Michigan Basketball Faces Sharpshooter Alabama in Sweet 16

Wolverines look to contain Crimson Tide's prolific 3-point attack in NCAA Tournament matchup

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:18am

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Michigan basketball will face off against an Alabama Crimson Tide team that has attempted a staggering 78 3-pointers and made 31 of them in two NCAA Tournament games so far. The Wolverines, led by Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, will need to find a way to slow down Alabama's perimeter shooting attack in their Sweet 16 matchup on Friday in Chicago.

Why it matters

This game pits two teams with contrasting styles - Michigan's balanced, inside-out attack against Alabama's relentless 3-point shooting. The outcome could come down to whether the Wolverines can effectively defend the perimeter and force the Crimson Tide to find other ways to score.

The details

Michigan is coming off a dominant second-round win over Saint Louis, in which Lendeborg scored 25 points and the Wolverines' frontcourt controlled the game. Alabama, meanwhile, has been fueled by the sharpshooting of Labaron Philon, who is averaging 22 points per game in the tournament. The Crimson Tide have attempted the most 3-pointers of any team left in the field.

  • The Sweet 16 matchup between Michigan and Alabama will tip off at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday, March 27 in Chicago.
  • Michigan is making its 34th NCAA Tournament appearance, with eight Final Fours and one national championship.
  • Alabama is making its 27th NCAA Tournament appearance, with a 34-26 all-time record in the Big Dance.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

The Big Ten Player of the Year is averaging 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for Michigan.

Labaron Philon

Alabama's leading scorer at 22 points per game, Philon is shooting 40.3% from 3-point range in the tournament.

Nate Oats

In his seventh season as Alabama's head coach, Oats has led the Crimson Tide to a 25-9 record and their fourth Sweet 16 appearance.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to defend the 3-point line against a team like Alabama. They can really light it up from deep.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach

“This is an emotional return for me to the NCAA Tournament. I'm just trying to stay focused and lead my team to victory.”

— Labaron Philon

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan-Alabama matchup will advance to the Elite Eight on Sunday, where they will face the winner of the Iowa State-Tennessee game.

The takeaway

This Sweet 16 showdown features two vastly different styles of play, with Michigan's balanced attack going up against Alabama's relentless 3-point shooting. The team that can best impose its preferred style of play and make timely stops on defense will likely emerge victorious and move one step closer to the Final Four.