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UConn vs. Michigan final score, results: Wolverines win first title since 1989 to wrap 2026 March Madness

  
Published April 7, 2026 03:30 AM

College basketball powerhouses Michigan and UConn will meet Monday night, April 6 for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Championship as March Madness concludes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Michigan (36-3) is seeking to end a long championship drought. The Wolverines have lost in the NCAA final four times since their last title in 1989 (an 80-79 win overtime win over Seton Hall), but they have steamrolled through this tournament, clobbering fellow No. 1 seed Arizona to make the final.

Making its third championship game appearance in the past four years, UConn (34-5) is trying to build a title dynasty. The Huskies won consecutive titles in 2023-24 and returned to the Final Four this season on Braylon Mullins’ miracle 3-pointer to beat Duke, the overall top seed in the tournament.

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Semifinal-Michigan at Arizona
How to Watch UConn vs. Michigan Men’s National Championship Game 2026: TV, tipoff time, preview, odds
The Huskies and Wolverines will battle for the title as March Madness concludes in Indianapolis.

Follow along below for our live coverage here with updates before, during and after the championship game.

How to watch the 2026 Men’s National Championship Game

  • Date: Monday, April 6
  • Tipoff: 8:50 p.m. (pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.)
  • Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Watch on: TBS, TNT, TruTV

UConn-Michigan Men’s Championship live updates

Hail to the Victors: Wolverines were simply too good

NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach explains that the key to Michigan’s first championship since 1989 was everything.

The versatile and talented Wolverines always had an answer, even when they had an off night such as Monday against the tough UConn defense, and coach Dusty May deserves credit for assembling a powerhouse in such quick fashion through the transfer portal:

Syndication: Detroit Free Press
Michigan’s versatility suffocated the field for a national championship
Dusty May cultivated a roster with few weaknesses in quick succession, bringing glory to the Maize and Blue.

Recap: Michigan 69, UConn 63

Here’s our quick take on what happened Monday night in Indianapolis:

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Championship-Connecticut at Michigan
Michigan beats UConn for first basketball championship since 1989
The Wolverines survive a major scare from the Huskies but scrape by to capture the Big Ten’s first title since 2000.

Final stats from the men’s basketball championship

  • Michigan top scorers: Elliot Cadeau 19 points, Yaxel Lendeborg 13 points, Morez Johnson Jr. 12 points
  • UConn top scorers: Alex Karaban 17 points, Tarris Reed Jr. 13 points, Braylon Mullins 11 points, Solo Ball 11 points
  • Team shooting: UConn 21-68 (31%), Michigan 21-5 (38%)
  • 3-point shooting: UConn 9-33 (27%), Michigan 2-15 (13%)
  • Rebounds: UConn 46, Michigan 39
  • Free throws: UConn 12-16, Michigan 25-28
  • Turnovers: UConn 11, Michigan 10
  • Second-chance points: UConn 19, Michigan 14
  • Points in the paint: UConn 26, Michigan 36

Click here for the 23-page full statistical package from the Men’s National Championship between UConn and Michigan.

Dan Hurley: Early foul trouble hurt Huskies

The UConn coach pointed to two fouls apiece on Solo Ball, Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. as the turning point in which Michigan seized control with a late surge before halftime. The Huskies never were able to wrest back the lead.

“I thought we had a real good chance to go into the first half with the lead, but having Silas, Tarris and Solo Ball with those two fouls just really put us down at the half,” Hurley said. “And we just had to make more shots. We had great opportunities from 3, and if we make three or four more, we’ve got a great chance to win it.

“But how are you disappointed at all in your group? These guys had 22 offensive rebounds vs. that group of Monstars out there. So I’m proud of the guys.”

This was the first Final Four loss for Hurley, who now is 5-1 after winning consecutive championships with UConn in 2023-24.

Agony of defeat for UConn

The Huskies lost with the same grit that they fought with all season, but that didn’t make the loss any easier to take for a proud team that nearly made history with a run of three championships in four seasons.

Coach Dan Hurley shared a tender moment afterward with Alex Karaban (who led the Huskies with 17 points in his final game) and Solo Ball.

