Wolverines Launch Players Era vs. San Diego State in Las Vegas
The seventh-ranked University of Michigan men’s basketball team is set to launch the Players Era against San Diego State in Las Vegas. The matchup is scheduled for November 24, 2025, at Michelob ULTRA Arena, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Overview of the Players Era Festival
The Players Era Festival is a prominent college basketball event featuring both men’s and women’s teams. It focuses on the growing importance of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. This festival showcases a series of early-round games, affecting the seeding of the teams based on various competitive metrics.
Key Seeding Metrics
- Point differential
- Total points scored
- Points allowed
These factors play a crucial role in determining team advancement and positioning for the championship game.
Participating Teams
The Players Era Festival features 18 teams from various conferences, including:
- ACC: Notre Dame, Syracuse
- Big East: Creighton, No. 14 St. John’s
- Big Ten: Maryland, No. 7 Michigan, Oregon, Rutgers
- Big 12: Baylor, No. 3 Houston, No. 15 Iowa State, Kansas
- Mountain West: San Diego State, UNLV
- SEC: No. 8 Alabama, No. 21 Auburn, No. 17 Tennessee
- West Coast: No. 12 Gonzaga
Upcoming Matches for Michigan
The Wolverines will face San Diego State on November 24, followed by a game against Auburn on November 26. Michigan has the option to participate in the festival for an additional third year starting in 2027.
San Diego State’s Performance
San Diego State arrives in Las Vegas with a 2-1 record. They had convincing wins against Long Beach State (77-45) and Idaho State (73-57) but suffered a narrow defeat to Troy, losing in double overtime, 108-107.
Coaching Connections
Brian Dutcher, head coach of San Diego State, is notably connected to Michigan. He served on Michigan’s staff for nine years, contributing to their 1989 NCAA championship. He and Michigan’s coach, Dusty May, will face each other for the first time since the 2023 NCAA Final Four.
Player Highlights
Yaxel Lendeborg is on the verge of reaching a personal milestone, needing just four more points to surpass 1,200 Division I career points. He currently stands at 1,196 points, averaging 14.4 points per game over his career.
Will Tschetter is also nearing a milestone, aiming to become the 76th Wolverine to play in 100 career games. He currently has 99 appearances and has been a consistent presence in recent games, missing only one due to illness.
Both Lendeborg and Elliot Cadeau have made a three-pointer in all four games this season, showcasing their shooting skills with a combined 34.4% success rate from beyond the arc.
