Coaches looking for examples to show their teams to how respond in a sudden change situation, how to remain focused through adversity, just got a real life example from Michigan's basketball team.
The Wolverines were set to fly from Ypsilanti, Mich., to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday in advance of Thursday's Big Ten Tournament opener against Illinois. Those plans changed -- drastically -- when heavy winds forced the trip's pilot to abort the flight before it ever got off the ground, directing the plane off the runway and through a nearby fence and toward a nearby ravine. The plane eventually stopped anywhere from 100 to 300 yards away, though the winds still made exiting the plane difficult. Multiple passengers sustained cuts and bruises while head coach John Beilein, according to witnesses, personally checked on each of the 109 passengers.
"That pilot undoubtedly saved our lives," an unnamed passenger told MLive. "He knew something wasn't right."
And, still, there was a game to play.
Stuck in Michigan overnight, the Wolverines found a new plane and made the 90-minute flight to DC on Thursday morning, with a noon tip waiting and no plans in place to push the game back. The FAA began an investigation on the plane, requiring all cargo -- including the team's equipment and uniforms -- remain on board.
So Michigan, was forced to play in its practice uniforms.
And, despite all that, the Wolverines won anyway.
Not only did the Wolverines win, they made Illinois look like the emotionally-fried, jet-lagged team on the floor. Michigan jumped out to a 28-11 lead and was never really challenged from there, leading 40-29 at the half, 56-40 at the 10-minute mark and cruising to a 75-55 win.
Michigan was in a plane crash on Wednesday, and won a basketball game on Thursday. They'll face Purdue next on Friday, and there's a greater than zero chance the last 48 hours will catch up with them against the Big Ten's top-seeded team. Either way, John Beilein's team set a new standard for what it means to respond to a sudden change situation.