“It’s complicated because everyone’s crushed,” Hurley said. “We came here to be out there, (celebrating like the Wolverines) are doing right now. Just how resilient this team is. We’re not going to walk away as national champions, but we’re going to walk away as one of the best teams that had one of the best seasons and have given the fans at UConn one of our best seasons. Unfortunately for us, we just get the watches and not the rings.”

Elliot Cadeau named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four

It’s an easy call after the Michigan point guard saved his best game of the tournament for the championship. Cadeau had 19 points and made 8 of 9 free throws as he helped put several key Huskies (such as Solo Ball) on the bench in foul trouble.

“It just feels great to do this with the people that I love in front of all these great fans,” said Cadeau, who transferred to Ann Arbor after two seasons at UNC. “Shout out to the fans that pulled up.”

What will he remember about these Wolverines?

“Just the unselfishness the whole team has,” he said. “Nobody cared about stats the whole season. Nobody cared about nothing but winning. I’m just glad to be a part of that.”

More brutal candor from Yaxel Lendeborg

Playing through an injured knee, the Michigan star forward didn’t have his best night, and he didn’t mince any words in descrbing it. After telling Tracy Wolfson at halftime that he felt “awful” and “super weak,” he put a capper on his 14-point night.

“My teammate didn’t give up on me,” Lendeborg said. “I made a little bit of a push at the end of the game, man, but they just continued to push me, and we just found a way to play harder.”

And what will they say of a team that became the first to win a championship with a starting lineup of five transfers?

“Hey man, they might still be calling us mercenaries, but we’re the hardest-playing team in college basketball. We’re the best team in college basketball. And we want to be one of the greatest ever.”

Dusty May is relieved

In his interview with Tracy Wolfson, the Michigan coach concedes that his team was fortunate to escape with the championship after a win in which they were outrebounded by the smaller Huskies and shot 38% from the field.

“If you told me we would shoot it this poorly and get dominated on the glass and still find a way to win, I don’t know if I would have believed you,” May said. “But this team has just found a way all season. Love, respect and trust among themselves. I want to shout out all the former Michigan players. This one is for them.”

Final: Michigan 69, UConn 63

The Wolverines have played much better this year, but all that matters is they have their first championship in 37 years.

Credit to UConn for refusing to give in until the final horn.

Wolverines still trying to escape

After two missed free throws by Michigan’s Roddy Gayle Jr., UConn misses a chance to cut the lead to one on a 3-point attempt by Alex Karaban.

Michigan’s Trey McKenney is fouled on the rebound and will shoot two free throws to try to ice it.

UConn still refuses to go away

The Huskies’ full-court pressure is bothering the Wolverines, who turn the ball over after two aborted attempts to reach halfcourt.

Solo Ball, playing with four fouls, banks in a 3-pointer, and it’s Michigan 67-63 with 29 seconds left.

Michigan up 67-58 with 53 seconds left

Silas Demary Jr. fouls out for UConn, and Elliot Cadeau makes two free throws for a nine-point lead.

The Huskies get fouled on an offensive rebound after missing a 3, but UConn is running out of time.

Michigan 65-55 with 1:49 to play

Elliot Cadeau draws two fouls and then makes two free throws to give the Wolverines a cushion, and after a 3-pointer by Alex Caraban, Trek McKenney answers with another for Michigan.

TBS analyst Kenny Smith was right in his pregame analysis: Even if the Wolverines manage to escape with the title, the Huskies have played enough defense to stay in the game.

Getting ugly

Much was made about the Women’s Final Four and Championship games seeming a bit like a slog over the weekend.

Well, the second half tonight hasn’t exactly been the beautiful game of basketball, either. Here’s the stat to prove it:

Braylon Mullins finally heating up

Another 3-pointer by the fabulous UConn freshman (now 3 for 9 from distance) keeps the lead under double digits.

But two free throws by Yaxel Lendeborg make it Michigan 60-51 with 4 minutes to play.

Michigan is 19 for 20 from the free throw line.

