At 
long 
last, 
the 
NCAA 

Tournament is back. After a one-

year, pandemic-induced hiatus, the 

tournament returns to captivate 

and devastate. The Michigan men’s 

basketball team will embark on 

its journey through the madness 

on Saturday at 3 p.m., when it 

will play the winner of the first 

four matchups between Mount 

St. Mary’s and Texas Southern in 

West Lafayette. 

The announcement, considering 

the heralded feat of attaining a No. 

1 seed, seemed a tad humdrum. 

As little as two weeks ago, the 

Wolverines appeared primed to tear 

through March. Now, their fate is 

somewhat precarious. A semifinal 

exit in the Big Ten Tournament, 

coupled with a stress fracture in 

senior forward Isaiah Livers’s foot, 

dampened the hoopla. 

And yet, Michigan earned a 

top seed — the program’s first 

since 1993 — along with an 

outright regular-season Big Ten 

championship for a reason. Even 

without Livers, the Wolverines 

possess the requisite talent to make 

a run. While they appear on the 

surface to have lost momentum, 

those 
within 
the 
program 

adamantly insist otherwise. 

“I think I’d be lying if not every 

single player in that locker room fully 

believes that we are the best team in 

the country and that we will win the 

National Championship,” freshman 

center Hunter Dickinson said on 

Saturday. “(We have) the utmost 

confidence in the rest of the players 

to step up.” 

Will the Wolverines rekindle their 

February fire and actually do so? The 

Daily men’s basketball beat writers 

take a stab at predicting Michigan’s 

postseason fate: 

Jared Greenspan: There’s been a 

lot of conversation about Michigan’s 

draw (as there always is), amongst 

pundits and fans alike, so let me 

preface my prediction with this: The 

Wolverines received a pretty fair 

draw. This is the NCAA Tournament. 

Each team in the field is here for a 

reason — they’re good. As simple as it 

sounds, it bears mentioning. 

All that being said, Michigan 

certainly faces a challenging path to 

the Final Four, one only amplified 

in difficulty should Livers be unable 

to suit up. Barring an utter disaster, 

the Wolverines will advance into 

the second round, where either LSU 

or St. Bonaventure awaits them. 

The Tigers, boasting the nation’s 

fifth-ranked offense, could leave 

a depleted, Livers-less Michigan 

attack in the dust. On the other 

hand, the Bonnies, champions of 

the Atlantic-10, are led by one of the 

nation’s stingiest defenses at 17th 

overall. Sans Livers, the Wolverines 

may struggle to counter.

Should Michigan get past the 

first weekend, the slate hardly gets 

any easier. Florida State, buoyed by 

7-foot-1 center Balsa Koprivica, is one 

of the few teams who stand equipped 

to slow down Dickinson. Should they 

clash with the Wolverines, the lanky 

and athletic Seminoles would be an 

undesirable opponent. 

With Livers, Michigan would be 

odds-on favorite to advance out of 

the East region and waltz into the 

Final Four. Without him, a successful 

season suffers a sour ending in the 

Sweet 16. 

Teddy Gutkin: While many 

will be quick to count coach Juwan 

Howard’s crew out in the absence 

of Livers, this is still a Michigan 

team that won a Big Ten regular-

season title. With the sixth-best 

offense and seventh-best defense 

in the nation according to KenPom, 

the Wolverines are still very much a 

team deserving of a No. 1 seed.

For the Round of 64, let’s be 

blunt: whether it’s Mount St. Mary’s 

or Texas Southern, Michigan will 

advance. Awaiting them will be either 

LSU or St. Bonaventure. Neither 

matchup will be easy, but in March 

nothing ever is. The Wolverines 

have faced tougher competition and 

thrived during the Big Ten season, 

and I see them squeaking out a close 

win over the Bonnies’ stout defense to 

advance to the Sweet 16.

In the Sweet 16, Michigan 

will likely meet Florida State. 

While the Seminoles possess 

tantalizing athleticism, I think 

the Wolverines will ride a hot 

shooting night from outside and 

a few timely defensive stops to 

secure a date with 2-seed Alabama 

in the Elite Eight. Unfortunately 

for Michigan, the Crimson Tide 

are one of the hottest teams in the 

country right now. Led by coach 

Nate Oats, Alabama has proven 

that it can win in a shootout or a 

dogfight. 

The Wolverines won’t be able to 

keep up without Livers. Michigan’s 

season ends on the doorstep of the 

Final Four.

