March Madness 2025 Looms: No. 3 Notre Dame Cruises Into Fourth Straight Sweet 16 with Win Over No. 6 Michigan

 

Notre Dame is headed to the Sweet 16 once again. The No. 3-seeded Fighting Irish delivered a dominant performance against No. 6 Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, securing an 82-68 victory and punching their ticket to the regional semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

 

From the opening tip, Notre Dame controlled the pace of the game, utilizing crisp ball movement and a suffocating defense to keep the Wolverines off balance. Senior guard Marcus Franklin led the charge, pouring in 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while also dishing out six assists. His backcourt partner, sophomore sharpshooter Tyler Gaines, added 18 points, including four three-pointers that helped the Irish build a double-digit lead early in the second half.

 

Michigan, which had upset No. 11-seed Utah in the first round, struggled to keep up with Notre Dame’s offensive efficiency. Star forward Jamal Henderson led the Wolverines with 20 points and eight rebounds, but foul trouble limited his impact late in the game. The Wolverines made a brief push midway through the second half, cutting the deficit to seven points, but Notre Dame responded with a 12-2 run that put the game out of reach.

 

Notre Dame’s defense was a key factor in the victory, forcing 14 Michigan turnovers and holding the Wolverines to just 38% shooting from the field. Head coach Mike Breen praised his team’s effort on both ends of the floor.

 

“I loved our energy and commitment tonight,” Breen said in the postgame press conference. “Michigan is a tough team, but we executed our game plan and made big plays when we needed them.”

 

With the win, Notre Dame advances to the Sweet 16, where they will face either No. 2 Marquette or No. 7 Texas A&M. The Fighting Irish are riding a wave of momentum and hoping to make a deep tournament run after falling in the Elite Eight last season.

 

For Michigan, the loss marks the end of an impressive season, but with a young core returning next year, the Wolverines will look to build on their success.

 

As the Madness of March continues, Notre Dame has once again solidified its status as a legitimate contender. With their sights set on the Final Four, the Fighting Irish are proving that they belong among college basketball’s elite.