With Tennessee beating Iowa State on Friday night, they will take on No. 1 seed Michigan, which beat Alabama by 13, taking the game away from the Crimson Tide in the second half. Dusty May has built a well-oiled machine this year, and Rick Barnes will have his work cut out trying to stop them as Tennessee teeters on the brink of its first-ever Final Four. Tenenssee can pull of the upset, but it will take a nearly perfect game from the Vols.
Let's take a look at the three things Tennessee basketball fans need to know about Michigan.
The Wolverines rebound
As we know, Tennessee is the number one team in the nation at offensive rebounding percentage. Tennessee’s advantage will be mitigated by the fact that Michigan has a 7-foot-3 center and, as a team, rebounds very well. The Wolverines are 38th in defensive rebounding and 15th in the country in allowing second-chance points off of rebounds. Tennessee will have its hands full trying to rebound against Michigan, and trying to convert on its second chances will be even harder. Â
Michigan has three star players
The Wolverines are led by Big Ten player of the year small forward Yaxel Lendeborg. The former UAB transfer with the number one player in the portal last off-season and has made his mark in Ann Arbor, averaging 14.9 points on 52% shooting from the field.Â
Michigan also has the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in center Aday Mara, who is a length absolutely denies anyone from getting an easy basket at the rim. Morez Johnson, their power forward, was the Third-Team All-Big Ten with 13.2 points per game on a highly efficient 62.5% from the field.Â
The depth of Michigan makes them so tough to beat because any one of their stars can step up at any given moment.
Point Guard play is a weaknessÂ
If there is ever a weakness on this team, which is a stretch, it would be Michigan’s guard play. Their point guard is North Carolina transfer Elliot Cadeau, who can hit big shots but also has a tendency to turn it over. Caduan can have offensive lapses, too, but overall, if there was a weakness on their roster, it's at guard. Michigan’s backup point guard, LJ Cason, is out for the year, so the Wolverines have to get creative if Cadeau gets in foul trouble