Michigan
Michigan basketball vs Purdue: Two powerhouses colliding for Big Ten Tournament title
Breaking down Michigan’s win vs Wisconsin to make Big Ten tourney final
Tony Garcia and Carlos Monarrez break down Michigan basketball’s win over Wisconsin to make the Big Ten Tournament final vs. Purdue.
CHICAGO − It’s fitting, really, this Big Ten Tournament championship matchup.
The showdown at United Center features 1-seed Michigan basketball (31-2) – the undisputed regular-season champs and a potential No. 1 overall NCAA seed – and 7-seed Purdue (26-8) – which was projected to be the top team in the conference, if not the nation, to open the season.
One of the Wolverines’ crowning achievements − of which there were many − during this season was their thumping of the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Feb. 17. The Wolverines built a 20-point first-half lead and then held off coach Matt Painter’s team in a 91-80 victory.
“Give them credit,” Painter said following that game. “Just like in the last two games for us, where we set the tone on the glass, they set the tone for the game right there. Their size was there, but also they were quicker to the ball. I thought their guards did a good job of being around the basketball.
“They’re the No. 1 team in the country for a reason.”
The Wolverines won at Mackey Arena in large part because of they neutralized last season’s Big Ten player of the year, point guard Braden Smith. Though he finished with 20 points, none came in the first half at all and half came at the free throw line, with just four field-goal makes.
Likewise, U-M’s bigs controlled center Oscar Cluff.
The 6-foot-11 255-pounder, who averaged 10.1 points and 7.2 rebounds this season, put up just four and three respectively, against the Wolverines. He has rounded into form, however, during this Big Ten Tournament run for the Boilermakers, averaging 16 points and 11 boards in wins over Northwestern, Nebraska and UCLA.
Michigan advanced to the title game in thrilling fashion. On Friday, U-M was down two against Ohio State with less than five minutes to play, before forcing OSU to go just 2-for-12 from the floor in the Wolverines’ 71-67 victory.
Then, the real fireworks came against Wisconsin on Saturday. U-M built a 15-point lead with less than 10 minutes to play, only for the Badgers to shoot the lights out with a six-minute 23-4 run that featured seven 3s en route a 62-58 lead. With the score tied at 65, Michigan held the ball for the final possession ended by a Yaxel Lendeborg 25-foot 3-pointer from the right wing with 0.4 seconds left.
“What a fabulous basketball game, kind of a modern Big Ten game where teams were fighting, clawing, scrapping, competing at the highest level, but also making some high level shots and plays,” Michigan coach Dusty May said afterwards. “This is very, very healthy for us to be where we are right now, still finding some things out about ourselves and discovering new ways to win.”
Lendeborg didn’t score until there were 11 seconds in the first half, while Cadeau played just six of the opening 20 minutes with foul trouble. The two were critical in the second half, as they were in West Lafayette, where Cadeau scored 17 points and Lendeborg added 13 points and seven assists.
Michigan had six players in double figures that night, including L.J. Cason, who is out with an ACL tear. Michigan has played four times without Cason and each was a one-possession game with less than four minutes to play.
But the Wolverines have had the answers on every occasion.
Now, they have one last test against one of the most experienced teams in the league, to determine if they’ll become the first Big Ten team with back-to-back tourney titles since the Wolverines in 2017-18.
Michigan vs Purdue Big Ten Tournament championship game prediction
With the Boilermakers on their fourth game in four days – not to mention myriad poor matchups with U-M – they won’t be able to hang with Dusty May’s crew, which will earn its third banner (2025 tourney, 2025-26 regular season, 2026 tourney) in exactly 365 days. The pick: U-M 83, Purdue 72.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
The 2026 men’s basketball national championship game is set with Michigan vs. UConn.
And while the Huskies are going for their third national title in four years, it’s the Wolverines who enter Monday night’s final as the heavy favorite.
Michigan blasted Arizona on Saturday in a matchup of the remaining No. 1 seeds in what many thought would be the best game of the NCAA Tournament. It didn’t turn out that way, even with Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg dealing with an injury.
Michigan vs UConn spread, line: Who is favored to win national championship game?
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 9:30 a.m., Sunday, April 5
- Moneyline: Michigan (-325); UConn (+260)
- Spread: Michigan (-7.5)
- Total over/under: 144.5
Michigan UConn prediction: Who will win national championship?
- Blake Toppmeyer: Michigan. The Wolverines’ total destruction of Arizona solidified that Michigan is the class of the tournament. UConn is playing well, but nobody is playing better than Michigan.
- Jordan Mendoza: Michigan. The Huskies are able to make it a competitive game, but Michigan is just too stacked. The Wolverines pull away midway through the second half and party like it’s 1989.
