Keep track of all the action at the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game between the Michigan Wolverines and the UConn Huskies.
The finale of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will have a little bit of bite to it.
One last race to glory in Indianapolis will take 40 minutes, rather than 500 miles, to complete, as the Michigan Wolverines and UConn Huskies will face off at Lucas Oil Stadium in the 2026 national championship game. It marks the 10th time that the national title has been decided in Indianapolis and the first since Baylor downed Gonzaga in the 2021 edition.
Michigan, champions of the Midwest region, continued its dominant trek through the bracket in the Final Four with a 91-73 shellacking of Arizona, a game that was hardly as close as its already one-sided score indicated. Despite dealing with an injury to Yaxel Lendeborg, the Wolverines had control from the get-go thanks to what became a 26-point breakout for Aday Mara. Elliot Cadeau and dished out 10 assists and stole four more, allowing Michigan to secure a chance to win its first national championship since 1989.
UConn, on the other hand, staved off Illinois in the national semifinals after prevailing in the East region, taking a 71-62 decision. It was another dominant night for Tarris Reed Jr., who put up a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double while another clutch three from Braylon Mullins, the Elite Eight hero in the comeback against Duke, hit another vital triple that served as the de facto dagger in UConn's latest win. The Huskies are going for their seventh national championship, having taken two over the last three years with current forward Alex Karaban in tow.
Lendeborg is not on any injury report so expect him to be starting and ready to go for the Wolverines, but if he's not 100 percent expect UConn to try to exploit that in some fashion.
March Madness Coverage: How Michigan, UCONN Punched Their Monday Ticket | Arizona vs. Michigan LIVE LOG | UConn vs. Illinois LIVE LOG | Arizona vs. Michigan Final Four Preview | UConn vs. Illinois Final Four Preview | NCAA Coaching Change Tracker | East Region Tracker | South Region Tracker | Midwest Region Tracker | West Region Tracker | What Happened to Cinderella? | Top 6 Upsets So Far | Elliot Cadeau Q & A | Another Double Final Four For UConn
More NCAA: East Region Preview | South Region Preview | Midwest Region Preview | West Region Preview | Ballislife Writer's picks | Ballislife Sweet 16 Writer's picks
Outlook
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan defense took apart Arizona in the national semifinals, but don’t look for UConn to fall apart so quickly. The Huskies are better shot makers and should respond to a Wolverines’ run better. Arizona looked like it didn’t know what to do when it ran into a team just as big and skilled as it was.
Michigan was able to camp around the lane on defense because Arizona was shooting woefully. Michigan will have to guard more space on Monday night. Aday Mara played really well after Yaxel Lendeborg suffered his MCL sprain and ankle injury. He’ll have to play well again on Monday night in order for Michigan to cut down the nets. Elliott Cadeau and Nimari Burnett are going to have to slow down UConn’s perimeter attack in order to win this game because UConn knows how to generate terrific looks from the field.
Michigan is playing with extreme confidence and it’s easy to see how it is such a big favorite, but don’t expect this game to be essentially over early in the second half. If Michigan can generate some easy offense off the glass, it will be in control and then hope the lead is big enough to avoid UConn hanging around until the last possession.
UConn
The Huskies are confident and after beating Duke on last second heroics by Braylon Mullins in the regional final, seem loose and have a nothing-to-lose attitude. They were in full control vs. Illinois in the semifinals, but in Monday’s title game expect Michigan to make at least one big run. How UConn responds will tell the tale of this game. If UConn is within a couple of possessions late, how Michigan handles that pressure will determine the outcome. UConn thrives in creating good shots against tiring defenses.
Michigan’s big frontline has been holding the paint down, but if UConn can extend them with great passing and nailing some first half 3-pointers, then the injury to Yaxel Lendeborg could come into play. UConn, on the other hand, can’t afford to be in foul trouble as it was vs. The Illini. Michigan is simply too good. Tarris Reed Jr. is playing terrific ball, but then again Arizona’s talented frontline looked average against Michigan. It will come to down UConn’s 3-point shooting from the likes of Mullins, Alex Karaban and Solo Ball. They make some shots and Michigan’s frontline will have to work a lot harder and could be susceptible to foul trouble and/or fatigue.
