Foul trouble marred Michigan's best players in the first half, but that didn't derail the freight train that is Michigan basketball. They sprinted out to a hot start and never let Arizona get within one possession or fewer. 16th-seeded Howard gave Michigan a closer game than Arizona did. So here are some takeaways from Michigan's ninth trip to the national championship, where UConn awaits.
Saturday night's main event was a no contest
All the hype about Arizona and Michigan being the real national championship game was proven to be fiction with Michigan's nuking of one of the best teams in the country. It was over within the first few minutes. Even with Yaxel Lendeborg picking up two fouls in the first 90 seconds and later injuring his ankle, Michigan really didn't even need him to advance.
Aday Mara, Trey McKinney, and Elliot Cadeau all pitched in to give Lendeborg the break he needed to recover enough for Monday. The 30-point deficit in the second half was the largest that Arizona has faced all season long. Prior to Saturday night, Florida was ahead of the Wildcats by 12 in November. For Michigan, though, it's not an anomaly; it's their norm.
Yaxel Lendeborg joins @MattNorlander after Michigan's win over Arizona, and he says he will play through his injury in the National Championship. pic.twitter.com/pCICYTGtgb
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 5, 2026
Dusty May can be the first coach since Tubby Smith to win a National Championship in his second season
In 1998, Smith was in his second year with Kentucky when he won the title. Coincidentally, Smith was in attendance on Saturday night watching the next coach who can etch his name in the same conversation on Monday night. May is now 50 games above the .500 mark at Michigan basketball with Saturday's win over Arizona.
With a win on Monday this could culminate the greatest tournament run for a Big Ten team ever
50 years ago, Indiana went without a blemish on their schedule. 50 years later, Michigan could write its name in history with a win over UConn on Monday night. In four of the five tournament wins, Michigan has shot over 50%, and in all five wins, they've scored more than 90 points. Time will decide whether this was the greatest tournament run ever, especially if Michigan routs the nation's premier program of the 2020's by double digits.