Michigan scouting report vs ‘mirror image’ Arizona in Final Four

Free Press sports writer Ryan Ford previews the Final Four matchup between Michigan basketball and Arizona, set for Saturday, April 4, in Indianapolis.

Fast facts

Matchup: Midwest 1-seed Michigan (35-3) vs. West 1-seed Arizona (36-2); NCAA Tournament national semifinal.

Tipoff: 8:49 p.m., Saturday, April 4; Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.

At stake: Winner faces Saturday’s winner between 3-seed Illinois or 2-seed UConn for the national title on Monday, April 6, in Indy.

MITCH ALBOM: Mitch Albom: Aday Mara on the cusp of one big moment for Michigan basketball

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Michigan basketball: Meet the Wolverines

Coach: Dusty May (62-13 in two seasons at U-M; 188-82 overall in eight seasons).

School tournament record: 72-31 in 33 appearances, nine Final Fours, one championship (1989).

Scoring leaders: Yaxel Lendeborg, 15.2 points per game; Morez Johnson Jr., 13.2; Aday Mara, 11.8.

Rebounding leaders: Johnson, 7.3 rebounds per game; Lendeborg, 7; Mara, 6.8.

Assist leaders: Elliot Cadeau, 5.8 assists per game; Lendeborg, 3.3; Mara, 2.4.

3-point leaders: Trey McKinney, 38.4%; Nimari Burnett, 38.1%; Cadeau, 37.7%; Lendeborg, 37.2%.

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) and center Aday Mara (15) cheer on against Tennessee during the second half of NCAA Tournament Elite 8 round at United Center in Chicago on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The buzz: In case there were any doubters as to why Lendeborg was Big Ten player of the year, the Wolverines star has quieted them with a dominant NCAA Tournament performance: 21 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assist, plus 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 32.3 minutes per game, all while shooting 59.2% from the field, including 50% beyond the arc on 5.5 3-point attempts per game. Really, the only question will be how the Wolverines will motivate him against the Wildcats, since the don’t appear to have snubbed him in transfer-portal recruiting.

Along with Lendeborg, the Wolverines will need Mara at his best. After dominating during the tourney’s first weekend…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/michigan-scouting-report-vs-mirror-090908509.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-04 09:09:00

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