Basketball <\/p>\n
The Michigan Wolverines<\/a> are back on top.<\/p>\n For the first time since 1989, Michigan is the men’s college basketball national champion after defeating the Connecticut Huskies<\/a>, 69-63, in Monday’s national championship.<\/p>\n Below is our instant reaction as the 2025-26 season comes to a close.<\/p>\n College sports run through the Big Ten. One day after the UCLA Bruins<\/a> won the conference’s first women’s basketball national title since the Purdue Boilermakers<\/a> in 1999 and three months after the Indiana Hoosiers<\/a> won the Big Ten’s third consecutive college football championship, Michigan added to the trophy collection.<\/p>\n Its win over UConn gave the conference its first men’s college basketball national title since 2000, when the Michigan State Spartans<\/a> won it all in coach Tom Izzo’s fifth season.<\/p>\n The Big Ten has become the clear top power conference of the transfer portal era, and the gap may be widening.<\/p>\n Guard Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points, but Johnson was arguably their most impactful player, posting a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in the win while adding two blocks and a steal.<\/p>\n He was particularly impactful on the offensive glass, where he collected five rebounds. Early in the first half, Johnson cleaned the boards with a put-back off a missed three-pointer and a layup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\u2014 CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) April 7, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/center>\n\t<\/div>\n He added another bucket off an offensive rebound midway through the second half, extending Michgan’s lead to 50-41.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\u2014 NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/center>\n\t<\/div>\n Johnson was a steady presence in the front court throughout March Madness, averaging 12.8 points and eight rebounds per game and bookending the tourney with double-doubles. With 2025-26 Big Ten Player of the Year forward Yaxel Lendeborg hobbled in the championship tilt due to a sprained left MCL and ankle injury, Johnson needed a big game. He delivered.<\/p>\n UConn played its style of basketball on Monday, accentuating its defense and offensive rebounding to nearly pull off the upset after entering the game as a 6.5-point underdog. Overall, Michigan shot just 38 percent from the court, including 13 percent (2-of-15) from beyond the arc. It marked the team’s worst field goal percentage and fewest made threes in a game all season.<\/p>\n The Huskies also crashed the offensive glass, finishing with 22 offensive rebounds. Entering Monday, the most offensive boards Michigan allowed were 17 in the Elite Eight against the Tennessee Volunteers.<\/p>\n Several metics played to Connecticut’s favor, but one area Michigan overwhelmed its counterpart was at the foul line. The Wolverines finished 25-of-28 on free throws, compared to 12-of-16 for the Huskies.\u00a0Per Stathead<\/a>, Michigan’s 25 made free throws tied for the third-most in the national final since 1985 with UConn (2004).<\/p>\n Considering the Wolverines’ struggles elsewhere, their success at the line was vital to securing victory. They wouldn’t be celebrating their second national title without it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBasketball Key takeaway: Big Ten ends title drought, expands NCAA dominion<\/h2>\n
Basketball Game MVP: Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr.<\/h2>\n
Basketball Decisive stat: Michigan at the foul line<\/h2>\n