Dusty May leads Michigan back to Final Four with dominant win over Tennessee
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Midwest Regional is officially complete, and Michigan has emerged as its clear-cut champion.
Top-seeded Michigan delivered a commanding performance Sunday night, overwhelming No. 6 Tennessee 95-62 at the United Center to punch its ticket to the Final Four.
The result was so decisive that Tennessee’s starters began walking off the floor in tears with more than three minutes remaining, a reflection of Michigan’s complete control throughout the night.
With the win, Michigan advances to the Final Four for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in program history.
“It’s really special,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “It’s special because of all the things that have happened since 2018 with basketball. It just makes me so proud with Dusty and the staff and especially the student-athletes who have to come out and play.”
The victory also marks another milestone for second-year head coach Dusty May, who continues to elevate the program at a rapid pace. After leading Michigan to the Elite Eight in his first season, May has now guided the Wolverines one step further, raising expectations as the team heads into the national semifinals.
Michigan’s dominance has been a theme throughout the tournament. Despite falling to Purdue in the Big Ten championship game, the Wolverines have responded emphatically in March, defeating Howard, Saint Louis, Alabama and Tennessee while scoring at least 90 points in every game. Sunday’s 95-point outing was yet another example of their offensive consistency.
The Wolverines now sit at 35-3, setting a new program record for wins in a single season.
Leading the charge was All-American Yaxel Lendeborg, who finished with 27 points in the regional final and anchored a balanced, high-powered attack. His performance underscored Michigan’s ability to dominate on both ends of the floor.
Players were quick to credit May’s leadership as a driving force behind the team’s success.
“Dusty, he’s a really good coach on the court and off the court,” guard Trey McKenney said. “He cares about us as people. It’s just a really good feeling to have coach May.”
Forward Morez Johnson echoed that sentiment.
“Coach May wants to put you in a position to win,” Johnson said. “He wants to see all his players do their best, and he’s a player’s coach. I love playing for Coach May.”
Even May’s son, Charlie, who is part of the program, highlighted his father’s impact after scoring his first postseason points in the victory.
“He’s a great guy, and that’s my dad,” Charlie May said. “He’s very positive every day. He wants to coach people and teach people, so it’s been a blessing playing for him.”
Next up, Michigan will travel to Indianapolis for a Final Four matchup against No. 1 Arizona. The Wolverines’ last appearance at this stage ended with a national runner-up finish in 2018.
Now, with momentum firmly on their side, the question shifts from how far Michigan can go to whether May can complete the job in just his second season.