Michigan vs. Alabama scouting report, prediction for March Madness Sweet 16
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James Hawkins of The Detroit News breaks down Michigan's Sweet 16 opponent in the NCAA Tournament and predicts the outcome:
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Michigan vs. Alabama scouting report
▶ Alabama is coming off one of its most impressive NCAA Tournament wins in program history. The fourth-seeded Tide beat No. 5 seed Texas Tech, 90-65, in the second round to secure a fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16, which set a school record. Alabama led by as much as 34 points before settling for a 25-point margin of victory, which is tied for the largest in a March Madness game in program history. Alabama had 25 assists on 30 baskets and made 19 3-pointers, both good for the second-highest totals in an NCAA Tournament game in the program record books. All that happened with leading scorer Labaron Philon Jr., a third-team All-American selection, tallying just nine points and without second-leading scorer Aden Holloway, who was arrested on a felony drug charge before the Big Dance started.
▶ Alabama leads the nation in scoring offense (91.6 points) and is on track to finish with its highest adjusted offensive efficiency rating on KenPom (1.296 points per possession) during coach Nate Oats’ seven-year tenure. Alabama has scored at least 90 points in 22 games this season, which leads all Division 1 teams by five games (Akron is second at 17 games). The Crimson Tide rely on the deep ball and have made 436 3-pointers this season, a program record that’s also the fourth most by a Division 1 team in a single season in NCAA history. Per KenPom, 42% of Alabama’s points come from 3-pointers, a mark that ranks No. 9 in the nation.
▶ During SEC play, Alabama’s defense ranked in the middle of the pack and was eighth out of 16 teams in defensive efficiency (1.14 points per possession). But Alabama was also near the bottom in the conference in block percentage (8.5%; 14th), steal percentage (7.9%; 15th) and turnover percentage (11.5%; 18th). On the season, the Tide rank No. 347 out of 361 Division 1 teams in scoring defense (82.5 points). And of the 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, Alabama has the second-worst defensive efficiency rating (1.023 points per possession), ahead of only Texas (1.042 points per possession).
Michigan vs. Alabama prediction
How high will the score go in this one? The Crimson Tide like to run, gun and bomb away from deep. The Wolverines are at their best when they push the pace and get out in the open floor. Both teams are down a key piece — Alabama is without Holloway and backup point guard L.J. Cason is out for Michigan — but have rolled, putting up at least 90 points in each of their first two NCAA Tournament wins. Michigan can win the race to that mark as long as it dominates the paint on both ends. This is the time of the year when being able to beat teams in different ways matters, and when living and dying by the 3 is a dangerous dance. Pick: Michigan, 90-84
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NCAA Tournament
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 4 ALABAMA
▶ What: Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament game
▶ When: Friday, 7:35 p.m.
▶ Where: United Center, Chicago
▶ TV: TBS/TruTV
▶ Records: Michigan 33-3, Alabama 25-9
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Wolverines prediction for Sweet 16 of 2026 NCAA bracket