Michigan and Arizona was supposed to be a battle of the titans but instead, Dusty May and Co. slapped the Wildcats around and moved on to the title game.
Michigan is headed to the national championship game, and it advanced in emphatic fashion.
Behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense, the Wolverines rolled past Arizona 91-73 in the Final Four, delivering one of their most complete performances of the season on the sport’s biggest stage.
From the opening tip, Michigan controlled the tone and led for the entire game. The Wolverines jumped out to a 48-32 halftime lead, fueled by efficient shooting and crisp ball movement. They never let Arizona establish rhythm, extending the margin to as many as 30 points in the second half before cruising to the finish.
Leading the way was Ady Mara, who turned in a dominant performance with 26 points and 9 rebounds on an ultra-efficient 11-of-16 shooting. His presence inside overwhelmed Arizona’s frontcourt and set the tone for Michigan’s offensive efficiency all night.
Elliot Cadeau orchestrated the offense brilliantly, finishing with 13 points and 10 assists. Cadeau started slow, going just 2-for-12 from the field in the first half, but after the break he found his game. He consistently broke down Arizona’s defense, creating open looks for teammates as Michigan piled up 22 assists on 33 made field goals. Nimari Burnett added 6 points, while Morez Johnson Jr. chipped in 10, but Michigan’s depth proved to be the real difference.
Trey McKenney provided a huge spark off the bench with 16 points, knocking down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The freshman has been sensational during Michigan's run. Roddy Gayle Jr. also contributed 9 points, helping Michigan’s second unit outscore Arizona’s bench 25-14.
As a team, Michigan shot 48% from the field and an impressive 44% from three-point range (12-of-27). They also took care of the ball pretty well, committing 13 turnovers, with some coming while the game was well at hand. The Wolverines forced 14 from Arizona, which led to a decisive 26-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Arizona, meanwhile, struggled to find consistency. Koa Peat led the Wildcats with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries each added 13. But the Wildcats shot just 36.6% from the field and 35.3% from deep, never finding an answer for Michigan’s defensive pressure.
The Wolverines just controlled the flow of the game. Leading from start to finish, pushing the lead out to 30 and emptying the bench with more than a minute remaining were all signs of Michigan's dominance. Their defensive effort held Arizona to just 32 first-half points, effectively putting the game out of reach before halftime.
Now, Michigan stands one win away from a national title. If they replicate this level of execution, balance, and intensity, they will be cutting down the nets on Monday night.