SLU Meets Michigan for Spot in Sweet 16

3/20/2026 4:45:00 PM

By: Saint Louis Athletics

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SLU Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game No. 35 #9 Saint Louis (29-5) vs. #1 Michigan (32-3)
Date // Time Saturday, March 21, 2026 // 11:10 a.m. CT / 12:10 p.m. ET
Location Buffalo, N.Y. (KeyBank Center)
TV CBS (Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce)
Radio 1120 KMOX | Varsity Network App (Bob Ramsey, Earl Austin Jr.)
National Radio Westwood One (Jason Benetti, Sarah Kustok)
Live Stats NCAA.com
Series History Michigan leads 1-0
Game Notes Saint Louis Game Notes

WHAT'S ON TAP?

  • No. 9 seed Saint Louis takes on Midwest Region top-seed Michigan on Saturday in the Second Round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Game time is 12:10 p.m. ET.
  • The Billikens defeated Georgia 102-77 to advance to Saturday's action. Michigan advanced after defeating No. 16 seed Howard 101-80.
  • The winner of Saturday's game advances to the Midwest Regional in Chicago, March 27 and 29. The Final Four is scheduled for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

FOLLOWING THE ACTION

  • Saturday's game will be televised on CBS. Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce will call all games in Buffalo.
  • 104.1 FM / 1120 AM KMOX is the home for Billiken Basketball on the radio. Billiken Hall of Famers and longtime SLU men's basketball radio partners Bob Ramsey and Earl Austin Jr. will call the action for all SLU games, both at home and on the road. Billiken Basketball sends a special salute to Rammer, who is in his 40th season as the radio voice of SLU hoops, and Austin, who is in year No. 35. The duo was recently honored with the Burnes-Broeg Award at the Missouri Athletic Club's Jack Buck Awards.
  • The game will air nationally on Westwood One radio. Jason Benetti and Sarah Kustok are on the call.

NEWS & NOTES

  • SLU is making its 11th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship appearance in program history and first since 2019.
  • Saint Louis is 7-11 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. The Billikens reached the second round in each of their three-straight appearances from 2012 to 2014.
  • The Bills are coming off a 102-77 win over Georgia in the first round. SLU set program NCAA Tournament records for points, FGs, FG%, rebounds, assists and scoring margin in the game.
  • SLU's 29 wins are a school record, surpassing the 28 victories in 2012-13.
  • The Billikens have set SLU single-season records for 3-pointers made (369, A-10 record as well) and points (2,981). 
  • SLU is eighth nationally in scoring offense with 87.7 ppg. Its scoring margin of +17.9 is third in the NCAA.
  • SLU is second in the NCAA in 3FG% (.398), fourth in eFG% (.602) and fifth in FG% (.509).
  • Defensively, the Bills lead the NCAA in FG% defense as opponents shoot just .377. SLU is fifth in the country in 3FG% defense (.293).
  • SLU is No. 13 in the NCAA in rebound margin (+7.6). 
  • The Billikens feature a balanced scoring attack with all nine rotation players averaging 5.0 or more points per game. 
  • Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year Robbie Avila leads the Billikens in scoring with 12.9 ppg. He is first among NCAA centers in assists/game (4.1) and 3s per game (1.9). He is the third center in NCAA history with 200 or more career 3-pointers.
  • SLU head coach Josh Schertz is a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year and Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Awards.

ABOUT MICHIGAN

  • No. 1 seed Michigan (32-3) is making its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance and owns a 69-31 all-time record. With its first-round win over Howard, U-M advanced to the second round for the 10th straight tournament appearance.
  • The Wolverines rolled past Howard, 101-80, behind a program NCAA Tournament-record 67.2 percent shooting. Michigan hit 65.4 percent in the first half and 69.0 percent in the second, pulling away after halftime.
  • Yaxel Lendeborg leads Michigan in scoring with 14.4 ppg, with Morez Johnson Jr. close behind at 13.4 ppg.
  • Aday Mara adds 11.9 ppg and is fourth in the NCAA with 2.63 blocks per game.
  • Elliot Cadeau scores 10.0 ppg and leads the Wolverines with 5.7 assists per game.
  • Michigan is second in the NCAA (only to the Billikens) in FG% defense (.385). The Wolverines rank third nationally in blocks per game (5.9).
  • Head coach Dusty May is in his second year at Michigan and his 15th season overall as a collegiate head coach. He led Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four.

SERIES HISTORY

  • This is the second meeting between Saint Louis and Michigan.
  • The Billikens and Wolverines played in the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 28, 1970. U-M prevailed 80-78.