Reed vs. Mara will be so fun to watch. Reed will have to have another monster game for UConn to pull off the “upset” and the foul count on Reed vs. Mara will be a key storyline if Lendeborg can’t contribute much to Michigan’s attack. At this point, would it really be an upset if UConn were to win its third title in four years? Vegas’ lines seem pretty big (-6.5 for Michigan) vs. a Dan Hurley coached team at this time of the season.
Michigan 69, UConn 63
MOP: Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Elliot Cadeau saved his finest facilitation for last, breaking out for his NCAA Tournament-best 19 points as the marvel mercenaries of Michigan finally pulled off what the Fab Five and more could not: with a 69-63 win over the UConn Huskies on Monday night in Indianapolis, Cadeau's Michigan Wolverines secured the first national championship in program history since 1989.
Cadeau, well-known for his sterling two-way game, rose to the occasion in a game that was better-known for his defense: the Wolverines broke loose for six blocks, two each for Roddy Gayle and Morez Johnson Jr., the latter of whom had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win. Michigan led for the entire second half and earned the victory despite sinking only two three-pointers. The Wolverines handled business on the inside, scoring 36 points in the paint and getting 28 free throw attempts, sinking all but three.
Alex Karaban (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Tarris Reed Jr. (14 rebounds, 13 points) each had double-doubles for the Huskies, who fell in the national title game for the first time in seven attempts. UConn shot but 31 percent from the field and missed each of its first 13 tries from three-point range in the second half.
Final Leaders
Michigan (69)
POINTS: Elliot Cadeau (19)
ASSISTS: Elliot Cadeau/Roddy Gayle Jr. (2)
REBOUNDS: Morez Johnson Jr. (10)
UConn (63)
POINTS: Alex Karaban (17)
ASSISTS: Malachi Smith (3)
REBOUNDS: Tarris Reed Jr. (14)
2nd Half: Michigan 69, UConn 63
0.0—Smith misses a drive, which Michigan rebounds and throws into oblivion. The game ends, and Michigan has secured its first national championship since 1989.
13.1—McKenney gets a rebound after Karaban's three barely grazes the rim. He's fouled. UConn head coach Dan Hurley calls for an appeal, claiming that McKenney threw elbows after securing the board. No avail, and UConn loses its last timeout. McKenney hits two. (69-63 UM)
29.5—The Wolverines break the late press. Gayle gets fouled but misses two free throws, breaking Michigan's lengthy streak.
37.2—The Huskies crawl back out of the grave thanks to an emphasized three-point bank from Ball. It's reviewed and the three is confirmed. (67-63 UM)
45.7—Another inbound misfire, despite Lendeborg's best efforts, gives possession back to UConn.
48.8—Michigan survives a testy inbound. They call timeout after.
53.5—Mullins misfires on a three but Gayle is called for pushing Karaban, who hits two (67-60 UM)
1:07—Demary is charged with a foul on Cadeau and fouls out. Cadeau sinks two, now 20 succssful singles in a row for Michigan (67-58 UM)
1:23—Another Cadeau reach-in, his third foul, puts Reed at the foul line after generating extra chances. He hits two. (65-58 UM)
1:51—Michigan overcomes a turnover and a broken to find McKenney, who sinks a showstopping three. Timeout UConn (65-56 UM)
2:30—Karaban hits a three off a Reed screen to keep the game rolling (62-56 UM)
2:45—Demary charged with his fourth after Cadeau falls on the other end. Michigan is in the bonus and Cadeau hits two (62-53 UM)
3:02—After getting a stop, Mullins is charged with an offensive foul against Cadeau.
3:48—The final media timeout emerges when Reed is fouled by Johnson, his fourth. Two freebies after. Michigan 60, UConn 51 He hits both (60-53 UM)
4:13—Ross fouls Lendeborg to put him on the line during a shot. He hits both. Six team fouls for UConn. Lendeborg sits for Gayle (60-51 UM)
4:40—Another three for Mullins keeps the Huskies in range. (58-51 UM)
5:05—Lendeborg puts in his own putback after the timeout. He's in double figures with 11. (58-48 UM)
5:22—After 13 attempts, the Huskies finally get a three-pointer to fall in the second half, courtesy of the clutch Mullins. Timeout UConn. Cadeau was charged with a foul after review for pushing Demary (56-48 UM)
5:44—Cadeau finds Lendeborg inside for a two and double-figure lead (56-45 UM)
6:04—On another second chance, Karaban is fouled by Lendeborg, his third. Karaban misses both, but the possession is temporarily extended by a Reed rebound, but UConn can't capitalize.
