New Reasons:
The first two rounds have shown that the Wolverines are battle tested. They staved off the upset that everyone picked and then beat a team from supposedly the greatest conference of all-time (it did not look like that AT ALL when Texas A&M faced them).
Vlad Goldin made this team look formidable on the inside in the first two rounds, finishing top five individually in rebounds per game (10) and blocks per game (1.5). Good luck to any team trying to execute anything inside against this squad.
Michigan has also proven in the opening weekend that they can adapt and win any type of game. A defensive slugfest where neither team goes over 70? Sure. An offensive barn burner that combines for 170? They have that handled as well. Whatever gameplan you throw at them, they will adjust.
They clearly thrive off of being doubted. Everyone and their mother (maybe even the moms of the Michigan players) seemed to be picking UC San Diego to upset the Wolverines in the opening round. Instead, they made it to the second weekend, where yet again the haters are coming out. Every list ranking the sweet 16 teams I have seen place Michigan outside the top 10. They have shown the ability to tune out the narratives and doubters and very well could do it again.
Guard CJ Donaldson faces his former team in Auburn, and his anger for the revenge game might be so strong that it allows them to demolish not only Auburn but anyone else standing in their way. It is possible that anger was present in the opening round when he hit the game-winning shot to take down UC San Diego and my bracket (sorry Wolverines fans, even the supportive voice behind your team just had to pick the Tritons in one of his 4 brackets).
Original Reasons
The man at the helm, Dusty May, knows what it takes to make a run in the NCAA tournament. Two years ago, he took 10 seed Florida Atlantic to the final four and has more on-paper talent now.
This squad has arguably the best inside presence of the entire field. Center Vlad Goldin is a scoring machine (almost 17 PPG) and Forward Danny Wolf is a do-it-all unicorn. Two seven-footers leading the team gives them a distinct advantage.
While they all transferred in last year, Michigan’s top three contributors (Goldin, Wolf, and guard Tre Donaldson) all played in the 2024 tournament and are upperclassmen. Experience is important this time of year, and the Wolverines have it.
As we all know, March Madness has its fair share of tightly-knit contests. Dusty May's bunch knows how to win these kinds of showdowns, with an 11-4 record in tilts decided by less than 4 points, including a 6-game win streak in games of that category.
Connor Stalions may be banned from Michigan football, but nobody ever said anything about basketball. They could hire him ahead of the tournament to get some extra insight on the other team if you catch my drift.
Mason DeLisser
Comments