Bilas on Michigan, UConn, and UNC

Jay Bilas returned to his usual Tuesday-after-the-championship spot with Rich, and the conversation ran the full menu. The title game first. Not the prettiest basketball Bilas has ever seen. A lot of missed shots. Both Michigan and UConn shot it better in the semifinals than in the final. The football arena setting may be part of it. Still compelling.

Michigan's defense impressed Bilas the most. The Wolverines have another gear most teams do not have. They took UConn out of transition, switched aggressively, took away cutting, extended catches further from the rim, and made UConn's normally clean offense look anything but. Rody Gaye Jr. had two blocks at the end of the game. Michigan had six blocks and six steals, but it felt like twelve.

Had the game gone up-tempo into the 80s, Bilas thinks UConn wins. At 60-something, even shooting poorly, UConn still had a shot. Terrance Reed's steal near the top of the key could have cut the lead to four, but the ball got ahead of him, Trey McKenna contested, both hit the deck, and Michigan pushed back the other way for a three that put it to nine. Alex Karaban had a look to cut it to one. Bilas could not quite believe UConn was that close.

On UConn's four-year run, Bilas reached for the mid-90s Kentucky comparison. The Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith teams. Three straight title games, two championships, an overtime from a three-peat. UConn won every tournament game in 2023 and 2024 by double digits, twelve straight. John Wooden's UCLA teams did not do that. Alex Karaban started three national championship games in four years. Only Ewing, Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, and Bobby Hurley have matched that.

On Michigan, Bilas loved the contrast. UConn with Karaban, the stay-in-one-place symbol. Michigan with five transfers as starters, including Danny Wolf, Yaxel Lindborg, and Elliot Cadeau, who went from being left unguarded at North Carolina to Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. Different paths, same result.

On Dusty May, already among the best young coaches before this game. From Bob Knight manager to Florida Atlantic Final Four to Michigan champion in two years. Bilas compared him to UCLA women's coach Cori Close, high standards without the demeaning coaching style.

On the transfer portal opening at midnight the same night as the title game, Bilas was blunt. That is what the coaches wanted. The NCAA created the portal. The business they chose. He does not feel bad for anyone making eight million a year losing a few vacation days to manage it.

On Michael Malone to North Carolina, Bilas called it a terrific hire. Nobody in the media floated his name, which tells you how little insight the media had. Bilas also endorsed the NBA experience and international connections for Carolina.

And the Masters menu. Caesar with anchovies on, medium-level Caesar, croutons negotiable, tomahawk ribeye so you can pick it up Flintstones-style, chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream. Bilas looks great in green.