The party in Ann Arbor went late into the night as the Michigan Wolverines cut down the nets after their 69-63 victory over UConn. Not only did Michigan snap its 37-year title drought, but it also brought home the first national championship for a Big Ten school since Michigan State did so in 2000.
Michigan’s offense carried them to this stage of the tournament, but they had to overcome a slow night from behind the arc to prevail. They missed their first 10 three-point attempts and finished 2-for-15 from behind the arc, relying on their interior offense to find success.
They became the first team to score 90+ points in five March Madness games heading into the national championship, but fell well short of making it six in a row against UConn.
Cadeau and Johnson Jr. Step Up on the Biggest Stage
Ellito Cadeau won the Most Outstanding Player award with his game-high 19 points to go along with three rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals on the defensive end. Morez Johnson Jr. posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, which included five offensive rebounds for Michigan.
Cadeau and Johnson Jr. were unlikely heroes for the Wolverines, as Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg both had poor games compared to their lofty standards. Lendeborg and Mara are the only two Wolverines likely to make the NBA, but the duo combined for just 21 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Michigan Holds Off UConn’s Late Push
Michigan took an early lead in the first half but was unable to pull away in the opening stages. The first half featured eight ties and six lead changes, as the Wolverines went into the break with a 33-29 advantage.
UConn used hot shooting from behind the arc in the first half to keep pace, but was unable to carry that momentum into the second half. The Huskies finished 9-for-33 from three-point range after starting 5-for-13, allowing the Wolverines to eventually build a double-digit second-half advantage.
They used a 15-8 run out of the break to make things more comfortable, but UConn clawed it back to within seven with 3:48 left to play. With less than a minute to play, a five-point burst cut the deficit to 67-63 thanks to a banked-in three from Solo Ball.
A steal on the following possession gave UConn the chance to make it a one-possession game, as the nerves grew for Michigan. However, a missed three-pointer from Alex Karaban combined with a pair of Michigan free throws allowed the Wolverines to make it a six-point game.
UConn turned it over with less than a dozen seconds to play, and a smart heave up the court from Michigan ran out the clock.
What’s Next for Michigan and UConn
On the glass, UConn dominated with a 22 to 12 advantage in offensive rebounds but was unable to turn those extra possessions into points. They couldn’t make the shots they needed to late in the game and got dominated on the free-throw line.
Michigan drained 20 consecutive free throws after missing its first of the game, finishing 25-for-28, while UConn finished 12-for-16. UConn ended up collecting the rebounds, but Michigan’s tenacity in the paint allowed them to get to the charity stripe, where they had a very efficient night.
Lendeborg’s looming injury was heavily analyzed heading into this one, but he still played 36 minutes to cap off his college career. He struggled from the field with a 4-for-13 shooting night, as his three-point shot was dreadful and included a pair of airballs.
Mara wasn’t his usual self in the paint either, but the Wolverines leaned on the rest of their talented roster to prevail. This was the final collegiate game for both Mara and Lendeborg, who are expected to be mid-first-round draft picks in the 2026 NBA draft. Mara will look to transfer his physicality from the collegiate to the professional level, while Lendeborg’s elite defensive and monstrous wingspan make him the perfect 3-and-D NBA player.
As with any season, the end of the March Madness tournament marks a complete program overhaul for many of these schools. Michigan will lose its top two players to the NBA, allowing Cadeau and Johnson Jr. to take control of this team. The pair made no mistake in their national championship game opportunity, with Mara and Lendeborg having off nights, giving the Wolverines real hope that a repeat could be possible next year.
For the Huskies, coach Dan Hurley praised Michigan for their win but also raised questions about the free-throw discrepancy. This was only the second time UConn made the Final Four but fell short of the championship, eventually cutting down the nets in six of their previous seven Final Four appearances. They will lose a majority of their roster due to eligibility next year, leaving them wondering ‘what if’ during a long summer of rebuilding.
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