Michigan was supposed to be in a rebuilding year, a season after losing Deshawn Sims and Manny Harris, but in their blowout win over Tennessee on Friday, it seems that the young Wolverines are rebuilt and rolling.
Michigan and Tennessee played relatively closely in the first half, and at one point the Volunteers even led the Wolverines 23-17. From this point onward though Michigan outscored Tennessee 58-22. The second half was as lopsided a game as ever there has been seen in an 8/9 match up, supposedly two very matched teams.
The Wolverines shot the ball very well, making over 50% of their shots from the field, and managed to have five different players in double figures, including Zac Novak, who led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds. In every aspect, Michigan out played the embattled Volunteers, winning the rebounding battle 35-24, doubling the number of assists, 20-10, and forcing Tennessee into 18 turnovers.
For Tennessee it is a rough end to a rough season, and the future of Bruce Pearl is now very much in jeopardy in Knoxville. A blowout loss and the NCAA violations still hanging over Pearl may have undone three Sweet Sixteen trips and last year's Elite Eight.
Michigan advances to the third round, and will likely face No.1 seed Duke on Sunday.