Sports

Tough going inside when Texas takes on Michigan in third round of NCAA tournament

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Michigan head coach John Beilein speaks during a news conference for the third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. Michigan plays Texas on Saturday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (The Associated Press)

Texas head coach Rich Barnes speaks during a news conference for the third-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. Texas plays Michigan on Saturday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (The Associated Press)

Saturday's NCAA tournament game between Texas and Michigan could be decided by the play inside.

Led by Jonathan Holmes and Cameron Ridley, the seventh-seeded Longhorns outrebound their opponents by an average of 41.4 to 34.5 per game. They average 14.9 offensive rebounds alone.

Michigan coach John Beilein says Friday that boxing out is going to be really important for the Wolverines.

Texas (24-10) is trying to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008 and the sixth occasion in the last 13 years. No. 2 seed Michigan (26-8) made it to the round of 16 last year and kept right on going, losing to Louisville in the national championship.