Michigan basketball’s stars well-versed in the Cinderella end of March Madness

DENVER — Danny Wolf was in the midst of filling up a bag of popcorn in the atrium at Ball Arena when a smile slowly crept across his face.

Wolf, a Michigan basketball star who has designs on leading the Wolverines on a postseason run this March, was discussing what it’s like to be an NCAA tournament giant-slayer. Around this time last year, his 13th-seeded Yale Bulldogs upset Tre Donaldson and 4-ssed Auburn in a first-round game out west.

Though he’s now a projected first-round NBA selection and playing for the favorite, Wolf knows the feeling of being David trying to slay an NCAA Goliath — the mentality Michigan expects from UC San Diego ahead of Thursday’s first-round matchup (10 p.m., TBS) at Ball Arena.

Michigan Wolverines center Danny Wolf (1) during practice at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

“They’re playing with house money, nothing to lose,” Wolf said of UCSD's vibe. “Nobody really expects much from you, and everybody wants to see you win. Coach May made a great point, it was like when you’re at a mid-major, it becomes a de facto home game for you wherever you are; fans love to see the upset.

“We have to give respect to UCSD, but once the game starts, we just gotta really focus on ourselves and not overlook anyone.”

Michigan head coach Dusty May called UC San Diego “underseeded” — a sentiment Tritons coach Eric Olen shared when discussing the Wolverines as a Big Ten Tournament champion who somehow ended as a 5-seed.

Either way, the bracket is what it is.

This isn't merely Olen's first time in March Madness at college hoops' top level; his entire team is making its postseason debut, as UCSD moved up from Division II in 2020 — this is the first year the Tritons are NCAA-eligible.

Now, they're well aware of the Cinderella moniker being put on them ... and are ready to embrace it.

"Yeah, it's awesome. We grew up watching this tournament,” guard Hayden Gray said. “It's the best tournament in sports. To be able to do it in the Nuggets' arena on such a big stage, it's a blessing. Regarding the Cinderella role, I think we have what it takes to make that happen, but we've just got to take it day by day and just keep the same process that we've had.”

Wolf, of course, is far from the only Wolverine to have gone through that experience. Rubin Jones was a freshman at North Texas in 2021 when the 13th-seeded Mean Green upset 4-seed Purdue, a memory that remains near the top of Jones’s college highlights.

Though Jones didn’t play in the matchup, he can still feel the mentality his team entered with.

“You go in there like, ‘Everybody thinks we’re going to lose this game,’ so you go in that game with a little more juice,” Jones told the Free Press on Wednesday. “It’s just confidence because you’re playing in March, you’re playing a big school and all eyes are on you.”

Of course, the Wolverines have a slightly more notable former mid-major duo in May and star center Vlad Goldin. Together, the duo made a run to the Final Four in 2023 with 8-seed Florida Atlantic, knocking off a 2- and 3-seed along the way.

May said Wednesday that the later it got in those games against top teams, the better his Owls felt. They could almost feel the higher-seeded team getting tight, hoping to avoid mistakes.

That’s exactly how May does not want his team to play.

Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May during practice at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

“We want to make sure just because we're that Power Five team or whatever you want to call it, that we don't fall into that trap,” May said. “It's March Madness; everyone is going to love the Cinderella. This is a very, very popular upset pick for a reason: Because they're really, really good.”

Wolf made sure to share specifics from Yale's stunner in 2024 with his new team — how the Bulldogs entered the game with hope, but once they saw shots going, they got “unreal confidence,” according to Roddy Gayle Jr.

Momentum can begin to snowball against bigger teams in the tournament, with the crowd getting behind the little guy if it starts hitting 3s, or the big guy starts committing turnovers.

“It’s a huge opportunity for them," Jones said. "March is full of upsets and as the high-major school, the big school, you don’t want to be that team but you’re not trying to play to not be that team. We’re going to play to win like we’ve been doing all year. You don’t want to play scared, don’t want to overthink nothing, just go in and play your game.

“It’s another team, you’ve got to respect them, but we need to go in there, handle business.”