Michigan leads 58-48 with 5:01 to go

After Michigan tied its biggest lead, Braylon Mullins hits UConn’s first 3-pointer of the second half (after the Huskies missed their first 11) to get back with within eight.

Here come the Huskies again

With coach Dan Hurley on his feet and waving his arms to exhort the crowd to get on its feet, UConn cuts the lead to 50-45 on consecutive layups by Silas Demary Jr. and Alex Karaban.

Michigan quickly answers, though, with an Aday Mara alley-oop dunk for a 52-45 lead with 7:16 to play at the media timeout.

Michigan leads 50-41 as game teeters on the edge

This game has taken on a bit of an ugly streak with only six points in 3 minutes as both teams have gone cold while getting physical inside with just under 10 minutes to play.

UConn is 0 for 8 on 3-pointers, while Michigan has made four blocks in the second half, clamping down on defense.

Wolverines in danger of pulling away, lead 48-37

Elliott Cadeau’s first 3-pointer comes with 12:47 to play and gives Michigan its biggest lead of the night.

The Wolverines probably aren’t scoring 90 tonight against the gritty Huskies, but it’s hard to see UConn finding a way to gut this out for a victory.

Of course, there were many saying that during the Duke game, too ...

Foul trouble for UConn, which is trailing 41-33

Size always was going to be an issue for the undersized Huskies, who have hung in on rebounding (leading 26-25) but have committed 15 fouls to the Wolverines’ six.

Key players Solo Ball (four fouls), Silas DeMary Jr. (three) and Tarris Reed Jr. (three) will have to be cautious with their aggression the rest of the way.

Back under way in Indianapolis, and Michigan up 38-31

It’s the Wolverines’ largest lead of the game, and it comes as UConn has lost Solo Ball to the bench with four fouls.

Braylon Mullins also continues to struggle at 2 of 9 from the field.

Answers to your pressing (er, trending) questions

Hot off the NBC Sports SEO desk, we understand the Internets have some questions about this game.

We will attempt to provide some answers when possible:

  • How tall is Mara on Michigan basketball?

    He’s listed as 7-3 (we know, he seems even taller! But he’d be no match for Mark Eaton)

  • What is a hook and hold in college basketball?

    It’s the source of at least one extended review by officials in every game.

  • What conference is UConn basketball in?

    The Big East!

  • How long is NCAA basketball halftime?

    It depends on if they’ve hired an EDM band or not.

  • Fab Five National Championship?

    They should have won one, but it wasn’t meant to be.

  • How many titles does Dan Hurley have?

    Two

  • How many titles does Jim Calhoun have?

    Three.

  • When’s the last time Michigan basketball won March Madness?

    I think Taylor Swift recorded an album about it (see the previous update for the answer!).

Halftime odds

Courtesy of DraftKings: Michigan is a 7.5-point favorite, and the game total is 138.5. On the moneyline, Michigan is -445, and UConn is +310.

The Wolverines are trying to win their second basketball championship and first since 1989. This is what the starting lineup for the title team looked like 37 years ago:

Yaxel Lendeborg: “I feel awful, super weak right now.”

Stunning candor from the Michigan forward, who tells Tracy Wolfson that he is struggling to fight through his knee injury suffered Saturday against Arizona.

“I feel awful,” Lendeborg says after playing all 20 minutes in the first half.. “I feel super weak right now. Can’t make anything. Ahh, man. I’m trying to push through obviously cause it’s the championship game. But man, I missed some plays I don’t usually miss. I had many opportunities to take advtanage of a smaller defender. I haven’t been able to do it.

“I’m going to go in there at half and do as much as I can to try to come out here more aggressive. ... No matter what type of knee pain I’m in, I have to go out there and give it my best. I played really soft that first half. I’m going to do way better the second half.”

Halftime: Michigan leads 33-29

The Wolverines asserted with their athleticism and height in the final 5 minutes of the half.

Morez Johnson Jr. led the Wolverines with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and Elliot Cadeau had six despite playing only 12 minutes because of two fouls. Solo Ball and Alex Karaban lead UConn with eight points apiece.

