No. 4 UConn faces No. 16 Michigan in a neutral-site matchup Friday at TD Garden in Boston, a rematch of the 2026 national championship game won by Michigan 69-63 on April 6.
UConn is a 7.5-point favorite at DraftKings, attracting about 75% of tickets and handle, with the total set at 142.5.
The coaching matchup features Dan Hurley, who led UConn to titles in 2023 and 2024, against Mike Boynton Jr., promoted after Dusty May left for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks following Michigan's championship. Boynton, formerly head coach at Oklahoma State, oversaw the nation's top-ranked defense last season.
Michigan lost three top-12 NBA draft picks — Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 to Dallas), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 to Golden State), and Aday Mara (No. 12 to Oklahoma City) — but returns guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney, who combined for 24 points, eight assists, and four steals in a season-opening win over Oakland. Both are on the preseason watch list for the 2027 Naismith Trophy.
UConn opened with an 86-46 victory over Gardner-Webb, marking Hurley's 200th career win at the school. Transfer center Na'Jai Hines, from Seton Hall, recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds, becoming the first Husky with a double-double in his debut since Liam McNeeley in 2024. Preseason All-American Silas Demary Jr. scored five points.
This is only the 11th time since 1996 that the previous season's national finalists have met the following year. Defending champions hold a 6-4 record in those games; the last such meeting was Michigan's rout of Villanova on Nov. 14, 2018.
Betting analysis favors Michigan at +8.5 on the alternate spread. Projection models have UConn winning by one to seven points, and the large spread may provide motivation for the Wolverines.
