A&M meets Michigan in NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018

Click HERE to view Friday’s press conferences in Denver.

DENVER — There is no shortage of sources from which Texas A&M can draw to prepare for Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

The Aggies (23-10) and Wolverines (26-9) have faced seven common opponents this season. Four of them which lost to A&M— Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Arkansas and  Purdue — beat Michigan.

The Aggies are also familiar with several Michigan transfers who played against A&M last year.

Surely, some data can be gleaned to help the Aggies in their 4:15 p.m. CT clash at Ball Arena.

“I've really enjoyed watching (Michigan) play,” A&M coach Buzz Williams said on Friday. “I didn't realize they played as fast as they do.

“(We’re) Somewhat familiar with their personnel. We played Florida Atlantic last year. I remember (center Vladislav Goldin). We played Auburn last year, so I remember (guard Tre Donaldson). In studying (first-round opponent) Yale, I remember (center Danny Wolf). Obviously, he was in a different uniform, as were the other two.”

More information might also be found in video from the last time A&M and Michigan squared off in March Madness.

That was in 2018 when A&M faced the Wolverines in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles. The Aggies were imposing inside with the 6-foot-10 duo of Tyler Davis and Robert Williams.

Now, the roles are reversed.

This time, it’s A&M looking for ways to overcome Michigan’s imposing duo of the 7-foot-1 Goldin and 7-foot Wolf.

Goldin leads Michigan in scoring with a 16.6 average. Wolf averages 13 points.

“I feel like we had a good plan coming from this game,” A&M’s 6-foot-7 forward Andersson Garcia said on Friday. “We have to follow whatever the coaches tell us to do. I feel like we're going to do a good job playing against those talented players.”

Seven years ago, Michigan overcame A&M’s height by hitting 14 times from 3-point range and forcing 14 turnovers to deal A&M a 99-72 loss.

The Aggies aren’t likely to hit 14 times behind the arc. They average seven treys per game.

But A&M forces more than 13 turnovers. Meanwhile, Michigan has had issues taking care of the basketball. The Wolverines average 14.1 turnovers. They committed 14 in their 68-65 Tournament opening victory over UC San Diego.

“I think, talking from a defensive standpoint, Dev (assistant coach Devin Johnson) has done a really good job with what we plan on doing,” A&M guard Manny Obaseki said. “We know they turn the ball over a lot. We plan to capitalize off that.”

The Aggies also hope to capitalize on their knack for offensive rebounding — even against taller opponents — to get extra shots.

Also, A&M seems to have an edge in quickness and depth, which could help in altitude against Michigan, which is playing its fifth game in nine days.

“It's a disadvantage,” Michigan coach Dusty May acknowledged. “The flipside of it is as we're playing ball. We're hooping every couple days. We found a good rhythm. We'll probably choose to go at it from that direction.

Ronnie Woodard

Tyler Davis led the Aggies with 24 points in Texas A&M’s most recent meeting with Michigan.

“It’s going to be physically taxing (Saturday). We're going to have to make some choices as coaches. Do we continue to try to push tempo, get as many possessions? Or are there times we need to slow it down and let our guys catch their breath, see if we can't generate a good shot later in the clock to give our guys a little bit of, I guess, a mental break?”

May doesn’t expect to get too many breaks from the A&M defense.

“They always disrupt your rhythm and timing and try to force you into doing things you don’t want to do,” he said. “Then when you think you have an advantage, they have guys that don't quit on plays. They come out of nowhere.”

The Aggies are confident that defense can take them where they want to go, which would be Atlanta for the Sweet 16 next week.

“One more game to the Sweet 16,” Obaseki said. “Emotions are going to be high. There's a lot of things we want to do. They want to do them as well.

“If we just stay true to us, continue to do what we've been doing, same mentality, we'll be right where we want to be.”