The Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team have been crowned the 2026 national champion, at the conclusion of March Madness. It is the program’s first national championship since 1989. They faced off against The UConn (University of Connecticut) Huskies, who were trying to win its third title in four years.

Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points and helped the Wolverines (37-3) pull away on free throws, as Michigan made 25 of its 28 attempts at the line. Injuries played a role throughout the tournament. Although Solo Ball (UConn) was dealing with an ankle injury, he provided a spark with three 3-pointers and 11 points for the game. Meanwhile, Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), who was dealing with an MCL and ankle injury, struggled to find the bottom of the net, finishing 4 or 13.

The Wolverines fought hard, and managed to get to an 11 point lead. The Huskies cut the deficit to four with under eight minutes to play, but it was quickly erased by a momentum-shifting dunk by Aday Mara that brought their bench to life and tightened the game down the stretch. While Michigan went on a 6-0 run, UConn suffered a two-minute scoring drought with fewer than 6 minutes to go. The Huskies did manage to get within four with just 37 seconds remaining after Ball hit a 3-pointer, making the score 67-63. Though Michigan’s Roddy Gaye Jr. then missed a pair of free throws, Alex Karaban couldn’t hit a 3-point shot that would have cut the deficit to one. Karaban did lead the Huskies (34-6) with 17 points and was one of three UConn players with three 3-pointers.

In the end, Michigan ended both its long wait for a title and also the Big Ten’s, giving the conference its first men’s basketball title since Michigan State in 2000. Here’s what Michigan head coach Dusty May stated, “We’re not here without the love, support and coaching from everybody before us. And I want to shout out all of the former Michigan players – this one is for them.”