No. 7 NC State Wolfpack vs. No. 2 Michigan: Wolfpack Poised for March Magic in Ann Arbor

Sunday, March 22, 2026 • 1 p.m. ET • Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mich. • TV: ABC

Sweet 16 berth on the line in Fort Worth Regional

The battle-tested No. 7 seed NC State Wolfpack (21-10) head to Crisler Center on Sunday ready to pull off a classic March upset against the No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines (26-6). Fresh off a dominant 76-61 first-round win over No. 10 Tennessee — where Zamareya Jones dropped a career-high 30 points — Wes Moore’s squad brings proven tournament experience, frontcourt size, and the physical edge needed to silence a hostile crowd and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.

NC State: Frontcourt Muscle, Rebounding Edge, and Tournament Pedigree

This is the Wolfpack’s ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and eighth trip to the Round of 32 in the last nine years. NC State finished fourth in the ACC with a NET ranking of No. 26, leading the conference in defensive rebounds. They average 77 points per game while playing a bruising, paint-dominant style that wears teams down.

The stars leading the charge:

Khamil Pierre (junior forward, 16.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG) — A double-double machine with 22 this season, AP All-America honorable mention, and one of the top power forwards in the country.
Tilda Trygger (sophomore forward/center, 10.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG) — A 6-6 rim protector who shoots 52% from the field and anchors the defense.
Zamareya Jones (sophomore guard, 14.3 PPG, 67 threes) — The spark plug who exploded for 30 points (including 10 free throws) in the first-round victory.

Add in the leadership of head coach Wes Moore and this group’s history of deep runs (six Sweet 16 appearances in the last seven tournaments), and the Wolfpack are built for these moments.

The Big Question: Zoe Brooks’ Availability

All-ACC First Team guard Zoe Brooks (16.3 PPG, 4.3 APG) left the Tennessee game with a foot injury in the third quarter. She was spotted in a boot and on crutches and missed Saturday’s practice. If she can play — even at limited minutes — she gives NC State another elite scorer and playmaker. The Wolfpack have already shown they can win big without her at full strength, but her presence would make the offense that much more dangerous.

Michigan: Talented Sophomore Trio and Home-Court Firepower

The Wolverines, ranked No. 9 nationally under coach Kim Barnes Arico, bring speed, pressure, and one of the most efficient offenses in the country. They average roughly 83-84 points per game, are 15-1 at Crisler Center, and feature a dangerous backcourt trio of sophomores: Olivia Olson (18.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG), Syla Swords (14.4 PPG), and Mila Holloway (12.6 PPG, 4.8 APG). Michigan forced 20 turnovers in their 83-48 first-round rout of Holy Cross and thrive in transition. But their smaller, quicker lineup can be vulnerable inside against a physical frontcourt like NC State’s.

Head-to-Head History

NC State leads the all-time series 2-1, including a 66-55 win in the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge and an 81-64 victory in the 1990 NCAA second round. The Wolfpack know exactly how to beat this program.

Keys to Victory For NC State:

Dominate the paint and glass — Out-rebound Michigan and generate second-chance points the way they did against Tennessee (40-24 paint advantage).
Slow the tempo and limit transition — Force Michigan into a half-court game where Pierre and Trygger can control the action.
Get to the free-throw line and protect the ball — NC State went 21-of-25 from the line in Round 1; repeating that will be huge.

For Michigan:

Use full-court pressure to create turnovers and easy buckets.
Hit open threes when NC State’s bigs collapse inside.
Lean on the home crowd and sophomore scoring punch to pull away late.

Prediction
Michigan is the favorite and will have the crowd behind them, but this is exactly the type of matchup the Wolfpack have thrived in for years. With superior size, rebounding, experience, and a proven ability to win ugly in March, NC State has everything it needs to shock the home team.

Final Score Prediction: NC State 71, Michigan 66

The Wolfpack are built for these big-stage moments. If they control the glass, protect the paint, and get production from their frontcourt stars, they’ll be heading to Fort Worth with a massive upset victory.