The Michigan Wolverines won their second men’s basketball national title in program history, the first since 1989. Winning titles has been a common theme at Michigan. UM is one of the only programs to win a championship in football and basketball since 2020. The Wolverines now have a hockey team in the Frozen Four as well. Michigan gave the Big Ten a night to remember by dominating March Madness and ending the season with a title.
UConn had the championship experience, and the Huskies had as much magic as any team in the tournament after the unreal win versus Duke. Yet none of that mattered. Michigan was the better team. UConn played a perfect game in some categories, such as winning the rebounding battle, and Michigan only made two 3-pointers the whole game. Yet, it wasn’t enough. In another game, Michigan showed just how swarming and stifling this defense could be.
The entire starting 5 for the Michigan Wolverines were transfers, but they gelled super quickly, and Dusty May did as good a coaching job this season as anyone. In just 2 years, he brought a title to Michigan. He will enter next season as one of the best coaches in basketball. Michigan, even with the losses of Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, will be back as a contender. They will land top transfers again, and Morez Johnson Jr. and Trey McKinney will be back, even better, ready to take that next step.
Just like in football last season with an Indiana national title, Michigan proved this season that things are no different in basketball as the college basketball runs through the Big Ten.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Michigan stifles UConn and finishes dominant tourney run for Big Ten
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
