INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UConn knows what it will take to become the first team in more than half a century to win three national championships in four seasons. The Huskies will rely on the same physical play that helped them win the first two, along with perhaps a bit more offensive efficiency. Michigan still might need a healthy Yaxel Lendeborg to end the Big Ten’s 26-year title drought. It’s a Monday night title tilt between two loaded teams that have peaked during March Madness. The Wolverines have been installed as 7 1/2-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan overpowered Arizona early and humbled the ’Cats all night long, turning the Final Four meeting billed as the game of the year into a 91-73 Wolverines highlight reel. Junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and had nine rebounds, a dinged-up Yaxel Lendeborg had 11 points in 14 minutes and the Blue blew through their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits. Michigan became the first team to break 90 points five times in a single tournament. Next up is a title matchup Monday against UConn, a 71-62 winner over Illinois in the early semifinal.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 11 points while playing just 14 minutes due to ankle and knee injuries in Saturday's 91-73 win over Arizona in the Final Four. The first-team All-American left the game in the first half but was back on the court to start the second half. That came after he gingerly went through a series of warmup exercises at midcourt to test his left ankle. Lendeborg also wore a brace on his left knee. He said after the game that he turned his ankle and sprained his MCL, but he plans to play in Monday night's national title game against UConn.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — UConn got another critical 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins and coach Dan Hurley’s Huskies are heading back to the national title game. UConn beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four on Saturday night as the Huskies seek their third championship in four seasons. Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while the fabulous freshman Mullins scored 15 for the Huskies, who rode strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet 16 or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament. UConn will face Michigan on Monday night as it seeks its seventh title, all since 1999.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Freshmen Braylon Mullins of UConn and Keaton Wagler of Illinois led the way for their teams in the Final Four on Saturday. Mullins had 15 points and four 3-pointers in the Huskies' 71-62 win over the Illini. Wagler finished with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds. Mullins and Wagler became the first opposing freshmen with at least 15 points in a Final Four game since 1982. That's when Michael Jordan of North Carolina and Patrick Ewing of Georgetown were squaring off for the national title.
PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley won a national title nine years ago in her first trip as a coach to the NCAA championship game. Now UCLA is playing for the NCAA title in women's basketball for the first time, and Staley hopes to help South Carolina deny the Bruins on Sunday. Since that first title in 2017, Staley has added two more. A win over UCLA would tie Staley for the third most titles by a coach, trailing only Geno Auriemma and the late Pat Summitt. Meanwhile, the Bruins haven't won a national title since 1978, when women's basketball was governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are back in a familiar place, reaching the NCAA championship game for the fourth time in five years. They’ll have to beat a title-seeking newcomer in UCLA to win the ultimate prize. South Carolina will be trying to win its fourth national championship in nine years. The Gamecocks played stifling defense to knock off UConn 62-48 and end the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak in the semifinals Friday night. UCLA played incredible defense of its own in its 51-44 win over Texas. The Bruins spoiled a chance at the first all-SEC title game since 2017, when Staley’s team beat Mississippi State, which was led by current Texas coach Vic Schaefer.
MIAMI (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat will be in Phoenix to watch his sister Gabriela play for the national title with UCLA. Jaquez scored 32 points for the Heat in Saturday's win over the Washington Wizards, then headed to Miami International Airport to catch a commercial flight. UCLA faces South Carolina on Sunday. Jaime Jaquez says he's happy for her sister and it's time to support her. Gabriela Jaquez is the third-leading scorer for the Bruins and part of a group of seniors that lost in the Final Four last year.
