Michigan basketball finalizing rematch with UConn in Boston: report

Michigan basketball may open next season the way it ended the last one − in a matchup with UConn.

According to reports, the Wolverines and Huskies are in the process of finalizing a matchup to meet on Friday, Nov. 6 at TD Garden (home of the Boston Celtics) in Boston. The two met in the national championship game last month in the final game of the year in Indianapolis; U-M won 69-63 to claim the program's second title in its history.

UConn coach Dan Hurley, left, and Michigan coach Dusty May.

It was the third time UConn played for the national championship in the past four seasons.

The game was a bit of a slugfest, with the Wolverines making just 2 of 15 3-pointers, none of which were bigger than Trey McKenney's late-game 3 to put the Wolverines up nine with less than two minutes to play. McKenney is one of three expected key contributors back from last year's team, along with Elliot Cadeau and injured guard L.J. Cason, who is on the mend from ACL surgery.

The Wolverines will have a new-look roster this time around, having added a trio of key transfer players in J.P. Estrella (Tennessee), Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati) and Jalen Reed (LSU). U-M also has an impressive incoming freshman class, led by five-star Brandon McCoy, McDonald's All-American Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartmann, Malachi Brown, Lincoln Cosby and Marcus Moller.

Returnees Oscar Goodman and Ricky Liburd are expected to be in the rotation, as well.