The UConn Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines square off tonight at 7:50 CT/8:50 ET (pretty late) to determine which team will cut down the nets in Indy as the 2025-26 National Champion in NCAA Men’s College Basketball. It’s the superbly talented Wolverines versus the talented, and scrappy underdog Huskies. The Wolverines have the weaponry for sure, but the Huskies have weapons as well, and a stellar national championship pedigree as they have won national championships in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and 2024. They are 6-0 in National Championship Games. Michigan’s only national championship was in 1989. So while the talent favors Michigan, the ability to close games in the big moments under intense pressure favors the Huskies. Here is White’s World’s Prediction for tonight’s contest.
Final Four record: SU- 2-0, ATS- 2-0, O/U- 1-1.
Overall from SEC Tournament through the Final Four: SU- 11-14, ATS- 10-15, O/U-15-9.
Michigan (36-3) vs. UConn (34-5)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 70,000
7:50 CT/8:50 ET
TBS/truTV/HBO Max
Ian, Grant, Bill, Tracy, Gene-rules
Michigan by 6 1/2, 145 1/2
Who wins tonight?
I’m going to go with the Al Michaels, “Do you believe in Miracles?” Theory and’ll take the great Dan Hurley and the Huskies to make it 7-0 in National Championship Games. Hurley’s is a character and can sometimes rub some people the wrong way, but I think he’s refreshing and a heckuva coach as his back to back National Championships attest to in ’23 and ’24. Jim Calhoun won three at UConn in ’99, 2004 and 2011, and Kevin Ollie won it all in 2014. Geno Auriemma is an elite coach on the women’s side, the best of all time, though the late Pat Summit of Tennessee, and, lately, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley gave and have given him a run, respectively. Geno’s won 11 national titles. Hard to argue with. Pat won eight, but lost a battle with Alzheimer’s disease at 64 years old, so her career and life were cut too short.
Staley, who Geno got into it with on Friday Night in South Carolina’s 62-48 victory over the Huskies in the Final Four at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Clevelend, as Geno thought Staley’s players were mugging his players, and also thought Staley was working the refs to get away with it, has three and going strong although her team did lose to UCLA in the national title game on Sunday. Geno is now 71 and Staley is 55, and will be 56 in May. So she has more time left than Geno, maybe. But he’s got a lot of energy and may increase that title number next season to 12.
So I’ll take the championship pedigree. Do I believe in miracles? Heck yes I do.
10 Responses
Wow…I do not like Hurley’s actions but I agree with you he can coach. It will be fun to watch.
Will be, JD! Thanks a lot.
Michigan is by no means a lock tonight and I’m with you that UCONN can win this game. In addition to their size and athleticism, I’m extremely impressed with Michigan’s sharing of the ball, often making that extra pass resulting in a basket. The Arizona blowout was disappointing, and tonight’s game may be the most competitive of all.
Good stuff, D. Got the Baja Bowl for tonight. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for the preview and prediction, DW! I did not realize that UConn had won six National Championships. They are fast becoming a basketball mecca!
Like your UConn pick! Dan Hurley has turned the Huskies into a machine.
Thanks, E! Great stuff, BGB!
I am pulling for the upset. Not because I like Hurley – I do not – but because I really dislike Michigan. Also with Yaxel not at 100% I think UConn can get it done but the 7’4 guy is a problem.
I would love to see that happen!
Me too, Fellas. MB, I like Tarris Reed Jr. to have success against Mara.
Tonight’s game is a heavyweight match. Like your pick. Thanks for all of your information with the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
War Eagle!