In NCAA title game, a Michigan team on a roll tries to derail a UConn dynasty
Michigan has been scoring over and swatting down opponents at a record rate during March Madness. For the Wolverines to go down as one of college basketball’s best ever, they’ll have to do it one more time by taking down a UConn program seeking its third national title in four seasons.
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan has been scoring over and swatting down opponents at a record rate during March Madness. For the Wolverines to go down as one of college basketball’s best ever, they’ll have to do it one more time by taking down a UConn program seeking its third national title in four seasons. The teams meet in the NCAA championship game, bringing down the curtain on a March Madness full of surprises and fun — and highlighted by two finalists that have been shooting for history in their own distinct ways.
At Michigan, a roster freshly constructed out of last year’s transfer portal, has become the first team to score 90-plus points in five straight tournament games in the same season. On the other end, 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara leads a defense that amassed eight or more blocks in the first four games of the tournament — the first time that’s happened since blocks became an official stat in the 1980s. The Wolverines (36-3) only had three swats against Arizona, but that was a 91-73 win in a game that was supposed to be the best of the tournament but turned into something else.
Michigan is trying to become the fifth team to win six tournament games by a dozen or more. The last two: the UConn title teams in 2023 and ’24. “We have a team that we think is elite,” coach Dusty May said.
“But we also know that means nothing. You still have to do all the things that got you to this point, and you have to weather storms. You have to handle success.