Michigan Wolverines
Record: 22-12 (10-8 Big Ten)
Head Coach: John Beilein (9th year)
Season Recap: After losing senior star and potential lottery pick Caris LeVert early in the year, the Wolverines were forced to retool around a young, inexperienced core. The result was a turbulent season that left head coach John Beilein picking up the pieces for a wildly inconsistent team. Michigan snuck into the tournament field behind upsets of then-No. 3 Maryland in the regular season and then-No. 10 Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament.
Those upsets were made possible thanks to the shooting prowess of Williams transfer Duncan Robinson and his 90 made 3-point shots this season, as well as Zak Irvin and his 11.7 points per game and penchant for hitting clutch shots. However, despite some uplifting wins, the Wolverines still only picked up three victories against ranked opponents and are just as capable of being blown out as they are capable of stunning a top seed.
How they make a run: The squad has proven adept at working into a rhythm, as they are 11-4 on one or two days of rest. Beilein's team executes his system, tiring out the opponent and using the 3-point line and midrange jumper to win close games.
How they falter: With no experience in the frontcourt and guards with no tournament experience, the bright lights are too much, the offensive system is not well executed and Michigan cannot hang with Tulsa in the play-in game.
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