Michigan basketball plays first March Madness 2025 game today. Here's what to know.
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team makes its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022 on Thursday when it takes on the UC San Diego Tritons in a first-round matchup in the South region.
The Wolverines (25-9) earned the No. 5 seed and will face the No. 12 seed UC San Diego (30-4) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
First-year coach Dusty May has the Wolverines back in the tournament after last year's 8-24 season and last-place finish in the Big Ten in Juwan Howard's final campaign.
On Sunday, the Wolverines rallied to win the Big Ten title after beating Wisconsin 59-53.
UC San Diego is making its first NCAA Division I tournament appearance in its first year of eligibility.
What time does Michigan play?
Tip-off for Thursday's first-round game from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
How to watch Michigan's first March Madness game
You can watch Thursday's game at 10 p.m. ET on TBS.
How far has Michigan made it in March Madness?
Michigan has claimed one national championship when it downed Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime in the 1989 title game. The Wolverines also posted runner-up finishes in 1992, 1993, 2013 and 2018, but had to vacate their 1992 and 1993 Final Four runs because of an NCAA violations scandal involving booster Ed Martin.
The Wolverines have made 31 NCAA Tournament appearances and eight Final Four appearances (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2013 and 2018). Michigan's first tournament bid came back in 1948.
Michigan has posted a 66-30 record (including wins later vacated by the NCAA) in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines have reached at least the Sweet 16 round in each of their last five NCAA tournament appearances.
Is Michigan or UC San Diego predicted to win?
FanDuel Sportsbook projects Michigan as a 1.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 143.5.
This is the first all-time meeting between the two schools.
Michigan and UC San Diego players to watch
Michigan senior center and transfer Vladislav Goldin leads the Wolverines with 16.7 points per game while fellow big man Danny Wolf averages nearly 10 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones paces the Tritons, who have 15 straight, with 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
