ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) -- Michigan head coach John Beilein says he's not much a "reflection guy". He says, even though what happened last week on the airplane at Willow Run airport has given him a new perspective on life, he likes to focus more on what's next than reflect on what's happened.
What's next for Michigan? Their first round opponent in the NCAA tournament: Oklahoma State.
"They’re hungry, they’re good and you know I never talk about our seeds but they’re probably more like a six or a seven seed because of the way they played this year. They’re a really good team," said Beilein.
While the players agree they need to be completely focused on the Cowboys ahead of Friday's game, they also acknowledge that what happened to them last week will certainly impact every game they play for the rest of the season.
"Last week was traumatizing to be completely honest, and I think everybody has a different sense of perspective on life and just want to enjoy every opportunity and moment that we have going forward," said senior Derrick Walton Jr.
It was just last week that an airplane carrying the entire Michigan basketball team slid off the runway in the midst of a wind storm. The next morning, the team boarded a new aircraft and landed in Washington D.C. just hour before their first game in the Big Ten Tournament.
'It was a very emotional week and it’s on us to take that momentum with us. We can’t make the mistake just to say this is a great story and it’s going to write itself. You have to keep practicing with the same intensity, and same energy and same emotions to keep that up and I think we’re all aware of that and we’re going to do a good job," said sophomore Moritz Wagner.
No. 7 Michigan faces No. 10 Oklahoma State Friday at 12:15pm in Indianapolis.