Connor Brennan: Oh, how 

quickly the tables can turn. Just 

two weeks ago, Michigan stood as 

a prohibitive favorite to win the 

Big Ten Tournament and reach the 

National Championship. Since then, 

the Wolverines were demolished 

by Illinois, fell to Michigan State in 

their regular-season finale, bowed 

out of the Big Ten Tournament a 

day early — from their perspective, 

at least — and lost Livers to 

injury. Now, with its mid-season 

momentum seemingly shattered, 

many think Michigan is the 1-seed 

least likely to make the Final Four. I, 

for one, agree. 

While I’ve wavered back and 

forth about when the Wolverines 

might ultimately exit the NCAA 

Tournament, it’s entirely down to 

semantics and borders on irrelevant. 

As successful as Howard’s second 

season has been, anything less 

than the Final Four appearance 

will likely leave a bitter taste in the 

mouth of the Wolverines and their 

fans. The cabinet is certainly not 

bare, but without Livers, Michigan 

lacks one of its most essential 

ingredients. And so ultimately, the 

East Region won’t be won by the 

Wolverines — little else matters. 

For sake of predictions, though, 

I’ll be more specific. On Saturday 

afternoon, the Wolverines will 

thank either Mount St. Mary’s or 

Texas Southern for coming out, 

before 
dispatching 
them 
with 

relative ease. In the second round, 

Michigan will probably play LSU 

— my apologies, St. Bonaventure 

— and while the Tigers have 

impressed lately, they don’t have 

a player in their primary rotation 

over 6-foot-9. Dickinson could have 

a field day. 

Should the Wolverines make 

it to the Sweet 16, they would 

likely meet 4-seed Florida State, a 

trendy pick to beat Michigan. The 

Seminoles have five players who 

average at least one 3-pointer a 

game and forward RaiQuan Gray is 

a force on the boards. Led by senior 

guard Eli Brooks and sophomore 

wing Franz Wagner though, I 

think the Wolverines’ defense will 

do enough to slow down Florida 

State’s offense and advance to 

the Elite Eight. There, however, 

Michigan will meet its match in 

SEC Champion Alabama. Between 

do-it-all wing Herb Jones, 3-point 

specialist John Petty and Villanova 

transfer Jahvon Quinerly, the 

Crimson Tide can score with 

anybody — especially a Wolverine 

team missing the shotmaking 

presence of Livers.

Daily beat writers predict Michigan’s NCAA Tournament fate

MICHIGAN DAILY MEN’S 

BASKETBALL BEAT 

 MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily

The NCAA Tournament begins on the weekend, with Michigan playing against either Mount St. Mary’s or Texas Southern on Saturday.

16 — Wednesday, March 17, 2021 
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

 MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily

Michigan will hope to capitalize on its success throughout the regular season by making a run in the postseason.

 MADELINE HINKLEY/Daily

Michigan coach Juwan Howard will coach in his first NCAA Tournament this year after last year was canceled.

It was just a slight movement.

It started from the heel, just a slight raise, before 

the hips and hands fired through and sent the baseball 

rocketing into right field. Fifth-year senior outfielder 

Christan Bullock used a no-stride, two-strike approach 

to rip an RBI single into right field in Sunday’s win over 

Purdue as part of the Michigan baseball team’s four-game 

sweep of the Boilermakers.

But Bullock wasn’t finished. He took second base on 

an overthrow into the infield and ended up scoring the 

go-ahead run on a single by sophomore infielder Jake Marti 

two batters later. This sequence acted as a microcosm 

of the series, as the Wolverines’ aggressive approach, 

headlined by Bullock, put pressure on the Boilermakers 

and led to an explosive offensive output. In addition to the 

aggressive approach Michigan employed, timely hits also 

helped the Wolverines distance themselves from Purdue.

“We had some great at-bats with two outs,” Bullock 

said. “We have the perfect mindset for the games.”

Michigan stole four bases on the weekend, with two 

by Bullock, including a double steal that allowed junior 

infielder Riley Bertram to score from third. Bullock also 

legged out a triple and stretched what appeared to be a 

routine single into a double in the third game of the series.

“It feels good to see everyone executing, from our 

pitchers, to our hitters, our fielders,” Bullock said. “But 

we’re always working on something and we’re definitely 

going to get back in the lab.”

