The Michigan Wolverines are Final Four-bound in a season where it feels like championship or bust for head coach Dusty May and his squad. While there were many questions about this team, the Wolverines have proven they are the real deal in the NCAA Tournament with dominant play, play that has exceeded what anyone thought they could do.
One of their biggest critics and frankly, someone who questions if they had what it took was First Take's Stephen A. Smith. The notorious sports talking head has not given Michigan the credit it so rightly deserved all season long, but he is backpedaling now, and actually apologizing tot he Wolverines.
"I owe the Michigan Wolverines an apology. I have completely underestimated this team," Smith said. "I did not give them the respect that they deserved coming into this tournament. ... They can win it all."
"I owe the Michigan Wolverines an apology. ... I did not give them the respect that they deserved coming into this tournament. ... They can win it all."
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 30, 2026
—@stephenasmith on Michigan in the men's NCAA tournament 👀 pic.twitter.com/0nSKCTv2Ug
The Michigan Wolverines are having fans actually believing in bringing home a Natty
After a completely dominant performance against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight, Michigan is still dancing its way into the Final Four. The Wolverines won their Elite Eight game by the largest margin of any other matchup, showing their dominance over the Volunteers.
Players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Elliot Cadeau are proving that this could be the best Michigan team since the last one to win it all in 1989; however, only one thing can secure that: a National Championship trophy.
May did everything he needed to in the offseason in order to get Michigan right to this point. Bringing in a player like Lendeborg has completely elevated the offense, and others are seeing it as well. Smith talked about it in his apology to the Wolverines.
There are only two more games standing between Michigan and cutting down the nets. Their toughest opponent, though, is just ahead as Arizona is the other most dominant team left, and they will now play each other in the Final Four with a trip to the National Championship on the line.