The National Championship game was ugly. But in the end, Michigan outlasted UConn to win, 69-63, its first national title since 1989. The Wolverines bludgeoned teams throughout the NCAA Tournament. How’d they do it? By building a team largely through the transfer portal.
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Meanwhile, the Huskies just missed out on calling themselves a “dynasty.” We’ll dive in below and, as always, check out NBC News for more coverage.
The Victors
Last year, Michigan lost in the Sweet 16, ending coach Dusty May’s first season at the school on a somewhat sour note. Over the next few weeks, then, the news began trickling in: Michigan received commitments from four top transfers.
Elliot Cadeau, a point guard from North Carolina, Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 center from UCLA, Morez Johnson Jr., a bruising forward from Illinois, and 6-foot-9 forward Yaxel Lendeborg, arguably the best player available in the transfer portal, from UAB. The cavalry was coming.
One year later, the Wolverines cut down the nets.
“They might still be calling us mercenaries but we’re the hardest-playing team in national basketball,” Lendeborg said afterward on the TBS broadcast. “We’re the best team in college basketball.”
There was no really arguing that point. Before the final, Michigan had cruised through the NCAA Tournament, winning by an average of more than 20 points per game.
Against UConn, the Wolverines had an uncharacteristically bad game. They couldn’t make a 3-pointer (2-for-15), they got out-rebounded, and Lendeborg looked hobbled by knee and ankle injuries. But it didn’t matter. Their talent and depth won out.
Cadeau, a former two-year starter for the Tar Heels, scored 19 points to lead the way, and Johnson added 12 points and 10 rebounds. “They’re clearly the best team in the country this year,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
Something similar played out in college football. Indiana, a longtime doormat of the Big Ten, went undefeated and won the national title, led by a transfer quarterback (who won the Heisman Trophy) and a roster full of transfers. On Sunday, UCLA won the women’s Final Four largely by playing six seniors — four of whom had transferred from other schools.
This is the state of play in the new college sports landscape, in the era of NIL (name, image and likeness) payments. It’s unclear how much Michigan paid for its roster. But Lendeborg told The Associated Press that, in committing to Michigan, he turned down an offer from Kentucky around $7 million to $9 million.
After the Wolverines won, former Michigan basketball assistant coach Bacari Alexander wrote on X, “Those who pay will be CHAMPIONS!”
It was a riff on Michigan coach Bo Schembechler’s famous quote, “Those who stay will be champions” — updated for the moment. In any given year, if you spend enough money, your team could win a national championship, too.
Husky Hangover
UConn and coach Dan Hurley had a chance to make history Monday night. No school had won three championships in four seasons in about half a century, not since John Wooden roamed the sideline for UCLA.
To the Huskies’ credit, they stayed in the game until the end. For a moment, it seemed as if they might replicate the magic from upsetting Duke in the Elite Eight. UConn guard Solo Ball banked in a 3-pointer with about 37 seconds remaining, to pull within 4 points.
But Michigan sank two free throws to ice the game.
Many UConn fans will probably blame officiating for the loss. The Huskies’ starting backcourt, Ball and Silas Demary Jr., spent much of the game in foul trouble, and Michigan shot 28 free throws, compared to 16 for UConn. But the Huskies also couldn’t make a jumper; UConn shot 31% from the field and 27% from deep.
“I came back ultimately to win, fell short,” UConn senior Alex Karaban said afterward. “So it hurts right now. It hurts a lot right now.”
Hurley was less emotional than his players. But he doesn’t have to graduate. He can try again next year.
“It hasn’t set in yet,” Hurley said. “On the flight tomorrow, it’ll set in, on the bus ride back. Eventually it’ll hit you that you were close to pulling off what would have been a historic third championship. But this team just gave us so much this year. Just didn’t make enough shots.”
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What We’re Reading
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Steve McMichael, NFL Hall of Famer and member of the ‘85 Chicago Bears defense, had CTE, researchers reveal. He died last year after being diagnosed with ALS.
USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang will miss the World Cup after suffering an Achilles injury.
Victor Wembanyama left last night’s Spurs game in the first half with a bruised rib.
Ahead of the Masters, NBC Sports ranked the entire field of 91 players.
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The Dallas Stars have banned a fan who was caught on video giving a Nazi salute during a game.
What We’re Watching
March Madness is over, but fear not! The NBA playoffs are right around the corner. Tonight, there are two games on Peacock between teams in the playoff chase. The upstart Charlotte Hornets, chasing the No. 6 seed, take on the Boston Celtics, and Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets play one of his former teams, the Phoenix Suns.
Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals in which plenty of goals are expected. If you’re reading this, stop work and watch!
All times are Eastern:
- 3 p.m.: Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich, on Paramount+
- 7:07 p.m.: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays, on TBS
- 8 p.m.: Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics, on Peacock
- 11 p.m.: Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns, on Peacock
That’s it for now! We’ll be back tomorrow.
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