It was a very physical second half. But that seemed to suit the Michigan Wolverines just fine. They jumped out fast in the first half, but there was a big run where Elliot Cadeau drove to the basket for a layup and then on the next possession drilled a three-pointer from near the top of the key to force UConn to call timeout as Michigan had grew the lead to 11 points with just 13 minutes to play. And as you would expect from the other games from the tournament, UConn started chipping away at the lead.

The Huskies’ Alex Karaban drove to the hoop for a basket, and then after a defensive stop, Silas Demary Jr drove to the hoop for a basket, and the Huskies had cut the lead to 5 points. Michigan would miss another layup, but Nimari Burnett would steal an errant pass, get the ball to Roddy Gayle Jr up the court and pass a nice alley-oop to Aday Mara for a big dunk to extend the lead back to 7.

Braylon Mullins would hit a couple three-pointers to try to keep UConn in the game, but Yaxel Lendeborg countered with a couple baskets in the lane to keep Michigan ahead. Meanwhile, one of the stories was that each time Michigan was fouled, they would make their free throws – they hit 20 in a row at one point.

With 2:30 left in the game, Alex Karaban made a three-pointer to cut the lead to 6. Then, Tarris Reed stole the ball by tapping it away from Roddy Gayle Jr, and looked like he saved it to Solo Ball, but Ball would miss the contested layup and the Wolverines broke the other way.

Michigan tried to drive to the hoop on the fast break, but the ball got knocked loose and the play broke down. Somehow, the ball got kicked out by Roddy Gayle Jr to Trey McKenney, and McKenney made a step-back three-pointer from the wing to make it a 9 point lead with around 2 minuets left.

Still there is no quit in the Huskies. Tarris Reed got fouled on an offensive rebound and hit both free throws to cut the lead to 7 points. Alex Karaban and Elliot Cadeau would trade free throws to set up the final minute.

Michigan would try to get the ball into Lendeborg, but he didn’t handle it well and it went out of bounds to the Huskies. They responded by getting the ball out to the wing to Solo Ball, who banked in a three-pointer with a defender in his face. Its suddenly a four point lead, and the Lunatic thought to himself – this certainly can not be happening again. NO LEAD IS SAFE DURING MARCH MADNESS!!!!

Michigan got the ball across half court and into Roddy Gayle’s hands who was fouled. And after the Wolverines hit 20 free throws in a row, the reliable free throw shooter missed both of them. NO LEAD IS SAFE DURING MARCH MADNESS!!!!

But the Huskies magic had finally worn out – they would get the ball into Alex Karaban at the top of the key for three, but he would miss. McKinney would get the rebound. This time, McKinney would hit the free throws, Malachi Smith tried to drive to the basket and quickly score, but his layup missed and the ball was intelligently thrown down the court by the Wolverines. Karaban would run all the way back to get it, but with only 4 seconds left, the game was over. UConn would not get another shot off, and the Michigan Wolverines celebrated.

The Big 10 champions were also the NCAA men’s National Champions with a 69-63 victory over the UConn Huskies. And so, the 26 year drought for the Big 10 is finally over!!!! Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines – our 2026 NCAA men’s basketball champions!!!!!