INDIANAPOLIS, IN — As the final buzzer sounded inside of Lucas Oil Stadium late Monday night, players and coaches of Michigan were overjoyed with emotion, celebrating a national championship that meant more than just a title.
It was a moment that reflected the journey of a team, their families and a program that had worked its way to the top.
With the Wolverines securing a 69-63 win over UConn to capture the program’s first national title since 1989 and just the second in program history, Michigan finished off their dominant season at 37-3—tying a Big Ten Conference record for most wins in a season with Illinois from 2005.
Dusty May, Michigan’s head coach, landing the job in Ann Arbor prior to the 2024-2025 season, and successfully delivering a national title in his second season, created the foundation but credited last year’s team for laying the groundwork with him which helped shape the program’s identity.
“What a way to wrap up the ’25-’26 college basketball season with this group,” he said in his opening remarks of Michigan’s postgame press conference. “I want to begin by thanking last year’s team at Michigan. We came up a little bit short, but those guys laid the foundation, established an identity for us, and also helped attract these guys to come in and chase this dream together.”
In the matchup attended by 70,720, Michigan pulled away in the second half after struggling from beyond the arc early, finally finding rhythm from deep to build a double-digit lead on the team’s first made three with 12:56 remaining.
It was a physical and defensive battle throughout the night, with both teams struggling offensively. Michigan shot just 38% from the field (21/55) and 13% from three-point range (2/15), but made up for it at the free throw line, going 25-for-28 (89.3%).
UConn also had a tough shooting night, finishing just 31% from the field (21/68) and 27% from beyond the arc (9/33), as both teams dealt with early foul trouble that interrupted rhythm on both sides. Furthermore, the Huskies only got to the charity stripe 16 times, banking 12 from line (75%).
In a tough National Championship battle at Lucas Oil Stadium Monday night in front of over 70,000 fans, UConn fell short against Michigan and lost by a final score of 69-63 – Image Credit: UConn Men’s Basketball
Guard Solo Ball (11 points) picked up some early fouls, while Silas Demary Jr. (two points, two rebounds and two assists) eventually fouled out, limiting the Huskies ability to stay consistent offensively and aggressive on the defensive end. This resulted in Puerto Rican guard Malachi Smith (Bronx, NY) having to step up and play more minutes, especially in the first half, than the team most likely intended for going into the night.
Though with that, he did whatever the Huskies needed, recording six points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
UConn, down 33-29 at the half, fought to stay within reach, cutting the deficit late, but Michigan maintained control down the stretch.
A point of discussion Monday was what Michigan would get out of Dominican-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg (13 points, two rebounds, one assist and one block), a key piece all season, winning this year’s Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. Although he was limited with injuries sustained in Saturday’s Final Four vs. Arizona, the flow of the game opened the door for others around him to produce.
One being Elliot Cadeau, who led Michigan in scoring, and went to work when it mattered most, finishing with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. His performance earned him the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player honors, which now has the West Orange, New Jersey native next to Glen Rice (1989) as the only two Wolverines to ever win the award.
“It means the world to me,” Cadeau said of hearing his name aired on the championship stage for the Final Four MOP Award. “I’m just so proud of myself. Where I came from—last year I was really down on myself, a lot of people doubted me. I’m just so proud of myself—for me to be able to say I was the most outstanding player and win a National Championship at the same time.”
As the confetti fell and the celebration took over on the court, Cadeau took in the moment by spending some time with fans based close to the hardwood—a storybook ending to a historic season.
In the end, Michigan found ways to win despite shooting struggles, using timely scoring and free throw efficiency to close it out, whereas for UConn, the loss marked the end of a dominant tournament run and incredible 34-6 season.
From 64 to 32 to 16 to eight to four and then two and lastly…
The win not only ended Michigan’s national title drought, but also marked a major moment for the Big Ten, securing the conference with its first national champion since Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans in 2000.
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