- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,744
- Reaction score
- 59
James Hawkins of The Detroit News breaks down Michigan's national title game opponent in the NCAA Tournament and predicts the outcome:
▶ The Big Ten hasn’t been much of a match for UConn in the NCAA Tournament in recent seasons. The Huskies have won six straight against such foes in the Big Dance, with four of those wins coming by at least 15 points. During their run to the 2024 national title, they beat Northwestern (second round), Illinois (Elite Eight) and Purdue (championship game) by an average margin of 19 points. This postseason, they topped UCLA (second round), Michigan State (Sweet 16) and Illinois (Final Four), though they needed four clutch free throws from former Michigan big man Tarris Reed Jr. in the final minute to hold off the Spartans.
▶ Controlling the tempo and dictating the pace has been a key for Michigan. And if the game turns into a track meet, there’s not many teams that can keep up. UConn, though, ranks No. 340 in the nation in average possession length at 19.2 seconds, per KenPom, and will try to slow Michigan down. The Huskies have played only six games this season when there’s been more than 70 possessions and are averaging roughly 65 possessions per game. The Wolverines have played six games at or under that mark, and two of their three losses have come in the two contests with the fewest possessions — against Purdue in the Big Ten tournament title game (63 possessions) and against Duke in Washington, D.C. (62 possessions).
▶ Reed has been an absolute beast during UConn’s March Madness run. He’s averaging 20.8 points and 13 rebounds and shooting 58.2% from the field during the Big Dance. He’s posted three double-doubles, highlighted by an absurd 31-point, 27-rebound performance in a first-round win over Furman. The only other players to have at least 104 points and 65 rebounds in five NCAA Tournament games during the modern seeding era (1979-on) are Purdue’s Zach Edey (2024) and Indiana State’s Larry Bird (1979).
UConn has taken down one Big Ten team after another to reach the title game, knocking off UCLA in the second round, Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and Illinois in the Final Four. Can it take down the Big Ten’s best? Yaxel Lendeborg won’t be anywhere close to 100% after suffering an ankle and knee injury in the national semifinal. The Huskies have a championship pedigree after winning two of the last three titles and a battering ram inside in former Wolverine Tarris Reed Jr. But that won’t matter much if Michigan continues to knock down outside shots at a high clip, defend at a high level and control the paint on both ends. Pick: Michigan, 82-75
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 2 UCONN
▶ What: NCAA Tournament championship game
▶ When: Monday, 8:50 p.m.
▶ Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
▶ TV: TBS/TNT/TruTV
▶ Records: Michigan 36-3, UConn 34-5
▶ Line: Michigan by 6.5
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan prediction for national championship of 2026 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
Michigan vs. UConn scouting report
▶ The Big Ten hasn’t been much of a match for UConn in the NCAA Tournament in recent seasons. The Huskies have won six straight against such foes in the Big Dance, with four of those wins coming by at least 15 points. During their run to the 2024 national title, they beat Northwestern (second round), Illinois (Elite Eight) and Purdue (championship game) by an average margin of 19 points. This postseason, they topped UCLA (second round), Michigan State (Sweet 16) and Illinois (Final Four), though they needed four clutch free throws from former Michigan big man Tarris Reed Jr. in the final minute to hold off the Spartans.
▶ Controlling the tempo and dictating the pace has been a key for Michigan. And if the game turns into a track meet, there’s not many teams that can keep up. UConn, though, ranks No. 340 in the nation in average possession length at 19.2 seconds, per KenPom, and will try to slow Michigan down. The Huskies have played only six games this season when there’s been more than 70 possessions and are averaging roughly 65 possessions per game. The Wolverines have played six games at or under that mark, and two of their three losses have come in the two contests with the fewest possessions — against Purdue in the Big Ten tournament title game (63 possessions) and against Duke in Washington, D.C. (62 possessions).
You must be registered for see images
▶ Reed has been an absolute beast during UConn’s March Madness run. He’s averaging 20.8 points and 13 rebounds and shooting 58.2% from the field during the Big Dance. He’s posted three double-doubles, highlighted by an absurd 31-point, 27-rebound performance in a first-round win over Furman. The only other players to have at least 104 points and 65 rebounds in five NCAA Tournament games during the modern seeding era (1979-on) are Purdue’s Zach Edey (2024) and Indiana State’s Larry Bird (1979).
Michigan vs. UConn prediction
UConn has taken down one Big Ten team after another to reach the title game, knocking off UCLA in the second round, Michigan State in the Sweet 16 and Illinois in the Final Four. Can it take down the Big Ten’s best? Yaxel Lendeborg won’t be anywhere close to 100% after suffering an ankle and knee injury in the national semifinal. The Huskies have a championship pedigree after winning two of the last three titles and a battering ram inside in former Wolverine Tarris Reed Jr. But that won’t matter much if Michigan continues to knock down outside shots at a high clip, defend at a high level and control the paint on both ends. Pick: Michigan, 82-75
NCAA Tournament
NO. 1 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 2 UCONN
▶ What: NCAA Tournament championship game
▶ When: Monday, 8:50 p.m.
▶ Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
▶ TV: TBS/TNT/TruTV
▶ Records: Michigan 36-3, UConn 34-5
▶ Line: Michigan by 6.5
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan prediction for national championship of 2026 NCAA bracket
Continue reading...
