Michigan overwhelm Tennessee in 95-62 victory to reach Final Four
Michigan have routed Tennessee 95-62 at Chicago’s United Center to reach the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2018.
The top-seeded Wolverines dominated the Midwest regional final on Sunday to secure their 35th victory of a record-breaking season.
Second-year head coach Dusty May has masterminded a remarkable turnaround for a programme that won just eight games only two years ago.
They will now face West Region champions Arizona in Saturday’s national semi-final in Indianapolis.
Lendeborg leads the charge
Forward Yaxel Lendeborg spearheaded the emphatic win with a flawless display, registering 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists without a single turnover.
The recently crowned Big Ten Player of the Year has now recorded 20 or more points in three consecutive tournament appearances.
He becomes the first player from the Ann Arbor school to achieve that scoring feat since Juwan Howard in 1994.
Transfers fuel dominant run
The maize and blue roster has been heavily bolstered by high-profile transfers who proved decisive against the sixth-seeded Volunteers.
Former North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau dictated the tempo with a game-high 10 assists, while UCLA arrival Aday Mara contributed 11 points and two blocks.
An explosive 21-0 scoring streak midway through the first half effectively ended the contest before the interval.
The rampant victors then opened the second period with a 21-12 run to extinguish any fading hopes of a miraculous comeback.
Volunteers suffer Elite Eight heartbreak
Tennessee’s defeat marks their third consecutive Elite Eight exit under veteran coach Rick Barnes.
Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie fought valiantly to lead his team with 21 points, but the opposition’s blistering pace proved overwhelming.
Michigan are now firmly setting their sights on ending a 35-year wait for a national championship title.