DeVante' Jones reacts to Michigan's NCAA Tournament berth: 'I was nervous'
DeVante’ Jones has been a stalwart at point guard for Michigan all season long. He has helmed the team through some exciting wins and deflating losses. He had no idea what to expect during his first Selection Sunday.
Jones never made the NCAA Tournament with Coastal Carolina, so Sunday was a different kind of stress for the senior guard. At the end of the night, Michigan was firmly in the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed, heading back to Indiana to take on sixth-seeded Colorado State on Thursday afternoon.
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“I was telling Frankie [Collins] just a minute ago, I’m gonna try not to cry because I feel like when I get home I might cry,” he said. “As a kid, this is something you pray about.”
The Wolverines ceased to control their own destiny after blowing a 17-point lead in a Big Ten Tournament loss to Indiana on Thursday afternoon. From there, Michigan sat and watched plenty of chaos take place on the bubble around them over the last few days.
Even those within the program were sweating it out.
“I definitely was nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Jones said. “We let a lot of games slip that we weren’t supposed to let slip. I didn’t know how the people that actually are making brackets would perceive us or if they feel like we should be in it.”
Jones and Michigan exhale after long weekend
This Michigan group has not met its preseason expectations of being a top-six team nationally and title contender. The year has thrown everything their way, whether it be COVID or suspensions. The Wolverines have been able to keep their heads above water and survive enough to make the big dance.
“We’re so excited and happy,” Jones said. “We’ve been through so much all year. Coach [Juwan Howard] couldn’t coach us for five games. We played games without Hunter [Dickinson], Moussa [Diabate], T-Will [Terrance Williams II]. You got Zeb [Jackson transferring].
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“It’s crazy. Just being through what I’ve been through while I’ve been in college, never having a chance to even participate in a Selection Sunday, now us getting an 11 seed — we just didn’t know.”
Every bit of it was earned for Jones, who has come on late in the season and is playing his best basketball. Michigan provided the opportunity to play meaningful postseason games, which is something that is a first for him after his previous time at Coastal Carolina.
“I gave everything I had and I always fell short,” he said. “The ability to play in March Madness, that’s something everybody can’t do. I’m gonna take it seriously and take advantage.”
Jones and the Wolverines kick off the Thursday slate of NCAA Tournament games with a 12:15 p.m. ET tipoff from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The winner of their game against Colorado State will play either No. 3 Tennessee or 14-seed Longwood.
