The long drought for Michigan basketball is over.
The Wolverines took down UConn 69-63 in the 2026 men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament national championship on Monday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The championship is the first for Michigan since 1989 and the second in program history. It also ends the Big Ten‘s long 26-year drought without a national champion in the sport.
Elliot Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while Yaxel Lendeborg added 13 points despite struggling through much of the game with his leg injury. The Wolverines won desptie shooting 38% from the field field and just making two 3-pointers on 15 attempts.
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Alex Karaban led UConn with 17 points, with Tarris Reed adding 13 points and 14 rebounds. The Huskies shot 31% from the filed, including just 27% from 3-point range.
With the loss, UConn was denied a third championship in four seasons.
USA TODAY brought you updates and highlights from Michigan’s national championship win over UConn. Catch up here:
| TEAMS | 1H | 2H | F |
| UConn | 29 | 34 | 63 |
| Michigan | 33 | 36 | 69 |
| Stat | UConn | Michigan |
| Score | 63 | 69 |
| FGs (%) | 21-of-68 (31%) | 21-of-55 (38%) |
| 3PTs (%) | 9-of-33 (27%) | 2-of-15 (13%) |
| FTs (%) | 12-of-16 (75%) | 25-of-28 (89%) |
| Rebounds | 46 | 39 |
| Assists | 9 | 7 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 10 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 4 |
| Fast break points | 4 | 2 |
| Fouls | 22 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 11 |
Michigan ends a 37-year drought by winnining the 2026 national championship 69-63 over UConn. The win also snaps a 26-year streak for the Big Ten for a men’s basketball champonship.
Trey McKenney knocks down what could be the dagger 3-pointer. Here’s the highlight:
Michigan holds a 60-51 lead at the final media timeout with 3:48 left. UConn will shoot a pair of free throws to try to cut the lead to seven and hang around.
Every time it seems like Michigan is about to make a run, UConn makes a big shot or play. This time its Braylon Mullin’s 3-pointer that cuts an 11-point lead to eight. The Wolverines lead 56-48 with 5:21 left in the game.
After making five 3-pointers in the first half, UConn is shooting 0-of-9 on 3-pointers in the second half. Michigan holds a 52-45 lead with 7:16 left in the game at the under-8 media timeout.
Michigan leads UConn 48-39 at the under-12 media timeout with 11:33 left in the game. The Huskies are shooting just 4-of-16 in the second half and five turnovers. Michigan has yet to score a point off any of UConn’s nine turnovers.
Michigan finally has a 3-pointer following a big shot from Elliott Cadeau. The Wolverines are up 48-37, the first double-digit lead of the game.
Cadeau now has a game-high 15 points. UConn calls a timeout to try and stop the run.
Michigan has opened up a game-high seven-point lead at 40-33 at the first media timeout with 15:16 left in the game. Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr. each have 10 points for the Wolverines.
Solo Ball has two fouls early in the second half, and four for the game. He’ll be on the bench for an extended period. Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed also have three fouls.
The second half of the national championship game between Michigan and UConn is underway. Right away, Solo Ball picks up his third foul of the game.
Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg is wearing a brace on his injured leg, coming out of halftime, per Detroit News reporter Connor Earegood.
Halftime: Michigan 33, UConn 29
| Stats | UConn | Michigan |
| Score | 29 | 33 |
| FGs (%) | 10-of-30 (33%) | 11-of-30 (37%) |
| 3PTs (%) | 5-of-15 (33%) | 0-of-8 (0%) |
| FTs (%) | 4-of-6 (67%) | 11-of-12 (92%) |
| Rebounds | 20 | 21 |
| Assists | 4 | 3 |
| Steals | 0 | 2 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Points off turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Fast break points | 0 | 0 |
| Fouls | 11 | 5 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 5 |
Yaxel Lendeborg only had four points on 1-of-5 shooting in the first half. Despite the injury, he played all 20 minutes in the first half.
“I feel awful. Super weak,” Lendeborg said to Tracy Wolfson. “I played really soft that first half.”
Michigan heads into halftime with a 33-29 lead over UConn. The Wolverines lead by four despite being 0-of-8 from 3-point range. However, 11-of-12 shooting from the free throw line has helped.
The Huskies shot 10-for-30 from the field, but knocked down five 3-pointers to keep themselves in it.
At the under-8 media timeout, UConn now holds a slim 18-17 lead over Michigan. The Huskies are finding ways to make Michigan struggle to score, making the Wolverines play to their style.
The Huskies have hit three 3-pointers, while Michigan is yet to hit one.
Michigan holds an 11-10 lead at the second media timeout with 11:57 left in the first half. However, the Huskies will have a chance at their first lead when Jayden Ross shoots a pair of free throws coming out of the timeout.
Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson Jr. have combined for 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting for the Wolverines. The rest of the team has 0 points on 0-for-5 shooting.
Michigan holds a 9-4 lead at the first media timeout with 15:41 left in the first half. The Wolverines have three offensive rebounds and two points on second-chance points already.
Yaxel Lendeborg has yet to attempt a shot in the first four-plus minutes.
The UConn-Michigan 2026 national championship game is underway.
Here’s a look at the starting lineups for Michigan-UConn:
UConn:
- Solo Ball, guard
- Silas Demary Jr., guard
- Braylon Mullins, guard
- Alex Karaban, forward
- Tarris Reed Jr., center
Michigan:
- Elliot Cadeau, guard
- Nimari Burnett, guard
- Morez Johnson Jr., forward
- Yaxel Lendeborg, forward
- Aday Mara, center
In a few hours, either Michigan or UConn will enter the history book as the 2026 national champions. Here’s a look at all of the past March Madness national championship winners, by year.
TBS/TNT sideline reporter provided an update, Tracy Wolfson provided an update on Michigan star player Yaxel Lendeborg ahead of Monday’s national championship bout:
“Let’s start with Yaxel Lendeborg. … He told me that he couldn’t sleep on Saturday night because he didn’t know how severe those injuries were. But he woke up in the morning, had an MRI, brief sign of relief, because there was no structural damage. They were telling me it is an MCL sprain and a light ankle sprain,” Wolfson said.
“Now he went through round-the-clock treatment. … Went to the Colts facility, did underwater therapy as well. This morning, he did some treatment and then went to the walk-throughs. There wasn’t any full contact, but he participated fully with Chris Williams, the athletic trainer, telling me that he is good to go.
“They do not expect any limitations from him. He’s going to come out here pregame, get taped up, and do some warm-ups. But whether he will start, will go through Dusty May. The expectation is that he will. Certainly, he’s not going to be 100%, but expect him to be out there, contributing and helping this Michigan team.”
For the second straight game at the Final Four, Dan Hurley and UConn will see an official that they are quite familiar with.
In Saturday’s semifinal vs. Illinois, it was Ron Groover. On Monday, in the national championship game vs. Michigan, it is Big East official James Breeding, who is working his first Final Four game. It’s the 11th UConn game this season that Breeding has worked.
Hurley has some bad history with Breeding. The reason is that Breeding has given Hurley a fair share of technical fouls over the years, including a pair of technical fouls this season. The most recent came in the Big East Tournament finals vs. St. John’s when Hurley slammed his foot on the floor while fighting for a foul to be called against St. John’s.
As noted by CT Insider, Breeding has also ejected Hurley once before, which came in February of 2022 vs. Villanova.
What time is UConn vs Michigan national championship game?
- Time: 8:50 p.m. ET, Monday, April 6.
What channel is UConn Michigan? How to watch national championship, streaming info
- The game is airing on TBS, TNT, truTV, streaming via HBO Max.
Michigan UConn prediction: Who will win national championship?
- Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s run to the title game has been historic, becoming the first team to score 90 points or more in its first five games. UConn has been a true power, with an elite coach, now playing for its third national title in four years. Michigan has barely stumbled as it puts together an all-time season and it won’t come now. The Wolverines finally get their second national title. The pick: Michigan 87, UConn 76.
- Blake Toppmeyer: Michigan. The Wolverines’ total destruction of Arizona solidified that Michigan is the class of the tournament. UConn is playing well, but nobody is playing better than Michigan.
- Paul Myerberg: UConn. The underdog Huskies get hot from deep and win another close one to capture the program’s seventh national title and cement Dan Hurley’s place as the king of the sport.
- Jordan Mendoza: Michigan. The Huskies are able to make it a competitive game, but Michigan is just too stacked. The Wolverines pull away midway through the second half and party like it’s 1989.
- John Brice: Michigan. The Wolverines played well enough in the regular season to land a No. 1 ranking for the first time in 13 years. They’re playing even better now — enough to end a national title drought that spans to 1989.
- Eddie Timanus: Michigan. While picking against UConn at the Final Four seems like a bad idea, this Michigan team is clearly built different. The Wolverines will take it, 90-75.
- Austin Curtright: Michigan. Michigan-Arizona was tabbed as one of the most-anticipated Final Four matchups in recent memory, and all the Wolverines did was dominate start to finish in a way no one has against the Wildcats this season. Michigan has defeated all of its 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament opponents by double digits, and finds a way to do so again against the Huskies, even with a potentially limited version of Yaxel Lendeborg.
