It’s Michigan’s rising talent against Texas’ veteran presence in Elite Eight showdown

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Michigan has advanced this far into March Madness only twice in program history, and if the Wolverines want to be held in the same regard as Texas, they’ll need to string a few more runs together, their coach said Sunday.

Ahead of Monday’s Elite Eight matchup with the Longhorns at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico said that while her program is evolving and improving, they’ve got some work to do if they want to be mentioned in the same sentence as their opponent.

Elite Eight: (2) Michigan vs. (1) Texas

6 p.m. CT Monday, Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas

“We’re trying to get to that level of being a consistent Final Four team and having the experience that they have,” Barnes Arico said. “We’re a contender, and we’ve gotten to this point. We have the pieces to be champions. So we are in the Elite Eight with a lot of programs that have rich basketball tradition.”

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico reacts to play against Louisville in the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Barnes Arico said her team and the Longhorns have a similar style of play, rooted in tough defense and rebounding. It’s something she said the team takes a lot of pride in, and they are looking to take the next step. An upset over the top-seeded in the regional would certainly do that.

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“The way that they pressure, the way that they get up, the way that they defend, their toughness, how relentless they are, I mean, those are things that our program definitely prides itself on,” she said. “Our rebounding, another thing we really pride ourselves on. They have a little bit more experience and depth, I would say, but the way we want to play the game is definitely similar.”

Texas has been there, done that in March Madness

Texas is on its third consecutive Elite Eight run, and having reached the Final Four last season, it’s easy for Barnes Arico to point to the Longhorns’ experience and want to build toward that. Texas senior point guard Rori Harmon said that while the experience will help them handle emotions and the atmosphere during the game, she isn’t dismissing the Wolverines as some upstart program.

“Michigan is a great team. They’re the No. 2 seed. There are eight teams left. They’re here for a reason. That’s something that you have to pay attention to, but yeah, having experience does help a lot,” Harmon said. “You understand the urgency that you have to have, the focus and the discipline that you have, and the connectivity and chemistry that you have to have with your teammates at this moment, because any game could be your last game.”

Texas guard Sarah Graves (6) and guard Rori Harmon (3) celebrate during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Missouri State, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The Wolverines may be young, but they’re hungry

What the Wolverines lack in size and depth compared to Texas, they can make up for it with relentless effort, Barnes Arico said. It’s something they’ve done all season.

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“We’ve been tested. We’re not always the tallest team on the floor. Texas has a little bit more size than us, but we’ve been tested in every single game,” she said. “Even (Saturday) in the Louisville game, everyone talked about their rebounding, and we outrebounded them by nine at the end of the day.”

How teams respond to adversity will be crucial

Michigan thumped the Cardinals 71-52 to advance behind a 42-33 advantage on the boards. After falling behind 15-9 in the first quarter, the Wolverines responded in a big way with a 23-12 second frame. Texas has raced out to early leads against all of its March Madness opponents, so Monday could be another test for Michigan to see if it can respond if the Longhorns start hot.

A player who could help get Michigan off the mat if they trail early is Syla Swords. A dynamic sophomore guard from Sudbury, Ontario, Swords played for her country in the 2024 Olympics as a high schooler and has been part of big moments throughout her young career.

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“I don’t think there are probably very many players in the world who had the experience that Syla Swords had coming into college,” Barnes Arico said. “I mean, she was an Olympian before she stepped on campus. That’s very, very unusual.”

“I just think those experiences that she had growing up — and I know you guys have been listening to her all week. She sounds like a grown woman. She’s very mature. She’s very experienced.”

Swords is averaging around 15 points per game, second on the team behind Olivia Olson, who is scoring around 19 per game.

Can the Wolverines do what no team in the NCAA Tournament has done?

If Michigan can do what no team has done against the Longhorns so far in the tournament and get to them early, that’s another time for Texas’ experience to shine through.

“I think we’ve responded in several situations, whether it’s, like, injuries or losses. Like, we’ve always been able to respond very well,” Harmon said. “There are going to be moments where it’s not going to be going perfectly. How are you guys going to keep your composure? How are you going to stick together as a team? I think with that type of experience and more experience that we’ve had in the past, it helps a lot in these situations.”

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It’s Michigan’s rising talent against Texas’ veteran presence in Elite Eight showdown

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