Cadeau also was fouled on a half-court heave as the buzzer sounded, but the officials inexplicably swallowed their whistles.

“I like the no-call,” analyst Bill Raftery says. “Yeah,” Grant Hill says.

OK!

Michigan takes a 29-25 lead

The hook and hold on Alex Caraban is a momentum shifter for the Wolverines, who go on a 6-0 run on free throws by Morez Johnson Jr. and baskets by Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg (his first field goal of the game).

UConn coach Dan Hurley, who was shockingly displeased by the call, takes a timeout with 2:24 left in the first half.

Syndication: Detroit Free Press

Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley during the first half of the NCAA national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Monday, April 6, 2026.

Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hook and hold call on Alex Karaban

The UConn forward picks up a flagrant for holding the bigger Morez Johnson Jr. while trying to corral a rebound.

Johnson makes both free throws to tie the game at 25, and Michigan keeps the ball with a chance to lead for the first time in a while.

UConn leads 25-23 with 3:58 left in the first half

Some key numbers so far:

  • UConn has scoring contributions from six lpayers, led by Alex Karaban’s eight points.
  • Michigan has drawn 10 UConn fouls and made 9 of 10 free throws (vs. only four trips to the line by the Huskies).
  • Seven ties and five lead changes.
  • Yaxel Lendeborg: Two points, 0 for 3 from the field, zero rebounds.

Elliot Cadeau to the bench with two fouls

This could be a critical stretch without their point guard for the Wolverines, who trail 23-21 with 5 minutes to play in the first half after the first 3-pointer by Braylon Mullins for UConn.

Michigan is 0 for 6 from 3-point range. UConn is 4 for 10 from deep.

The Wolverines are having success with trapping the Huskies, but the pressure has yet to yield a 10-second call.

UConn ahead 18-17 with 7 minutes left in first half

The Huskies are winning because they’re winning the hustle plays and outrebounding the Wolverines 13-12.

Aday Mara got a bucket to join Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr. on the stat sheet, but Yaxel Lendeborg seems missing in action with his injured knee, having missed both his shot attempts.

Neither team is shooting well: UConn 38.9%, Michigan 36.8%.

“We’re kind of dragging them into the only type of game that we can probably have a chance to win,” UConn coach Dan Hurley tells Tracy Wolfson.

UConn up 16-13

It’s the first lead for the Huskies at the halfway mark of the first quarter, and it comes on an Alex Karaban 3-pointer after Malachi Smith missed a shot but chased down his rebound.

Michigan needs balance. The Wolverines have 15 points from two players: Elliot Cadeau (seven points) and Morez Johnson Jr. (eight).

Huskies finding their stroke

Alex Caraban knocks down UConn’s second 3-pointer to cut Michigan’s lead to 11-10 with 11:57 to play.

The Huskies are hanging tough at the second media timeout, but they have two starters with two fouls: Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr.

Cadeau is carrying Michigan

After a 3-pointer by Solo Ball cuts Michigan’s lead to 9-7, Elliot Cadeau answers with a layup to put the Wolverines up 4 while drawing a foul.

Cadeau (seven points) missed the free throw, but Silas Demary Jr. has picked up his second foul.

First media timeout, Michigan up 9-4

The break comes on a monster block by Michigan’s Roddy Gayle Jr. on Silas Demary Jr. of UConn.

Early observations:

  • Though Michigan was worried about UConn’s inside presence, the Wolverines have an early 6-2 edge in rebounding (including two by point guard Elliot Cadeau).
  • The Huskies like to live outside but have attmepted only one 3-pointer in the first 4:18.
  • All of the Wolverines’ points have come from Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr.
  • Yaxel Lendeborg has yet to be a factor (no shot attempts or rebounds).

Michigan leads 7-2 on early impact by Elliot Cadeau

The Wolverines point guard made a nifty layup and then drew a foul by Silas Demary Jr. on a 3-point attempt.

Cadeau made all three free throws to give Michigan a five-point lead.

Teams cold to start

UConn wins the tip and combines with Michigan to miss the first four shots.

