What we're watching
• The title game is set: It’ll be the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object on Monday as high-powered Michigan faces off against title-game-regulars UConn for the men’s basketball national championship.
• UConn advances to national title game: The first game of the night saw UConn making its third trip to the Final Four in four years following a win over Illinois.
• Michigan blows away Arizona: There was never really any doubt in the night cap. What was supposed to be the game of the weekend ended up being an absolute route as the Wolverines pounded the Wildcats, 91-73 – and it wasn’t really that close.
• National title game on Monday: It’ll be the Huskies and the Wolverines for the title on Monday night. Tip off is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. ET and will air on TBS.
Michigan beat up Arizona and took its lunch money in a Final Four drubbing
So, this is the clearest way to explain what Michigan did to Arizona in a national semifinal billed as a battle between two heavyweights: Yaxel Lenedeborg played the second half after spraining his MCL and rolling his ankle. Yet upon a draining a 3-pointer at the 16:27 mark, the one-legged Lendeborg had scored more points in the half (six) than the entirtey of the Wildcats’ roster (four).
There are games that don’t live up to the hype and then there is whatever this was. Meaner than the recess yard bully taking your lunch money, and crueler than being punked in the most embarrassing way possible, it was an annihilation so complete that you could practically see Arizona’s guts spilled on the court like roadkill.
Michigan, which played with swagger, now meets up with the team built on swag in a fascinating matchup between the unstoppable force that is the Wolverines and the immovable object that is UConn, making its third national title appearance in four years.
The big bucks Big Ten hasn’t won a national championship since 2000; the rebuilt Big East has won four in a decade.
“It doesn’t feel real,’’ Lendeborg said. “But sitting here, it’s like, man we can really do this.’’
UConn keeps proving it just knows how to win in big games
Minutes after UConn gutted out its 71-62 national semifinal win over Illinois, a panicked staffer came running out of the locker room.
“We need a bracket sticker!” he yelled as he peeled around the corner.
Of all places you’d think would be ready-made with a sticker to slap on the NCAA tournament bracket, it would be UConn. On Monday, the Huskies will play for their national title in four years, a feat that hasn’t been matched since John Wooden was wizarding his way around Westwood. It is an accomplishment all the more improbable, considering all of the things in college athletics now destined to block such dynasty building.
And yet, the Huskies and Hurley are now 11-0 in Sweet 16 games and beyond, as inevitable a force that you will find maybe in all of college sports. Hurley, being Hurley, had to take a dig at folks for suggesting that perhaps his streak would be broken here, who – just as foolishly as leaving out a sticker in the UConn locker room – thought perhaps the Huskies might lose.
He made mention of the “prognosticators” who picked Illinois and the line against the Illini.
“You’re coming into the game as an underdog versus a team that you beat by 13 points earlier in the season, which was kind of surprising,’’ he said. “Obviously, I’ve been waiting to say that.’’
The man has a point. The Huskies have perhaps the most unique secret weapon in the game: Almost a muscle memory on how to win, built up over the years in one big game after another. It’s how they hung on despite blowing a 19-point lead to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and why they rallied from down 19 to beat Duke in the Elite Eight.
It’s most certainly how they won against the Illini. The road was not easy; it was more like driving down a New England highway after a rough winter, bumpy and relatively uncomfortable. A game between the top-rated offense in the country and the 26th-best turned into a rock fight, where instead of trading buckets, the two teams traded scoring droughts.
Read along with our live analysis from the Final Four
The Final Four on Saturday promised four teams with their eyes on the national title game on Monday.
The first game between Illinois and UConn lived up the expectations of a tight, hard-fought game. The second between Michigan and Arizona? Well, the less said about that game, the better for Wildcats fans.
Read along with our live coverage as it happened here:
Lendeborg: "Theres no way I am missing the game on Monday night"
All-American Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 11 points despite dealing with an MCL sprain and an ankle injury in Michigan’s dominating win over Arizona.
The 23-year-old Lendeborg said it’s a “weird feeling” to be injured.
“I’ve never experienced it before. Coach said at worst, it’s an MCL sprain and obviously, I rolled my ankle. I’m going to push through. There’s no way I am missing the game on Monday night,” Lendeborg told the TBS broadcast after the game.
Michigan dominates Arizona, winning 91-73 and will play UConn for the title
No. 1 Michigan dominated the top-seeded Wildcats, winning 91-73 in the Final Four.
This was the Wolverines’ fifth game with over 90 points – an all-time single NCAA Tournament record.
Aday Mara finished with 26 points and 9 rebounds backed by Yaxel Lendeborg, Trey McKenney, Morez Johnson Jr. and Elliot Cadeau.
The Wolverines, who never trailed tonight, will face off against No. 2 UConn in the national championship on Monday.
This will be Michigan’s first title game appearance since 2018, which ended in a 79-62 loss to Villanova.
McKenney cannot be stopped
Freshman Trey McKenney is putting on a show in Indianapolis.
The Michigan native has posted 16 points, playing especially hot in this second half as the Wolverines lead 88-66 over Arizona.
McKenny is one of four Michigan players scoring double figures tonight.
Lendeborg returns to court
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg returned to the court to begin the second half of tonight’s game against Arizona.
According to the broadcast, Lendeborg is dealing with an MCL sprain of his left knee and an ankle injury.
The report added that training staff gave the 23-year-old ice and a massage to help with the pain.
