The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Juwan Howard are headed to the Elite Eight after obliterating the Florida State Seminoles in their Sweet Sixteen match Sunday afternoon. The Wolverines have now reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals four out of the last eight years and 15 times over the program's history.

For a university that carries high expectations every time they step onto the court, Juwan Howard and his squad are proving they are more than up for the challenge.

Originally signed to a five-year contract early in 2019 to replace the recently departed John Beilein, Howard has quickly turned the Wolverines into a national contender. Catapulting off a 7-0 start to his coaching tenure, the former Fab-5 member not only guided the university to a No.1 seed in the tournament but has collected the top-rated recruiting class heading into the 2021-2022 season.

Even while the program's long-term future looks secure, the Wolverine's short-term fortunes appear to be even brighter as they await the winner of the Alabama-UCLA match in the Elite Eight.

Paced by junior Brandon Johns Jr 14 points in the scoring department, Michigan relied upon a stout defensive effort to clamp down on FSU's offensive output, converting 18 points off the Seminoles' turnovers. While the Wolverines rank in the top-10 in the nation in scoring efficiency, the team's ability to rise above their middling scoring defense, and turn in efforts similar to the one employed Sunday, will likely determine their effort to secure the program's first championship since 1989.

Through three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Michigan Wolverines have largely tamed the madness of March. If they can continue to do so, they wind up as the prohibitive favorite to cut down the nets at the end of it.