CHICAGO — Top-seeded Michigan occupies the same United Center locker room for the NCAA Tournament as it did during the Big Ten tournament two weeks ago.
Eager to eradicate bad memories of a loss to Purdue in the conference title game, the Wolverines players changed locker assignments ahead of Friday’s Midwest Region semifinal against No. 4 Alabama.
“We had to try to switch something up, see if it’ll give us a little more luck,” Michigan leading scorer Yaxel Lendeborg said. “We want to make sure this time we don’t leave with any losses. We’re going to handle business, so we’re going to come in with a better mindset and do the best we can to dominate.”
Michigan (32-3) and Alabama (25-9) enter this Sweet 16 matchup with plenty of experience in the domination department.
Both schools stormed through a pair of opening-weekend NCAA Tournament victories, winning by no fewer than 20 points.
While that might be an expectation for the Wolverines, who spent time atop the AP poll this season, the Crimson Tide have rolled without second-leading scorer and point guard Aden Holloway (drug-related suspension).
Even with the backcourt duo of Labaron Philon Jr. and Latrell Wrightsell clicking, and an attack that has drilled 31 treys in the opening weekend of the tournament, Alabama realizes it’s an underdog.
Fine by the Crimson Tide, who also are in the same locker room as when they edged fellow Sweet 16 school Illinois at the United Center on Nov. 19.
“I mean, we’re not really opposed to it,” Wrightsell said. “We know that Michigan is a really good team, and they’ve proven that multiple times throughout the season and stuff like that. We have the ultimate respect.
“But we also know what we can do, too. And we know if we put in the work and we play our best and we play hard and we play for each other and have fun out there, we can compete with anybody in the country.”
Michigan will aim to assert its size advantage. Lendeborg, fellow forward Morez Johnson Jr. and 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara combined for 56 points, 19 rebounds and six blocks in a 95-72 second-round victory against Saint Louis.
“I give our guys a lot of credit,” Wolverines coach Dusty May said. “They’ve done a nice job of solving problems and putting the puzzle pieces together the right way and really respecting each other, appreciating each other’s talents, and figuring out how they could be their best while also playing next to a guy that’s really big and talented.”
In the backcourt, Michigan averages 18.8 assists per game, with Elliot Cadeau (5.7) leading the way.
Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats has seen his own team’s ball movement blossom in March, while 6-foot-10 forward Aiden Sherrell is no stranger to tough battles inside.
“I think we’ve got our guys locked in, ready to go,” Oats said. “We’re going to have to execute the game plan. We’re going to have to make some shots. We’re going to have to take care of the ball. We’re going to have to find a way to rebound. If we do that, we’re going to have a chance to beat this team.”
–Kevin Druley, Field Level Media
