With Elliot Cadeau leading the way with 19 points, the Michigan Wolverines survived a tough battle against the UConn Huskies en route to winning the NCAA Tournament national championship 69-63 on Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
NCAA World Celebrates Michigan’s Championship Victory
It’s the second national championship in the Wolverines’ basketball history, and the first since 1989. That’s when Steve Fischer stepped in as head coach after Bill Frieder was fired. On Monday night, though, the Wolverines were the kings of college basketball.
Terrence Oglesby, a basketball analyst with Hornets Live and The Field of 68, posted on X, “Confetti rains down in maize and blue … @umichbball with an all time great team. Dusty May gets his first championship, Elliott Cadeau was terrific this Final Four.”
ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello posted on X, “FINAL: No. 1 Michigan 69, No. 2 UConn 63 Michigan wins the program’s first national championship since 1989 — and becomes the first team to beat UConn in the Sweet 16 or later since 2009.
“Michigan ends the season the way it looked in November: The best team in the country.”
FINAL: No. 1 Michigan 69, No. 2 UConn 63
Michigan wins the program’s first national championship since 1989 — and becomes the first team to beat UConn in the Sweet 16 or later since 2009.
Michigan ends the season the way it looked in November: The best team in the country.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 7, 2026
Jeff Goodman, the basketball analyst and co-founder of The Field of 68, pointed out some interesting statistical data from the Michigan-UConn showdown.
“Michigan won despite shooting 2-15 from 3, getting outrebounded and allowing 22 offensive boards,” Goodman posted on X.
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Chase Senior, an analyst, content creator, and the vice president of content strategy at Chat Sports, shouted out the job Michigan head coach Dusty May did in leading the Wolverines to another title.
“Michigan just put together one of the best and most dominant single seasons in college basketball history and Dusty May wins a natty in year two. Hell of a job,” Senior posted on X.
Michigan just put together one of the best and most dominant single seasons in college basketball history and Dusty May wins a natty in year two. Hell of a job.
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 7, 2026
Former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III posted on X that he believed Michigan was the better team on Monday night.
“Michigan was clearly the better team,” he wrote. “They shot 38% from the field and 13% from 3 point range, got out rebounded, had fewer assists and still won the National Championship on their off day #GoBlue”
Michigan was clearly the better team. They shot 38% from the field and 13% from 3 point range, got out rebounded, had fewer assists and still won the National Championship on their off day. #GOBlue
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 7, 2026
Jon Rothstein, the college basketball insider for CBS Sports, noted just how powerful Michigan’s offense was throughout the tournament itself.
Rothstein posted on X, “Michigan averaged 94.4 PPG in its first five NCAA Tournament games. The Wolverines won the national title tonight in the mud.”
ESPN NFL insider and Michigan alum Adam Schefter celebrated the victory.
Michigan. pic.twitter.com/37ch650BTe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2026
John Fanta, a broadcaster with NBC Sports, shared a clip of an interview that he did with May back in October where he called the team’s success.
Fanta posted on X, “Back in October, asked Dusty May what this Michigan team could be capable of. The Wolverines second year head coach called it. Tonight, a title for Ann Arbor.”
Back in October, asked Dusty May what this Michigan team could be capable of.
The Wolverines second year head coach called it. Tonight, a title for Ann Arbor. pic.twitter.com/zxridave0j
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 7, 2026
After the final buzzer went off, May and his Michigan players had plenty to celebrate. They survived a gutsy effort from the Huskies and head coach Dan Hurley.
On Monday night, the college basketball world looked a little more maize and blue.
