Going 0-8 from three land and only scoring 33 points at halftime was unlike anything Michigan has seen in this march to a championship.
However, it was a Trey McKenney three that provided the dagger for Michigan basketball to capture its second National Championship in program history. Here are some takeaways from the Wolverines' magnificent Monday night in Indianapolis.
Michigan finishes 16-1 outside of the conference
What Michigan did in the Big Ten was legendary stuff, but what might be even more impressive is how they were a loss away from going undefeated beyond that. Michigan had decisive wins over Auburn, Gonzaga, St. Louis, Tennessee, and Arizona. Not to mention that they had to go through the program that they are trying to emulate with all their championships in UConn. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been beating Duke and winning against everyone on their gauntlet.
En route to a national championship Michigan beat all 3 of the other Final 4 teams and 6 of the other 7 Elite 8 teams.
— Cason Derulo (@MetaWootenPeace) April 7, 2026
Will Tschetter went scoreless in three tournament games, but completes his career as a National Champion
Two years ago, Tschetter was a starter on the worst team in Michigan basketball history. Fast forward to 2026, and he leaves the program better than when he found it. People will forget that he scored very little in the tournament run, but they'll remember him as a member of the best basketball team ever at Michigan. He and Nimari Burnett were vindicated for not transferring. Their teammate, Elliot Cadeau, was tossed to the curb at North Carolina and worked his way into the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He will enter next season as one of the best returning point guards in the nation.
Way to early polls for next season rank Michigan number one
Trying to live in the moment and not getting ahead of myself, but ESPN and The Field of 68 have already released their top 25 for 2027 and Michigan is ranked where they will stand forever at the culmination of this season. I know that is something that is popular to do once the season ends and is truly flattering, but let Michigan believers relish in this moment for a long time to come. National championships don't happen often and are meant to be cherished like becoming a parent.