Our first segment in our feature series from the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee from correspondent Josh Vinson
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Milwaukee–University of Michigan’s 5th year veteran star Jordan Morgan has been through this before. He knows what it takes to make it to the National Championship.
Morgan knows this and that notion is his mentality. After a win over 15th seed Wofford, Morgan was asked about former teammates, now NBA rookies, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. about the advice, if any, they have given.
“I haven’t really talk to them that much as this point, I’ve been here four times, we know they are supporting us, they show us support via social media and text messages.” said Morgan.
Despite being here four times Morgan went on to say
“Each time is different, each time you have a different position you’re in, you have to have the same focus and taking it one game at a time.”
One game at a time is exactly what Michigan is doing. On Saturday, Michigan faced 7th seed Texas at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Prior to the game, Morgan stated for this 3rd round he would do his best to lock in on scouting reports, encourage his teammates and keep everyone locked in on defense. That’s exactly what happened as Michigan went on to defeat Texas 79 -65 in a game that Michigan just dominated from start to finish. Which now puts Michigan in the Sweet 16 to face off against Tennessee in Indianapolis.
“Focus, take it one game at a time, not try to get too far ahead of ourselves, that’s how you continue to run,” said Morgan’s to the rest of his teammates following the win vs the Longhorns.
Morgan is a player every coach wishes they could coach and every player wishes they could play with. His basketball IQ is very high and his experience is very valuable. He’s a player that will help younger players understand the game of basketball and will teach them how to respond in certain situations. Morgan’s role on this team isn’t just constricted to what appears in a box score. Morgan is the big brother to everyone on the team to show them the way that will lead them to a National Championship.
Morgan understands this is it for him in his college career and wants to leave his college career as a champion. He knows this is a long and tough journey and is up for the challenge. It was just last year the Wolverines lost to Louisville in the National Championship, so Morgan knows how it feels to be so close to being a champion and falling short of that accomplishment.
His former teammate Trey Burke has Michigan winning the National Championship in his bracket. It’s fair to say Trey Burke may be a little biased. However, whats interesting to see is with the experience of Morgan and the productivity of him and his teammates, Michigan being in the Final Four may not be so far-fetched as some people may think.