UConn is one win away from its third national title in four years, but as the Huskies get ready to face Michigan, all eyes are on Solo Ball’s availability for the contest.
Solo Ball Is Expected to Play in UConn-Michigan
During Saturday’s Final Four win over Illinois, Ball got tangled up with teammate Tarris Reed Jr. while setting a screen and seemed to hesitate while getting up. However, it did not seem like an issue because Ball kept playing.
Later in the game, he was still out there finishing a fastbreak dunk, which, in hindsight, feels like the clearest example of how much adrenaline can cover up an injury in the moment. After the game, he said as much. But adrenaline fades, and by Sunday, the situation looked different.
Ball was in a walking boot, and he didn’t participate in practice the next day. Solo was diagnosed with a sprained foot, and head coach Dan Hurley initially admitted that he “couldn’t tell” whether Ball would play.
Solo Ball in the boot.
But Dan Hurley didn’t seem overly concerned about this. pic.twitter.com/TPHfUeWsuQ
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 5, 2026
However, as of Monday evening, Ball is expected to play; in fact, he didn’t even receive an injury designation for this game, so he’s good to go.
The bigger question is how many minutes will he play, and how effective will he be? If he’s limited, Malachi Smith would be asked to step up. Meanwhile, Silas Demary Jr. is on his way back toward full strength, which offers some relief for UConn’s backcourt.
2026 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game Preview
What to Expect From the UConn Huskies
What the Huskies are trying to do is nothing short of historic. Winning three national titles in four years will put them in rarified air and cement Dan Hurley as one of the greatest coaches in modern basketball history.
The most-recent obstacle in their path was a No. 3-seeded Illinois team that had been one of the most consistent squads in the entire tournament. But a balanced attack from the Huskies proved too much for the Fighting Illini.
UConn was once again led by Tarris Reed Jr., who finished the game with 17 points and 11 boards. Braylon Mullins chipped in 15, including another critical 3-pointer after his exploits helped UConn pull off a miraculous comeback win against Duke in the Elite Eight.
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Strong inside play and a tough defensive effort helped guide them to the national championship game, as they held the Illini to 62 points on the night. Now, they will attempt to win their seventh national title in program history.
It would also mark the third championship win for Hurley, who would become the only active Division I men’s basketball head coach with more than two titles to his name.
How the Michigan Wolverines Reached the Title Game
With two No. 1 seeds colliding, it would have been fair for fans to assume that they were tuning in for a classic in the Final Four clash between Michigan and Arizona. Instead, what they got was a one-sided beatdown from the Wolverines.
Taking an early lead, they dominated their way to a 91-73 victory over the Wildcats and it never felt particularly close. However, for the Wolverines, the night may not have been complete euphoria, as they walked away with a significant injury.
Yaxel Lendeborg, who’s already earned an All-American spot and has made a case for himself to be the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, came away with a sprained ankle and injured knee after landing on a defender’s foot.
While he was still able to add 11 points in 14 minutes and he’s expected to play tonight, it remains to be seen if he’s hobbled or on a minute restriction. Fortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines have an extremely balanced offensive attack and became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to eclipse 90 points five times.
A double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game sold the story of the game, as Arizona couldn’t get anything going on offense. Eventually, the Wolverines were able to slam the door shut.
Now, they walk into the national championship game trying to prevent history as they face another battle-tested group in UConn.
