You don't have to dig deep into the archives to hype this game up. It's the rematch of the 2026 National Championship game. Dusty May and the always-quotable Yaxel Lendeborg aren't around anymore, but the star power isn't hard to find.
Michigan believes it has the best backcourt in college basketball. Get this: UConn also believes it has the best backcourt in the sport. Let's dive into the matchups to watch ahead of this big-boy brawl, starting with the projected starting lineups for each side: Michigan: G Elliot Cadeau, G Trey McKenney, G Roddy Gayle Jr., F JP Estrella and C Moustapha Thiam UConn: G Silas Demary Jr., G Braylon Mullins, G Jayden Ross, F Nik Khamenia and C Na'jai Hines Best on best: Cadeau and Demary Jr. are both front-runners for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in America.
Cadeau is a wizard playmaker who mixes speed, power and creativity. In an ideal world, Cadeau would love to finish a game with 12 assists rather than 20 points, but new Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. may need him to score more than ever before. That's easier said than done because Demary is an elite point-of-attack defender.
Demary is all of 6-foot-5 who takes it personally if anyone works him for a bucket. The team with the best point guard play will win this game, but it's as close to a draw on paper. Portal bigs: UConn and Michigan had to replace a combined five NBA players who all played in the frontcourt.
UConn spent big in the portal for Seton Hall transfer Na'jai Hines, who is a total freak. Michigan did the same with Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, who is expected to suit up in this one after missing the opener against Oakland with an illness. Bigs from the portal always take a little time to fully coalesce for their new teams, but UConn and Michigan don't have time to wait.
Thiam and Hines need to be immediate difference-makers. Specifically, keep an eye on when UConn aggressively hard-hedges Michigan's ball screens. Hines can be a bit foul-prone when he's flying out to try and be disruptive.
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