Michigan hits 'ultimate target,' wins NCAA title

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: Michigan clutched its second national title by becoming the first team since 2009 to beat UConn in the Sweet 16 or later.

Michigan holds off UConn, wins second NCAA basketball title play Trey McKenney nails a dagger 3 for Michigan (0:25) Trey McKenney hits a huge 3-pointer to put the Wolverines up big. (0:25) Jeff Borzello Apr 6, 2026, 11:25 PM ET Close Basketball recruiting insider. (it feels like chaos)

Graduate of University of Delaware.

The Details

Follow on X Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions INDIANAPOLIS — Before Michigan took the floor to face Gonzaga in the title game of the Players Era Championship in November, Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau made a comment to his teammates. “We’re the best team ever assembled,” Cadeau dropped at the time.

Michigan then beat Gonzaga by 40 points. From that point on, the Wolverines were the most dominant team in the country, and they wrapped up Monday the same way they looked on Thanksgiving Eve: as the best team in college basketball.

Why This Matters

Michigan put an exclamation point on a historic season in Monday’s national championship game, defeating UConn 69-63 . Cadeau was named Most elite Player after finishing with 19 points. The Wolverines clutched the program’s first national championship since 1989 — and became the first team to beat UConn in the Sweet 16 or later since Michigan State beat the Huskies in the 2009 Final Four.

Players and coaches will be watching how this unfolds closely.

Key Takeaways

• “For these guys to cut down the nets after all they’ve sacrificed is pretty special.
• But the Wolverines’ strengths all season — size, length and more size — were the difference-makers again Monday night.

The Bottom Line

But the Wolverines’ strengths all season — size, length and more size — were the difference-makers again Monday night. “They’re legit,” UConn coach Dan Hurley dropped.

What do you think about all this?