- Austin Curtright: Michigan. Michigan-Arizona was tabbed as one of the most-anticipated Final Four matchups in recent memory, and all the Wolverines did was dominate start to finish in a way no one has against the Wildcats this season. Michigan has defeated all of its 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament opponents by double digits, and finds a way to do so again against the Huskies, even with a potentially limited version of Yaxel Lendeborg.
- Ehsan Kassim: Michigan. Yes, this UConn team has been impressive in the past two rounds with a big comeback vs. Duke and then shut down Illinois’ offense. Michigan is another beast, as the Wolverines have been the most dominant team in the NCAA Tournament. They pull off the win to end a couple of droughts, even with Yaxel Lendeborg playing at less than 100%.
National championship game time
The national title game between Michigan and UConn is scheduled to tip at 8:50 p.m., Monday, April 6.
What channel will the national championship game be on? How to watch, streaming info?
Monday’s national title game is on TBS, TNT, truTV and available for streaming on HBO Max, which requires a subscription, or Sling TV, which carries TBS and truTV.
Indianapolis — If Michigan wants to play for a national championship, it might have to do so without its best player.
With 8:51 to play in the first half of a Final Four game against Arizona on Saturday night, Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg rolled his left ankle on a drive after he stepped on the foot of Arizona center Motiejus Krivas. After hitting two free throws, he subbed out of the game and headed down the tunnel with the help of a trainer.
Lendeborg’s pain showed immediately. After he got up from falling, he walked down the court, wincing, squatting to collect himself. He tied his shoes tighter to boos from some Arizona fans before hitting his foul shots. Then he walked to the bench, down the stairs, past concerned teammates, before heading off to be evaluated.
Arizona went on a 9-0 run after Lendeborg left the game.
Lendeborg returned to the Michigan bench, walking gingerly, with about six minutes left in the first half, but did not immediately return to the game. He then returned to the locker room before the end of the half.
Late in the first half, Tracy Wolfson on the TV broadcast reported that Lendeborg’s ankle would be iced with the Wolverines possibly getting their star back for the second half.
Lendeborg was the Big Ten Player of the Year and leads Michigan with 15.2 points per game, but he played just five minutes of the game against Arizona. In the span of 1:22, he picked up two defensive fouls and had to sub out, returning at 12:57 as the Wolverines led 19-10.
Lendeborg made a 3-pointer and hauled in a rebound before leaving the game with his injury.
cearegood@detroitnews.com
@ConnorEaregood
Michigan
Flooding reported across much of Mid-Michigan after heavy rainfall overnight, several roads impassable
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Flooding is impacting many people across Mid-Michigan after heavy rainfall late Friday and into Saturday morning. News 10 Chief Meteorologist Darrin Rockcole says some areas of Mid-Michigan saw 1-2+ inches of rain. The Lansing area saw more rain overnight than those near Jackson and to the south.
Mid-Michigan is not out of the woods yet when it comes to rain for the rest of Saturday either, as explained in your latest First Alert Forecast. If you see flooding in your area, submit photos and videos to News 10 by clicking here.
Many major roadways are experiencing flooding, leading to several highways being shut down as water was over the roadway. Numerous flood warnings, watches and advisories are in effect across Mid-Michigan.
Here are the many reports of flooding from city and county officials across Mid-Michigan. This has led to the closing of roads across the area.
EATON COUNTY
SB I-69 just north of Potterville exit (66) was closed with water over the freeway.
Eaton County has canceled their outdoor siren test for Saturday due to the inclement weather.
Michigan State Police said on ‘X’ Saturday that numerous area roadways were flooded outside of the previously mentioned portion of I-69.
Traffic Alert! Eaton County: Due to the heavy rains in the area, southbound I-69 at Vermontville Hwy is flooded and impassable. Numerous other roads in the Eaton County area are also flooded. Troopers are reminding the public that if you do not have to go out right now, it might… pic.twitter.com/KcUzYIMOzK
— MSP First District (@MSPFirstDist) April 4, 2026
INGHAM COUNTY
I-496 was flooded between Waverly and Martin Luther King in Lansing, drivers were asked to avoid the area.
Potter Park Zoo: The zoo is closed Saturday as flooding is impacting Pennsylvania Ave in Lansing.
Ingham County has canceled its outdoor siren test for Saturday due to the inclement weather.
CITY OF LANSING
Traffic alert from the city: Reports of many streets flooded throughout Lansing. Please use caution while driving and do not attempt to drive through standing water.
CITY OF EAST LANSING
City Alert: Reports of streets flooded throughout the area and basements with backed up water. Use caution when driving. Do not attempt to drive through standing water. Check sump pumps for proper operation and monitor basements for signs of water.
CLINTON COUNTY
County siren test scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to inclement weather. Next testing opportunity will be May 2, 2026 at noon.
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