Walton the leader in Michigan’s late-season resurgence, facing Oklahoma State in NCAA 1st round

Derrik Walton

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Derrick Walton has been leading Michigan’s resurgence for well over a month now. As the seventh-seeded Wolverines prepare to face 10th-seeded Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, their point guard give is offering his team reasons to feel confident.

“He’s really taking over this team,” said Zak Irvin, Walton’s teammate.

At one point Michigan was 4-6 in conference play and in danger of missing the NCAAs. Since then, Michigan has clicked, losing only twice in 12 games and is now 24-11.

Walton has been the protagonist. As a freshman in the 2013-14 season, he took over the point guard spot vacated by Trey Burke, who left early for the NBA. But the Wolverines enter the first round against a strong opponent, an Oklahoma State team with a talented point guard of its own: Jawun Evans, who has been averaging 19 points and 6.2 assists.