Updated March 27, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET
CHICAGO – Michigan vs. Alabama sounds like a football fan’s dream. But Friday night’s Sweet 16 game will be everything a basketball would want, too. Why? Expect plenty of fireworks.
Michigan averages 87.4 points per game, while Alabama leads the nation at 91.6 ppg. Giddy up.
Alabama has looked impressive with tournament wins over Hofstra (90-70) and Texas Tech (90-65), and even without Aden Holloway, the backcourt pairing of Labaron Philon (29 points vs. Hofstra) and Latrell Wrightsell (24 points vs. Texas Tech) have been lethal.
Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg leads the line for Michigan, with Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Aday Mara anchoring the post. The Wolverines were able to slow down the run-and-gun, high-flying Saint Louis offense in the second round. Can they do the same vs. the Crimson Tide?
The winner of tonight’s game advances to Sunday’s Elite Eight, where it will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee.
Here’s what you need to know for tonight’s Michigan vs. Alabama Sweet 16 game, including predictions and how to watch.
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| TEAMS | 1H | 2H | F |
| Alabama | 11 | — | — |
| Michigan | 4 | — | — |
Behind three 3-pointers, Alabama holds an 11-4 lead over Michigan at the first media timeout with 15:38 left in the half. Aiden Sherrill has knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for the Crimson Tide.
Elliot Cadeau has had a pair of 3-pointers go in and out so far on open looks.
The Sweet 16 matchup between Michigan and Alabama is underway at the United Center in Chicago. The winner advances to the Elite Eight.
Alabama:
Michigan:
Odds provided by BetMGM.
∎ Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan 94, Alabama 82
The Tide have the shooting and know their formula to win: “Execute the game plan, make shots, protect the way to ball, find a way to rebound,” Oats said. Saying it is one thing. Doing it is entirely different. Michigan has more avenues to victory. If the shots aren’t falling, it can go inside. If drop coverage isn’t working on pick-and-rolls, U-M can hard hedge. If one player is having an off day, even Lendeborg, there is enough talent to offset that. Alabama doesn’t quite have the same room for error. It must hit 3s, lots of them, to win this game. With the belief Michigan can eventually find a way to slow the Tide down as the game goes on, it’s reasonable to think the Wolverines will be in a tight game that they eventually pull away in.
∎ Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News: Michigan 95, Alabama 88
Nate Oats’ name continues to circulate for the North Carolina men’s basketball head coach job opening. Oats candidly answered questions about his future with Alabama on Thursday, March 26, one day before the Crimson Tide takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 from the United Center.
“As a young high school coach, I didn’t think I’d ever be in this spot not too long ago. I’m not a guy that’s always trying to jump around,” Oats said. “The grass isn’t always greener. I love Alabama. My girls love Alabama.
“I’m not looking to leave.”
Oats continued: “I still can’t believe I am getting paid this much. I’m coaching basketball guys,” Oats said of his current contract with Alabama. “I did this thing for free at Maranatha [Baptist] for three years. … For the first 16 years I coached basketball, [I made] less than $500,000 total.
“My salary goes up half a million every year. I am a glorified P.E. teacher making too much money right now. So, I’m not going to complain.”
Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16 and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp after the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.
He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and was set with a $5,000 bond, according to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The University of Alabama later released a statement and said he was removed from campus and won’t return to the team until the university’s office of student conduct finishes its investigation.
Lendeborg played for the University of Alabama-Birmingham for two years in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before entering the portal at the conclusion of last season. When he entered, he had hoped to stay in-state.
“When I entered the transfer portal out of UAB, I was hoping to get recruited by Alabama. And when I didn’t, it kind of hurt me a little bit. Not in a way that I can say ‘I hate them.’ It just bothered me a little.”
“There’s going to be juice for sure,” Lendeborg said of playing Alabama. “I know I’m going to try my best to be the best player on the floor tomorrow for sure. All it is extra motivation for sure, just not in the sense where I’m like, ‘this is what you guys missed on,’ but like you guys could have called at least, or something like that.”
Dusty May and Nate Oats refuted that Alabama never recruited Lendeborg, who was named Big Ten Player of the Year this season.
“Nate and I being friends, we talked through that process,” May said. “And don’t tell Yax, but they did try to recruit him.”
Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn’t stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg.
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