6:30—McKenney to the foul line on another drive, Stewart on the call. He hits two. Demary and Lendeborg return. (54-45 UM)
7:16—Karaban misses a three, lowering UConn to 0-of-9 in the half. Stewart tries to get the rebound, but it goes out of bounds. Media timeout Michigan 52, UConn 45
7:43—A deflection leads to a break for Michigan, which Gayle sends to Mara for a dunk (52-45 UM)
8:23—Demary pushes UConn closer with a drive of his own (50-45 UM)
9:06—Karaban takes a steal coast-to-coast to close the gap to seven again (50-43 UM)
10:02—Johnson scores on yet another putback, breaking up another series of defensive brilliance (50-41 UM)
11:23—Reed scores out of the timeout to narrow the gap again (48-41 UM)
11:33—A defensive clinic engages, concluding with Johnson's rejection of Mullins. Timeout on the floor. Michigan 48, UConn 39
12:19—Demary returns to the game after the timeout. Ross gets to the line on Johnson's second foul on a putback. He hits two. (48-39 UM)
12:55—Following an exchange of doubles, Cadeau finally earns a three for Michigan, their first of the night. It leads to a UConn timeout (48-37 UM)
14:22—A rare tally outside the paint, a mid-range two at the foul line from Trey McKenney, re-establishes Michigan's largest lead (43-35 UM)
14:51—Smith drives against Lendeborg, stemming the bleeding with an attractive drive (41-35 UM)
15:06—Another UConn turnover out of the timeout, this one being a 10-second violation.
15:16—Lendeborg not only puts in a physical two, he draws a foul on Reed, who also has three. Lendeborg will get one more after the media timeout Michigan 40, UConn 33 He hits it to complete the three-point play (41-33 UM)
15:31—Despite an emphatic rejection by Gayle, Mullins puts one in a third putback (38-33 UM)
16:20—Cadeau engages in another drive against Ball and draws a foul on an and-one. That's Ball's fourth, and he sits down for Ross. Cadeau hits the freebie. (38-31 UM)
17:40—Demary gets tied up with Johnson, and the former is likewise charged with his third foul. Demary sits for Smith.
19:09—Reed puts back his own miss (35-31 UM)
19:31—Ball is charged with his third foul as Mara finds Burnett on a deep ball following an immediate UConn misfire. Ball remains in the game. Brunett hits two at the line (35-29 UM)
Halftime Leaders
Michigan (33)
POINTS: Morez Johnson Jr. (10)
ASSISTS: Elliot Cadeau/Aday Mara/Trey McKenney (1)
REBOUNDS: Trey McKenney (5)
UConn (29)
POINTS: Solo Ball/Alex Karaban (8)
ASSISTS: Malachi Smith (3)
REBOUNDS: Tarris Reed Jr. (6)
1st Half: Michigan 33, UConn 29
2.6—Reed's layup falls short but there's a late whistle: Lendeborg is charged with a foul, giving him two free throws. Reed hits one to close out scoring in the first half (33-29 UM)
0:33—After Lendeborg gets loose on the other end, his lay-up misses by Gayle slams it home (33-28 UM)
1:49—Mara spins on Reed inside for a response on the other end (31-28 UM)
2:10—Ball returns after the timeout and instantly sinks a big three at the top of the key (29-28 UM)
2:24—After another double from Mara, UConn is forced into a timeout (29-25 UM)
3:07—Lendeborg scores off the feed from Mara, giving Michigan the lead back. They're doubling up UConn in paint points at 16-8 (27-25 UM)
3:16—Karaban is charged with a foul against Johnson. It's reviewed for a hook-and-hold. A flagrant call is confirmed. Johnson gets two foul shots, hitting two, and Michigan gets the ball back (25-25)
3:58—Offensive foul against UConn's Reed sends the ball back Michigan's away as the final media timeout is staged. That's Reed's second and he steps out for Reibe. UConn 25, Michigan 23
4:30—Mara called for goaltending as Reed gets one up after a Smith rebound on a Mullins miss (25-23 UCONN)
