As we move toward March Madness, it’s good to take inventory of every team that has realistic expectations of running through the bracket. Are six straight wins to end the season within the range of outcomes for Michigan?
Michigan Wolverines March Madness Profile
The Wolverines entered the season with expectations (seventh in the preseason AP Poll) and wasted no time in showcasing some of what was possible by winning each of their first 14 games.
Dominating efforts over Auburn (102-72, with four players scoring at least 15 points and winning the rebounding battle by 16) and Gonzaga (101-61, shooting over 60% from the field as a team) highlighted that early run. As the season has progressed, UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg has looked more like the player we projected him to be.
The star forward poured in 26 points (15 FTA), grabbed 12 rebounds, and played a mistake-free game in a late January road win over rival Michigan State. He’s marrying consistency with upside as he gets comfortable in this system, and that puts him on the short list of players who can single-handedly determine outcomes this postseason.
Of course, any team that has succeeded at this high of a level is more than just a single player. It’s rarely the case for a team with a pro-level big man to also push tempo, but that’s the combination that the Wolverines have (among the fastest-paced teams in the country), and that makes them a tough scout for opponents.
Even if you manage to limit the possession count, you’re not assured of anything. Opponents have been converting roughly 40% of their two-point attempts against Michigan all season long, an elite defensive rate that tells the story of a unit that can flip any game by clamping down for extended periods of time.
The guards on this team are counted on more for a strong assist-to-turnover role, one that sees them setting up their high-scoring frontcourt mates with opportunities, but both are more than capable from distance.
The last time this team made the Final Four was in Duncan Robinson’s final season on campus. He didn’t average double figures that year or in that tournament, but he was a threat from beyond the arc during the regular season and the tournament run, opening up the interior success that made that team dangerous.
Every champion looks a bit different. Some win with defense. Others with shooting. Some with guts and grit. On any given day, the 2026 Wolverines can win in each of those ways, and that is what truly makes them dangerous to rattle off six straight victories at the perfect time.