Michigan State and Connecticut Set for National Championship Rematch

INDIANAPOLIS — Two years back, Michigan State faced its toughest season in over three decades.

This prompted significant shifts in Ann Arbor for both the Wolverines and Taris Reed Jr. Dusty Maye took over as head coach for Michigan, while Reid transferred to Connecticut.

Now, they’re set to square off again for the national championship on Monday night.

“Honestly, I never imagined this could happen,” Reed shared on Sunday. “It’s such a blessing!”

Reed’s journey through the NCAA Tournament has been remarkable. The 6-foot-11 senior center emerged as one of the standout players, averaging 20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks. The Wolverines are dominating the tournament, winning their five games by about 21.6 points on average. Much of this success is attributed to a solid frontcourt, particularly 7-foot-3 center Adei Mara, who has been performing exceptionally.

For the Huskies to break through, Reed’s stellar performance will be crucial.

“He’s quite tall with a 7-7 wingspan and very skilled,” Reid noted about facing Mara. “He’s definitely better than me. But I believe I’m bigger and stronger. It should be a fantastic matchup, really competitive. We’ve both been playing at a high level in this tournament.”

Reed had considered staying at Michigan after arriving in May, and there were talks about it. Ultimately, he opted to transfer.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Coach Dan Hurley was demanding, and there were moments when Reed thought about leaving after last season.

“My mom used to say that when you start something, you should see it through,” Reed reflected. “[Hurley] pushed me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. It’s tough for others to see your potential—sometimes you don’t see it in yourself. But he believed in me. Looking back, I realize those tough practices were rooted in love. He truly wanted us to succeed, including me.”

In the current landscape of college sports, with the transfer portal and name-image-likeness rules, very few players from Reed’s time at Michigan remain. However, he still maintains a close friendship with starting guard Nimari Barnett and reserve forward Will Tschetter. They formed a connection during a campaign back in August.

“We were just chatting about it a few days ago,” Reed, originally from St. Louis, said. “I ran into them at Fan Fest, and it’s a wild situation. Meeting up for the national championship is special, especially after such a tough season.”

But once the game begins, friendships take a backseat. Reed has never settled for second place.

“Expect some intensity, we’ll be all over each other. It’s going to be a battle,” he stated.