- Ehsan Kassim: Michigan. Yes, this UConn team has been impressive in the past two rounds with a big comeback vs. Duke and then shut down Illinois’ offense. Michigan is another beast, as the Wolverines have been the most dominant team in the NCAA Tournament. They pull off the win to end a couple of droughts, even with Yaxel Lendeborg playing at less than 100%.
That’s how the humans think Monday’s game will shake out. Here’s who an AI simulator thinks will win the national title.
Michigan UConn spread, line: Who is favored to win 2026 national championship game?
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 9 a.m., Monday, April 6
- Moneyline: Michigan (-325); UConn (+260)
- Spread: Michigan (-6.5)
- Total over/under: 144.5
Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg said he feels great and is expected to “give it a go” in the national championship game after he was injured in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4.
Lendeborg didn’t speak with media, but was seen inside the stadium walking around without much of a limp. When asked how he feels, he said, “great” and he didn’t fall during the day.
Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. added Lendeborg has done a “tremendous job” with his recovery and the team knows “nothing’s going to stop Yax being available and being able to play on Monday.”
He was not listed on Michigan’s availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. UConn.
The UConn guard suffered a foot sprain in the Huskies’ semifinal win over Illinois and didn’t practice on Sunday.
Ball said he is feeling “alright,” and will leave a decision on his status for the game Monday, April 6, up to UConn’s medical staff. He’s wearing a walking boot and won’t practice on Sunday, April 5.
“I’m doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow,” Ball said.
He was not listed on UConn’s availability report Sunday night, so he should be available to go vs. Michigan.
Favorite national championship storyline
- John Leuzzi: Alex Karaban finishes his career by becoming the first non-UCLA player to win three national championship titles.
- Jordan Mendoza: All of the journey’s each player had to end up at Michigan.
- Ehsan Kassim: Will the Big Ten end its NCAA championship drought in men’s basketball?
- Austin Curtright: Dan Hurley’s dynasty. UConn is looking for its third title of the last four seasons, and Hurley is quickly establishing himself as one of the best postseason coaches ever. Can he somehow find a way to upset another Goliath like he and UConn did against Duke?
UConn will win National Championship game vs Michigan if…
- John Leuzzi: It can knock down 3-pointers.
- Jordan Mendoza: If it makes this an ugly, slow game.
- Ehsan Kassim: The Huskies can continue to hit the 3-point shot at a high clip
- Austin Curtright: It controls tempo. UConn has to force Michigan into a rough shooting night, which won’t be easy. The Huskies need to control the pace and be efficient offensively.
Michigan will win National Championship game vs UConn if…
- John Leuzzi: It’s size and length inside causes disruption to UConn’s offense.
- Jordan Mendoza: Doesn’t change anything from this tournament.
- Ehsan Kassim: Yaxel Lendeborg is healthy and close to 100%
- Austin Curtright: It avoids a complete meltdown. Michigan has been nothing short of dominant in the NCAA Tournament, and I don’t expect that to change barring complete collapse against UConn.
Who will win Final Four Most Outstanding Player?
- John Leuzzi: Tarris Reed Jr. — Reed has been the difference maker for UConn’s. There has not been a more impactful player for the Huskies in the last month.
- Jordan Mendoza: Elliot Cadeau — He has stepped his game up incredibly in the tournament, making Michigan impossible to beat.
- Ehsan Kassim: Aday Mara — Mara was dominant against Illinois. Another big game from the big man will help him win the trophy.
- Austin Curtright: Yaxel Lendeborg — Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the best stories in college basketball, rising from JUCO ranks to UAB to now Michigan, where he has blossomed into one of the best players in college basketball. He has led Michigan all year, and won’t let an injury stop him.
When was the last time Big Ten team won men’s basketball national championship?
The last Big Ten team to win a men’s basketball national championship was Michigan State in 2000 with their “Flintstones.”
What is Dan Hurley’s record in Final Four games?
The UConn coach is 5-0 in his three trips to the Final Four, and is on the cusp of a third national championship in four years.
Michigan’s road to national championship game
- First round: beat No. 16 Howard, 101-80
- Second round: beat No. 9 Saint Louis, 95-72
- Sweet 16: beat No. 4 Alabama, 90-77
- Elite Eight: beat No. 6 Tennessee, 95-62
- Final Four: beat No. 1 Arizona, 91-73
UConn road to Final Four
- First round: beat No. 15 Furman, 82-71
- Second round: beat No. 7 UCLA, 73-57
- Sweet 16: beat No. 3 Michigan State, 67-63
- Elite Eight: beat No. 1 Duke, 73-72
- Final Four: beat No. 3 Illinois, 71-62
Michigan Final Four history: Has Michigan basketball won a national championship?
This is Michigan’s ninth Final Four trip and first since 2018. The Wolverines won the 1989 national championship.
