After awaiting the results of the First Four, the Wolverines finally know for certain who they will face on Friday: the Iowa State Cyclones.
No. 6 Michigan (22-10, 11-7 Big Ten) has both the seeding and the rest advantage, having last played on Saturday. Meanwhile, No. 11 Iowa State (23-11, 12-6 Big 12) had to face No. 11 Princeton on Thursday, defeating the Tigers in a tight 68-63 game to reach the Round of 64.
If you filled out your bracket unsure of who the Wolverines would play or don’t know anything about the Cyclones, here is everything you need to know before the two teams match up on Friday at 11:30 a.m. EST:
AUDI CROOKS IS A PROBLEM IN THE POST
If you paid attention to last year’s NCAA Tournament, the name Audi Crooks should ring a massive bell. As a freshman in 2024, she put up 40 points on 18-for-20 shooting and 12 rebounds in a performance for the ages over Maryland, giving her instant fame. She earned the nickname “Lady Shaq” after NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, got shout-outs from players like LeBron James, and grew her social media following exponentially.
Now in her sophomore season, Crooks is one of the best post players in the country and is near the top of several offensive metrics. She averages 23.2 points per game and shoots 60.2% from the field, good for 8th and 12th in the nation, respectively. She is an elite finisher around the rim and has upped her game recently, scoring a season-high 36 points against No. 19 Kansas State on March 9 and averaging 28.8 points across her last six games. Against Princeton on Thursday. Crooks scored 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter alone, to help seal the Cyclones’ win.
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