Michigan is back on top of college basketball.
The Wolverines secured their first NCAA men’s championship since 1989 with a 69–63 victory over UConn in Indianapolis, earning just the second national title in program history. The win also ended a lengthy drought for the Big Ten, which hadn’t celebrated a champion since 2000.
Despite entering the title game on a historic scoring run—putting up at least 90 points in each of their first five tournament games—Michigan found itself in a much tougher, defensive battle. Neither team shot efficiently, with both finishing under 40% from the field and combining for a cold 22.9% from three-point range.
Still, Michigan found other ways to take control.
The Wolverines leaned on physical play and consistency at the free-throw line, knocking down 25 of 28 attempts, including a stretch of more than 20 straight makes. They also outscored UConn 36–22 in the paint, overcoming a rebounding deficit.
Elliot Cadeau led the way with 19 points and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player after averaging 16 points, six assists, and four rebounds across the final two games. Yaxel Lendeborg added 13 points despite battling through injury, while Morez Johnson Jr. chipped in 12. Lendeborg’s performance was especially notable. After suffering a sprained MCL and ankle injury in the semifinal, he admitted at halftime he felt “awful” and “super weak,” yet pushed through and delivered key plays down the stretch.
UConn made several late pushes, trimming the deficit to four in the final minute. A missed layup during a potential fast-break opportunity proved costly, and a clutch step-back three from freshman Trey McKenney soon after extended Michigan’s lead to nine with under two minutes left. The Huskies had one last chance to tighten things further, but a missed three-pointer in the closing seconds sealed their fate. McKenney calmly added two free throws to put the game out of reach.
UConn, which was chasing its third title in four years, struggled offensively throughout. The team shot just 31% overall, with no player hitting more than half of their attempts. Alex Karaban, Braylon Mullins, and Tarris Reed Jr. all had difficulty finding rhythm, though Reed still managed a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said after the game. “These guys have done it all year.”
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