Michigan Leans On Defense And Late Execution To Outlast UConn And Capture Program’s Second National Championship
Michigan’s new Fab Five threw style points out the door and brought home a prize not even the school’s most famous team could capture.
The five transfers who make up coach Dusty May’s starting lineup got down and dirty with the rest of the Wolverines, powering their way to a 69-63 victory over a physical and persistent UConn team Monday night to claim the national championship.
Michigan made just two 3-pointers the entire game.
Cadeau and McKenney Deliver in Key Moments
Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points, including Michigan’s first 3-pointer, which did not come until 7:04 into the second half.
The second, delivered by freshman Trey McKenney with 1:50 remaining, stretched the lead to nine and proved to be the decisive moment in a game where offense was hard to come by.
UConn refused to go quietly. Solo Ball banked in a late 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four with 37 seconds left. After two missed free throws by Michigan, Alex Karaban had a chance to make it a one-point game, but his shot barely grazed the rim with 17 seconds remaining.
NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game at the Final Four, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
McKenney then knocked down two free throws to cap a 25-for-28 performance from the line, sealing the win and setting off the celebration for Michigan’s second national title, and its first since 1989.
“HAIL TO VICTORS!!!!” Jalen Rose, a member of Michigan’s Fab Five, posted on social media. “NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!”
Defense Defines Michigan’s Championship Run
The win also marks the Big Ten’s first men’s basketball national championship since Michigan State in 2000.
Michigan leaned heavily on defense, holding UConn to 30.9% shooting, the fourth consecutive game the Wolverines limited an opponent to its lowest field goal percentage of the season.
“These guys have done it all year,” May said. “When one side of the ball has let us down, the other side has picked it up. Our togetherness defensively ultimately got us over the hump.”
The Wolverines had to grind for everything. They missed their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc and finished 2 for 15, while also getting out rebounded 22-12 on the offensive glass.
Yaxel Lendeborg, playing through a knee and foot injury, scored 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting and was limited physically throughout the night.
“If you’d told me we would shoot it this poorly and be dominated on the glass and still find a way to win, I don’t know if I would have believed you,” May said. “This team just found a way all season.”
The two made 3-pointers tied for the second fewest by a winning team in a title game, according to Sportradar.
UConn Falls Short in Bid for Another Title
UConn had its opportunities but could not convert consistently. Coach Dan Hurley pointed to his team’s effort, especially on the boards, as a reason for pride despite the loss.
“How are you disappointed at all in your group?” Hurley said. “These guys have 22 offensive rebounds versus that group of ‘mon-stars’ out there. So, proud of the guys.”
UConn’s hopes of becoming the first program since John Wooden’s UCLA teams to win three titles in four seasons ended in part due to poor shooting and foul trouble. The Huskies missed their first 11 3-point attempts in the second half.
Braylon Mullins finished 4 of 17 from the field but hit two late 3-pointers to keep the game close. Tarris Reed Jr. recorded 13 points and 14 rebounds but never fully controlled the game.
“It’s complicated, because everyone’s crushed,” Hurley said. “We came here to be out there, doing what those guys are doing right now.”
A New Era Built Through the Transfer Portal
Michigan’s path to the title looked very different from its earlier tournament dominance, when it routinely topped 90 points and won comfortably. In the championship, the Wolverines did not reach 70 and had to fight through every possession.
“Nobody cared about stats the whole season,” Cadeau said. “Nobody cared about nothing but winning. I’m just glad to be part of that.”
Built almost entirely through the transfer portal, Michigan’s starting lineup reflects the changing landscape of college basketball. All five starters began their careers elsewhere, with most arriving this season.
“They might be still calling us mercenaries but we’re the hardest-working team,” Lendeborg said. “We’re the best in college basketball and we’ll be one of the greatest ever.”
“Go BLUE… champions!!! Respect Love!” Chris Webber added in a social media post.