Dan Hurley's superstitions are going viral
UConn head coach Dan Hurley’s postseason superstitions went viral after the Huskies’ dramatic win over No. 1 Duke in the Elite Eight.
Hurley, who has led UConn to yet another national championship game after defeating Illinois in the Final Four, has worn the same navy suit throughout this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Videos of Hurley burning sage, spritzing courts with “holy water” and eating exactly eight M&Ms (excluding the opponents’ team colors) have circulated on social media.
UConn will play the winner of Arizona vs. Michigan, which will be decided in 20 minutes of play.
Michigan leads, but Lendeborg's status is unknown
Michigan leads 48-32 over Arizona going into halftime, but the status of Yaxel Lendeborg is unknown.
Lendeborg, who averages 15.2 points per game, went down awkwardly on his left ankle in the first half – the same one he injured during the Big Ten tournament.
Despite the 6-foot-9 senior’s absence, the Wolverines are shooting 41% from the field and playing the Wildcats off the court.
“We got another man that can step up,” Elliot Cadeau told broadcasters before heading to the locker room. “We got nine starters on our team so if we got the best player in the country, thats good for us. If we don’t, we still got really good players on our team.”
Michigan challenges refs, lose a timeout
Michigan appealed a common foul call on Aday Mara, but it was rejected. They’ll lose a timeout as a consequence for the wrongful challenge.
Lendeborg seen limping, goes to locker room
Freshman Yaxel Lendeborg landed awkwardly on his left ankle and has gone to the locker room for further evaluation.
Lendeborg, who is Michigan’s leading scorer, is reportedly getting ice and his ankle re-taped. Additionally, training staff is taking a further look at his knee.
Let’s see how long it takes for the 23-year-old to potentially come back into the game.
Turnovers plague Wildcats' pace
Arizona has turned over the ball six times, giving Michigan every chance to score. The Wildcats’ turnovers aren’t the only thing stopping Arizona’s offense.
The Wildcats’ scoring drought of nearly three minutes is putting them on the back-foot and the Wolverines are taking advantage.
“We’ve got to hang with it,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd told broadcasters during a media timeout.
Michigan comes out hot
Arizona is off to a slow start, going 0-for-4 from the field and posting just one point.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, have come out scorching. They’ve established an early and dominant lead, going on an 8-0 run to open the game.
UConn all smiles following win
UConn head coach Dan Hurley and guard Braylon Mullins had a hard time containing their excitement following their win over Illinois.
Mullins, who finished with 15 points, gave a shout out to the UConn fans that showed up to Indy.
“Playing in front of all these fans — I mean UConn always shows out,” Mullins told the TBS broadcast. “I mean, we are so ready for the national championship game. This is what I came here to play for. Man, let’s get it on Monday.”
However, Hurley was booed while talking and jokingly questioned why so.
“Are they booing? The headbutt? I don’t know what they’re booing,” Hurley joked but added how proud he is of the school.
“You’re set up for success at UConn,” Hurley said. “Geno Auriemma, Jim Calhoun, Kevin Ollie, just some incredible coaches before me. Got the best staff in the country. Got an incredible group of players and there’s nothing like the bus ride on a Monday night over to the stadium when you are one of the last two teams standing.”
UConn advances, defeats Illinois
No. 2 seed UConn will advance to Monday’s national championship game after a 71-62 win over No. 3 seed Illinois.
The Huskies, who won it all in 2024, will face the winner of Michigan versus Arizona. The two top seeds will tip off shortly.
Low scores, missed shots
Illinois averages above 80 points per game, but they’ve only netted 56 tonight.
However, the Fighting Illini aren’t the only ones struggling.
UConn’s Braylon Mullins has not scored a single point in the second half of this nail-biter. The freshman went 4-for-12 from the field in the first half, netting 12 points for the Huskies.
With under three minutes to go, UConn leads 61-56.
Illinois catching up, UConn still leads
Illinois is slowly but surely biting at the Huskies’ heels, capitalizing off of free throws. The Fighting Illini are 17-21 from the line.
With six minutes to go, UConn leads by six points but haven’t found the basket in 3:36.
Lack of assists holding Illinois back
In 25 minutes of play, Illinois has just two assists – and they’re from the same player, Keaton Wagler. Wagler’s 14 points have kept the Fighting Illini afloat, but basketball isn’t a “one man show.”
Both teams have struggled from the field, but Illinois is feeling it, exhibiting their largest deficit of the season.
UConn currently leads 49-38 with just under 14 minutes to go.
Michigan's head coach scouting from the stands
Michigan has arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the Wolverines’ head coach Dusty May was there long before the team bus rolled up.
May was seen sitting courtside, jotting down notes on Illinois’ and UConn’s performances.
When May took over at Michigan in 2024, the Wolverines were coming off an 8-24 season. Within two years, Michigan has become a dominant presence within the Big Ten and a national championship caliber team.
No. 1 seeded Michigan tips off against fellow top seed Arizona at 8:49 p.m. ET.
UConn leads going into halftime
With UConn leading 37-29 going into the locker room, Illinois is looking to make some adjustments.
This is the most points the Fighting Illini have allowed in a first half of this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Illinois has gone 10-for-29 from the field to start things off, led by Keaton Wagler. The Huskies’ Braylon Mullins hasn’t been afraid to shoot, and neither has Tarris Reed Jr.
“We got to control the glass,” Reed told the TBS broadcast. “We aren’t doing it well enough on the glass. … Once we control the glass and limit turnovers, we will be good.”
Second half will get underway here in a little more than 10 minutes.
