No. 4 UConn and No. 16 Michigan renew their rivalry from the 2026 national championship game when they meet Friday at TD Garden in Boston. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on TNT, with streaming available via Fubo.
Projected Starting Lineups
Michigan: G Elliot Cadeau, G Trey McKenney, G Roddy Gayle Jr., F JP Estrella, C Moustapha Thiam.
UConn: G Silas Demary Jr., G Braylon Mullins, G Jayden Ross, F Nik Khamenia, C Na'jai Hines.
Key Matchups
Point guard duel: Cadeau and Demary Jr. are both frontrunners for the Bob Cousy Award. Cadeau's playmaking contrasts with Demary's elite on-ball defense. The battle in the paint features portal transfers Thiam (7-foot-2) and Hines, both expected to make immediate impacts after missing time early in the season.
UConn's defense looked ahead of schedule in the preseason, while Michigan's defense remains a question mark. The Huskies' depth includes potential first-round pick Colben Landrew off the bench, whereas Michigan lost five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. to a knee injury.
Prediction and Expert Picks
The spread opened at UConn -3 and has moved to UConn -6. CBS Sports analysts Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander, David Cobb, Isaac Trotter, and Cameron Salerno lean toward UConn straight up, but the pick against the spread is Michigan +6, citing the Wolverines' physical guard play and concerns about Hines' foul trouble.
