Saturday delivered a mix of dominance and drama.
No. 11 Texas stunned No. 3 Gonzaga to continue its Cinderella run, while Nebraska edged Vanderbilt on a near half-court buzzer-beater.
Illinois cruised past VCU behind Andrej Stojakovic’s 21 points, and Houston overwhelmed Texas A&M by 30+. Meanwhile, contenders like Duke and Michigan State handled business to punch their tickets to the Sweet 16.
But even in a chalk-heavy round, there were defining performances, none louder than Michigan’s emphatic takedown of Saint Louis.
No. 1 Michigan rolled past Saint Louis 95–72 behind Yaxel Lendeborg’s 25 points, while Aday Mara anchored the paint in a statement win, finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.
That result not only pushed the Wolverines to 33 wins on the season, tied for the most in program history, but it also flipped the entire title race.
According to ESPN, Michigan has officially leapfrogged Arizona as the new betting favorite to win the national championship following Saturday’s games.
The Wolverines improved to +340 odds, edging Arizona (+350), which now faces a high-stakes second-round matchup with Utah State on Sunday.
Arizona now sits second at +350, followed by Duke at +425 and Florida at +800, with odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Michigan entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed with a 31–3 record, stacking wins against high-level competition all season long.
They’ve carried that momentum into March with authority.
Through two tournament games, the Wolverines have been relentless offensively, scoring 101 and 95 points in back-to-back wins, marking the first time in program history that Michigan scored at least 95 points in back-to-back NCAA tournament games.
Through the first weekend of March Madness, Lendeborg has proven again to be the team’s go-to scorer, while Mara brings interior dominance and rim protection.
Morez Johnson Jr. has been a double-double threat, and Elliot Cadeau orchestrates everything with elite playmaking.
In a tournament increasingly defined by experienced, well-constructed rosters, Michigan checks every box.
On the flip side, you have Arizona, which hasn’t played this round yet.
The Wildcats entered the tournament as one of the most popular title picks, backed by a dominant 33–2 record and a commanding first-round win over Long Island.
But the gap between contenders is razor-thin. Michigan’s surge, combined with Arizona’s looming test against a dangerous Utah State team, has shifted the risk profile.
After cruising into the Sweet 16, Michigan will now face the winner of Texas Tech vs. Alabama, while Arizona, with a win, would move on to play No. 4 seed Arkansas.
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