National Champions Tuesday: Those That Stay

Jacob Hamilton | jhamilt3/mlive.com/TNS

When we saw this team for the first time, we thought they could bring a National Championship to Ann Arbor.  When we saw the team play in Vegas, we thought they might go undefeated.  The team Dusty put on the floor this year was special and last night they proved it again, in a much different way. 

Dan Hurley might be a crazy man but he can coach basketball and he did all he could to derail the Wolverines last night.  As expected,  they slowed down the pace and tried to shoot the Wolverines out of the gym.  Whether it was Michigan's solid defense or the Husky shooters were just off, that plan failed.  Michigan was too big and too talented to lose on Monday night.  

Before I get to the star of the game, a huge hat tip goes to Yax.  His performance last night in my mind goes right up there with Isiah Thomas playing on a severely sprained ankle against the Lakers in the NBA Finals.   He gutted out 13 points in 36 minutes and didn't even come off the floor in the first half.  Now to Elliott Cadeau, the star of the game.  Michigan had a limited Yax, zero 3 point shooting for most of the game, and early Mara was not scoring down low.  This was setting up to be a Hurley special and Cadeau said no, thank you, this is our year! He lead the Wolverines with 19 points and instead of assisting he stepped up and scored a ton of big baskets.  He had one of his best scoring games of the year during the biggest game.  

UConn hit nine 3 point shots during the game and the Wolverines only made 2.  The difference in the game was Michigan scoring 25 points from the free throw line and UConn clearly being in foul trouble all game.  UConn only had 12 points from the line.  

The game wasn't pretty, it was a tough defensive match-up as both teams struggled to shoot the ball.  Michigan who had scored 90 points in every tournament game only managed to put up 69 points.   Still that was enough to beat the Huskies. I would also be remiss if I didn't call out McKinney who hit a huge late 3 and made 2 important free throws after Gayle had missed two from the line.  Those points from McKinney made it very difficult for UConn to make a Duke game comeback.

Dusty has done a tremendous job turning this program around and last night netted him and Michigan a National Championship.  I still think I'm in shock, I 100% know I was when Gayle threw the ball down the court to close out the game. To quote Dusty, "it still feels like we have another game to prepare for" It's going to be a really long day at work as I'm 100% gassed.  

Congratulations to this team, the Michigan Program, and to us!  We deserve nights like last night and I hope we have many more to come! 

Go Blue to the National Champions! 

• A sign this process never sleeps:  The transfer portal opened at Midnight last night while the Wolverines were celebrating in the locker room.  The staff had it opened and scouting for next year.