UConn must overcome Michigan’s dominance to establish a basketball dynasty in national title game

Connecticut is trying to become the first program since John Wooden’s UCLA behemoth of the 1960s and ‘70s to win three championships over a four-season span, while Michigan is trying to cap off a March Madness string of dominance, the likes of which were last seen by this very UConn program that won it all in 2023 and ’24. “This run they’re on is one of the best — probably the best — since John Wooden,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “If we think riding in on a wave is going to take care of UConn, then we’re going to be very disappointed at about 11 o’clock tomorrow night or whenever the game concludes.

” The Wolverines (36-3), seeded first in the Midwest, are listed as a 6 1/2-point favorite by BetMGM Sportsbook. Even with his team’s front-runner pedigree, coach Dan Hurley of UConn (34-5), a No. 2 seed out of the East, is leaning into the underdog role, not fighting it.

“There’s been plenty of times in the history of this tournament where the best team hasn’t won it,” Hurley said. “You’ve just got to be better one night. The good thing for us, it’s not a seven-game series.

” In yet another twist with plot-shifting potential, the status of both Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg and UConn guard Solo Ball could play heavily into this game. Ball was walking around in a boot Sunday after spraining his left foot in the first half of UConn’s 71-62 win over Illinois. Lendeborg tweaked his knee and ankle when he landed awkwardly on the foot of Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas in the first half of Michigan’s 91-73 semifinal beatdown of the Wildcats.