Michigan Shows It Still Has Some Pull in Basketball

The National Invitation Tournament final wasn’t a matchup of football schools.

It was more like a Tractor pull.

Robert Traylor had 26 points and 13 rebounds Thursday night for Michigan, which won its second NIT championship with an 82-73 victory over Florida State at Madison Square Garden.

The first basketball game between the schools, which are better known for their football accomplishments, was fittingly dominated by the one player on the floor who looks like a tackle.

Traylor, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound sophomore nicknamed “Tractor,” used his massive body to help Michigan control the rebounding and turn back a Florida State comeback in the second half.

Traylor was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“A lot of people have said that this team can’t win anything,” Michigan Coach Steve Fisher said. “Now they can’t say that.”

If Michigan (23-11) had won a few more games in the regular season, it wouldn’t have been in NIT. The Wolverines were ranked in the top 10 at the beginning of the season but a five-game losing streak late in the season denied them an NCAA bid.

“If they were in the NCAAs, they would have made the Elite Eight at least,” Seminole Coach Pat Kennedy said.

“I don’t think I’ve coached against a team in all my 17 years that has been so physically imposing as they are.”

Maceo Baston scored 20 points and Louis Bullock had 17 for Michigan, which outrebounded Florida State, 47-28.

Florida State (20-12) was led by James Collins, who had 20 points. The Semifinals trailed by 18 points in the second half before closing to 68-66 with 4:46 to go.

Traylor took care of that, scoring on a putback and causing a turnover that generated another basket and re-established control for the Wolverines.

In the third-place game, Connecticut (18-14) was a 74-64 winner over Arkansas (18-14).