The Houston Cougars were up by two with less than seconds left in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and University of Michigan fans including myself sat in silence hoping a miracle would occur.
3.6 seconds left and the only way for the Wolverines to win would be to make a three-pointer. Fans all around the country crossed their fingers and had hope that their team would pull through. Luckily, freshman Jordan Poole did what March Madness is all about. Standing behind the 3-point line, with 1.3 seconds left in the game, Jordan Poole shot and made a buzzer beater to advance Michigan to the Sweet Sixteen.
Cheers erupted throughout my dorm and there was constant chatter about how amazing of a shot Poole had made. However, the cheers in my dorm were not the same cheers that I heard with my friends or family when watching sporting games in previous years. The cheers I heard were all cheers of happiness that the team we had been cheering for had won, but more importantly, there were cheers because this team represents our amazing university and who we are as a student body.
These student-athletes work hard on and off the court every day to represent The University of Michigan student body and we were all ecstatic that they had won such an important game.
Although the University of Michigan is such a big school with thousands of students, the athletic teams are one thing that really bring everyone together. There are people from all over the world with many different backgrounds on campus, but last week we all came together and cheered on our team.
So Jordan Poole, you not only made a winning shot to advance Michigan onto the next round of the tournament but you brought together thousands of students who are all rooting on you and your team.
March Madness has always been one of my favorite months, but this year it is even better because I am cheering on a school that I actually attend and can take pride in. No matter the outcome of the tournament, it has been very exciting thus far and Michigan has truly showed people all around the world what March Madness is all about.
Go Blue!
