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michigan wolverines

Michigan Tops UConn 69–63 to Capture 2026 National Championship

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Indianapolis, IN – The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament came to a thrilling conclusion at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where the Michigan Wolverines outlasted the Connecticut Huskies 69–63 to claim their first national championship in over three decades. In a game that lived up to its billing, both teams traded blows for 40 minutes, but Michigan’s poise  and timely execution down the stretch proved to be the difference.

Junior guard Elliot Cadeau once again rose to the occasion, leading the Wolverines with 19 points and orchestrating the offense with the composure of a seasoned veteran. Cadeau’s ability to control tempo and make plays in key moments was instrumental in keeping UConn’s defense off balance. His leadership throughout the tournament had been a defining factor in Michigan’s run, and on the biggest stage, he delivered once more. Forward Morez Johnson provided the interior presence Michigan needed, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. His physicality on the boards and defensive effort against UConn’s frontcourt helped the Wolverines withstand several second-half surges. Meanwhile, Yaxel Lendeborg, the team’s All-American forward, battled through ankle and knee injuries to contribute 13 points. Though not at full strength, Lendeborg’s toughness and ability to hit mid-range shots gave Michigan a crucial offensive boost.

For UConn, the loss ended their bid for a historic third national title in four years — a feat not accomplished since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty of the 1970s. The Huskies entered the game with a chance to cement their place among college basketball’s modern powerhouses, but Michigan’s defensive discipline and rebounding edge proved too much to overcome. Alex Karaban led the Huskies with 17 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing his versatility and effort on both ends of the floor. Tarris Reed added 13 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring UConn’s interior attack and keeping them within striking distance throughout the contest. Braylon Mullins, who had been one of UConn’s most reliable perimeter threats all season, struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting.

The game itself was a showcase of high-level basketball — physical, tactical, and filled with momentum swings. Neither team led by more than eight points at any stage, and the intensity never wavered. Michigan’s defense, which had been a hallmark of its tournament run, held UConn to just 39% shooting from the field and limited their transition opportunities. In the final minutes, Cadeau’s steady hand guided Michigan through the pressure. With the Wolverines clinging to a narrow lead, he hit a crucial pull-up jumper with just over a minute remaining, extending the margin to five. UConn had chances to respond, but Michigan’s defense forced contested shots and secured key rebounds.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Wolverines bench erupted, celebrating a long-awaited return to college basketball’s summit. The victory also marked a significant moment for the Big Ten Conference, which had endured a national title drought since Michigan State’s championship in 2000. For years, the league had produced strong team’s and deep tournament runs but had fallen short. Michigan’s triumph not only ended that streak but also reaffirmed the program’s place among the sport’s elite. As confetti rained down inside Lucas Oil Stadium,  coaches and players embraced, knowing they had etched their names into Michigan basketball history. The Wolverines’ blend of veteran leadership, defensive toughness, and unselfish play carried them through one of the most competitive tournaments in recent memory. For UConn, the loss was a bitter end to another remarkable season, but their sustained excellence over the past four years remains undeniable. For Michigan, it was a night of redemption and resilience,  

This article was written by Andrew Keeling of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Michigan, UConn Advance to NCAA Title Game

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Indianapolis, IN – The Final Four of the NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium delivered everything college basketball fans could hope for — intensity, star performances, and the promise of a heavyweight National Championship matchup. UConn and Michigan emerged victorious, each showcasing the balance, depth, and poise that define championship-caliber teams.

In the opener UConn’s pursuit of another national title continued with a hard-fought 71–62 win over Illinois. The Huskies, appearing in their third Final Four in four years, once again demonstrated why they’ve become the standard of consistency in college basketball. From the opening tip, UConn dictated the tempo, using its size and defensive discipline to limit Illinois’ transition opportunities. Tarris Reed Jr. was the anchor for the Huskies, delivering a commanding performance inside with 17 points and 11 rebounds. His presence on both ends of the floor set the tone, as he controlled the glass and provided timely scoring in the paint. Braylon Mullins, the sharpshooting guard, gave UConn a crucial perimeter boost, knocking down four three-pointers and finishing with 15 points. His ability to stretch the floor opened driving lanes for teammates and forced Illinois to adjust defensively. Solo Ball added 13 points, attacking the rim with confidence and providing steady playmaking throughout the game.

Despite UConn’s control, Illinois refused to fold. The Illini, led by freshman sensation Keaton Wagler, battled back multiple times to keep the game within reach. Wagler showcased his versatility and composure, scoring a team-high 20 points while grabbing 8 rebounds. His ability to create his own shot against UConn’s tough defense was impressive for a first-year player on such a big stage. Tomislav Ivisic added 16 points and 7 rebounds, using his size and touch around the basket to challenge UConn’s frontcourt. Andrej Stojakovic contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds, providing hustle plays and defensive effort that kept Illinois competitive. UConn’s defense, however, proved to be the difference. The Huskies held Illinois to under 40% shooting and limited the Ilini to only three assists in the game. They also forced key turnovers late in the second half. Every time Illinois threatened to close the gap, UConn responded with timely baskets or defensive stops. The Huskies’ experience in high-pressure moments showed, as they maintained composure and executed down the stretch. The win sends UConn back to the National Championship game for the third time in four years — a remarkable feat that underscores the program’s sustained excellence.