Morez Johnson Jr., and Tarris Reed Jr. then trade baskets inside.

It’s 2-2 after 2 minutes.

Intros are over. Time to tip!

As expected, a nice ovation for UConn freshman Braylon Mullins, the best high school basketball player in Indiana last year who returns to his native Indianapolis area.

But some notable boos for his coach Dan Hurley.

Lots of cheers for Michigan’s Dusty May.

And we’re off!

National anthem!

A fine rendition by The Soul Lounge, a local band from Indianapolis.

Split opinions for Chuck and ‘The Jet’

On the TBS pregame show, differing views for the hoops analysts who often differ.

Kenny Smith likes the Huskies (and thinks that UConn somehow will hold a team in check that has scored over 90 points in every game this tournament.

Charles Barkley says the Wolverines are destined to complete their historic run to the title.

Keep your eye on Morez

Though Yaxel Lendeborg is starting, Michigan coach Dusty May said his star forward’s minutes could be limited.

That could mean more of high-flying teammate Morez Johnson Jr., whose acrobatic dunks have been wowing the country the past two years (witness this moment against Arizona).

OFFICIAL: Starting lineups for both teams

And despite the injury concerns for Solo Ball and Yaxel Lendeborg, both teams have their expected players:

UConn starting lineup

PositionNo.PlayerPPGRPGAPG
G1Solo Ball12.93.11.6
G2Silas Demary Jr.10.34.66.0
G24Braylon Mullins12.03.41.4
F5Tarris Reed Jr.14.88.82.4
F11Alex Karaban13.15.12.4

Michigan starting lineup

PositionNo.PlayerPPGRPGAPG
G3Elliot Cadeau10.32.75.9
G4Nimari Burnett8.32.71.2
F21Morez Johnson Jr.13.17.31.2
F23Yaxel Lendeborg15.16.93.3
C15Aday Mara12.26.82.5

A familiar face

Tarris Reed Jr. hardly needs extra motivation to play well for UConn, but the center will have some tonight.

Reed transferred to UConn from Michigan, which will need to find a way to stop a former player who is averaging 13 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament.

“Reed is a problem on the offensive glass,” Michigan coach Dusty May told Tracy Wolfson. “We’re going to have to do a great job of limiting them to one shot.”

About 30 minutes until tipoff!

The 2026 championship will be broadcast on TBS, TruTV and TNT.

Michigan’s national championship history

At the risk of triggering PTSD in the Maize and Blue, let’s review the Wolverines’ trips to the title game, which agonizingly began 61 years ago.

In seven prior appearances in the championship game, Michigan has only one title in 1989, and it’s had to live with some rough memories (such as the infamous timeout that wasn’t in 1993). Here’s the full list of results in the final:

  • March 20, 1965: Lost to UCLA 91-80 in Portland, Ore.
  • March 29, 1976: Lost to Indiana 86-68 in Philadelphia, Pa.
  • April 3, 1989: Beat Seton Hall 80-79 in OT in Seattle, Wash.
  • April 6, 1992: Lost to Duke 71-51 in Minneapolis, Minn.
  • April 5, 1993: Lost to North Carolina 77-71 in New Orleans, La.
  • April 8, 2013: Lost to Louisville 82-76 in Atlanta, Ga.
  • April 2, 2018: Lost to Villanova 79-62 in San Antonio, Texas

And ... cue the Wolverines’ walk-in music!

UConn’s national championship history

Since winning their first national championship in 1999, the Huskies have become the preeminent powerhouse in college basketball during the 21st century.

UConn added two more titles under coach Jim Calhoun in 2004 and ’11. Kevin Ollie guided the team to another in 2014, and Dan Hurley led UConn to consecutive championships in 2023-24.

The Huskies are making their third Final Four appearance in four seasons, one of only four teams to do that in the past 25 years, and the Huskies are the first since the Kentucky Wildcats in 1996-98 to play for the national title three times in a four-year span. Hurley is first since the legendary Mike Krzyzewski at Duke (1990-94) to coach a team to the championship game three times in four seasons.

Player Availability Report is out!

