In its last game, Michigan was trailing when the clock expired, but the ball was still in the air. That shot, of course, went in, and Michigan earned its 30th win of the season and a spot in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.
Michigan has reached 30 wins three times previously in program history: 2013, 1993, and 1989. Those years might ring a bell because the Wolverines reached the national championship each time, winning its lone title in '89.
To get back, Michigan will have to first beat Texas A&M on Thursday. The schools are meeting for the first time since 1962, a three-point Michigan win in Bill Buntin's freshman season.
The No. 7 seed Aggies got past Providence and No. 2 seed North Carolina last week in Charlotte, running the Tar Heels out of the gym in a surprising upset Sunday. All five starters average in double figures scoring. Sophomore forward Robert Williams (6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan) is projected as a lottery pick in June's NBA draft.
For Texas A&M to reach its first Elite Eight in program history, Williams and the rest of the big and strong Aggies will have to make U-M pay in the paint enough to offset the Wolverines' perimeter advantages.
"It's a contrast of styles, which should make for a very interesting evening," Michigan assistant coach Saddi Washington said.
Michigan's power forwards, Isaiah Livers and Duncan Robinson, will have to hold up on the block against bigger players. But that's nothing new, and Michigan's defense has excelled all season, even against teams like A&M. Aggies' head coach Billy Kennedy has plenty of concerns for his offense.
"I think their ball pressure defensively and how aggressive they are defensively on ball screens could present some problems against our offense," Kennedy said, "as we set a lot of ball screens in our offense."
On the other side, the Aggies will have to defend Michigan's five shooters. "You don't meet that many big men that can shoot like their bigs can," Williams said. "Me and Tyler (Davis) will have to adjust to that."
The Montana and Houston players made similar comments in Wichita, and they did a good job slowing Michigan's offense. Texas A&M has the added advantage of a zone defense, which it will deploy at times Thursday.
U-M did not shoot the ball well in its first two NCAA Tournament games, but coaches and players have said the offense has looked good the last few practices.
Though Michigan has not cracked a point per possession in the Tournament and the over/under for this game is at 136, the matchup problems for each team -- and A&M's tendency to send multiple players to the offensive glass -- could lead to some easy baskets.
Expect a competitive game. As Washington said when discussing the communication between coaches and players, "Any minute detail that's missed could be the difference between going home and putting yourself another step closer to winning a national championship."
Michigan has reached 30 wins three times previously in program history: 2013, 1993, and 1989. Those years might ring a bell because the Wolverines reached the national championship each time, winning its lone title in '89.
To get back, Michigan will have to first beat Texas A&M on Thursday. The schools are meeting for the first time since 1962, a three-point Michigan win in Bill Buntin's freshman season.
The No. 7 seed Aggies got past Providence and No. 2 seed North Carolina last week in Charlotte, running the Tar Heels out of the gym in a surprising upset Sunday. All five starters average in double figures scoring. Sophomore forward Robert Williams (6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan) is projected as a lottery pick in June's NBA draft.
For Texas A&M to reach its first Elite Eight in program history, Williams and the rest of the big and strong Aggies will have to make U-M pay in the paint enough to offset the Wolverines' perimeter advantages.
"It's a contrast of styles, which should make for a very interesting evening," Michigan assistant coach Saddi Washington said.
Michigan's power forwards, Isaiah Livers and Duncan Robinson, will have to hold up on the block against bigger players. But that's nothing new, and Michigan's defense has excelled all season, even against teams like A&M. Aggies' head coach Billy Kennedy has plenty of concerns for his offense.
"I think their ball pressure defensively and how aggressive they are defensively on ball screens could present some problems against our offense," Kennedy said, "as we set a lot of ball screens in our offense."
On the other side, the Aggies will have to defend Michigan's five shooters. "You don't meet that many big men that can shoot like their bigs can," Williams said. "Me and Tyler (Davis) will have to adjust to that."
The Montana and Houston players made similar comments in Wichita, and they did a good job slowing Michigan's offense. Texas A&M has the added advantage of a zone defense, which it will deploy at times Thursday.
U-M did not shoot the ball well in its first two NCAA Tournament games, but coaches and players have said the offense has looked good the last few practices.
Though Michigan has not cracked a point per possession in the Tournament and the over/under for this game is at 136, the matchup problems for each team -- and A&M's tendency to send multiple players to the offensive glass -- could lead to some easy baskets.
Expect a competitive game. As Washington said when discussing the communication between coaches and players, "Any minute detail that's missed could be the difference between going home and putting yourself another step closer to winning a national championship."