From little adjustments like Bullock’s two-strike 

approach to aggressive baserunning, the Wolverines put a 

great deal of pressure on the Boilermakers, overwhelming 

their pitchers with their approach at the dish.

The Wolverines also utilized great two-out hitting 

to stifle Purdue. Michigan scored 17 of its 33 runs with 

two outs, capitalizing on the Boilermakers’ mistakes and 

executing when it mattered the most. Sophomore catcher 

Jimmy Obertop showcased the Wolverines’ offensive 

prowess with two outs this weekend, as he launched a two-

out grand slam in the first inning of the third game of the 

series, giving Michigan a lead it would never relinquish.

“The clutch hitting stood out for me,” Michigan coach 

Erik Bakich said. “We had the timely hitting throughout 

the weekend.”

Staying aggressive and executing was what got the 

job done for the Wolverines this weekend. With its 

roster locked in and playing sharp, Michigan can use its 

mentality and focus to bring continued success.

“I don’t even think we can call each other a team; we’re 

a family,” Bullock said. “We’re all bonded together, we’re 

all brothers and we all want to see each other succeed.”

STEEL HURLEY

Daily Sports Writer 

Aggressive offensive 

approach powers 
Michigan’s sweep

 ALEC COHEN/Daily

Fifth-year senior outfielder Christan Bullock 

Michigan earns first No. 6 seed in program history

After missing the NCAA tournament last year due 

to COVID-19, the Michigan women’s basketball team 

awaited its fate. 

The fate would be a No. 6 seed in the River Walk region. 

Michigan earned its highest seed in program history, 

with its previous best coming in the 2018 tournament 

when it earned a No. 7 seed. Michigan is joined in the 

region by fellow Big Ten school Iowa, who earned a No. 

5 seed. Michigan’s first game will be against No. 11 seed 

Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday at 3 p.m. If the Wolverines 

win, they will face the winner of 3-seed Tennessee and 

14-seed Middle Tennessee matchup on Sunday. 

The Eagles present a difficult challenge for the 

Wolverines. On a 24-game unbeaten streak, Florida 

Gulf Coast has yet to miss a game due to COVID-19 

— something Michigan can’t say, having missed 10. 

The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Kierstan Bell, 

who transferred from Ohio State. The dynamic point 

guard can score as well as feast on the glass, averaging 

24 points a game and 10.9 rebounds. Florida Gulf Coast 

is a team that loves to stroke it from beyond the arc, 

shooting 969 threes over the course of the season at a 

33% clip. Defending the 3-point line could be crucial to 

the Wolverine’s success. 

“They spread you out and play five out,” Michigan 

coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “We played them a 

number of years ago in the WNIT and it’s hard for post 

players to play because they are guarding guards. It’s a 

tough matchup for anyone.”

Going unbeaten in their first 10 games, the Wolverines 

struggled toward the end of conference play. Michigan 

went out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to 

Northwestern, losing 49-65. Having previously beaten 

the Wildcats twice, the Wolverines struggled to find 

their shooting form and had early foul trouble. After 

three detail-oriented practices, Michigan switches gears 

to Florida Gulf Coast and their versatile offense. 

“(The tournament is) something we’re very excited 

for, to have the opportunity to play in the NCAA 

Tournament,” Barnes Arico said after the Northwestern 

loss on Thursday. “It’s something that we weren’t able 

to do last year. I like the fact that we have some time for 

preparation because our team could really use it.” 

The Wolverine’s No. 6 seed ranking has much to do 

with the department-wide 14-day pause in January, 

which caused Michigan to miss six games. It’s possible 

the Wolverines would have found themselves in a higher 

seed had the pause not occurred, as they struggled to 

recapture their early-season form during the last stretch 

of the year. At a point in its season when Michigan should 

be in prime fitness, it is still working towards its peak. 

“I keep a notebook of our practice plans every year 

and I wrote on practice plan 82 today,” Barnes Arico said. 

“Typically at this time, we’re on practice 102. That gives 

you a little bit of where we are.” 

The Wolverines have an opportunity against the 

Eagles in the NCAA Tournament. Florida Gulf Coast 

can do everything the Wolverines have struggled to do: 

Shooting 3-pointers, taking opponents off the dribble 

and winning games down the stretch.

After a slow finish, San Antonio presents Michigan 

with a chance to recapture its first-half magic and prove 

its doubters wrong along the way.

NICK MOEN

Daily Sports Writer 

