Michigan Shocks Tennessee to Reach First Final Four Since 2018
A Journey of Transformation and Triumph
In a moment that will be remembered for years to come, Michigan coach Dusty May leaned back on the basket support, watching his players climb a ladder and snip pieces of the net. This scene marked a significant milestone in May’s second season with the Wolverines, as the team advanced to the Final Four after a dominant 95-62 victory over Tennessee in the Midwest Region.
May’s journey with Michigan has been nothing short of remarkable. In just two seasons, he transformed a program that had struggled through a season with only eight total wins and three in the Big Ten — its fewest since 1966-67. The team’s resurgence is a testament to May’s leadership and the hard work of his players.
Now, the Wolverines are set to face Arizona on April 4 in a national semifinal in Indianapolis. With 35 wins this season, they have set a new single-season record. May reflected on the journey, emphasizing the collective effort that brought them to this point.
“They’re playing a child’s game, I’m coaching a child’s game,” May said. “So when you look in one spot, there are all these people who poured into them — their old coaches, parents, they made countless sacrifices for them to have this opportunity. It’s just rewarding to see these moments when everyone’s together.”
He added, “I highly recommend next year’s team doing it, also.”
The Wolverines’ return to the Final Four marks their first appearance since 2018 and the fourth time in the past 11 seasons. For the team, this is an opportunity to win their first national championship since 1989.
May emphasized the importance of developing championship-level habits, which led the team to success. “We have a sign in our locker that reads ‘April Habits,’ and from day one, we challenged these guys to develop championship-level habits that would allow us to win a Big Ten championship, and would also allow us to turn the calendar from March until April.”
A Dominant Performance
After a slow start, Michigan took control midway through the game with a 21-0 surge. The team displayed precision and pace, passing up good shots for great ones. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara, despite playing with two fouls, fueled the run. Michigan’s perimeter game came alive with 3-pointers from Elliot Cadeau and Roddy Gayle Jr.
May credited his assistants for managing the foul situation, allowing the team to showcase a “beautiful brand of basketball” that became contagious during the burst. “We start off every practice pretty much with hibachi passing, that’s pretty much the drill, we go out there and we make the right pass,” Lendeborg said. “So this group of guys, nobody cares about their stats on this team.”
Lendeborg’s performance stood out, as he was named the Midwest Region’s most outstanding player. The UAB transfer finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and no turnovers. He became the first Wolverines player to score 20 or more points in three consecutive NCAA tournament games since Juwan Howard in 1994.
Key Contributions from Transfers
Michigan also received crucial contributions from transfers Aday Mara (UCLA) and Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina). Mara added 11 points, four rebounds, and two blocks, while Cadeau recorded a game-high 10 assists. He became the first Big Ten player to record seven or more assists in four consecutive NCAA tournament games since Trey Burke in 2013.
Charlie May, son of the Wolverines’ coach, capped the scoring with a 3-pointer with 1:02 to play. The Wolverines have scored 90 or more points in each of their four tournament victories, following a Big Ten tournament championship loss at the United Center.
Guard Nimari Burnett expressed his mindset, saying, “My mindset was to cut two more nets after the Big Ten championship, the regular season. And I didn’t know that you could cut nets for [making] the Final Four, so basically, we still have two more, we have this and we have the national championship ahead.”
A Disappointing End for Tennessee
Tennessee, under coach Rick Barnes, faced another setback in the Elite Eight. This was their third consecutive loss in the round, and Barnes was hoping to lead the Vols to their first Final Four and his first since coaching Texas in 2003.
“We simply have to get better, we all have to keep working at it,” Barnes said. “We certainly know what it takes to get here, and now we’ve got to figure out getting through to the next level, on this day, you’ve got to really be at your best.”
Much like last season’s loss to Houston, Tennessee’s chances were doomed in the first half, as they managed only 15 points against the Cougars. Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the Vols with 21 points, but second-team All-SEC selection Nate Ament struggled from the field.
Tennessee hit just 5 of 26 attempts from 3-point range, and Barnes wanted to get the ball inside, but the Vols were only 19-of-50 on two-point shots. “We had open looks, had some open shots that didn’t go down, and that’s where [Michigan] were able to get out and capitalize,” Barnes said.
Barnes, 71, confirmed he will be back at Tennessee for the 2026-27 season, marking his 12th year at the helm.
