Michigan
UConn
11/4/2026 10:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Seven months after meeting for the national championship, the No. 16-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team will face No. 4 UConn on Friday (Nov. 6) as part of the Hall of Fame Series Boston at TD Garden. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., with the game televised nationally on TNT and truTV and streamed on HBO Max. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Grant Hill (analyst) and Lauren Jbara (sideline reporter) will call the action.
Notes
• A Rare Rematch: Michigan (1-0) and UConn (1-0) will meet just seven months after the Wolverines' 69-63 victory in the 2026 NCAA championship game. It marks the 11th time since 1996 that the previous season's national finalists have met again the following season.
• Michigan Has Been Here Before: The last rematch came on Nov. 14, 2018, when Michigan defeated Villanova, 73-46, just seven months after falling to the Wildcats in the national title game. Defending national champions have won six of the previous 10 rematches.
• Seven Months Ago: Elliot Cadeau scored a team-high 19 points against UConn and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Trey McKenney hit a key three-pointer and added two late free throws to help secure Michigan's second NCAA national championship and first since 1989.
• Championship Pedigree: Michigan and UConn have combined to win three of the last four NCAA national championships. The Huskies won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, while Michigan claimed the 2026 crown. UConn has reached three of the past four national championship games.
• A Little History: Michigan leads the all-time series against UConn, 3-2, including its 69-63 victory in the 2026 national championship game. Before April's matchup, the programs last met on Nov. 25, 2015, when UConn earned a 74-60 victory at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
• A Boston Homecoming: Freshman Quinn Costello returns to his home state for Friday's matchup at TD Garden. The Medford, Mass., native scored 13 points and made three three-pointers in his collegiate debut against Oakland.
• Opening Night: Michigan began its title defense with an 84-68 win over Oakland on Monday (Nov. 2). Roddy Gayle Jr. and McKenney scored 17 points apiece, while Tennessee transfer J.P. Estrella added 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in his Wolverine debut.
• A Different Look: Michigan returns seven players from its national championship team, including preseason All-Big Ten selections Cadeau and McKenney. The Wolverines added four transfers and six freshmen while replacing three NBA lottery picks -- Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11) and Aday Mara (No. 12).
• UConn Reloads: The Huskies return guards Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins from last season's national runner-up team. Demary, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 assists last season, while Mullins averaged 12.0 points. UConn also added several transfers, including Nik Khamenia (Duke) and Na'jai Hines (Seton Hall).
• The Hurley Era: Dan Hurley enters his ninth season at UConn after leading the Huskies to three Final Fours and two national championships in the past four seasons. UConn went 34-6 last season and enters 2026-27 ranked No. 4 nationally and favored to win the Big East.
• Next Up: Michigan returns to Crisler Center on Wednesday (Nov. 11) to host Marquette at 7 p.m. The Wolverines also host William & Mary (Nov. 15) before traveling to Philadelphia to face Villanova (Nov. 21) at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
