NCAA tournament bracket update: Michigan upsets Louisville in Midwest region

The Michigan Wolverines have had a whirlwind March, and their story continues into the Big Dance’s Sweet 16 round. The Wolverines stunned No. 2 Louisville in the Midwest region’s second round, 73-69, sending Rick Pitino’s Cardinals packing from this year’s Big Dance.

Michigan big man Moritz Wagner’s career-high 26 points led all scorers on the day.

Michigan entered this game as one of March’s hottest teams, overcoming no less than a plane accident to win the Big Ten title. In the NCAA tournament’s first round, the Wolverines then beat No. 10 Oklahoma State in a barnburner of a game, 92-91, and suddenly they appeared set to run deep into this year’s Big Dance. Michigan shot so well this year that Rick Pitino compared them to the Golden State Warriors, in fact.

Though down 36-28 at the half, Michigan battled back to tie things up at 55 with seven minutes to play. From there Wagner took things over briefly to push Michigan out to a 64-59 lead, aided by a boneheaded basket interference call on Louisville’s Anas Mahmoud.

Michigan has averaged just 6.3 turnovers per game this season, and it gave up just three in the first half. Louisville, on the other hand, is averaging 11 turnovers per game this year and coughed up six in the first half. Still, the Cardinals’ defense clamped down, holding the Wolverines’ vaunted shooters to just 37 percent from the field and a meager 27 percent from three point range. Louisville also destroyed Michigan on the boards in the opening frame with a 24-16 rebounding advantage.

Now, the Wolverines await the outcome of Sunday night’s matchup between Oregon and Rhode Island. Michigan is the story of this year’s Dance in the early going.