Michigan wins March Madness tournament

 The Michigan Wolverines are college basketball champions for the first time in 37 years, beating the Connecticut Huskies 69-63 in the national championship. Eliot Cadeau was named the game's MVP, scoring 19 points. 2 years ago, the Wolverines went 8-24 and fired Juwan Howard, who played for the team in the 90s and was a top 5 pick in the NBA draft. They hired Dusty May from Florida Atlantic, where he reached the final 4 in 2023. They reached the Sweet 16 in 2025, but came up short against Auburn. They won 29 games in the regular season, a program record, but lost the Big 10 championship to Purdue. They still were a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They dominated Howard in the first round and St. Louis in the second round. They beat Alabama in the Sweet 16, led by Big 10 player of the year Yaxel Landenborg who had 23 points and 12 assists. They then embarrassed Tennessee in the Elite 8, winning by 33 points, the biggest blowout in an Elite 8 matchup since Michigan themselves in their only other title in 1989. In the Final 4 they blew by Arizona, led by Aday Mara, who had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. They then beat Connecticut in the championship led by Cadeau's 19 points.

I'm glad that Michigan got the win here, especially because I can't stand Connecticut. I'm sick of them. But I'm also happy because of how much improvement this Michigan team has shown in the last few years, going from an 8-win team to the kings of college basketball. It's been fun to watch this team play, and I'm excited to see what this team has in store for next year.

That concludes the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament. I hope you all had as much fun as I did watching this.

Final Four preview

 The NCAA Final Four is here, and we have no new participants, although we have a team that's in their 3rd Final Four in the last 4 years (UConn). Illinois, UConn, Michigan and Arizona will attempt to bring home the title in Indianapolis, Indiana. Let's meet the teams.

Illinois has made March Madness the past 6 years, but hadn't got farther than the Elite Eight, and were knocked out last year by Kentucky in the second round. Brad Underwood's crew went 24-7 in the regular season, but lost their first game of the Big 10 tournament to Wisconsin. They made the tournament as a 3 seed, defeating Penn in round 1 and VCU in round 2. They made the sweet 16, beating Houston, and then beat Iowa in the Elite 8 to advance to their first Final Four in 21 years. They will be taking on the University of Connecticut, or UConn for short. UConn won the championship in 2023 and 2024, but lost in round 2 to eventual champion Florida in 2025. The Huskies went 27-4 in the regular season, and made it to the Big East Championship before losing to St. John's. They made the tournament as a 2 seed, and took care of Furman in round 1 and UCLA in round 2. They squeaked by Michigan State in the Sweet 16, but were down 15 at halftime of the Elite 8 against Duke. After fighting very hard in the second half, they found themselves down 3 with 10 seconds left. Silas Demary Jr. hit 1 of 2 free throws, then stole the inbound from Cameron Boozer, who is projected to be a top pick in the NBA Draft in June. Braylon Mullins hit a deep 3 pointer to send the Huskies back to the Final Four. The Huskies have the talent to dismantle Illinois, and they probably will. But this is March Madness, and I really don't want UConn to win, so I will take Illinois here.

Now we get to the battle of the top seeds: Arizona and Michigan. Arizona lost in the 2025 Sweet 16 to Duke. They went 29-2 (!!) during the regular season, and won the Big 12 title. They dismantled Long Island and took out Utah State after a bit of a scare. They then smoked Arkansas and took care of Purdue to make their first Final Four in 25 years. They have been DOMINANT this tournament thanks to a dominant frontcourt led by Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley. They'll need a lot of points to take down Michigan. The Wolverines lost in the Sweet 16 last year, and this team was determined to bounce back. They did. They went 29-2 in the regular season, but lost the Big 10 championship to Purdue. They were still a #1 in the NCAA Tournament. They also rolled over all their challengers (Howard, St. Louis, Alabama and Tennessee) by double digits to earn their first Final Four berth in 8 years. They are led by the Big 10 player of the Year in Yaxel Lendeborg. What Arizona is, Michigan is more, and I think they ride that wave to the National Championship.

That would set up an all-Big Ten national championship between Illinois and Michigan. I have Michigan taking that and becoming champions. I'll see you after the games are done for another preview or recap.