No. 1 seed Michigan to face No. 2 UConn for 2026 NCAA men’s basketball national championship

The GIST: As the last of the women’s confetti falls, it’s time for the men’s championship, tonight at 8:50 p.m. ET. No. 1 seed Michigan dismantled No. 1 Arizona 91–73 in Saturday’s Final Four to book their spot in the title game, taking on No. 2 UConn, who outlasted No. 3 Illinois 71–62. Here’s what you need to know ahead of tipoff.

👀 Injured Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg “absolutely” plans to play: The Wolverines’ leading scorer injured his ankle and knee in Michigan’s Final Four win, but will take the floor tonight as the tournament’s most relentless team seeks their second national title and first since 1989.

• After entering the tourney as the odds-on favorite, Michigan has somehow exceeded expectations, scoring at least 90 points every game during the Madness and beating their opponents by an average of 21.6 points. Downright scary dominance.

💪 Underdog UConn will rely on Big Dance experience: But there’s one thing the Huskies have over the Wolverines: major moment muscle memory. UConn is playing for their third title in four seasons and has never lost in the title game. Another natty would make infamously intense head coach (HC) Dan Hurley the fourth-winningest HC in NCAA men’s basketball history.

• But with injured sophomore Solo Ball potentially sidelined, the Huskies may need to rely even more on magic freshman Braylon Mullins. Will lightning strike twice?