Michigan beat up Arizona and took its lunch money in a Final Four drubbing. Only UConn stands in the way of a title

So, this is the clearest way to explain what Michigan did to Arizona in a national semifinal billed as a battle between two heavyweights: Yaxel Lendeborg played the second half after spraining his MCL and rolling his ankle. Yet, upon draining a 3-pointer at the 16:27 mark, the one-legged Lendeborg had scored more points in the half (six) than the entirtey of the Wildcats’ roster (four).

There are games that don’t live up to the hype and then there is whatever this was. Meaner than the recess yard bully taking your lunch money, and crueler than being punked in the most embarrassing way possible, it was an annihilation so complete that you could practically see Arizona’s guts spilled on the court like roadkill.

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Michigan, which played with swagger, now meets up with the team built on swag in a fascinating matchup between the unstoppable force that is the Wolverines and the immovable object that is UConn, making its third national title appearance in four years.

The big bucks Big Ten hasn’t won a national championship since 2000; the rebuilt Big East has won four in a decade.

“It doesn’t feel real,’’ Lendeborg said. “But sitting here, it’s like, man we can really do this.’’

Michigan center Aday Mara throws down a dunk early in the second half. – Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Ten years ago, Villanova beat up Oklahoma in the national semifinals, a bloodletting that ended with a record 44-point victory and Buddy Hield’s head buried in a towel on the bench. Nothing could quite match that, but Michigan’s 90-73 demoralization of Arizona got close.

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In 2016, the Wildcats shot the lights out against the Sooners in a dizzying display that felt almost silly. This felt personal, like the Wolverines weren’t merely trying to beat the Wildcats but use the Wildcats as some punching bag to eradicate a ghost, or vindicate some sleight.

“Don’t ever doubt Michigan, man,’’ Lendeborg said. “Don’t add fuel. We do a lot better when we’re on the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/michigan-beat-arizona-took-lunch-052735442.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-05 05:27:00

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