The march to the Final Four has rarely looked this effortless. Powered by balance, depth and relentless pace, the Michigan Wolverines overwhelmed the Tennessee Volunteers 95–62 on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region final at the United Center, punching their ticket to the program’s ninth Final Four and first since 2018.
It was a performance that perfectly reflected second-year coach Dusty May’s blueprint: unselfish offense, size across the floor and contributions from everywhere. And at the center of it all was Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg delivered another standout showing, scoring 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting and earning Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player honors. He orchestrated Michigan’s offense with confidence and creativity while continuing a historic scoring stretch.
The 6-foot-9 forward became the first Michigan player since Juwan Howard in 1994 to score at least 23 points in three straight NCAA Tournament games.
But this Wolverines run has never been about one player. Elliot Cadeau added 10 assists while controlling tempo throughout the game. Morez Johnson Jr. chipped in 12 points. Aday Mara finished with 11 points and two blocks. Trey McKenney and Nimari Burnett contributed key perimeter scoring and defensive energy.
Michigan improved to 35–3 and recorded its 11th victory this season by at least 30 points.
Tennessee briefly held a 16–14 lead midway through the first half. Then Michigan flipped the game on its head. The Wolverines erupted on a decisive 21–0 run, turning a tight contest into a commanding 35–16 advantage with just over six minutes remaining before halftime. From that point forward, the Volunteers never seriously threatened again.
Lendeborg finished a slick reverse layup switching hands midair. Then delivered a no-look fast-break assist to Roddy Gayle Jr. for three. Also setting up Cadeau for another deep jumper.
Michigan carried that momentum into halftime with a 48–26 lead after Lendeborg scored in transition and found McKenney for a three-pointer to cap a 7–0 closing burst.
Michigan’s size and versatility dictated the tone on both ends of the floor. Even 7-foot-3 Mara stepped outside to knock down one of Michigan’s 10 three-pointers, symbolizing the matchup nightmare Tennessee faced all afternoon.
The Volunteers, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm offensively. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led Tennessee with 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting, while Felix Okpara added 10 points and seven rebounds. Tennessee shot just 32% from the field and could not capitalize on what is usually one of its strengths—the glass. The teams finished tied with 42 rebounds each.
For the Volunteers and coach Rick Barnes, it marked a third straight Elite Eight exit. Barnes’ only Final Four appearance remains his 2003 run with Texas.
Michigan’s dominance this March has been historic. Under May—who previously guided the Florida Atlantic Owls men’s basketball to the 2023 Final Four—the Wolverines became the first program ever to win at least four NCAA Tournament games by double digits while scoring at least 90 points in each.
That combination of pace, depth and efficiency has turned Michigan into one of the tournament’s most complete teams.
Even the closing moments reflected the program-wide buy-in. The Michigan crowd roared when seldom-used reserves Charlie May, the coach’s son, and Oscar Goodman checked into the game late. Goodman scored with 2:32 left, and May buried a three-pointer with 1:02 remaining for the Wolverines’ final basket of the afternoon.
Next comes a heavyweight matchup. Michigan will face fellow No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats in Saturday’s national semifinal, setting up one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.
If the Wolverines play the way they did Sunday—fast, deep and together—they won’t just be heading to the Final Four.
They’ll arrive as a serious national title favorite.
