Spike Albrecht, guys.
Spike Albrecht has the best half of his life
Spike Albrecht had 17 points for Michigan in the first half of the national title game. His previous career high was seven points. That’s the joke.
Streeter Lecka
Let's run over everything we knew about Spike Albrecht before this game: he's a 5'11 freshman point guard from Crown Point, Ind. who averages 1.8 points per game. Career high? Seven points. He was having an oddly nice NCAA Tournament, going 5-for-5 from deep, but even that was a very small part of what has gotten the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament final against the Louisville Cardinals.
But the kid has absolutely exploded. He has 17 points at the under 16-timeout -- four threes, each progressively deeper and heat-checkier than the last:
And he also has two nice finishes around the basket, one where Louisville had extended their defense all the way to the half-court line and he straight up beat Luke Hancock to the basket and finished with grace. He still has not missed a three on the NCAA Tournament, now 9-for-9.
In one half, Albrecht might have put his name in NCAA Tournament lore -- I mean, he’s nonupled (multiplied by nine times, natch) his season average and doubled his career high in less than a half. He’s the main reason a team led the national championship game by 12 points in the first half. SPIKE ALBRECHT.
His final numbers from the first half -- 17 points on seven shots, one rebound, one turnover. For comparison, Trey Burke is 3-for-4 with seven points and Russ Smith is 1-for-9. So, yes, Spike Albrecht is winning the point guard battle.
I googled Albrecht’s Twitter a bit late - he already had boosted up to over 7,000 followers:
By now, it’s doubled and that’ll just balloon.
Let’s look at some jokes:
Spike yesterday: "Look at me, there's not many guys (like me) playing Division I basketball, especially on this stage."
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) April 9, 2013
Spike Albrecht's career-high for MINUTES heading into tonight was 15. He's scored 17 POINTS already.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) April 9, 2013
It has been posited to me that Spike Albrecht will never buy a drink in Ann Arbor. Maybe, but he'll be carded for life.
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) April 9, 2013
Spike yesterday: "When (Beilein) was recruiting me, he always said, 'You're either going to make me look like a genius or get me fired.' "
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) April 9, 2013
I swear I beat the s---- out of Spike Albrecht in fifth grade.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) April 9, 2013
Spike just replaced Tiger as the favorite at Augusta
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) April 9, 2013
Spike Albrecht didn't even score 10 points per game in high school. Holy buckets, I love sports.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) April 9, 2013
"Spike Albrecht" is an awfully 1920s name for AN UNSTOPPABLE CYBORG OF POST-TIME.
— Brian Phillips (@runofplay) April 9, 2013
Forget "Like Mike". I want to b "Like Spike" #Michigan #nationalchampioship @hoopsoncbs
— Wally Szczerbiak (@wallyball) April 9, 2013
You all have to read the end of this Spike Albrecht column from November and then tell me how smart I am. -- cbsprt.co/17nLFkz
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 9, 2013
I can't wait for the Spike Albrecht 30 for 30. #WhatIfIToldYou
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 9, 2013
Spike with 17 points in 12 minutes.Averages 1.8 points in 7.6 minutes.#niceday
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) April 9, 2013
help trapped in spike albrecht's lucid dream wait don't you dare help
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) April 9, 2013
Michigan couldn't win a national title with the best recruiting class in history. But they might win one because of Spike Albrecht.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) April 9, 2013
Spike Albrecht isn't even considering passing to any of the future NBA draft picks on the floor with him right now.
— Paul Kennedy (@PK9) April 9, 2013
Thanks to another gunner, Michigan is only up one at the half -- Luke Hancock drilled four threes, and it's now 38-37 Michigan. Now, the question for Michigan is: go to Trey Burke, the starter and possible Naismith Award winner, or stay with the hot hand -- his completely unknown backup?
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