CHICAGO — Top-seeded Michigan and sixth-seeded Tennessee both feature playmaking guards who have shined along the path to Sunday’s NCAA Tournament Midwest Region final.
Chicago remains the “City of the Big Shoulders,” though, and the Elite Eight matchup between the Wolverines (34-3) and Volunteers (25-11) ought to oblige as two physical front lines prepare to tussle.
“I think our frontcourt is the best frontcourt in the country,” Tennessee sophomore forward J.P. Estrella said, “and we’ve got another frontcourt coming on Sunday that we’re super excited about (facing).”
The 6-foot-11 Estrella was seated when he delivered an accurate tale of the tape on himself and teammates Nate Ament and Felix Okpara.
“We’re some big dudes,” Estrella said. “I mean, we’ve got three dudes in the starting lineup that are 6-10 and above.”
Michigan boasts similar bulk behind 6-9 forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. alongside 7-3 center Aday Mara.
True to the setting, the Wolverines know they’ll have to elevate their effort to earn the program’s first trip to the Final Four since 2018 while denying the Volunteers the first berth in school history.
Collecting 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, the versatile Lendeborg sparked a 90-77 victory against fourth-seed Alabama in the Sweet 16 on Friday. Johnson Jr. and Mara combined for 15 points and 12 boards, a so-so contribution by their standards.
Wolverines coach Dusty May lauded the play of reserve guards Trey McKenney (17 points) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (16 points) as “incredible” before showing confidence that the Michigan frontcourt would earn more praise soon enough.
“It was a game where our front line didn’t have their best stuff, for whatever reason,” May said. “And those guys will play much better on Sunday, because they don’t ever have two bad games.”
Tennessee handled second-seeded Iowa State in the other Midwest Region semifinal, winning 76-62 while roaring to a 43-22 advantage on the glass.
With the Cyclones missing top rebounder and second-leading scorer Joshua Jefferson (ankle), the Volunteers outmuscled them throughout the night.
Ament led the way with 18 points and guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 16, while Okpara (12 points, 10 rebounds) and fellow big man Jaylen Carey (11 points, 10 rebounds) both posted double-doubles.
Wolverines point guard Elliot Cadeau stressed that the team can’t stray from defensive basics against Tennessee.
“Effort. Communication. Talking a lot,” Cadeau said.
Sunday marks Tennessee’s third straight Elite Eight appearance under coach Rick Barnes, who is aiming to lead a program to the Final Four for the first time since he took Texas there in 2003.
The Volunteers underwent significant roster turnover from the second-seeded team that lost to top seed 69-50 Houston in the Midwest Region final a season ago.
“This year, we’re going to come out with fire,” said Okpara, who had four points and nine rebounds in that game. “We’re going to get the job done.”
Michigan defeated Tennessee 76-68 in a South Region second-round game in 2022.
–Kevin Druley, Field Level Media
