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Michigan Basketball: 2021 team brings up memories of 2013

By Adam Childs

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Caris LeVert #23 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass against Chane Behanan #21 of the Louisville Cardinals during the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Caris LeVert #23 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass against Chane Behanan #21 of the Louisville Cardinals during the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Michigan basketball team is headed to its fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance (behind only Gonzga’s six for the longest streak in the country) after beating a game LSU team on Monday night. The win puts the Wolverines two wins away from making their third Final Four appearance in eight years.

It wasn’t easy for the Wolverines but they made it through the first weekend anyway. While this team has felt different all year, the way this tournament is playing out is bringing back memories of the 2013 team and their run to the national title game.

In 2013, the Wolverines were struggling heading into the tournament and widely seen as one of the weakest four seeds in the Big Dance. They were a trendy pick to lose in the first round to South Dakota State and even more, people picked them to lose to VCU in the second round.

This year the Wolverines were seen as the weakest number one seed and while they weren’t picked to lose in the first round, a lot of brackets had them getting beat by LSU in the second round. In 2013, Michigan easily dispatched VCU, while this year it was much tougher, but still proved a lot of experts wrong.

Win over LSU reminds of 2013

In the second weekend, the 2013 team was looking at top-seeded Kansas before having to take on a hot SEC team. This year the Wolverines don’t have to take on a top seed, but they may have to take on a scorching hot SEC team to get to the Final Four. They must also beat a team from the state of Florida.

While it is not exactly the same, it brings back lots of good memories for Michigan basketball fans. But it goes beyond just the teams they are playing.

In 2013 the Wolverines were deep and could rely on a number of different players to score. They had Trey Burke leading the way, but they also had Glen Robinson III, Nick Staukus, and Mitch McGary they could get scoring from. Add in Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht and you had a bunch of guys that could get hot on the team.

This year’s team is very similar. The Wolverines have Hunter Dickinson, Franz Wagner, Eli Brooks, and Mike Smith who all can score. Then you bring Chaundee Brown Jr. off the bench and get help from Austin Davis and Brandon Johns Jr and you have a lot of guys that can score.

They are once again a very deep team and one that has been overlooked. Even as a one seed this year, not many people are paying attention to the Wolverines and that is just how they like it. While being doubted doesn’t allow you to win games, the Wolverines seem to thrive in that situation.

We still have to wait and see if this team will head to the Final Four like the 2013 team, but the similarities are there and it is bringing back some great memories. Hopefully, this team can catch that magic for another few games and get one step further than the 2013 team did.

Next. 3 things we learned from win over LSU. dark

Since 2013, Michigan has the most tournament wins in the country, but the Wolverines are missing that elusive national title. The 2021 team is still alive and hopes to end that drought.

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