Angelique S. Chengelis and Tony Paul of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Monday’s Michigan vs. Texas Women’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas (7 p.m., ESPN).

▶ Angelique S. Chengelis: The Michigan basketball players each had to deliver a motivational quote that’s in a binder for all of them to see. Olivia Olson’s contribution was along the lines of, you have to be a contender first before you get there. The Wolverines, a No. 2 seed, clearly are contenders having reached the Elite 8 to face No. 1 Texas. The Texas women’s basketball program drips with tradition, long considered one of the bluebloods of the sport. These teams look a lot a like in terms of their intensity on defense and ability to score and also their make-em-or-break-em tough schedules. Back to Olson’s quote, Texas is already there, and the young Wolverines are young contenders almost there. They’ve returned Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2022, but do the Wolverines have an enough experience to beat experienced Texas? Pick: Texas, 70-65

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▶ Tony Paul: This is where things get really tough for Michigan, given the dominant history of No. 1 seeds in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. No. 1 seeds (like Texas) have won the national championship 23 times, while No. 2 seeds (like Michigan) have won the national championship five times. The gap between the great and the good in women’s basketball always has been large, even if it’s not quite as large as it once was. Texas is coming off its first SEC tournament championship, led by reigning first-team All-American Madison Booker (19.3 points). These are two top-10 offenses, though Texas also has a top-15 defense. Both teams prepared for this moment with their gauntlet schedules they play, and the Longhorns pretty much beat all challenges. Pick: Texas, 74-65

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Predictions for Michigan vs. Texas in Women’s NCAA Tournament