With the 2026 March Madness men’s and women’s NCAA Division 1 College basketball championship concluded, two new Big Ten teams have been crowned champions.
On the women’s side, UCLA defeated South Carolina 79-51 to win their first NCAA Women’s College Basketball title, becoming the first Big Ten team to win the Women’s title since Purdue did it in 1999. UCLA, led by 5 seniors headlined by All-American Center Lauren Betts, managed to score all 79 of their points to give them the perfect sendoff into the WNBA. Even though Betts took home the MVP of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament, the MVP of the championship would have gone to senior guard Gabriela Jaquez, who is the younger sister of the Miami Heat forward, Jaime Jaquez, Jr. Jaquez managed to score 21 points and nag 10 rebounds, along with 5 assists in 34 minutes. The Lady Bruins managed to win this championship off of their veteran leadership and their “we, not me” mentality. UCLA capped off their win with 3 of their seniors, Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, and Charlisse Leger-Walker doing their signature choreographed routine dance to Tate McRae’s “You Broke Me First.”
On the men’s side, Michigan took home its first National Championship in 35 years. Michigan, led by Head Coach Dusty May and 5 starting transfer players, managed to defeat defending champions UCONN 69-63. Senior guard Elliott Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points, shooting 45.5% on FG and 25% on 3’s. Junior Center, Aday Mara, anchored Michigan’s defense by removing UCONN’s ability to score in the paint. Caudeau took home the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, and Michigan became the first Big Ten team to take home the men’s basketball title since Michigan State did it in 2000. Many college basketball fans were growing tired of UCONN’s dominance in college basketball, and more specifically, UCONN’s head coach Dan Hurley’s classless actions, like yelling at the refs and throwing tantrums on the sidelines. Seeing a team like Michigan, a team that only managed to win 3 games 2 years ago, humble a basketball powerhouse was refreshing, and is what makes College Basketball special.
