ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The 14th-ranked University of Michigan men’s basketball team (25-9, 14-6 Big Ten) is headed to Denver, Colo., for its 32nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. U-M will face Big West champion UC San Diego (30-4, 18-2 Big West) in the first round on Thursday (March 20) at Ball Arena. The Wolverines’ Big Dance opener is scheduled for an 8 p.m. MT tipoff on TBS. Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood and U-M grad Dana Jacobson will be on the broadcast.

Notes

• In Dusty May‘s first season, he guided the Wolverines to a 25-9 record and a runner-up finish in the Big Ten regular season (14-6). Both marks are the best starts for a first-year U-M head coach. With the No. 3 seed, May’s squad won three games in three days to claim the program’s fourth Big Ten Tournament title.

• For the first time in three years and the 32nd time in program history, Michigan heads to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the South Region, earning the Big Ten’s automatic bid as conference tournament champions. The Tritons are a No. 12 seed in the tournament.

• U-M’s bid to the Big Dance marks a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for May. He previously guided Florida Atlantic to the tournament in 2023 and 2024, including a Final Four run in 2023.

• Michigan is one of eight Big Ten teams in the 2025 NCAA field: Michigan State (No. 2, South), Wisconsin (No. 3, East), Maryland (No. 4, West), Purdue (No. 4, Midwest), Oregon (No. 5, East), Illinois (No. 6, Midwest), and UCLA (No. 7, Midwest).

• Michigan has played 16 games decided by four or fewer points. After losing four of its first six close games, the Maize and Blue have won 10 straight and are now 12-4 in those contests.

• Michigan has been led this season by All-Big Ten honorees Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf. Goldin earned a first-team selection from the media and a second-team spot from the coaches, while Wolf was a second-team selection by both.

• Goldin has been dominant down the stretch. Over the last 10 games, he has recorded seven 20-plus-point performances, five double-digit rebounding games, and four double-doubles.

• Wolf (13.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg) led the Big Ten with 15 double-doubles this season. The conference’s rebounding leader has accounted for 18 of U-M’s 26 games with 10 or more rebounds.

• Tre Donaldson leads Michigan with 144 assists (4.2 apg). He dished out 22 (7.3 apg) alone at the Big Ten Tournament, including a career-best nine against Maryland. With five assists vs. Purdue and eight more vs. Wisconsin, he has recorded at least five assists in 15 games, including five of his last seven.

• Behind Donaldson, the 7-foot Wolf is second on the team with 125 assists (3.7 apg). He has assisted on 49 of Goldin’s baskets — the most between any two Wolverines this season.