INDIANAPOLIS — The Michigan Wolverines have been the best team in men’s college basketball all season. The UConn Huskies have been the sport’s main character from the moment they hired Dan Hurley, and he has two national championship rings to prove it. The 2026 national championship game is going to be a stunner, but only one team can cut down the nets on Monday night.
Michigan has been throttling teams all year, but it saved its best performance of the season for its Final Four rout of Arizona. In a matchup of the top-2 teams on KenPom’s rankings, the Wolverines flexed their power even while superstar forward Yaxel Lendeborg was limited to only five minutes in the first half with foul trouble and injury. Arizona only had two losses on its resume entering the night, and had not trailed by more than 12 points this season. Michigan was still up 18 going into halftime, and it was a blowout from there.
UConn looked like it might make an early tournament exit after losing its regular season finale to a bad Marquette team, then getting crushed by 20 points by St. John’s in the Big East tournament championship game. Dan Hurley turned it on once the NCAA tournament started, and Braylon Mullins’ miracle three to stun Duke in the Elite Eight saved the season. The Final Four win against Illinois was more proof he’s the best postseason coach in all of sports.
Hurley picked apart Illinois size by running shooters off screens all night, and letting the Illini big men fire away from three. UConn looked like a team that was used to playing games in a football stadium in their third Final Four appearance in the last four years. Maybe the sightlines messed with the Illini, or maybe it was just a cold shooting night, but the Huskies got every bounce they needed while Brad Underwood’s team couldn’t buy a bucket.
Hurley and UConn are going for three national championships in four years. Michigan wants to solidify its place as one of the most dominant college teams in recent memory. Who has the edge?
How UConn can win the 2026 national championship
The Huskies have the best coaching staff in America. Hurley is so good that he turned down $70 million to coach the Los Angeles Lakers and it doesn’t even seem like a regrettable move. Top assistant Luke Murray is a schematic genius, and he’ll be Boston College’s head coach after Monday night. Kimani Young is another elite assistant who has been with Hurley throughout this run.
UConn’s offense is hard to prepare for because no one plays like them. The Huskies finished in the 100th percentile of off-screen play types, and also mix in a whirling combination of back-cuts and dribble-handoffs. Hurley won a national championship with Jordan Hawkins running off those screens to hit shots. Then he did it with Cam Spencer. Now Braylon Mullins is his latest gunner. It doesn’t matter who is in the role, the offense produces great shots and Hurley recruits players who can hit them.
Alex Karaban has been Hurley’s rock the entire time. He was a freshman starter on the 2023 national champions led by Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo, and then he was next to Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan on the 2024 championship run. Hurley tried to make Karaban the focal point last season, and it wasn’t the right fit as the team was eliminated in the round of 32 by eventual champ Florida. Karaban is back playing his old role this year, and UConn has returned to being a postseason monster.
The Huskies upgraded at point guard over the offseason by bringing in Silas Demary, a fierce point of attack defender who also makes 39 percent of his threes. Demary helped tighten up the ball pressure, and the defense suddenly took off, going from No. 75 last season to No. 8 this year.
Tarris Reed has been the team’s best player, and one of the very best in this NCAA tournament. He uses his strength and 7’5 wingspan to eat inside. He gets UConn so many second chances on the offensive glass, and he’s become really good at challenging shots at the rim without fouling. Reed started his career at Michigan, and winning on Monday night would be the ultimate validation for him.
Michigan could have trouble getting over UConn’s maze of screens with such a big lineup. The Huskies hold opponents to 30.1 percent shooting from three on the year. If the Wolverines are cold from deep and the game is close late, Hurley will have a chance to work his late game magic again.
Why Michigan will win the 2026 national championship
Michigan showed it had a chance to be an all-time great college team in November at the Players Era Fest when it blasted San Diego State by 40, Auburn by 30, and Gonzaga by 40. From that point on, the national championship race has been running through the Wolverines.
Arizona felt like one of the few teams with the talent to actually have a chance against Michigan. The game was only competitive for a few minutes despite the Wolverines’ three best players all getting in early foul trouble. It didn’t matter. Michigan showed its more than just Lendeborg’s team with an incredible team effort that showed off the full extent of their might. Elliot Cadeau dominated with his speed and playmaking despite a cold shooting night. Aday Mara proved you can’t teach 7’3 with a 7’7 wingspan by dominating the rim at both ends. Morez Johnson is all heart, hustle, and muscle — which is a cliche way to describe college basketball’s best and most versatile defender. Freshman Trey McKenney ripped the nets from three, Roddy Gayle uncorked a huge dunk or two. Arizona had been a steamroller all year, and this time they were the team that got steamrolled.
Michigan is uniquely equipped to defend Tarris Reed. It can match his strength with Johnson, and let Mara roam off the ball as a help-side shot blocker. It could also let Mara try to smother him with length. The Wolverines should have the advantage on the glass, and they will almost certainly draw more free throws. Demary could give Cadeau some trouble, but as long as he plays within himself, Michigan should win comfortably.
Michigan’s transition game is so hard to stop with Mara has the trigger man on outlet passes. Cadeau’s passing vision is second to none, and even a hobbled Lendeborg looked pretty great in the second half against Arizona.
Lendeborg’s injury is an issue if he doesn’t heal quickly. Michigan also showed it doesn’t really need him to roll a great team.
It’s been Michigan’s year all season long. It will lock it in on Monday night.
