4 Takeaways From Michigan's NCAA Men's National Championship Game Win

As maize and blue confetti rained down from the rafters at Lucas Oil Stadium, Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg held up a sign. On a yellow background, written in navy blue letters, the message read: "SHOCK THE WORLD, BOYS. GO BLUE!"

The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the national championship. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

It was a fitting image for a small-town kid from Pennsauken, New Jersey, who dreamed of playing on college basketball’s biggest stage. A lightly recruited prospect who began his career at Arizona Western Community College, Lendeborg went on to spend two years at UAB before ultimately bypassing the NBA Draft to take a chance on Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines.

Lendeborg — who played through obvious pain in Monday night's national championship game after suffering a sprained MCL and a rolled ankle in the Final Four win over Arizona — developed into a first-team All-American under May. He became the driving force behind one of the most dominant national championship runs in recent memory, which concluded with a 69-63 victory over UConn.

"We’re the hardest-playing team in basketball," Lendeborg said after the game, flanked by teammates in a celebratory gathering. "We are the best team in college basketball, and we want to be one of the greats ever."

Shock the world. … Mission accomplished.

Here are four takeaways from Michigan’s national championship victory.

Elliot Cadeau of the Michigan Wolverines shoots the ball against Tarris Reed Jr. of the UConn Huskies. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Michigan entered Monday night's national championship game having put together one of the most impressive offensive runs through five games in NCAA Tournament