Michigan Crushes Arizona, Advances to NCAA Title Game

Wolverines dominate Final Four matchup, set up championship showdown with UConn

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:02pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant colors.Michigan's decisive victory over Arizona sets up a championship showdown with UConn, as the Wolverines seek their first national title in nearly four decades.Indianapolis Today

The Michigan Wolverines put on a dominant performance, defeating the Arizona Wildcats 91-73 in the NCAA Final Four on Saturday night in Indianapolis. The Wolverines controlled the game from the opening tip, overwhelming Arizona with their size, speed, and scoring prowess to punch their ticket to the national championship game.

Why it matters

This victory marks Michigan's first trip to the NCAA title game since 2018, as they look to capture their first national championship since 1989. The loss ends a remarkable tournament run for Arizona, who were the top overall seed entering the Big Dance.

The details

Michigan jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, outscoring Arizona 48-34 in the first half. The Wolverines' balanced scoring attack was led by junior forward Jalen Wilson, who poured in a game-high 25 points. Sophomore guard Dug McDaniel added 18 points and 7 assists, while senior center Hunter Dickinson controlled the paint with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 5, 2026 in Indianapolis.
  • Michigan and UConn will meet in the national championship game on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Jalen Wilson

A junior forward for the Michigan Wolverines, Wilson led all scorers with 25 points in the Final Four victory.

Dug McDaniel

Michigan's sophomore guard contributed 18 points and 7 assists in the win over Arizona.

Hunter Dickinson

The senior center for Michigan dominated the paint, recording a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Arizona Wildcats

The top overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Arizona's season came to an end with the loss to Michigan in the Final Four.

Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines advanced to their first national championship game since 2018 with the convincing victory over Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys were locked in from the opening tip. We knew we had to bring our 'A' game to beat a team as talented as Arizona, and that's exactly what we did.”

— Juwan Howard, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

“Michigan was the better team tonight, plain and simple. They outplayed us in every facet of the game and deserved to win. We'll learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats

What’s next

Michigan will face the UConn Huskies in the NCAA championship game on Monday, April 7, 2026 in Indianapolis. UConn defeated San Diego State in the other Final Four matchup.

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant performance against the tournament's top overall seed demonstrates their ability to compete with and defeat any team in the country. The Wolverines will look to capture their first national title in 37 years when they take on UConn in the championship game.