No. 4 UConn and No. 16 Michigan meet Friday night in a neutral-site showdown at TD Garden in Boston, a rematch of the 2026 national championship game that Michigan won 69-63 on April 6. The programs have combined for three of the last four NCAA titles, and both enter the season with championship aspirations.
UConn opens as a 7.5-point favorite at DraftKings, attracting about 75% of tickets and handle. The total sits at 142.5, down two points from the opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Coaching storylines
UConn's Dan Hurley, who led the Huskies to titles in 2023 and 2024, reportedly turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers. Michigan's Dusty May, who guided the Wolverines to the 2026 title, departed last summer to become head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, making him the first college head coach to jump directly to the NBA since John Beilein in 2019. Michigan promoted assistant Mike Boynton Jr., formerly head coach at Oklahoma State, to the top job. Boynton served as defensive coordinator last season when Michigan ranked No. 1 nationally in defense.
Roster changes and early returns
Michigan lost three players selected in the top 12 of the 2026 NBA Draft: Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 to Dallas), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 to Golden State) and Aday Mara (No. 12 to Oklahoma City). In Boynton's debut, the Wolverines beat Oakland 84-68 but failed to cover a 27.5-point spread. Returning guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney combined for 24 points, eight assists and four steals; both were named to the 50-player preseason watch list for the 2027 Naismith Trophy.
UConn opened with an 86-46 rout of Gardner-Webb, giving Hurley his 200th career victory at Connecticut. Sophomore center Na'Jai Hines, a transfer from Seton Hall, posted 12 points and 12 rebounds to become the first Husky with a double-double in his debut since Liam McNeeley in 2024-25. Preseason Big East Player of the Year Silas Demary Jr. scored five points.
Historical context and projections
This is only the 11th time since 1996 that the previous season's national finalists have met the following season. The last occurrence was Michigan vs. Villanova on Nov. 14, 2018. Defending champions are 6-4 in those games. Predictive models differ: one projects UConn winning 78-71, while Haslametrics has the Huskies winning by a single point.
The author's pick is Michigan +8.5 on the alternate spread (-138), citing the generous line and potential motivation for the Wolverines.
