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The happy Wolverines
The University of Michigan, which was touted from the get-go this year as one of the best Wolverine teams ever, captured a hard-fought 69–63 victory Monday night over the University of Connecticut to win the national championship in Indianapolis.
It was the team’s first national championship since 1989.
Here's what sports writers had to say.
Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press:
So is this team better than the Fab Five?
Yes. So move over, Jalen, C-Webb, Juwan, Jimmy and Ray. And hey, that’s just not me saying it. Yaxel Lendeborg ran into members of Michigan’s iconic early ’90s sensation after the semifinals, when they reminded him they got to two title games. “So one game away, and then we can have the conversation again with those guys,” he said. “See what they think.”
An offensive grind from start to finish. A first half without a single made jumper. A version of Yaxel Lendeborg that was less than 100%.
No. 1 seed Michigan, like it has all season long, found a way to overcome it all and push past No. 2 seed UConn, 69-63, in Monday’s NCAA Tournament final at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Playing two nights after injuring his left knee in the semifinals against Arizona, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg had 13 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Point guard Elliot Cadeau had one of the best games of his career with 19 points and just one turnover. Morez Johnson Jr. posted 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Justin Williams, The Athletic:
Dominant. Scary. A machine. “The Monstars.”
Michigan men’s basketball earned its share of flattery during a commanding tear through the NCAA Tournament, but there was one last moniker to add Monday night.
Zach Goldstein, Michigan Daily:
Nobody saw it coming just two years ago.
The Michigan men’s basketball team was in despair. An 8-24 record marked the worst season in program history. The Wolverines had no coach. Michigan was about to lose a majority of its roster.
The memories of 2021, 2018, 2013, 1993 and 1992 had haunted the Wolverines. School legends had come and gone. 1989 — the only national championship — was 35 years prior. A program that had been so close, so many times kept on falling short. The 2023-24 season stung even more.
