Michigan Basketball: Breaking down win over LSU en route to Sweet 16

The Wolverines powered through some nasty adversity to move on to its fourth sweet 16 in as many tournaments.

LSU raced out to control to keep the maize and blue on the edge of their seat for much of the first half. However, before the buzzer sounded for halftime, Michigan basketball punched its way back to gain a narrow one-point lead heading into the locker room.

The Wolverines withstood LSU’s best shot and were still standing firmly right in the spot that they needed to be with 20 minutes remaining to make their move.

The Tigers made things interesting in the second by staying nip and tuck with the Wolverines for about 10 minutes of the game clock.

It was not until Michigan made a 9-0 run after falling behind by five halfway through the period. Chaundee Brown put his stamp on that signature moment with four free throws and a successful 3-point attempt that seized the lead in what turned out to be the tipping point.

Brooks and Brown were masterful

Brown was masterful off the bench in picking up the slack for an injured Isaiah Livers. He wasn’t alone though. Eli Brooks etched his name in the record books with the heavy lifting to the tune of a season-high 21 points. Brooks also sparked the attack with a team-high five triples, while Brown also recorded 21 which is a season-high for him too.

Will Wade’s squad played carefully with the ball in their sights as the Tigers only turned it over three times. Michigan basketball countered with 10 bombs from behind the arc that helped push the needle in its favor. The Wolverines shot 54 percent from the field for the contest and nearly tripled the Tigers in the assists category.

Cam Thomas out-dueled Hunter Dickinson in the freshman phenom matchup. He scored 30 for the second time in what has been a sensational season for the standout freshmen.

Dickinson was no slouch by any means though. He notched a double-double for his efforts. There’s no doubt that when the time comes and these two decide to go pro, they most certainly will be coveted prospects by everyone in the NBA.

Almost three years to the day Michigan basketball will get to go head-to-head with the Florida State Seminoles for a right to advance to the elite eight. Michigan beat FSU that day 58-54 to earn a trip to the Final four.

Michigan was a three seed and the Noles were a nine seed. This time around the Wolverines are still going to be the favorites, but before the brackets got busted some experts picked the FSU to upset the top seed in the East region, so Michigan knows that it cannot afford to take this version lightly either.