The outbreak of COVID-19 has taken over the sports world with the professional sports in suspension and the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament. So, Sixers Wire will bring back some of the best moments of March Madness for the current Philadelphia 76ers.
This edition turns back to Josh Richardson’s run with the Tennessee Volunteers where he ran into Glenn Robinson III’s Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16 in 2014. Tennessee had to battle from the First Four to get here so this has already been an impressive run, but the Volunteers had to dig deep against a talented and proven Michigan team.
March 28, 2014
Tennessee had come in after knocking off Mercer in the Round of 32 and they were feeling very confident of themselves and for good reason. They were facing off against a very good Michigan team and they gave them everything they had.
The game was close all throughout until Robinson III had a layup and he then found Spike Albrecht for a layup to give Michigan a 60-45 lead with 10:57 to go. Tennessee then dug deep and rallied. Richardson started the rally with a layup and he and Jordan McRae brought Tennessee to within 72-71 with 13 seconds left. However, a questionable offensive foul called on Jarnell Stokes late and then a Nik Stauskas free-throw sealed a 73-71 win for the Wolverines.
McRae led Tennessee with 24 points and six rebounds and Richardson had 19 points for the Volunteers and Robinson III had 14 points for Michigan.
McRae was not happy with the offensive foul call as he told reporters afterward:
With the magnitude of this game, I don’t think you could call a charge at that point.
Tennessee’s run was terrific, but it just was not enough. Richardson and McRae would head to the NBA after the season while Robinson III and the Wolverines fell to Kentucky in the Elite 8 before also leaving for the NBA. [lawrence-related id=28914,28904,28886]