And it’s good news for both teams: Neither Solo Ball (UConn) or Yaxel Lendeborg are on it, so both of the injured stars are expected to play (and likely start) in tonight’s championship game.

CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson provided updates on both players and said Dusty May confirmed Lendeborg will start.

Earlier, Wolfson noted that Ball arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium having shed the walking boot that he was sporting Sunday when the UConn guard missed practice.

How Andrea Hurely saved the day for UConn

No, the wife of UConn coach Dan Hurley says it wasn’t because she kept the Huskies from going on the court after Braylon Mullins’ unbelievable buzzer-beater against Duke. That was overblown, Andrea Hurley says.

HOWEVER, she did play a major role in ensuring her husband had a special good luck charm for the victory over Illinois:

Home-court edge to the Wolverines?

That’s what NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach has seen so far on the streets of downtown Indianapolis, where the buzz is growing for the 8:50 p.m. tipoff.

Ann Arbor is only about a four-hour drive from Indianapolis, and Michigan inherently has a much larger fan base because of the institution’s size, so it’s no wonder that Huskes fans will be feeling outnumbered in the Circle City tonight.

But as Nicole notes, the UConn faithful also were outnumbered Saturday by Illini fans, and we know how that turned out.

UConn has arrived!

Everyone loves the walk-in shots, and there are the Huskies’ at Lucas Oil Stadium, where they arrived a little under two hours before the 8:50 p.m. tipoff:

Keys to watch (according to the pregame show)

On TBS’ “Championship Central” with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg, the four main keys were listed as:

  • Yaxel Lendeborg’s health
  • The frontcourt battle (namely, Michigan’s Aday Mara vs. UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr.)
  • Controlling the tempo
  • Perimeter execution

“If Michigan is able to win this game, we’ve seen one of the greatest runs in NCAA history by a dominant team,” Barkley says.

The Fab Five!

If you’re a Gen Xer who follows college basketball, one of the highlights of this year’s tournament has been watching the Fab Five get their flowers as one of the most transformative stories in the sport over the last 30 years.

Syndication: Detroit Free Press

Members of the Fab Five, from left, Ray Jackson, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Jalen Rose rehearse for a broadcast ahead of the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson entered the University of Michigan as freshmen together for the 1991-92 season. They quickly became the Wolverines’ starting five, and they led Michigan to the championship game in 1992 (losing to Duke) and 1993 (falling to North Carolina when Webber called an ill-fated timeout the team didn’t have).

Webber went into the 1993 NBA Draft as the No. 1 overall pick, and Howard and Rose would follow as first-round selections after their junior seasons.

The Fab Five never won a championship, but they changed the culture of college basketball with their long shorts, trash-talking and phenomenal talent that inspired books and documentaries.

And Michigan’s return to prominence this season has put the Fab Five back in the spotlight. They were reunited Saturday night on national TV during a TNT alt-cast of Michigan’s win over Arizona, and it was entertaining to watch their on-air chemistry as they rooted on their alma mater.

It also was teling as to how coach Dusty May has re-established Michigan basketball team after taking over Howard, who was fired as the coach after the 2024 season. Jackson said May immediately reached out to all of the Fab Five members to make them part of their program, and they’ve felt a part of this championship run not unlike they were 33 years ago.

Famous fans for UConn

With a pedigree of six national championships, it’s no surprise that UConn would have a superstar cast in the stands watching their Final Four run

Led by Rip Hamilton, the start of the Huskies’ first title team in 1999, the championship alumni on hand for the win over Illinois also included: Khalid El-Amin (1999), Beau Archibald ('99), Kevin Freeman ('99), Charlie Villanueva (2004), Ben Gordon ('04), Emeka Okafor ('04), Josh Boone ('04), Shabazz Napier (2011, ’14), Ryan Boatright ('11, ’14), Deandre Daniels ('11, ’14) and others.

Of course, the Huskies also have an even more famous face from outside the college basketball universe.

Actor and comedian Bill Murray, whose son Luke is an assistant coach for UConn and headed to be the head coach at Boston College, has been on hand for the Huskies’ latest title run.

