Michigan Opens Title Defense Against UConn in Boston Rematch

The No. 16 Michigan Wolverines and No. 4 Connecticut Huskies collide at TD Garden in Boston on Friday, Nov. 6, for a national television broadcast. The game is part of the Hall of Fame Series Boston, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. EST. The matchup serves as an immediate rematch of the 2026 NCAA final, which Michigan won to claim its second national title.

The two programs met in the championship game seven months ago. Michigan defeated UConn by a score of 69-63 to end a 37-year title drought. That victory gave the Wolverines their first national championship since 1989. Elliot Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points in that final and received Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Trey McKenney contributed a key three-pointer and made two late free throws to secure the win.

This Friday’s contest is the 11th time since 1996 that previous season national finalists have played each other the following year. Defending champions have won six of the prior 10 such rematches. Michigan and UConn have captured three of the last four NCAA titles. Connecticut won back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024 before Michigan took the crown in 2026. Michigan leads the all-time series against UConn, 3-2. The teams last met in November 2015, when UConn won 74-60 at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Michigan enters Friday’s game with a 1-0 record. The team opened its season with an 84-68 victory over Oakland University on Nov. 2. Roddy Gayle Jr. and McKenney each scored 17 points in that opener. J.P. Estrella, a transfer from Tennessee, recorded 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in his debut for the Wolverines. Michigan returns seven players from last season’s winning roster, including Cadeau and McKenney, both of whom were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team.

The program added four transfers and six freshmen to replace three players selected in the NBA draft lottery. Morez Johnson Jr. was picked No. 9, Yaxel Lendeborg No. 11, and Aday Mara No. 12. Freshman Quinn Costello, a native of Medford, Massachusetts, will return home for Friday’s game. Costello scored 13 points and made three three-pointers in his collegiate debut against Oakland.

Connecticut also enters the matchup at 1-0. The Huskies retain guards Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins from last season’s runner-up squad. Demary, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 assists per game last year. Mullins averaged 12 points per game. The program added transfers including Nik Khamenia from Duke and Na’Jai Hines from Seton Hall.

Head coach Dan Hurley begins his ninth season with the Huskies. He has guided the team to three Final Four appearances and two national championships in the last four seasons. Connecticut finished last season with a 34-6 record and currently holds the No. 4 ranking in the national polls.

Following Friday’s contest, Michigan returns to its home court on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Wolverines will host Marquette at 7 p.m. at Crisler Center. They will then face William & Mary on Nov. 15 at Crisler Arena. Michigan travels to Philadelphia on Nov. 21 to play Villanova at Xfinity Mobile Arena.