Wolverines Head to Anaheim Looking to Repeat as Champions of the West

Thursday, March 28

Anaheim, Calif.

6:39 PM PT

Michigan

Texas Tech

Wolverines Head to Anaheim Looking to Repeat as Champions of the West

3/26/2019 10:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Tom Wywrot

» No. 2-seeded Michigan heads to Anaheim, California, to face No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the NCAA Sweet 16.
» If U-M advances, the Wolverines will face either No. 1 seed Gonzaga or No. 4 seed Florida State
» The Maize and Blue is making its third straight Sweet 16 appearance and fifth in the last seven years.
» U-M advanced after wins over No. 15 seed Montana (74-55) and No. 10 Florida (64-49) in Des Moines, Iowa.

NEXT GAME
Thursday, March 28 -- vs. #3 seed Texas Tech (Anaheim, Calif.), 6:39 p.m. PDT

The second-seeded University of Michigan men's basketball team (30-6, 15-5 B1G) will square off against third seed Texas Tech (28-6, 14-4 Big 12) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for a chance to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight. In a CBS broadcast, tipoff is scheduled for 6:39 p.m. PDT with Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Dan Bonner (analyst) and Dana Jacobson (sideline) on the call.

What's Happened in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

• No. 2 seed Michigan earned its third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 as the Maize and Blue defeated No. 15 Montana (74-55, March 21) and No. 10 seed Florida (64-49, March 23) at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
• In the two games combined against Montana and Florida, U-M led for more than 73 of the combined 80 minutes. Michigan trailed Florida for 1:20 and never trailed against Montana.
• Michigan held the Grizzlies and Gators to a 52.0 points per game and 33.9 percent (39-of-115) shooting, including just 30 percent (15-of-50) from three-point range.
• Michigan held Florida to its lowest scoring output of the season (49 points). It was the lowest point total for the Gators in just over four years -- a 64-49 loss to Kentucky on March 13, 2015 at the SEC Tournament. Montana's 55 points were the third lowest of the season and nearly 21 points off its season average (76.8).
• U-M held a +11 rebounding margin on the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, averaging 40.5 rebounds per game while allowing 29.5.
• Charles Matthews averaged a team-high 15.5 points per game against Montana and Florida, shooting 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the floor. Matthews also averaged 8.5 rebounds per game.
• Jordan Poole also scored in double figures for the weekend, averaging 14.5 points per game while shooting 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from three-point range and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
• Zavier Simpson averaged 6.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists per contest on the opening weekend. Simpson nearly had his second triple-double of the season, posting nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists against Florida.
• Jon Teske averaged nearly a double-double against Montana and Florida, scoring 9.5 points per game with 9.5 rebounds per contest, while Ignas Brazdeikis also averaged 9.5 points per game and Isaiah Livers added 9.0 points per contest.

Super Sweet

• Michigan is one of just four schools -- along with Gonzaga, Kentucky and Purdue -- to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons.
• Since 2013, Michigan has made five appearances in the Sweet 16 (2013, '14, '17, '18, '19). That mark ties Duke, Gonzaga and Kentucky for the most Sweet 16 appearances in the last seven tournaments.

It's Just Too Eerie

• Michigan's 2019 NCAA Tournament path is eerily similar to its 2018 NCAA Tournament run.
• U-M began this year's tournament with a first-round game against Montana for the second consecutive season. U-M won 61-47 in 2018 and 74-55 in 2019.
• The Wolverines now are headed to southern California for the Sweet 16 for a second straight year.
• Last season, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight were held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, just 26.1 miles from Honda Center in Anaheim.
• Two of the three teams joining U-M in Anaheim were also at the 2018 West Regional. Gonzaga and Florida State will meet in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, while the Maize and Blue will play a team from Texas for a second straight year.
• U-M met Texas A&M last season in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles and will now take on Texas Tech.
• Interesting as well, the TV crew will be the same for the West Regional as CBS's Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Reggie Miller and Dana Jacobson will be the featured talent for the second straight year.

A Little About Texas Tech

• Seeded third in the West Region, Texas Tech has a 28-6 overall record and a 14-4 record in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders opened the NCAA Tournament with a 72-57 win over Northern Kentucky before topping Buffalo, 78-58, to reach the Sweet 16.
• The Red Raiders rank second in the nation in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 36.8 percent from the field. Texas Tech trails only Houston nationally in field goal percentage defense.
• Texas Tech is also third in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 59.2 points per game.
• Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver was named U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America second team and the Big 12 Player of the Year. Culver averages a team-high 18.8 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game.
• Grad transfer (South Dakota) guard Matt Mooney was named to the All-Big 12 second team and averages 10.9 points per game. Sophomore guard Davide Moretti earned All-Big 12 third team honors and is scoring 11.5 points per contest. Moretti leads the nation in free throw shooting at 91.9 percent.
• Mooney and grad transfer (St. John's) Tariq Owens were both named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Owens was also an All-Big 12 honorable mention selection, averaging 8.9 points and 2.5 blocks per game.
• Chris Beard is in his third season as head coach at Texas Tech. Beard went to Lubbock following one season as head coach at Little Rock.

Beilein is Michigan's Mr. March

• U-M head coach John Beilein has nine NCAA appearances with Michigan, the most of any coach in program history (Steve Fisher, 7).
• Michigan is 8-1 under Beilein in NCAA opening games. In fact, U-M's win over Montana marked its sixth consecutive NCAA opening victory. A side note, Beilein has never lost an opening-round game at the Big Ten Tournament (12-0) during his tenure.
• Adding a pair of first-round victories at West Virginia and one at Richmond, Beilein is now 11-2 all-time in opening games of the Division I NCAA Tournament.
• Beilein has seven NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in his career -- twice with West Virginia (2005, '06) and five times with Michigan (2013, '14, '17, '18, '19) -- the most by any Wolverine coach in program history.

Up Next

If Michigan advances, the Wolverines would face either No. 1 seed Gonzaga or No. 4 seed Florida State in the NCAA West Regional final Saturday (March 30, time TBD). The game will be televised by either CBS or TBS.