- 1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; won third-place game over Kansas State, 100-90
- 1965: won semifinal over Princeton, 93-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80
- 1976: won semifinal over Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68
- 1989: won semifinal over Illinois, 83-81; won final over Seton Hall, 80-79 in OT
- 1992: won semifinal over Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51
- 1993: won semifinal over Kentucky, 81-78 in OT; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71
- 2013: won semifinal over Syracuse, 61-56; lost final to Louisville, 82-76
- 2018: won semifinal over Loyola Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62
UConn basketball Final Four history: How many national championships have UConn won?
This is UConn’s eighth trip to the Final Four, all since 1999. The Huskies have won six national titles in their seven previous trips.
- 1999: won semifinal vs. Ohio State, 64-58; won final vs. Duke, 77-74
- 2004: won semifinal vs. Duke, 79-78; won final vs. Georgia Tech, 82-73
- 2009: lost semifinal vs. Michigan State, 82-73
- 2011: won semifinal vs. Kentucky, 56-55; won final vs. Butler, 53-41
- 2014: won semifinal vs. Florida, 63-53; won final vs. Kentucky, 60-54
- 2023: won semifinal vs. Miami, 72-59; won final vs. San Diego State, 76-59
- 2024: won semifinal vs. Alabama, 86-72; won final vs. Purdue, 75-60
Why did Tarris Reed Jr transfer from Michigan to UConn?
The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament run.
Reed entered the transfer portal shortly after the 2023-24 season, which was the last campaign under former coach Juwan Howard at Michigan.
“I saw Coach Juwan got fired. Definitely, I feel like it was like a no-brainer in terms of the portal,” Reed said April 5 before the national championship. “I hung around Michigan for a couple of weeks, and then they announced (Dusty May) was supposed to be the coach. I talked to him multiple times. I like Coach May, and he was just being super up front with who he was bringing in, who’s looking at recruiting-wise.
“So, feel like just him being honest with me, and I’m being honest with him, it was the right way. So, it was no bad blood.”
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is 23 years old. Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western Community College before heading to UAB where he played two seasons. This is his first year at Michigan.
How old is Alex Karaban?
Karaban is 23 years old and has been at UConn since redshirting the 2021-22 season. He’s been part of two national championship teams in Storrs and is looking to become the first non-UCLA player to win three national titles in a career.
Is Elliot Cadeau deaf? Michigan PG overcame hearing, vision issues
Elliot Cadeau is half-deaf in one ear, dealt with blurred vision in one eye. That hasn’t stopped Michigan point guard from turning in his best season.
∎ Read more about Cadeau overcoming adversity via USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg.
One of Dusty May’s son is a walk-on, the other is a student manager
Dusty May is surrounding by family on the Michigan bench. His son Charlie is a walk-on for the Wolverines, while another son, Eli, is a student manager — a role Dusty served under former Indiana icon Bob Knight.
In Michigan’s Elite Eight blowout win over Tennessee, Charlie got into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, much to the delight of his Wolverines teammates.
“It’s obviously tough to give up playing the game and being on a team wearing a jersey,” Dusty May told USA TODAY Sports about Eli’s role. “But I just thought as far as his long-term development, all the things our managers learn, problem-solving, they learn people skills. They learn to function. We try to give them a lot of responsibility because we know if they’re ever going to make it in coaching … they have to have the experience of doing meaningful work. Our managers have helped him become much more responsible.”
Where is Braylon Mullins from?
The UConn freshman guard is from Greenfield, Indiana and won Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award in 2025 at Greenfield-Central High School, roughly 30 minutes east of Indianapolis.
Where is Aday Mara from?
The 7-3 UCLA transfer is from Zaragoza, Spain. Mara was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game.
Michigan basketball stat leaders
SCORING
- Yaxel Lendeborg, 15.2 ppg
- Morez Johnson Jr., 13.2 ppg
- Aday Mara, 11.8 ppg
- Elliot Cadeau, 10.2 ppg
REBOUNDING
- Morez Johnson Jr., 7.3 rpg
- Yaxel Lendeborg, 7.0 rpg
- Aday Mara, 6.8 rpg
ASSISTS
- Elliot Cadeau, 5.8 apg
- Yaxel Lendeborg, 3.3 apg
UConn basketball stat leaders
SCORING
- Tarris Reed Jr.: 14.7 ppg
- Alex Karaban, 13.2 ppg
- Solo Ball, 12.9 ppg
- Braylon Mullins, 11.9 ppg
- Silas Demary Jr., 10.4 ppg
REBOUNDING
- Tarris Reed Jr., 8.8 rpg
- Alex Karaban, 5.2 rpg
- Silas Demary Jr., 4.5 rpg
ASSISTS
- Silas Demary Jr., 5.9 apg
- Malachi Smith, 3.0 apg
