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Free Press sports writers Christian Romo and Ryan Ford break down the NCAA Tournament Midwest region Sweet 16 between No. 3 Michigan basketball (per the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll) and No. 18 Alabama on Friday, March 27 (7:35 p.m., CBS) after the Wolverines' second-round win over St. Louis on Saturday.
Matchup: 1-seed Michigan (33-3, 19-1 Big Ten) vs. 4-seed Alabama (25-9, 13-5 SEC); NCAA Tournament Midwest region Sweet 16.
Tipoff: 7:35 p.m., Friday, March 27; United Center, Chicago.
TV/radio: TBS, truTV; WCSX-FM (94.7).
At stake: Winner advances to Elite Eight (vs. 2-seed Iowa State or 6-seed Tennessee) on Sunday for spot in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
All statistics entering Monday.
The buzz: What every scare the Wolverines received on March 19, as they took a mere four-point lead into halftime against 16-seed Howard, was probably wiped out by a dominating performance March 21 against Saint Louis, a team that supposedly was well-equipped to match U-M's schemes. The Billikens, however were not equipped to match the Wolverines' frontcourt, nor a fully engaged Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year.
Against the Billikens, Lendeborg hit nine of 13 shots, including a 3-for-5 mark on 3-pointers, en route to 25 points, while Mara went 7-for-12 and had five rebounds, five assists and four blocks and Johnson had 15 points and eight rebounds.
Of note, since the season-ending ACL tear for backup guard L.J. Cason, May has actually shortened his rotation, with just seven Wolverines getting at least 20 minutes of action against the Billikens in a game that really wasn't close in the second half.
HELLO, AGAIN: Sweet 16 crossroads for Nimari Burnett journey to Michigan basketball
All statistics entering Sunday.
The buzz: This season felt enough like a subplot on "Law and Order" after the Crimson Tide spent part of January and February arguing that 24-year-old Motor City Cruise – that would be the fully professional G League affiliate in Detroit – big Charles Bediako should be allowed to return to college and play because, to paraphrase the argument, "those kids from Europe and Africa get to," and getting him for five games (in which the Crimson Tide went 3-2 with the 7-footer). But that was only the civil courts (though the Alabama Supreme Court did, eventually, rule against Bediako's eligibility.)
Things took a turn for the criminal courts earlier this month when starting guard Aden Holloway was arrested on charges of first-degree possession of marijuana (and failure to affix a tax stamp, in a nod that would make Elliot Ness proud) for, well, allegedly possessing 2.1 ounds of marijuana. Soon after the arrest, Holloway was "removed from campus," per a statement from the school.
Does this affect the Crimson Tide's gameplan under former Romulus High coach Nate Oats? Not so much – Alabama attempts more 3-pointers than any team in the country, at 35.4 a game, and makes 12.6 a game, good for No. 2 nationally. Alabama's 3-point shooting percentage is only 35.7%, ranking 83rd nationally, but, well, they're buying in bulk. And if they shoot even better than that, as they did in Sunday's 90-65 win over Texas Tech – at 45.2% – it might cause problems for a Michigan team downed by a hot-shooting Wisconsin squad earlier this season.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball vs Alabama in March Madness game: What to know
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Fast facts
Matchup: 1-seed Michigan (33-3, 19-1 Big Ten) vs. 4-seed Alabama (25-9, 13-5 SEC); NCAA Tournament Midwest region Sweet 16.
Tipoff: 7:35 p.m., Friday, March 27; United Center, Chicago.
TV/radio: TBS, truTV; WCSX-FM (94.7).
At stake: Winner advances to Elite Eight (vs. 2-seed Iowa State or 6-seed Tennessee) on Sunday for spot in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Michigan basketball: Meet the Wolverines
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- Location: Ann Arbor.
- Coach:Dusty May (60-13 in two seasons at U-M; 186-82 overall in eight seasons).
- School tournament record: 70-31 in 33 appearances (eight Final Fours, one championship).
- Past 10 games: 8-2.
- Scoring leaders: F Yaxel Lendeborg, 14.7 points per game; F Morez Johnson Jr., 13.4; C Aday Mara, 12.
- Rebounding leaders: Johnson, 7.3 rebounds per game; Lendeborg, 6.9; Mara, 6.9.
- Assist leaders: PG Elliot Cadeau, 5.7 assists per game; Lendeborg, 3.2; Mara, 2.5.
- 3-point leaders: Nimari Burnett, 39.5%; Trey McKinney, 37.8%; Johnson, .7.5; Cadeau, 37.5%.
All statistics entering Monday.
The buzz: What every scare the Wolverines received on March 19, as they took a mere four-point lead into halftime against 16-seed Howard, was probably wiped out by a dominating performance March 21 against Saint Louis, a team that supposedly was well-equipped to match U-M's schemes. The Billikens, however were not equipped to match the Wolverines' frontcourt, nor a fully engaged Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year.
Against the Billikens, Lendeborg hit nine of 13 shots, including a 3-for-5 mark on 3-pointers, en route to 25 points, while Mara went 7-for-12 and had five rebounds, five assists and four blocks and Johnson had 15 points and eight rebounds.
Of note, since the season-ending ACL tear for backup guard L.J. Cason, May has actually shortened his rotation, with just seven Wolverines getting at least 20 minutes of action against the Billikens in a game that really wasn't close in the second half.
HELLO, AGAIN: Sweet 16 crossroads for Nimari Burnett journey to Michigan basketball
Alabama basketball: Meet the Crimson Tide
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- Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
- Coach: Nate Oats (169-72 in seven seasons with Alabama, 265-115 overall in 11 seasons).
- School tournament record: 34-26 in 27 appearances.
- Past 10 games: 8-2.
- Scoring leaders: Labaron Philon, 22 points per game; Latrell Wrightsell, 12.7; Amari Allen, 11.6.
- Rebounding leaders: Allen, 7.1 rebounds per game; Aiden Sherrell, 6.4; Houston Mallette, 4.4.
- Assist leaders: Philon, 4.8 assists per game; Allen, 3.1; Wrightsell, 2.
- 3-point leaders: Philon, 40.3%; Davion Hannah, 36.4%; Allen, 36.2%.
All statistics entering Sunday.
The buzz: This season felt enough like a subplot on "Law and Order" after the Crimson Tide spent part of January and February arguing that 24-year-old Motor City Cruise – that would be the fully professional G League affiliate in Detroit – big Charles Bediako should be allowed to return to college and play because, to paraphrase the argument, "those kids from Europe and Africa get to," and getting him for five games (in which the Crimson Tide went 3-2 with the 7-footer). But that was only the civil courts (though the Alabama Supreme Court did, eventually, rule against Bediako's eligibility.)
Things took a turn for the criminal courts earlier this month when starting guard Aden Holloway was arrested on charges of first-degree possession of marijuana (and failure to affix a tax stamp, in a nod that would make Elliot Ness proud) for, well, allegedly possessing 2.1 ounds of marijuana. Soon after the arrest, Holloway was "removed from campus," per a statement from the school.
Does this affect the Crimson Tide's gameplan under former Romulus High coach Nate Oats? Not so much – Alabama attempts more 3-pointers than any team in the country, at 35.4 a game, and makes 12.6 a game, good for No. 2 nationally. Alabama's 3-point shooting percentage is only 35.7%, ranking 83rd nationally, but, well, they're buying in bulk. And if they shoot even better than that, as they did in Sunday's 90-65 win over Texas Tech – at 45.2% – it might cause problems for a Michigan team downed by a hot-shooting Wisconsin squad earlier this season.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball vs Alabama in March Madness game: What to know
Continue reading...
