Michigan is one of the teams that has advanced to the Sweet 16, and being a No. 1 seed, they are favorite to make it to the Final Four and even go all the way.
So, the original 68 teams is down to the Sweet 16. The games begin again on Thursday, March 26 in San Jose, California, with Purdue vs. Texas, and the next round of games wrap up on Friday, March 27, with Iowa State and Tennessee. By the end of the night on Friday, we’ll know the Elite 8.
So, three No. 1 seeds are left in the NCAA Men’s Tournament: Michigan, Duke and Arizona. Florida is the only No. 1 team that fell to an upset, when they lost to the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes, with a 73-72 final score.
After March Madness is over, the NBA draft will be up ahead. Heading into the event, ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo has put together a mock draft of where he believes college players will end up.
“They are informed by ongoing conversations with NBA executives and scouts, as well as my own evaluation process from time spent on the road at games and watching film,” he explains. “With conference tournaments getting underway and a prospect-heavy NCAA tournament one week out, here are our latest projections looking ahead to the 2026 draft.”
Michigan player Morez Johnson Jr. is a favorite and expected to go early in the draft. Woo has him going to the New York Knicks as the No. 27 pick.
“It’s been a strong season for Johnson, who has worked his way up draft boards with consistent play and a willingness to do the dirty work,” Woo notes in the piece. “His strong frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan allow him to play bigger than his size (6-9), and he’s shown the ability to guard 4s and 5s.”
Woo adds of the player, “His offensive role will be limited, but he’s knocked down spot 3s (10 of 24 on the season) and finishes simple plays around the basket. With NBA teams pivoting back toward double-big lineups, Johnson should have long-term utility and provide immediate depth.”
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