- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,131,362
- Reaction score
- 59
James Hawkins of The Detroit News breaks down Michigan's Final Four opponent in the NCAA Tournament and predicts the outcome:
▶ The Wildcats are on a roll. They own the nation’s longest active win streak at 13 games and have set a program record with 36 wins. They won their first four games in the NCAA Tournament by an average margin of 20.5 points to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001. The one thing they’ve done better than most all season long is beat top competition. Arizona has 14 wins against AP Top 25 teams, which is the most in the country and the most by a team in a season since the AP poll started in 1949-50. Even more impressive is half of those 14 ranked wins have come against top-10 opponents.
▶ The one thing Arizona excels at is getting to the foul line. The Wildcats average 19.7 made free throws on 26.8 attempts per game, marks that rank second and third, respectively, in the nation. Arizona’s opponents, meanwhile, average 12.2 made free throws, and that plus-7.5 margin is tops in the country. Heading into the Final Four, Arizona leads all teams in the Big Dance in made free throws (99) and attempts (133). And in each of Arizona’s four NCAA Tournament wins, it has had a massive free-throw advantage and made more foul shots than its opponent even attempted. For example, in its Elite Eight win over Purdue, the Wildcats went 20-for-22 at the line and the Boilermakers went 8-for-13.
▶ Arizona has been better from beyond the arc on both sides in the NCAA Tournament. Opponents are shooting 27.9% on 104 attempts from the 3-point range while Arizona is connecting at 43.4% clip on 53 attempts. Both of those percentages are better than the Wildcats’ season averages — 31% for opponents and 36.7% for Arizona — and are coming at different volumes. Arizona is averaging the same amount of made 3s per game (5.8) while taking three fewer shots from deep in March Madness and giving up the same amount of 3-pointers to opponents (7.3) on roughly three more attempts.
This game feels more like the one that’s going to determine the national champion than the actual NCAA Tournament final. Arizona and Michigan have been a class above the rest all season long and they’ve continued to prove it in the Big Dance, with all their wins coming by a double-digit margin. They mirror one another in stats and style, from their imposing frontcourts and strong inside game to their stifling defenses and array of offensive weapons. Michigan can beat anyone if it knocks down double-digit 3s, but that’s a tough ask against Arizona. And if this heavyweight fight goes the distance, the Wildcats have one of the best closers and clutch performers — Jaden Bradley — in their corner. Pick: Arizona, 77-75
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 1 ARIZONA
▶ What: NCAA Tournament Final Four game
▶ When: Saturday, 8:49 p.m.
▶ Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
▶ TV: TBS/TruTV
▶ Records: Michigan 35-3, Arizona 36-2
▶ At stake: Spot in national championship game vs. UConn-Illinois winner
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Wolverines prediction for Final Four of 2026 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
Michigan vs. Arizona scouting report
▶ The Wildcats are on a roll. They own the nation’s longest active win streak at 13 games and have set a program record with 36 wins. They won their first four games in the NCAA Tournament by an average margin of 20.5 points to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001. The one thing they’ve done better than most all season long is beat top competition. Arizona has 14 wins against AP Top 25 teams, which is the most in the country and the most by a team in a season since the AP poll started in 1949-50. Even more impressive is half of those 14 ranked wins have come against top-10 opponents.
▶ The one thing Arizona excels at is getting to the foul line. The Wildcats average 19.7 made free throws on 26.8 attempts per game, marks that rank second and third, respectively, in the nation. Arizona’s opponents, meanwhile, average 12.2 made free throws, and that plus-7.5 margin is tops in the country. Heading into the Final Four, Arizona leads all teams in the Big Dance in made free throws (99) and attempts (133). And in each of Arizona’s four NCAA Tournament wins, it has had a massive free-throw advantage and made more foul shots than its opponent even attempted. For example, in its Elite Eight win over Purdue, the Wildcats went 20-for-22 at the line and the Boilermakers went 8-for-13.
You must be registered for see images attach
▶ Arizona has been better from beyond the arc on both sides in the NCAA Tournament. Opponents are shooting 27.9% on 104 attempts from the 3-point range while Arizona is connecting at 43.4% clip on 53 attempts. Both of those percentages are better than the Wildcats’ season averages — 31% for opponents and 36.7% for Arizona — and are coming at different volumes. Arizona is averaging the same amount of made 3s per game (5.8) while taking three fewer shots from deep in March Madness and giving up the same amount of 3-pointers to opponents (7.3) on roughly three more attempts.
Michigan vs. Arizona prediction
This game feels more like the one that’s going to determine the national champion than the actual NCAA Tournament final. Arizona and Michigan have been a class above the rest all season long and they’ve continued to prove it in the Big Dance, with all their wins coming by a double-digit margin. They mirror one another in stats and style, from their imposing frontcourts and strong inside game to their stifling defenses and array of offensive weapons. Michigan can beat anyone if it knocks down double-digit 3s, but that’s a tough ask against Arizona. And if this heavyweight fight goes the distance, the Wildcats have one of the best closers and clutch performers — Jaden Bradley — in their corner. Pick: Arizona, 77-75
NCAA Tournament
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 1 ARIZONA
▶ What: NCAA Tournament Final Four game
▶ When: Saturday, 8:49 p.m.
▶ Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
▶ TV: TBS/TruTV
▶ Records: Michigan 35-3, Arizona 36-2
▶ At stake: Spot in national championship game vs. UConn-Illinois winner
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Wolverines prediction for Final Four of 2026 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
