One tournament MVP award later, he and the Big Ten Tournament champions are preparing to get shipped off to Spokane, Wash., for the NCAA Tournament.

“I just prayed on it and told myself to play a solid game,” Dawson said. “Michigan is a great team and I knew they were going to come out ready to score and play hard to the end. We just never gave up.”

Dawson didn’t play in either game between the Spartans and Wolverines in the regular season, both wins for Michigan.

But he showed up in a big way in the final, going 7-of-8 from the floor and scoring 15 points with six rebounds. 

Not only was it refreshing for Dawson to be back in the swing of things, but his teammates were just as happy for him and how he performed.

“You saw what he did the last three games,” Gary Harris said. “Tournament MVP? That speaks for itself.”

Both Harris and Dawson were lethal on the defensive end, with shutting down Michigan’s Glenn Robinson III  and Harris not allowing Big Ten Player of the Year Nik Stauskas to score in the second half until late.

Dawson missed nine regular season games after breaking his hand, and his rise to Big Ten Tournament MVP was a quick turnaround.

He said he was chomping at the bit to get another shot at Michigan, and to have it end with a personal award is just icing on the cake.

“It was mind blowing when I first heard my name,” Dawson said. “Coach (Izzo) came to me and thanked me for all the hard work. Getting up at 6:30 in the morning, it’s all paid off.”

The last time the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament in 2012, Dawson was on the bench after tearing his ACL in the regular season finale. He said he’s glad to finally contribute to a championship-winning performance.

He didn’t give any inkling into whether or not he’ll come back for his senior season, but he’s not thinking too far past March.

“I feel great,” he said. “My legs feel good and I’m ready to compete for a National Championship.”