Michigan takes down Connecticut to end Big Ten men's basketball national title drought
Michigan became the Big Ten's first national champion in men's basketball since 2000 with its NCAA Tournament defeat of Connecticut in the title game.
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan beat Connecticut 69-63 in a defensive battle to complete a dominant run through the NCAA tournament and capture the program’s second national championship. The Wolverines previously reached the championship game in 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992-93, 2013 and 2018, winning it all in 1989. Michigan is the first Big Ten team to win the title since Michigan State in 2000.
The narrower victory against the Huskies came after the Wolverines had steamrolled into Monday night, winning all five of their tournament games by an average of 21. 6 points. This is coach Dusty May’s first national title.
He previously reached the Final Four with Florida Atlantic in 2023. Playing two nights after injuring his left knee in the semifinals against Arizona, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg had 13 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Point guard Elliot Cadeau had one of the best games of his career with 19 points and just one turnover.
Morez Johnson Jr. posted 12 points and 10 rebounds. UConn was led Alex Karaban’s 17 points.