The second semifinal featured a surprising but emphatic result, as Michigan dominated Arizona 91–73 to earn its spot in the title game. From the opening minutes, the Wolverines played with confidence and precision, jumping out to an early lead and never relinquishing control. Aday Mara was the star of the night, delivering a near-perfect performance with 26 points and 9 rebounds. The 7-foot center was unstoppable in the paint, finishing through contact and controlling the boards. His footwork and touch around the rim gave Arizona’s defense fits all game long. Point guard Elliot Cadeau orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with 13 points and 10 assists. His court vision and pace kept Michigan’s offense flowing, and his ability to push the tempo created easy scoring opportunities in transition. All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg, limited to 15 minutes due to an ankle injury, added 11 points, providing energy and defensive versatility that helped Michigan maintain its edge. Michigan’s offensive execution was nearly flawless. The Wolverines shot efficiently from the field, shared the ball unselfishly, and punished Arizona for every defensive lapse. Their spacing and ball movement created open looks, and their bench contributed valuable minutes to sustain the momentum.

For Arizona, the loss was a disappointing end to an otherwise strong season. Koa Peat led the Wildcats with 16 points and 11 rebounds but shot only 6-of-18 from the field. Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley each scored 13 points, trying to keep Arizona within striking distance but Burries was an inefficient 4-of-16 from the field. Tobe Awaka added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

However, Arizona struggled to contain Michigan’s interior attack and couldn’t match the Wolverines’ pace. Michigan’s defense also deserves credit. The Wolverines limited Arizona’s perimeter shooting and forced them into contested mid-range attempts. Their ability to switch defensively and protect the rim disrupted Arizona’s rhythm, allowing Michigan to control the game from start to finish.

**Looking Ahead: UConn vs. Michigan – The National Championship**

The stage is now set for a thrilling National Championship matchup between UConn and Michigan — two programs with rich histories and elite talent. UConn brings experience, balance, and championship pedigree, while Michigan arrives with momentum and confidence after dismantling Arizona. The battle inside between Tarris Reed Jr. and Aday Mara promises to be a focal point, as both big men have been dominant throughout the tournament. The perimeter play — Mullins and Ball for UConn, Cadeau and Lendeborg for Michigan — will likely determine the tempo and flow of the game. With both teams peaking at the right time, the championship clash at Lucas Oil Stadium has all the makings of a classic — a fitting conclusion to a memorable college basketball season.

This article was written by Andrew Keeling, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Oregon’s First Half Effort Cannot Hold Off #4 Michigan

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Eugene, OR – After being down double digits early, the undermanned Oregon Ducks went on a concerted run that got them back into the game against a Michigan team that looks to be one of the best in the country. With the clock winding down at the end of the first half, sophomore guard Wei Lin hit a three-pointer while being guarded by potential All-American, Yaxel Lendeborg, to give Oregon a 41-40 lead. The second half saw Michigan come out and dominate around the basket, with Aday Mara and Morez Johnson, Jr. getting deep post position, while Elliot Cadeau was able to attack and get to the basket, create. Michigan ultimately claimed a 81-71 victory, moving to 16-1 on the season.

With Jackson Shelstad and Nathan Bittle both sidelined for the foreseeable future, Oregon needed players to take on new roles. It had the potential to get ugly, coming off a 90-55 routing by #8 Nebraska. Former Montverde Academy teammates and juniors, Sean Stewart and Kwame Evans, Jr. both stepped up against Michigan’s front line that may be the best in the country. 

Stewart in particular scored in double digits both halves, finishing with 22 points (10-14 FG), 8 rebounds, and two blocked shots. He banked in a couple of midrange shots, while hitting his lone three-point attempt on a BLOB action. With Oregon desperate for some offensive firepower, their current fifth leading scorer stepped up and did not back down from the Michigan team with a frontcourt full of projected 2026 Draft picks.

Evans, Jr. had 12 of his 18 points in the first half, with 2 steals and 2 blocks. He could draw the defense outside, manipulate his way to the basket on closeouts, and drew fouls. With Evans, the quicker he can get into his moves and decision making, seems to do wonders for offensive creation for the team. There were times when the ball stopped, and so did opportunities for easy baskets. 

Wei Lin scored all 11 of his points in the first half, held to 0-of-8 shooting in the 2nd half. Takai Simpkins finished with 12 points, with 4 steals, many of which led to transition opportunities. He did not make any of his three-pointers, with the Ducks only finishing 6-of-18 on 3’s on the game. With Shelstad and Bittle sidelined, the long range shooting of Lin and Simpkins cannot be the combined 1-of-11 that they shot in this game.

