Michigan basketball is back in the national title game for the first time since 2018, and made some history along the way.
After a 91-73 trouncing of Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday to reach Monday night's title game against UConn, Michigan became the first-ever NCAA Tournament team to score 90-plus points in the first five games.
Michigan also became the first team to ever lead the Elite 8 and Final Four games by at least 15 points, joining the great UCLA team of 1967-68 that had Lew Alindor.
CBS Sports research: Michigan is the first team since 1967-68 UCLA to lead by 15-plus at halftime in the Elite Eight and in the Final Four.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 5, 2026
That team went 29-1 and had a guy named Alcindor — the greatest college player there ever was — starting at center.
Michigan still has work to do
As cool as those stats are, Michigan isn't finished. UConn will be an absolute dogfight.
That wasn't the case on Saturday, though, as Michigan dominated an Arizona defense that ranked as one of the best in college basketball, according to Kenpom. Michigan is ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency. We saw why in the national semifinal.
However, Arizona is No. 2. Even without Yaxel Lendeborg on the court for long stretches, or 100 percent when he was on the court, the Wildcats were powerless to stop Michigan.
Aday Mara played a huge role in Michigan, scoring 91 points. The 7-foot-2 center was 11-for-16 from the field (26 points), while making all four free throw attempts. Elliot Cadeau had 13 points and 10 assists. His ability to create shots for others was the difference in the game. That and Mara's dominance. Trey McKenney had his role to play, too, scoring 16 off the bench with four treys.
Lendeborg even pitched in with three 3-pointers (3/3). Michigan's best player only played 15 minutes, and the Wolverines won by 18. Think about that for a second.