Michigan’s path to the final

The top seed in the Midwest region, Michigan won these games to reach the championship:

  • First round: Michigan 101, Howard 80
  • Second round: Michigan 95, St. Louis 72
  • Regional semifinal: Michigan 90, Alabama 77
  • Regional final: Michigan 95, Tennessee 62
  • Final Four: Michigan 91, Arizona 73

UConn’s path to the final

The No. 2 seed in the East Region, UConn won these games on the journey to its third championship game in four seasons:

  • First round: UConn 82, Furman 71
  • Second round: UConn 73, UCLA 57
  • Regional semifinal: UConn 67, Michigan State 63
  • Regional final: UConn 73, Duke 72
  • Final Four: UConn 71, Illinois 62

UConn-Michigan history

It’s fairly limited despite the storied past of both programs — the Huskies and Wolverines have met only four times (never before in March Madness), and the series is tied 2-2. Their most recent meeting was in the 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, where UConn beat Michigan 74-60.

Coincidentally, the Wolverines will be the fourth Big Ten team that the Huskies face in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The Huskies have already dispatched Illinois, Michigan State and UCLA, continuing a streak of eight consecutive wins over Big Ten opponents that dates to 2022 (and includes six NCAA tourney wins).

Michigan starting lineup

The Wolverines’ starting five is expected to be:

  • G Nimari Burnett
  • G Elliott Cadeau
  • F Yaxel Lendeborg
  • F Morez Johnson Jr.
  • F Aday Mara

There’s been much speculation around Lendeborg, who injured his knee during the first half of the win over Arizona but returned to play five minutes after halftime. But it seems as if the Michigan star is trending in the right direction after participating in a Monday walkthrough.

UConn starting lineup

It won’t be official until closer to tipoff, but the Huskies’ starting five is expected to be:

  • G Solo Ball
  • G Silas Demary Jr.
  • G Braylon Mullins
  • F Alex Karaban
  • C Tarris Reed Jr.

The big question will be if Ball is ready after suffering a sprained foot in Saturday’s win over Illinois. He was wearing a boot Sunday and missed the team’s practice.

And there’s already been big news in college basketball today ...

Michael Malone, who guided the Denver Nuggets to an NBA championship in 2023, apparently will be moving to the college ranks.

Several outlets are reporting that Malone will be hired by North Carolina to replace Hubert Davis as the Tar Heels’ coach.

The UNC job has been a talker since Davis’ ouster after his team blew a 19-point lead in a stunning first-round loss to VCU. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd was linked to the opening before signing an extension to stay with the Wildcats.

Michigan’s Dusty May also was mentioned as a candidate, but he reportedly wasn’t interested. UConn’s Dan Hurley doesn’t pop up on those lists since he turned down the Los Angeles Lakers to sign a six-year, $50 milliion extension with UConn two years ago after the Huskies’ most recent national title.

The two coaches in tonight’s championship game sat down for an interview with CBS together, and snippets have been posting on social ahead of tonight’s pregame show:

Recapping last night’s women’s title

Michigan could make it a clean sweep of basketball championships for the Big Ten after UCLA made a dominating statement in winning its first women’s title last night.

The Bruins won 79-51 over South Carolina — and it really wasn’t that close. Click here for our real-time recounting of the blowout yesterday.

NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach was at the game in Phoenix (before jetting over to Indianapolis to cover tonight’s men’s final!), and she explains why UCLA’s band of loyal seniors cemented their legacy with their statement victory to claim the championship:

NCAA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Championship-South Carolina at UCLA
UCLA women’s basketball cemented its legacy led by a group of seniors that stuck together
Cori Close and her Bruins etched their names in history with the program’s first national championship.

Game odds

With Michigan having won every game in the tournament by double digits, UConn will enter as an underdog despite playing for its third championship in four years.

According to DraftKings, Michigan is a 6.5-point favorite with the total at 146.5. Michigan is -285 on the moneyline, and UConn is +230.

Click here for a detailed betting preview from our friends at Rotoworld.

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