Michigan Wolverines crush Arizona to reach NCAA championship final
Michigan have advanced to the NCAA men’s championship game for the first time since 1989 after a dominant 91-73 victory over fellow top seeds Arizona in Indianapolis.
The Wolverines will now face reigning champions UConn in Monday night’s showpiece event as they seek to end a 35-year national title drought.
Head coach Dusty May exuded extreme pre-match confidence by scouting the Huskies in person just hours before his own team’s monumental semi-final tip-off.
Mara masterclass drives historic rout
Aday Mara delivered a virtuoso two-way performance to dismantle the highly-rated Wildcats.
The standout centre recorded 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks while shooting a highly efficient 11-for-16 from the field.
Supported by frontcourt partner Morez Johnson, the towering interior presence helped establish an early physical dominance that the opposition simply could not handle.
The 18-point winning margin ties the record for the largest NCAA tournament victory between two number-one seeds since 1979.
Sweating on Lendeborg fitness
Despite the comprehensive victory, severe concerns linger regarding the fitness of talisman Yaxel Lendeborg ahead of Monday’s final.
The Big Ten Player of the Year suffered a reported ankle injury and MCL sprain during the first half following a heavy foul on a drive to the basket.
Although the All-American guard briefly returned to hit two three-pointers in the second period, he was noticeably restricted in his movement.
Setting the physical tone
Michigan established absolute control with a blistering 10-1 run straight from the opening tip.
They consistently punished their rivals on the offensive glass and effectively bypassed the Arizona defence by throwing passes directly over their big men.
The usually resilient Wildcats looked thoroughly overwhelmed by the relentless pace and physicality of May’s rampant squad.
Bookmakers have already installed the resurgent Wolverines as clear favourites to defeat UConn and claim college basketball’s ultimate prize.