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Michigan Hosts Underdog Holy Cross in March Madness Showdown

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

No. 2 Michigan will face No. 15 Holy Cross in the first round on March 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan holds a 25-6 record and will leverage home-court after Big Ten tournament loss.
Olivia Olson, a sophomore guard for the University of Michigan, averages 19.2 points.
Holy Cross is 23-9 and enters as an underdog after winning Patriot League tournament.
ESPN2 will broadcast the game.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Basketball Tournament marked a pivotal moment in college sports, expanding to 64 teams and featuring an iconic championship game where No. 8 seed Villanova upset defending champion Georgetown 66-64. This upset, considered one of the biggest in tournament history, reshaped fan engagement and media coverage, highlighting the unpredictability of the tournament and the emergence of underdog stories in college basketball.

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Story summary

No. 2 Michigan will face No. 15 Holy Cross in the first round on March 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan holds a 25-6 record and will leverage home-court after Big Ten tournament loss.
Olivia Olson, a sophomore guard for the University of Michigan, averages 19.2 points.
Holy Cross is 23-9 and enters as an underdog after winning Patriot League tournament.
ESPN2 will broadcast the game.

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