For Michigan, Aday Mara made a massive statement to begin the second half. He went on a self 8-2 run, with a massive dunk taking Evans under the basket. He also showed his passing ability from both the low and high post, along with rim protection that made Oregon players think twice about taking it to the basket. The 7’3” junior transfer from UCLA finished with 12 points, 3 blocks, and led the early second half barrage that saw Michigan control the rest of the game.

Junior North Carolina transfer Cadeau led Michigan in scoring with 17 points, and while he finished with 5 assists and 4 turnovers, his impact on their offensive creation was notable. He used screens very well, and multiple times was able to get to the rim unabated. He was also 2-of-4 on 3’s, and the player that teams once loved to leave open is shooting 41.2% on 4 3 3-point attempts for the season. His quickness, stop/start ability, and tight handle, plus ability to make post entries fit really well with the current pieces the Wolverines have up front.

Fifth-year senior Nimari Burnett scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half, making 3-of-7 3’s while making all his two-point field goal attempts. He is a pesky defender, timely cutter, and is dangerous as a catch-and-shoot option. Morez Johnson, Jr.’s first half was brief due to foul trouble, but he scored 8 of his 9 points in the second half, all around the basket. He’s another major interior presence for Michigan, who have an array of weapons, and a bench that goes nine deep.

It was a season low point total for star UAB transfer, Yaxel Lendeborg, but he showed his value and versatility. Playing with two more traditional big men, Lendeborg handles the ball well, has over a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio currently, plus has greatly increased his three-point volume and is shooting 87.3% FT on the season. He also was the two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and finished with 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 10 rebounds today. 

Lendeborg’s lone basket was on a post seal, and he did tend to float around the perimeter rather than assert his dominance considering his physical tools, which include a 7’4” wingspan. Regardless, he did what he had to do and drew a lot of attention, while not making mistakes. Certainly not a banner game for a player who still is among first team All-American consideration, but the value of Lendeborg goes well beyond scoring, which is why he is such a tantalizing NBA prospect.

Oregon moved to 8-10 on the season, with a game against Michigan State taking place on Tuesday at 6 pm PST. This was their fourth loss in a row, and they will need continued presence from their junior Montverde duo, while greater shooting efficiency from their guards. They did a much better job holding onto the ball, with just 11 turnovers on the game, compared to Michigan’s 14, which certainly helped keep the game closer than anticipated. The Big Ten schedule is going to be tough, but this was a step in the right direction in terms of remaining competitive against a top ranked opponent.


This article was written by Michael Visenberg, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Michigan Wins Title at Players Era Championship with Dominant Performance

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Las Vegas, NV. – Michigan completed an amazing performance, winning the title at the  Players Era Championship in Las Vegas with a 101-61 shellacking of previously undefeated Gonzaga. The Wolverines won their three games by a combined 110 points in the best performance at any major basketball event that I have witnessed. Yaxel Lendeborg led the winners with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two highlight reel dunks.

Michigan notched dominant wins over San Diego State (94-54) and Auburn (102-72) before tonight’s performance. This game was never in doubt as the Wolverines raced out to a 20-5 lead and went into the half leading by 24 points. The second half was the same as Michigan kept increasing their lead to as much as 46 points. Michigan’s frontcourt of 7’3 Aday Mara, 6’9 Morez Johnson Jr. and the 6’9 Lendeborg bottled up the inside and took Gonzaga’s Graham Ike out of his game. Ike finished with one point missing on all of his nine field goal attempts. Michigan outscored Gonzaga 30-0 on layups. Besides Lendeborg’s efforts, Johnson Jr. finished with 11 points (5-6 FG), five rebounds and two blocks. Mara added 13 points, four rebounds and three blocks while Lendeborg added two blocked shots of his own.

Beside completely dominating the game inside, the Wolverines receive excellent performances from their guards. Starting point guard Elliot Cadeau dished out 13 assists against only two turnovers. Nimari Burnett (14 points) connected on all four of his three-point attempts and added six boards. Freshman Trey McKinney came off the bench to score 17 points over 21 minutes and made 3-of-5 from deep. Roddy Gayle Jr. connected on all his three shots and scored nine points.  The thought on Michigan prior to the season was that if they could get good play and decent three-point shooting from their guards they could be one of the best teams in the nation. That has been happening, as tonight their rotation guards combined to shoot 8-of-14 on 3’s and contributed 23 assists against only 10 turnovers.

The Wolverines shot 13-of-27 from deep in total while shooting 60% from the field overall. They held the Zags to 3-of-22 shooting on 3’s and only 33.8% overall.  For Gonzaga, Tyon Grant-Foster played hard throughout, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Braden Huff had some success inside, finishing with 14 points and six boards before fouling out. All in all, it was a performance to remember from Michigan this week in Las Vegas.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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