Saint Louis' 'Cream Abdul-Jabbar' Leads Billikens Against Michigan

Robbie Avila and the 9-seed Saint Louis Billikens take on the 1-seed Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament's second round.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:08am

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The Michigan Wolverines will face off against the Saint Louis Billikens in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Saint Louis is led by center Robbie "Cream Abdul-Jabbar" Avila, who leads the team in points, assists, and fashion with his signature eyewear. The Billikens have six players averaging at least 9 points per game, making them a balanced offensive squad. Michigan, the 1-seed, is led by a dominant frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, and will look to use their size advantage against the Billikens.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with contrasting styles - the balanced, high-scoring Saint Louis offense against the physical, paint-dominant Michigan frontcourt. It will be a clash of strengths as the Billikens try to upset the top-seeded Wolverines and advance in the tournament.

The details

Saint Louis is led by center Robbie "Cream Abdul-Jabbar" Avila, who averages a team-high 12.9 points and 4.1 assists per game. The Billikens have six players scoring in double figures, led by Avila, Dion Brown, Trey Green, and Amari McCottry. Michigan, on the other hand, is powered by its dominant frontcourt trio of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, who combine to average over 39 points and 21 rebounds per game.

  • The second-round matchup between Michigan and Saint Louis will take place on Saturday, March 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.

The players

Robbie Avila

The 6-foot-11 center for the Saint Louis Billikens, leading the team in points, assists, and fashion with his signature eyewear.

Yaxel Lendeborg

The 6-foot-8 forward for the Michigan Wolverines, leading the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game.

Morez Johnson Jr.

The 6-foot-9 forward for the Michigan Wolverines, averaging a double-double with 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Aday Mara

The 7-foot center for the Michigan Wolverines, providing a dominant presence in the paint alongside Lendeborg and Johnson.

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What they’re saying

“Robbie Avila is the heart and soul of this team. When he's playing well, we're tough to beat.”

— Josh Schertz, Head Coach, Saint Louis Billikens

“Our size and physicality in the frontcourt is going to be a major advantage for us against Saint Louis. We need to dominate the paint and control the glass.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan-Saint Louis matchup will advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face the winner of the game between 4-seed Gonzaga and 12-seed Vermont.

The takeaway

This second-round clash will showcase the contrasting styles of the high-powered Saint Louis offense and the physical, defensive-minded Michigan frontcourt. Whichever team can impose its will and take advantage of its strengths will likely emerge victorious and keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.