Michigan to Face UMBC or Howard in March Madness First Round

Wolverines expected to cruise past either opponent in opening game

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:19am

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Michigan will take on the winner of Tuesday's First Four matchup between UMBC and Howard in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines are heavily favored against either opponent, with UMBC and Howard both lacking the size and 3-point shooting to pull off a historic upset.

Why it matters

Michigan is a perennial March Madness contender, so their opening-round matchup is closely watched. While UMBC and Howard are both tournament-tested, they face an uphill battle against the Wolverines' size and talent advantage.

The details

UMBC is led by an upperclassmen trio but lacks size, going 0-5 against top competition. Howard forces turnovers but is prone to them as well, and had only one win against a top-220 KenPom team. Neither team is expected to have the firepower to seriously challenge Michigan.

  • The First Four matchup between UMBC and Howard will take place on Tuesday.
  • Michigan will face the winner of that game on Thursday in the first round in Buffalo, New York.

The players

Jah'Likai King

UMBC's leading scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game.

Bryce Harris

The MEAC Player of the Year, leading Howard's offense.

Cedric Taylor III

Howard's best defender, known for forcing turnovers.

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What they’re saying

“It likely won't matter much who Michigan ends up facing, considering UMBC and Howard both don't have the size to stack up with the Wolverines.”

— James Hawkins, Reporter (The Detroit News)

What’s next

The winner of the UMBC-Howard First Four matchup will face Michigan on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, New York.

The takeaway

While UMBC and Howard have both earned their way to the Big Dance, they face an uphill battle against the size and talent of Michigan in the opening round. The Wolverines are heavily favored to cruise to a comfortable victory and advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.