We were down by three for an eternity. Onalaska packed in their zone and we were deadlocked at 25-22 for nearly the entire fourth quarter while I sat on the bench, clinging onto the last bit of hope that I could somehow get into the game and knock one down to tie it up. It never happened. We lost 27-22 in a game that set basketball back 50 years — my last in a River Falls Wildcat uniform.
Two years later I sat in my room in Winona, watching the National Championship between Michigan and Louisville, and Spike Albrecht stepped onto the floor. Just minutes before, he told teammate Matt Vogrich, “I don’t think I’m going to play tonight.” But Trey Burke — the National Player of the Year — picked up his first foul early in the game, and to avoid foul trouble, John Beilein inserted the 5′-11″ freshman guard into the game. Madness ensued.
Suddenly he was raining threes from all over the court, with this one — his third — near the half-court logo.
“This is unbelievable,” Jim Nantz exclaims. “Unreal.” CBS cuts to the Michigan bench, in disbelief itself. As they go to a commercial break, Spike is shown, yelling, “Let’s fucking gooooo!” It was an incredible moment.
He had 17 points by halftime, carrying the Wolverines throughout the half. I’ve watched that first half probably a dozen times since, smiling after every three he hits. It will be a crime if ESPN doesn’t make a 30 for 30 on that half of basketball within the next 20 years.
How unknown was Spike Albrecht? Three weeks earlier I was at the Big Ten Tournament when my dad nudged me and said “Who is that little white kid for Michigan and why is he playing?”
He was everything I ever wanted as a high school senior.
He was hitting threes from all over in the biggest game possible after only scoring 1.8 points per game on the season. I pessimistically hoped for that as I rode to bench — just one chance to get into a game and make an impact, to show everyone that I could actually play.
Since that night, Spike further convinced me why he’s my favorite player and more than just a flash in the pan. Last year he was named team MVP and led the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio at 3.0. He became a two-time captain. He showed off his crafty ball-handling, hit unreasonably deep 3s, and sunk circus shots like this:
And made passes like this:
So @SpikeAlbrecht made a lot of pretty plays. This was definitely one of them. https://t.co/Xf8Mk09G4k
— Michigan on BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) December 11, 2015
Spike gutted out the past two seasons with a genetic hip condition. After two offseason surgeries, he’s clearly been a step slower this year, and announced today he was shutting it down for his senior season. It’s a sad day in the Avestruz household, as I’ve been robbed of watching my favorite player for 25 more games.
Spike’s first half in the 2013 National Championship will forever be one of my favorite sports memories. His performance embodied everything I dreamed of as a high school senior.
“Whatever happens with this game, win or lose,” Steve Kerr says in the telecast, after Spike’s fourth three, “we have a new cult hero in Ann Arbor, Michigan.” I had a new one myself.
