UConn dealing with injury concern that could benefit Michigan in a major way

It is quite literally impossible to deny that the Michigan Wolverines are the most dominant men's college basketball team in the country right now.

In what people touted as the true National Championship, the Wolverines entirely dismantled the fellow No. 1-seed Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four. Now, they face the perennial powerhouse UConn Huskies in the actual title game.

While Michigan is dealing with its own injury woes, like star forward Yaxel Lendeborg straining his MCL and hurting his ankle but playing through it all, the Huskies have an injury concern of their own.

Solo Ball, who has been dominant but slightly beat up all season, just scored 13 points against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Final Four, while playing with an injured wrist.

Now, in the most recent update on his status, Ball is in a walking boot due to a sprained foot and is missing the one day of practice between the semifinal and National Championship games.

Solo Ball's status might negate Yaxel Lendeborg concerns

UConn head coach Dan Hurley did not update Ball's status for the game itself, choosing to keep his player's status up in the air until they reevaluate him tomorrow ahead of tip-off.

Yes, of course, just like in the Final Four, Lendeborg is going to play through whatever injury may befall his body until you literally have to peel him off the court. However, there are obviously still concerns about his well-being and longevity in the National Championship.

While Lendeborg clearly won't be 100 percent on Monday night, Ball's semi-questionable status might equal out anything that Michigan's star forward could be missing.

Ball may have scored just 13 points against Illinois, but he did so in just 28 minutes of game time. The round before, he scored 10 points against Duke. In the Sweet 16, he put up 12 points against the Michigan State Spartans.

The beat-up Ball isn't the biggest star on UConn's roster (that athlete is hard to pinpoint because they're all relatively dominant), but his contributions throughout the tournament have been crucial to the Huskies' success.

Obviously, tip-off is still more than 24 hours away with the game not scheduled to start until 8:50 p.m. ET on Monday, so both players have quite a bit of time to rest and recuperate.

Head coach Dusty May and the Wolverines would never wish injury or ill on an opposing player, but it also undeniably gives Michigan a leg up in the most important game of the season, even with UConn's unprecedented success in the Big Dance.

On Monday, April 6, the Michigan Wolverines and the UConn Huskies will tip off the National Championship game at 8:50 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max.