Michigan defeats UConn 69-63 to claim second NCAA Title
Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May celebrates with his players on stage after defeating the Connecticut Huskies in the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Michigan put an exclamation point on a historic season Monday night, defeating UConn 69-63 in the national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The victory marks the program’s first national championship since 1989 and caps off what the Wolverines believed from early in the season was a special campaign.
Elliot Cadeau, after two challenging seasons at North Carolina, was named Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 19 points. The guard’s second-half performance proved decisive as Michigan overcame early shooting struggles to claim college basketball’s ultimate prize.
« I’m just so proud of myself, where I came from, » Cadeau said. « Last year, I was really down on myself, a lot of people doubted me, and I’m just so proud of myself for me to be able to say I was the Most Outstanding Player and win a national championship at the same time. »
Size and length prove decisive factors
Michigan’s season-long strengths – size, length and interior presence – ultimately made the difference against UConn. The Wolverines dominated in the paint and at the free throw line, combining for 61 points in those areas compared to the Huskies’ 34.
« They’re legit, » UConn coach Dan Hurley said. « They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They’re clearly the best team in the country this year. They’re just so hard to score against at the rim. »
The first half belonged to UConn, as the Huskies controlled tempo and held Michigan to zero fast-break points. The Wolverines missed their first 10 3-point attempts, and Yaxel Lendeborg struggled with injury issues from the Final Four.
« I feel awful, I feel super weak right now, » Lendeborg, who sprained his left MCL and left ankle against Arizona, said at halftime. « I can’t make anything … I played really soft in that first half. »
But the second half told a different story. Michigan’s Aday Mara anchored the defense with four blocks after halftime, while Lendeborg found his rhythm with nine points and three rebounds. Morez Johnson Jr. contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Wolverines wore down UConn with their physicality.
Michigan coach Dusty May reflected on his team’s unwavering belief throughout the season. « When you bring a group this talented together, and they decide from the beginning that they’re going to do it this way and they never waver and they never change, that’s probably the most uncommon thing in athletics now, » May said.
The championship validates the confidence Michigan showed all season, dating back to early proclamations of greatness. As the confetti fell at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Wolverines proved they were indeed college basketball’s best team.
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