A place in the college basketball history books is on the line Monday night in Indianapolis as Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies face the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship.
The Wolverines – chasing their first national title since 1989 – have been a dominant force throughout the Big Dance, winning five games by an average of 22 points per game. They are led by senior standout Yaxel Lendeborg, who sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half. Arizona on Saturday night, but is expected to play.
UConn looks to capture its third national championship in four years under Hurley. The Huskies are led by the senior duo of Tyrese Reed Jr. and Alex Karban, but they are also battling their own solo ball injuries. The junior guard was in a walking boot after the team’s Final Four win over Illinois, but he’s ready to go for Monday night’s championship game.
Here are the top stories ahead of Monday night’s title game:
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1. UConn’s Alex Kabran goes for third title with Huskies
Alex Karban of the Connecticut Huskies is introduced before the game against Illinois. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photo via Getty Images)
Alex Karban has been with the Huskies since entering the world of college basketball. Karaban, a two-time national champion, never thought about leaving UConn.
“I have never considered a portal,” Karban said. “You win and start on two national championship teams here, freshman and sophomore year, it’s going to be hard to walk into the office and be like, ‘Coach I want to leave.'”
Karaban now has a chance to go for a third title to cap off his time with the Huskies. Karaban has been UConn’s star for four consecutive seasons, which is unheard of in today’s transfer portal world.
2. Mullins’ Michigan combine moves on from title contention
UConn freshman Braylan Mullins hit the shot heard around the world, a 30-foot 3-pointer, helping the Huskies advance to the Final Four with a win over Duke. Now, the Mullins family, who were loyal to the Michigan Wolverines, have shifted their alliance to the Huskies before the game.
Mullins was born and raised in Greenfield, Indiana, and grew up in a Michigan athletics household. Now, the chance to go up against his childhood team holds extra meaning for the true freshman.
“In my house, growing up, it was Michigan football, Michigan basketball,” Mullins said Sunday. “That’s what my family and friends were watching. So having people around me that would probably be rooting for Michigan, it means a little bit more to this game, just having fun. But at the end of the day, it’s just another game.”
3. Huskies going for third title in four seasons
UConn’s dominance as a basketball program has led to this moment, competing for its third national championship in four seasons. The last two titles came consecutively, in 2023 when they defeated San Diego State, and in 2024 when they defeated Purdue.
Hurley has compiled an 18–1 record in the NCAA Tournament and a 199–74 record in eight seasons. If the Huskies win their third title in four years, it will become their first program to do so since leading UCLA under John Wooden.
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1. Can Michigan continue to dominate with Yaxel Lendeborg’s injury?
Yaxel Lendeborg is a vital piece when it comes to the Wolverines’ starting lineup. The senior forward suffered a sprained MCL and twisted ankle, missing a large portion of the team’s Final Four win over Arizona.
While the Wolverines defeated the Wildcats 91-73 to advance to their first title game since 2018, the concern now is Lendeborg’s health against the Huskies. Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season.
2. Dusty May is competing for the national championship for the first time
Michigan head coach Dusty May watches from the sidelines against Arizona. (Photo by Eric W. Rascoe/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
May, who led FAU to the Final Four in 2023, is set to make his first appearance in the national title game.
Hurley said of May, “What makes Dusty May special as a coach is obviously his eye for talent, his ability to build a roster, the fact that he associates himself with an excellent coaching staff, and his ability to build a team and a culture.” “He has a special eye for how to put together a great team.”
The Wolverines’ season-long dominance has caught the attention of many, especially after they eliminated a powerful Arizona team from the title race, leading by 30 points at one point in the game. Michigan’s title win would tie the B1G single-season wins record.
3. Michigan’s starting lineup reflects the power of the transfer portal
In the midst of the transfer portal era, the Wolverines have proven that, when done right, the right portal class can lead to success.
The Wolverines include Lendeborg from UAB, Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina, Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois and Ade Mara from UCLA. Collectively, this lineup has scored five consecutive 90-point games leading up to the title game, the most by any team in a single tournament.
Michigan’s strength is its interior size, as the trio of Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara have averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds per game this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
