As Auburn men’s basketball prepares for its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019, get to know its opponent: No. 5 seed Michigan.
Head Coach:
This is Dusty May’s first season coaching the Wolverines, signing on with Michigan in March of 2024 after six seasons at Florida Atlantic. In 2023, he led the Owls to their first NCAA tournament win as well as their first Final Four appearance in school history.
At Michigan Mays led the Wolverines to a 27-9 record, a remarkable turnaround from last season’s 8-24. Michigan also went on to win the Big 10 Tournament, making Mays the first first-year coach to win the league's tournament. May has an overall 66.2% win rate in his six years as a head coach.
Road to the Sweet 16:
Michigan began its 2025 March Madness journey by facing No. 12 seed UC San Diego. The Wolverines came out of the gate swinging, jumping to a 10-point lead quickly. They held a comfortable lead until about 4 minutes left in the second half. UC San Diego pushed Michigan’s defense with a flurry of offensive production, tying and eventually leading the game briefly with two minutes to go. However, a Tre Donaldson three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Vladislav Goldin sealed the game for Michigan, winning 68-65.
In the round of 32, the Wolverines faced No. 4 Texas A&M. The game was tight throughout the first half, but Michigan suddenly exploded offensively in the second half. Guard Roddy Gayle Jr. produced 26 points, 21 of which came in the second half, while Goldin added 23 points to lift Michigan to a 91-79 victory over the Aggies.
Offense:
The Wolverines have a strong offense, averaging 78.3 points per game and shooting 47.1% from the field. Their game works on passing the ball well to tire out defenses, averaging 16.1 assists per game which ranks 38th in the nation. Michigan also averages 11.1 offensive rebounds per game, crashing the boards for more points in the paint and second-chance points by their big men.
Defense:
Michigan also has a strong defense, only allowing 71.3 points per game. The Wolverines haul in 27.5 defensive rebounds per game, limiting their opponents in the post. They also deny 3.6 shots per game and come away with 5.5 steals per game, disrupting opponents' games.
Players to Watch:
The team’s leading scorer is Vladislav Goldin, a 7-foot-1 center from Russia. Goldin played three seasons under May at Florida Atlantic, before transferring to Michigan as a graduate student. Goldin averages 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, a dominating presence in the paint for the Wolverines.
Forward Danny Wolf is also a transfer, joining Michigan after two years with Yale. Wolf helped lead Yale to win the Ivy League Tournament in 2024 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Wolf currently averages 13.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, leading the team in rebounds.
The last but certainly not least of Michigan’s leaders is guard Tre Donaldson. Auburn fans may recognize Donaldson, as he was an Auburn Tiger for two seasons. Donaldson is averaging 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game, leading the team in assists and following only Goldin and Wolf in points.
No. 1 overall seed Auburn tips off against Michigan in Atlanta on Friday, March 28 at 8:39 p.m. CST. The game will be available to watch on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
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Jackie is a freshman majoring in Drug and Biopharmaceutical Sciences. She started with The Plainsman in fall 2024.
You can follow her on X (Twitter) at @jackie_domingun
