Michigan vs Arizona

Michigan's defense was absolutely suffocating in the first half. The Wolverines built a commanding 48-32 halftime lead, holding Arizona to stretches of silence—the Wildcats suffered a brutal seven-possession scoring drought that lasted nearly three minutes. Michigan's balanced attack and lockdown perimeter defense kept the No. 1 seed from finding rhythm, and the Wolverines stretched their advantage to a massive 30 points at one point, essentially putting the game out of reach. Arizona battled back with some second-half momentum, including a crucial 13-2 run early in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome Michigan's suffocating defensive scheme. The Wolverines controlled the pace and execution down the stretch, closing out 91-73 to punch their ticket to the Championship. In what looked like a near-even matchup on paper, Michigan's defense proved to be the difference-maker on this neutral court, earning one of the most dominant Final Four performances imaginable.