Michigan's D.J. Wilson shines, comes up clutch — at center

INDIANAPOLIS -- With Michigan clinging to a two-point lead with 3.7 seconds left in Friday's NCAA tournament opener, D.J. Wilson stepped to the free-throw line.

Though an 80% free-throw shooter, the junior only had 50 attempts this season.

Yet, he drained both to preserve U-M's 92-91 win over Oklahoma State, which hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.

"I was confident," Wilson said. "It helps for your last four to go in (previously). I'm just a confident shooter, I'm confident in my ability at the free-throw line. I didn't feel any pressure."

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Wilson's laid-back approach perhaps made him an ideal candidate for the situation.

"We feel comfortable and we have guys that are just ready for that moment," said Wilson, who was 6-for-6 on free throws and finished with 19 points and five rebounds. "We have prime-time type of players. In practice it doesn't simulate as best as possible as being in a game. But we try to have pressure moments in certain situations coach draws up in practice. We execute it then and we executed today."

It was Wilson's fourth double-digit scoring effort in five games, and it came with him spending much of his minutes at center .

A year ago, in the body for a power forward, Wilson's game was stifled while being buried as Michigan's third-string center. This season, he returned to his natural position and became a versatile forward.

The switch to center was necessary on Friday with Moe Wagner in foul trouble. Wagner picked up his second foul in the first three-plus minutes of the game and played only 14 minutes. Part of that was because of Wilson's production at the position.

"At the end of the day, you do what's necessary to keep yourself on the floor," U-M assistant coach Saddi Washington said. "Whether that's playing the four, whether that's playing the 5. ... Maybe last year he had an identity crisis in terms of who he wanted to be instead of who we needed him to be. I think he's embraced that part of his game, the physicality of the game where he's willing to do whatever we need him to do."

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Banged up: Michigan point guard Derrick Walton Jr. left the game in the second half, appearing to be favor his right foot. U-M's trainer came over to him and then walked away satisfied as Walton adjusted his shoe before returning.

"I stubbed my ankle," Walton said. "I'm fine."

The other notable injury was Duncan Robinson, who was bruised after an elbow connected under his left eye.

"I went for an offensive rebound and someone came down with an elbow," Robinson said. "(Blurry) for a sec, but not because of head trauma or anything. None of that. Just kind of my eye got smashed.

First win: Most of U-M's players experienced a win in the NCAA tournament during the First Four game last season.

But it was a new feeling for the freshmen.

"Definitely a dream come true, I'm grateful to be in this position," said Xavier Simpson, the only freshman to play. "I don't have a feeling yet because it's still sinking in but I know we're playing on Sunday, so that's always a good thing."

He watched last year on TV.

"You just feel like you contributed to the team (today)," he said.

Friday marked the second NCAA win for Washington, but the first in awhile.

He won one game as a player for Western Michigan in 1998, but his two appearances since, with Oakland, ended in losses.

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!