Midwest preview: Howard prepares to face No. 1 seed Michigan

Howard, fresh off its first NCAA Tournament win (86-83 over UMBC in the First Four), meets No. 1 seed Michigan in the Midwest Region first round; Michigan enters the tournament 31-3 and is noted for its size and transition speed.

Howard meets No. 1 seed Michigan in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The Bison arrive after their first NCAA Tournament victory, a 86-83 First Four win over UMBC in Dayton. Michigan comes in with a 31-3 record and a roster noted for length and transition speed. The Midwest's other first-round game that day pairs Georgia and Saint Louis, two high-scoring teams. Game details: - Howard (24-10) defeated UMBC 86-83 in the First Four at Dayton, marking the program's first NCAA Tournament victory. - The appearance is Howard's fifth overall and the third tournament trip under coach Kenny Blakeney in his seven seasons. - Michigan (31-3) is the Midwest Region's No. 1 seed, making its 33rd tournament appearance and fourth as a top seed. - Michigan's roster includes 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, 6-9 forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., and guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, with the team noted for size and quick transition play. - The other Midwest first-round game matches eighth-seeded Georgia (22-10) against ninth-seeded Saint Louis (28-5); both teams rank among the nation's top 10 offenses. - Georgia leads the country in fast-break points per game (19.9) and features 6-11 center Somto Cyril, while Saint Louis averages about 87.2 points per game and gets scoring from forward Robbie Avila. Summary: The matchups set a contrast between Howard's recent momentum and Michigan's size and tournament experience, while Georgia and Saint Louis promise a high-tempo scoring contest. Both Midwest first-round games are scheduled for Thursday and will decide which teams advance in the NCAA Tournament.