Michigan vs. UConn scouting report, prediction for national title game
James Hawkins of The Detroit News breaks down Michigan's national title game opponent in the NCAA Tournament and predicts the outcome: Michigan vs. UConn scouting report ▶ The Big Ten hasn’t been much of a match for UConn in the NCAA Tournament in recent seasons. The Huskies have won six straight against such foes in the Big Dance, with four of those wins coming by at least 15 points.
During their run to the 2024 national title, they beat Northwestern (second round), Illinois (Elite Eight) and Purdue (championship game) by an average margin of 19 points. This postseason, they topped UCLA (second round), Michigan State (Sweet 16) and Illinois (Final Four), though they needed four clutch free throws from former Michigan big man Tarris Reed Jr. in the final minute to hold off the Spartans.
▶ Controlling the tempo and dictating the pace has been a key for Michigan. And if the game turns into a track meet, there’s not many teams that can keep up. UConn, though, ranks No.
340 in the nation in average possession length at 19. 2 seconds, per KenPom, and will try to slow Michigan down. The Huskies have played only six games this season when there’s been more than 70 possessions and are averaging roughly 65 possessions per game.
The Wolverines have played six games at or under that mark, and two of their three losses have come in the two contests with the fewest possessions — against Purdue in the Big Ten tournament title game (63 possessions) and against Duke in Washington, D. C. (62 possessions).