Alabama Set for Showdown With Top-Seeded Michigan in NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Final

CHICAGO (Interstat) — A spot in the Final Four will be on the line Friday when the high-octane Alabama Crimson Tide face the dominant Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional final at the United Center.

The ninth-seeded Crimson Tide (25-9) arrive as one of the nation’s most potent offenses, averaging 90.5 points per game in the tournament after a 90-65 rout of Texas Tech on Sunday. They will face their toughest test yet in the top-seeded Wolverines (33-3), whose stifling defense and balanced attack have them favored by 10.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 172.5.

Alabama’s hopes often hinge on the explosive scoring of guard Latrell Wrightsell. He poured in 24 points against Texas Tech and has averaged 18.2 points over his last five games, including a 25-point effort in a key road win at Tennessee. He will need a similar performance to challenge a Michigan defense that has held opponents to 72.3 points per game.

The Wolverines counter with their own standout in forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a versatile force who scored 25 points in Saturday’s 95-72 win over Saint Louis. Over his last eight games, Lendeborg has averaged 17.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, showcasing an all-around game that powers Michigan’s system.

Michigan’s path included a 101-80 win over Howard and a tight 68-65 victory over Wisconsin. Their only loss since Feb. 21 was a 72-80 defeat to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament. Alabama’s tournament run features wins over Hofstra and Texas Tech, but their season has been marked by volatility, including narrow losses to Mississippi and a 98-88 defeat at Georgia.

The matchup pits Alabama’s relentless pace against Michigan’s disciplined, physical style. The Crimson Tide have scored at least 90 points in three of their last five games, while the Wolverines have held 10 of their last 13 opponents under 80 points.

Tipoff is set for approximately 5:09 p.m. CDT Friday. The winner will advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis.