Michigan will need the 'best frontcourt ever,' to deliver against Arizona in Final 4

When it comes to the Final Four matchup between Michigan basketball and Arizona, it's hard to ignore the dominance of both programs in the paint.

As Dylan Burkhardt of UM Hoops posted on X earlier this week, "These two teams are built to win the same way: inside out."

Burkhardt cited what he called "phyiscality stats." Michigan is first in adjusted defensive efficiency; Arizona is second. Michigan is first in effective field-goal percentage allowed; Arizona is second. In 2-point defense, Arizona is second, and Michigan is third. In points in the paint per game, the Wildcats rank fourth, while the Wolverines are 10th. Arizona is also a top-five offensive rebounding team; Michigan is ranked 50th. The Wolveriners are also 3rd in block rate; Arizona is 91st.

What it all means is that there is going to be a war in the paint on Saturday night. Michigan's bigs will be critical for the Wolverines, both offensively and defensively. Tennessee was the best offensive rebounding team in the nation, and Michigan neutralized that threat, despite a rough start.

The Vols only rebounded 35 percent of their missed shots, well below their season average of 45 percent. Another underrated aspect of the win was the fact that Michigan shot 65 percent on twos (19 of 29) compared to 38 percent for Tennessee (18 of 50).

Tennessee won the possession battle, Michigan's bigs just made it not matter, even though Mara and Morez Johnson each battled foul trouble. Yaxel Lendeborg was the best player on the floor, as he's been throughout the entire NCAA Tournament.

The "best frontcourt we have ever seen" needs to deliver for Michigan basketball

That needs to be true again this weekend. Michigan's frontcourt, which Rapheal Davis of the Big Ten Network called "the best frontcourt we have ever seen in college basketball," also needs to live up to that billing this weekend.

3-point shooting will be important, too. The Wolverines have shot 46 percent or better from 3-point range in three of their four wins. U-M made 37 percent beyond the arc against Tennessee (10).

If Michigan makes 10 3-pointers on Saturday, it's hard to see the Wolverines losing, especially if the frontcourt outplays Arizona, as it should with three future first-round picks.