mlive.com

Michigan downs Miami in front of Beverley So pick which news from last night is better for the Michigan basketball program: Michigan knocking off Miami to head to the NIT Final Four in New York or highly-coveted 2006 guard recruit Patrick Beverley singing The Victors and cheering in the Crisler Arena stands. Either way you turn, last night was a successful one for the Wolverines - a much-needed success after the disappointing end to the regular season, writes the Ann Arbor News.

Mar. 23, 2006, Ann Arbor News: "Not many times do you have a second chance to have a final game on your home floor,'' Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "We were fortunate to have that this season and to be able to finish it right.''

It's not over yet. Michigan (21-10) faces Old Dominion on Tuesday in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York. After missing the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, now Michigan is the only Big Ten team still playing basketball.

We had a sour taste in our mouth after the Indiana game,'' senior Chris Hunter said. "We wanted to finish this game off the right way, for our seniors and everybody else.''

And if last night's game was the win that gets Beverley to Ann Arbor, it'd be hard to ignore that the NIT has produced some positives for Michigan. The Detroit News reported today that Beverley's including the Wolverines in his top two.

Mar. 23, 2006, Detroit News: It's going to be tough to replace senior guard Daniel Horton, but Beverley's signing would ease the pain. Horton is Beverley's host until he leaves Friday

My top two schools are Michigan and Arkansas," Beverley said. "I see a lot of improvement at Michigan. There are good people at Michigan and I can relate to them. If I sign with Michigan it's an opportunity to play right away."

And with Horton leaving, Scott Bell of the Michigan Daily argues that Michigan might be wise to hang his No. 4 jersey from the Crisler rafters - if for no other reason than to try and erase Chris Webber's legacy. Still, the fun police didn't stay hidden away all night. Ron Musselman of the Toledo Blade wrote today that there's no reason to be proud of another NIT run. Michigan now heads to New York's Madison Square Garden for the NIT Final Four and will take on Old Dominion on Tuesday. The winner there will take on whoever wins Tuesday's other semifinal between Louisville and tonight's victor in the Cincinnati/South Carolina contest.