Michigan Wolverines guard Rubin Jones (15) during practice at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

UCSD, meanwhile, has been waiting a long time for this chance. After two seasons of no postseason eligiblity, and with a roster full of seniors, it felt like now or never for this group laying the foundation of a program on the rise.

Even though they’ve become a popular upset pick, few paid attention to the Tritons all year. Heck, as far as their stars are concerned, nobody’s known about them ever. That, they say, fuels them.

“I think we've all been overlooked,” Gray said. “I know I didn't have a Division I offer out of high school. ... I don't think it's a sign of disrespect.

“We look at it as more motivation. But yeah, we know what we're capable of, for sure.”

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball stars well-versed in underdog end of March Madness

1d 8:07 PM ET ago

Topics

The March Madness bracket may have started at a Staten Island pub

Whether you choose a fan favorite or go all in on a Cinderella story, trying to create the perfect March Madness bracket is now a yearly tradition.
NBC News - 16h
March Madness upset pick for Final Four bracket: Experts pick Cinderella for 2025 NCAAs

Four experts pick their Cinderella upset team to ruin March Madness and make the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio to help you fill out your bracket.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
4 March Madness teams that could be Cinderellas during the women's NCAA tournament

Which teams are poised to be Cinderella stories during March Madness? Here are four teams that could break the women's NCAA tournament bracket.
Yahoo Sports - 16h
Why Michigan basketball can make March Madness run to the Final Four

Michigan basketball has an unstoppable frontcourt, a backcourt that's peaking and a coach who has been to the Final Four in March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
2025 NCAA expert brackets: March Madness 2025 tournament picks, Cinderella teams, and Big Dance upsets

SportsLine's team of experts have revealed their 2025 NCAA Tournaments picks, which are full of bracket busters, Cinderella picks and upset predictions
CBS Sports - 14h
Michigan State basketball's Big Ten tournament run ends with 77-74 loss to Wisconsin

Michigan State basketball's Big Ten tournament came to an end Saturday with a loss to Wisconsin. Next up, the real March Madness.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
20 March Madness transfers who star for new teams in 2025, including Danny Wolf

The transfer portal is one of the most impactful ways to shape a roster in college basketball and some players used the opportunity especially wisely.
Yahoo Sports - 17h
March Madness predictions: Cinderellas, upsets, Final Four picks and more for the NCAA men's and women's tournaments

The Madness is here. What can we expect? Our experts weigh in with their Cinderella picks, Final Four teams, title winners and more.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Purdue basketball prediction vs McNeese: Who has edge in March Madness second round

Purdue was a popular upset pick in the first round, will No. 12 McNeese State be this March Madness' Cinderella?
Yahoo Sports - 8h

Michigan basketball’s stars well-versed in the Cinderella end of March Madness

Topics

Related

The March Madness bracket may have started at a Staten Island pub

March Madness upset pick for Final Four bracket: Experts pick Cinderella for 2025 NCAAs

4 March Madness teams that could be Cinderellas during the women's NCAA tournament

Why Michigan basketball can make March Madness run to the Final Four

2025 NCAA expert brackets: March Madness 2025 tournament picks, Cinderella teams, and Big Dance upsets

Michigan State basketball's Big Ten tournament run ends with 77-74 loss to Wisconsin

20 March Madness transfers who star for new teams in 2025, including Danny Wolf

March Madness predictions: Cinderellas, upsets, Final Four picks and more for the NCAA men's and women's tournaments

Purdue basketball prediction vs McNeese: Who has edge in March Madness second round

More from Yahoo Sports

For the USMNT and U.S., World Cup prep gets off to a ‘painful,’ sleepy start

Exclusive: Liverpool star’s transfer negotiations 99% done as new Reds deal rejected

The 'family' club led by a Champions League winner

City's half marathon returns for charity fundraiser

Steph Curry undergoing MRI after suffering pelvic contusion vs. Raptors

More in Sports

Your guide to March Madness Day 1: Recaps, every winner's chance to advance, more

For the USMNT and U.S., World Cup prep gets off to a ‘painful,’ sleepy start

Exclusive: Liverpool star’s transfer negotiations 99% done as new Reds deal rejected

The 'family' club led by a Champions League winner

City's half marathon returns for charity fundraiser