Michigan Basketball Dominates, Advances in NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 20, Michigan basketball powered through to a 101-80 victory over Howard in the first round of the NCAA. Tournament The Wolverines advanced to the round of 32, where they'll face either Georgia or St. Louis. It was a game that started shaky, but turned into a blowout. In the first half, Howard drained 10-3 pointers and shot over 60 percent from deep, keeping it close with just a four-point lead at the break. Michigan scored 50 points offensively, but struggled on defense, allowing the bison to hit over 50 percent of their shots. The second half flipped the script completely. The Wolverines locked down defensively, holding Howard to 33 percent from the floor, and just four of 13 from three. Morris Johnson Jr. broke out with dominant play early in the half, fuelling a surge that included dunks and total control in the paint, outscoring. Howard 51-12, down low. Fans and analysts highlighted the offensive fireworks, with Michigan shooting 67 percent overall, but noted room for improvement.

1:04Three-point defense remains questionable after that rough first half, and players like Elliott Codot and Yaksal-Lendabork need to step up more. Consistently against tougher foes ahead. With this win, Michigan looks prime for a deep run if they sustain that second half intensity, especially exploiting their size inside while, tightening up on the perimeter.