yahoo - 3/29/2026 2:37:26 PM - GMT (+2 )
After being able to derail run-and-gun teams like Saint Louis and Alabama in the second round and Sweet 16, No. 1 seed Michigan will have a different challenge on its hands with No. 6 Tennessee in Sunday's Elite Eight.
The Vols dig in on the defensive end, run two-big lineups and are the nation's top offensive rebounding team (as evidenced in their Sweet 16 win over Iowa State).
"We understand that especially at this point of the season, any team is a challenge," Michigan's Nimari Burnett said. "We're also ready to take the challenge to them as well. We look forward to a really good, physical game but also playing our style of play on both end of the floor."
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'Regular-Season Rick' winning in March: Rick Barnes won't gloat about it, though
For Tennessee, this a third straight trip to the Elite Eight... but a chance to reach the program's first Final Four.
"For me, it's definitely an added motivation. I'm hungry for it," Vols guard Bishop Boswell said. "Last year, I was here and we were able to get to the Elite Eight thanks to the senior guys. We weren't able to get it done. To see their faces, it hurt absolutely last year, watching the ceremony and everything of that nature and just seeing we weren't able to get to that point."
Here's what you need to know for today's Elite Eight matchup, including predictions and how to watch:
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Michigan vs Tennessee basketball live score| TEAMS | 1H | 2H | F |
| Tennessee | — | — | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — |
- Time: 2:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 29.
- The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.
∎ Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 81, Tennessee 69.
Michigan has played every style this season and rarely had a problem. Yaxel Lendeborg comes off a historic game and has made 10 of 18 3's in United Center in U-M's four games in Chicago the past two weeks. With Trey McKenney and Gayle providing consistent scoring off the bench, Mara and Johnson as a deep front line and Cadeau pacing the offense, U-M may take a moment to figure out Tennessee's defense that walls off at the rim, but should eventually be able to drive and kick its way to victory.
∎ Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 75, Tennessee 67
The Wolverines just beat the SEC’s best offensive team and now they face the SEC’s best defensive team. As U-M has shown all season, few teams adapt as well as it does. The Wolverines will again.
∎ Wynton Jackson, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Michigan 77, Tennessee 72
Tennessee's path to victory remains constant: win big on the offensive glass, limit mistakes down the stretch and turn to either point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie or Ament for big buckets in crunch time. The Vols have had considerable frontcourt advantages in their first three NCAA Tournament games, but Michigan narrows that gap. There's an even fewer margin for error against Michigan, one that Iowa State couldn't exploit without injured Joshua Jefferson.
The Wolverines are the most complete team Tennessee has faced thus far, and at risk of getting egg on our face (again), Michigan should advance to the Final Four.
- Jeff Seidel: Michigan 79, Tennessee 70
- Carlos Monarrez: Michigan 92, Tennessee 78
- John Leuzzi: Michigan
- Jordan Mendoza: Michigan
- Ehsan Kassim: Michigan
- Austin Curtright: Michigan
- John Leuzzi: Slow down Tennessee's offense, and break through Tennessee's front court.
- Jordan Mendoza: It controls the tempo.
- Ehsan Kassim: It can limit Tennessee's offensive rebounding.
- Austin Curtright: It takes advantage of its size advantage. Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara make up perhaps the best frontcourt in college basketball, and they've been wildly efficient under the basket this season.
- John Leuzzi: It can stop Yaxel Lendeborg, and win on the offensive glass.
- Jordan Mendoza: Wins the battle of the bigs.
- Ehsan Kassim: It finds away to neutralize Yaxel Lendeborg.
- Austin Curtright: Limits turnovers. While Tennessee upset Iowa State in the Sweet 16, it surrendered 16 turnovers against the pesky Cyclones defense. It won't get any easier to score against Michigan, either.
Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issuesElliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn't stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg.
Nate Ament injury update: How much will Vols star play vs Michigan?The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness. He played 29 minutes in the Vols' second round win over Virginia, scoring 16 points and 25 minutes in Tennessee's Sweet 16 win over Iowa State, scoring 18 points.
"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game," he said prior to the UVA game. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season.
"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could," Barnes said.
Has Tennessee ever been to a Final Four?No. Tennessee men's team has never been to a Final Four.
Rick Barnes March Madness recordBarnes is 38-25 in his career in the NCAA Tournament and led Texas to the 2003 Final Four.
Nate Ament 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft predictionNo. 11 overall to Portland Trail Blazers.
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, that team is probably picking fairly early in the lottery.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Nate Ament stats(all stats as of March 15)
- 17.5 points per game
- 6.6 rebounds per game
- 2.5 assists per game
- 40.5% field goal percentage
- 33.1% three-point field goal percentage
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan vs Tennessee basketball news, predictions, Elite 8 time, how to watch
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