NCAA Tournament 2019: Ranking the upcoming Sweet 16 matchups

(2) Michigan Wolverines vs. (3) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Arguably the two best defensive teams in the entire nation will do battle in this matchup. And while low-scoring affairs are not always the most entertaining, this is a game that everyone should tune into due to the fluidity that both defenses play with. Communication is almost seamless for these squads as they run their systems to perfection. They are rated as the No. 1 (Texas Tech) and No. 2 (Michigan) defenses in the land when it comes to adjusted efficiency and their ability to lock in is mesmerizing.

With all of that said, though, neither team would be in the Sweet 16 if it wasn’t for their offenses. Regardless of how good a team’s defense is, it is impossible to advance without at least a capable offensive unit. For Michigan, they lean heavily on the underclassmen duo of Ignas Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole to carry the weight offensively as the leading scorers while it is impossible to ignore the importance of Zavier Simpson to the rotation. Simpson might not be the go-to scorer on the roster but the offense runs through his decision-making.

Texas Tech, on the other hand, boasts the best all-around player in this matchup in Jarrett Culver. A top-10 player in the entire nation, Culver is the offensive leader of the Red Raiders. He was named the Big 12 Player of the Year for his efforts during the regular season when he averaged just under 18 points per game in conference play for a team that functions at a slow pace. Culver is a nightmare to defend but Michigan’s Charles Matthews is a dynamite defender that he will have to go up against.