Michigan basketball beat Florida State in the Sweet 16, 76-58, to advance to its fourth Elite Eight in the last eight NCAA Tournaments. The Wolverines will take on UCLA in the East Regional Final (9:57 p.m. ET Tuesday), with the 11th-seeded Bruins just having beaten No. 2 seed Alabama Sunday night.
Here are five quick takes on the matchup:
RELATED: Five Takeaways From Michigan's Sweet 16 Win Over Florida State
RELATED: Leonard Hamilton On Michigan Wolverines Basketball: 'Almost Flawless'
1. UCLA survived by the skin of its teeth throughout its improbable Elite Eight run
The Bruins were down 11 points to Michigan State at halftime at Mackey Arena two Thursdays ago in the First Four. But the Spartans imploded, and UCLA exploded for 44 second-half points to force overtime, before it put MSU out of its misery in the extra period. It was an entertaining game on the tournament’s opening night. Little did we know, UCLA would use that to propel itself to an Elite Eight appearance and perhaps more.
The Bruins then handled No. 6 seed BYU, 73-62, in the round of 64, before blowing out No. 14 seed Abilene Christian, who beat No. 3 seed Texas in the first round, 67-47.
Those wins set up what turned out to be a thrilling Sweet 16 game against No. 2 seed Alabama. The Bruins needed overtime once again to survive, though if they purposely fouled up three points at the end of regulation they likely wouldn’t have even gone to an extra session.
While UCLA has been known for its offense this season, one that ranks 11th in the country in Kenpom efficiency, the Bruins were able to hold Alabama’s potent offense to 78 points in 45 minutes, 0.975 points per possession, 43 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from three-point land. It didn’t hurt that the Tide missed 14 free throws on 25 attempts, but you can’t, and shouldn’t, apologize for winning at this time of the year. The final score ended up at 88-78.
UCLA is a perfect example that having momentum coming into The Big Dance doesn't always matter. The Bruins lost four straight games entering the NCAA Tournament, though it should be noted that all four were against tough opponents in Colorado, Oregon, USC and Oregon State. They created their own momentum within the tournament, which is all that matters.
The Bruins are the second team that was part of the First Four to advance to the Elite Eight and are looking to become the second of such teams to make the Final Four (VCU in 2011 is the other).
2. Michigan will have the size advantage down low
Michigan freshman center Hunter Dickinson, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a consensus All-America pick, just went up against Florida State’s 7-foot-1 sophomore center Balsa Koprivica in addition to having to face a lot of Seminole double-teams, scoring 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, with eight rebounds and two assists.
He’ll have a significant size advantage in this one, with UCLA junior forward Cody Riley checking in at 6-foot-9. The Bruins post up on just over nine percent of their possessions, and Riley accounts for 39 percent of those — scoring a solid 0.896 points per possession on such plays.
Dickinson should have the significant advantage down low against Riley, who is an undersized low post player and ball-screen roller. He won't burn Dickinson on the pick-and-pop, either, with the junior having only attempted two three-pointers all season.
In addition, Michigan junior forward Brandon Johns, who stands 6-foot-8 has at least two inches on anyone who will be guarding him.