5:00—Smith fouls Gayle under the basket during a rebound. Gayle hits two to tie. That was UConn's ninth team foul (23-23)
6:06—Mullins, the Elite Eight hero, wows his homecrowd with his first three of the night (23-21 UCONN)
6:17—Lendeborg gets on the board after he's fouled by Stewart, hitting two on a one-and-one (21-20 UM)
6:24—Cadeau is caught reaching in on Karaban, his second foul that negates a Mara block. Gayle returns to the game as Cadeau sits. Karaban hits two at the line (20-19 UCONN)
6:47—Following a Braylon Mullins miss on the inside, he is called for a foul on a would-be tie-up with Nimari Burnett. Granted a one-on-one thanks to UConn's seventh team foul, Burnett hits two to give Michigan the lead back (19-18 UM)
7:00—Following Jaylin Stewart getting his own rebound off a miss, but play is stopped to check if it hit the rim, necessitating a shot clock adjustment. Timeout on the floor. UConn 18, Michigan 17
7:39—Following a rejection of Reed, Mara scores his first points of the game after getting loose inside (18-17 UCONN)
8:48—An offensive foul for Johnson ends the Michigan possession
8:54—With Ross called for a foul on Lendeborg, UConn has six in the period, which puts Michigan in the bonus for the rest of the frame
9:05—Further penetration from Smith puts UConn back ahead by three (18-15 UCONN)
10:10—Yet another Johnson putback gives him eight on the night (16-15 UCONN)
10:23—Smith rebounds and his own and finds Karaban in the corner, and his three gives UConn its first lead (16-13 UCONN)
10:54—Johnson's latest attempt at two is interrupted by a travel call. Michigan backup Eric Reibe on defense.
11:08—Smith ties the game back up on the other end (13-13)
11:36—A pair of pump fakes allows Johnson to create some space and earn another double that gives Michigan the lead back (13-11 UM)
11:57—Cadeau chases down Jayden Ross, who was turned his rebound of a Cadeau miss into a fastbreak, but is charged with a foul. Free throws for Ross upon returning Michigan 11, UConn 10 He hits one for the tie (11-11)
12:07—Ball is charged with his second foul and he steps out for Braylon Mullins
12:22—Another three, this one from Alex Karaban, once again lowers the UConn gap to a possession (11-10 UM)
13:10—Cadeau sinks a flexible double around Demary, who is charged with a foul. That's his second, and he exits for Malachi Smith. Cadeau misses the and-one (11-7 UM)
14:11—Ball hits a three, UConn's first of the night (9-7 UM)
14:34—Reed loses the ball off his leg on a Cadeau swipe
14:46—Yaxel Leneborg fouls Demary to pick up his first foul.
15:31—Out of the timeout, UConn suffers a shot clock violation
15:41—Roddy Gayle, having stepped in for Aday Mara, makes an immediate impact, emphatically rejection a Demary drive that leads into the first media timeout Michigan 9, UConn 4
16:01—A third chance from Johnson produces a successful putback (9-4 UM)
16:21—Ball is called for his first foul after interior contact with Johnson.
16:37—Ball sinks a mid-range corner after the free throws (7-4 UM)
16:55—Cadeau draw a foul on Demary on a three-pointer. He hits all three free throws (7-2 UM)
17:36—Cadeau infiltrates the paint to get the lead back (4-2 UM)
17:57—Tarris Reed ties the game right up at the other end (2-2)
18:23—After some early misses, Morez Johnson Jr. opens scoring off a floating pass from Elliot Cadeau (2-0 UM)
20:00—UConn takes the opening tip and the game is underway
Pregame
Starting Lineups
MICHIGAN: Nimari Burnett, Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara
UCONN: Solo Ball, Silas Demary Jr., Alex Karaban, Braylon Mullins, Tarris Reed Jr.
OFFICIALS: Jeff Anderson, James Breeding, Kipp Kissinger
LINE: UM -6.5
O/U: 146.5
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
