Michigan’s Trey Burke (3) and Glenn Robinson III, center, defend Saturday against Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams during their NCAA game action in the NCAA Final Four , in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Julian H. Gonzalez )ATLANTA – For the first time since 1993, Michigan will play for the NCAA men’s basketball title.
Despite stumbling and bumbling down the stretch against Syracuse in Saturday night’s second Final Four semifinal in the Georgia Dome, the Wolverines outlasted the Orange 61-56. They will face Louisville — which beat Wichita State 72-68 in the first semifinal — in Monday night’s NCAA title game.
“We never know who’s going to step up for us,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “But Syracuse is a quality team and this feels great.”
To look at the halftime stat sheet was to understand why Michigan led 36-25. No Wolverine had more than six points, but five players had at least five points and the UM bench owned a 16-7 lead over the ‘Cuse reserves.
As CBS talking head Doug Gottlieb noted at the break, “Michigan is putting on an absolute clinic on how to attack a zone.”