The Best Moments From the 2026 March Madness Tournament

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines hoists the trophy after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Now that the Michigan Wolverines have claimed the NCAA national title in men’s basketball, we’re taking a look back at some of the best moments from the 2026 March Madness – from mania to magic – and the players whose impact on the court helped their teams move deeper into the bracket. From underdogs to Cinderella stories, to top seed teams and champions, and constant surprises throughout the competition, the 2026 bracket was by far one of the most exciting in recent years.

Here’s a look back at the highlights from this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament.

Michigan Made History in More Ways Than One After Claiming the NCAA March Madness National Title

The Michigan Wolverines delivered a statement performance in the NCAA March Madness Championship Game – and they won the national title! Not only did they add to their school’s tally of March Madness victories, but the Wolverines also made history in several other ways. Notably, the team that won the 2026 March Madness Tournament is the first team in NCAA history to do so with a starting rotation of five transfer student-athletes.

From the opening tip off in the finale matchup against UConn, Michigan played with limited capacity from key contributors like Axel Lendeborg, but they were able to come together as a team to secure their defense and move their offense across the court.

UConn’s Braylon Mullins Gave the Nation a True Taste of “March Madness Magic” in Matchup Against Duke

The Elite Eight clash between the Duke Blue Devils and the UConn Huskies reached an unforgettable conclusion when freshman standout Braylon Mullins took control, receiving the inbound pass with defenders closing in on him and the clock rapdily expiring – and then he delivered a moment which epitomizes March Madness and the heart of sports when he scored a literal last split-second basket to edge over Duke by just one point.

Displaying remarkable composure, Mullins was able to navigate the Duke defense with a quick dribble moe to create just enough separation near the top of the key. As the buzzer approached timing out with less than half of a second left in game play, Braylon Mullins rose into a contested jumper and made the shot. Since securing the victory for UConn, he has been praised heavily on the UConn athletics social media pages.