The Michigan basketball men's team advanced to the Sweet 16 on Saturday with a win over Texas A&M and the Michigan women's basketball team hopes to follow suit with a win over Notre Dame on Sunday.
It will be a much more difficult challenge for the women. For one, the Wolverines are playing at Notre Dame in a true road game. The higher-seeded teams still host the regional in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
The Irish are also on fire and are one of the best scoring teams in women's college basketball. Notre Dame scored over 100 points in the win over Stephen F. Austin. They are also the best 3-point shooting team in women's college basketball (39.4 percent).
Hannah Hidalgo spearheads the Irish attack with 24 points per game. She makes two 3-pointers per game (40 percent) and averages 3.8 steals. Backcourt mate Olivia Miles is just as dangerous. She's an elite playmaker too with 5.9 assists, leading the ACC, in addition to 2.2 triples per game (40 percent) and 15 points per game.
Michigan women's basketball will have its hands full on defense. Notre Dame is also 10th in 3-point percentage defense. The Irish are long and active, ranking 11th in steals per game and seventh in blocks per game, in addition to forcing 18.8 turnovers per game.
However, Michigan women's basketball has played well against tough teams all year. They hung with USC in the Big Ten semifinals and nearly beat South Carolina, another No. 1 seed, in the season opener.
The Wolverines need to take care of the ball and knock down shots. They made 12 3-pointers against Iowa State on Friday. Jordan Hobbs made five by herself as she scored 28 points. Syla Swords and Olivia Olson will need to be special.
The freshman are the first tandem in Big Ten history to score 500 points each during their freshmen seasons. Olson hit a mid-range dagger to ice the win on Sunday and they'll both need to probably score around 20 points if the Wolverines are going to pull the upset.
Michigan women's basketball vs. Notre Dame how to watch
Date: March 23rd Game Time: 1:00 PM EST Venue: Edmund P. Joyce Center How to Watch: ABC | FUBO TV