(4) Michigan Crushes (5) VCU, 78-53, Advance to Sweet 16
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Joe Robbins/ Getty Images(AUBURN HILLS, Mich.) — The fourth-seeded Michigan Wolverines (28-7) punched their ticket into the Sweet 16 on Saturday after they devoured fifth-seeded Virginia Commonwealth, 78-53 in the South Region.
Wolverines forward Mitch McGary recorded a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds in the victory. Trey Burke added 18 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 14 for Michigan.
“Given the makeup of this roster, you don’t know what to expect,” said Michigan head coach John Beilein. “The way they played today, that was terrific.”
The win marks Michigan’s longest NCAA tournament run. Their last Sweet 16 appearance was in 1994.
“VCU’s, they’re a heck of a team, they’re coached by a really good coach,” said Burke, who also had seven assists. “I knew they were going to bring it.”
VCU trailed 38-23 at the half. Juvonte Reddic scored 16 in the loss for the Rams.
“Certainly in retrospect it wasn’t a very good matchup,” Rams coach Shaka Smart said. “The credit for that goes to Michigan. I don’t think that we, for whatever reason, had great bounce today and energy. Our guys tried. They always do.”
Michigan heads to Arlington, Texas, to play either Kansas or North Carolina on Friday.
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