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This is it — the opportunity for Michigan basketball to turn a great regular season into something truly special.
Facing off against 11-seed UCLA in the Elite Eight, the Wolverines, on paper, were the big favorite, due to the seeding. However, also on paper, the maize and blue were only favored by 1.5 points, according to BetMGM.
The Bruins’ big backcourt stepped up defensively, and the Wolverines were stymied in the first half, only managing 23 points in the opening 20 minutes, led by Brandon Johns Jr.’s 8-points. The maize and blue ballooned the lead to 7 after a 9-0 run, but UCLA guard Johnny Juzang’s 18 first-half points helped the Bruins to a 4-point lead at halftime.
So would Michigan find a way to hang a Final Four banner? Or would a promising season end on Tuesday? It would all come down to the second half.
It didn’t start well, with UCLA ballooning the lead to 9. But Michigan battled back, with an 8-0 run, thanks to Hunter Dickinson and Eli Brooks’ heroics. Michigan got back in with a lead, but was cold from the floor in the final five minutes, and couldn’t finish, losing 51-49 to be eliminated from the NCAA Tourament.
Here are our five takeaways from the game.