At the Buzzer: Michigan 95, Tennessee 62

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CHICAGO — Rapid reaction to Michigan’s 95-62 win over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

THE MOMENT

Right when it seemed like Sunday’s Elite Eight game between No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 6 seed Tennessee was going to be the physical matchup advertised, it wasn’t.

At the 6:10 mark remaining in the first half, the Wolverines had a string of possession with multiple cross-court and fast-paced passes. Late in the shot clock, graduate guard Nimari Burnett was set up near the top of the key and made a no-look pass to graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg on the left wing for three to cement the 21-0 run that put the Volunteers away early.

The first-half killshot was indicative of everything Michigan was doing right. The Wolverines were making smart passes, maintaining long possessions and also pushing in transition when they needed to. And there was nothing Tennessee could do to slow Michigan down en route to the Wolverines first Final Four since 2018.

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THE TAKEAWAY

Michigan’s 21-0 run in the first half was the entire game. In the blink of an eye, or just over five minutes of game time, the Wolverines went from battling in a physical slugfest to having a 20-point lead that they held for essentially the rest of the game.

Before the under-16-minute media timeout in the first half, Tennessee had already racked up six offensive rebounds and held a 7-6 lead. The back and forth continued until the under-12, when the game was notched up at 14. But after two free throws from the Volunteers, Michigan started its rampage.

The Wolverines didn’t just rely on one player or one way of scoring. Over the course of the 21-2 run in 5:15 minutes, Michigan scored in transition — like Lendeborg’s reverse and-1 layup — and also had sustained possessions with five-plus passes — like Lendeborg’s eventual no-look pass to senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. for three that forced Tennessee’s first of two first-half timeouts used in the first 15 minutes.

The Wolverines didn’t let off the gas in the second half either. A driving dunk from Lendeborg, a corner three from Burnett, and a contested three from Lendeborg were all part of a 12-0 run that gave Michigan a 30-point lead less than halfway through the second half.

The 21-0 run in the first half set the Wolverines apart, and continued pressure in the second half kept them ahead.

THE STAR

Once again, Lendeborg proved why he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. All game long, Lendeborg showed he was by far the best player on the court by knocking down threes, making no-look assists and displaying highlight layups and dunks.

In Sunday’s Elite Eight showdown, it’s hard to pinpoint even a few highlight plays Lendeborg made aside from the fact that he finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists. What was a 15-point first half with an and-1 reverse layup, two 3-pointers — including the killshot on the 21-0 run — and the no-look assist turned into a 12-point second half with a highlight one-handed slam, contested 3-pointer and two blocks.

Lendeborg showed and proved why he was the best player on the court Sunday, and is taking his team to the Final Four.

THE STAT

Heading into the game, there was a major emphasis on both sides of how important the offensive glass was going to be — especially for Tennessee to remain competitive. The Volunteers average nearly 16 offensive rebounds per game and they got 19 against Michigan. But when shooting 31.6% from the floor over the course of the game, there’s not much Tennessee could do even if it’s getting all the offensive rebounds.

The Wolverines’ defense played well enough, making most shots contested, that the Volunteers’ having a 76-56 advantage in shots taken didn’t even matter. Michigan didn’t necessarily shoot the lights out, but the Wolverines kept Tennessee enough at bay to make the spurts when they did shoot well make them pull out of reach.

FOUR FACTORS