Chainsmokers Final Four show draws fan ire
The Chainsmokers performed between semifinal games at the 2026 NCAA men's basketball Final Four on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the first concert of its kind in tournament history. The electronic duo took the stage after UConn defeated Illinois, prompting criticism from fans and sports personalities over the timing and choice. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and ESPN host Scott Van Pelt voiced frustration on social media.
Portnoy, a Michigan supporter, tweeted that the concert "is playing off like somebody lost a bet" and added, "I like the Chainsmokers but nothing has ever made less sense than this." Van Pelt questioned, "Who asked for this?" and later clarified in a reply, "Not one thing. Just an odd spot." The performance delayed Michigan's tipoff against Arizona from the listed 8:49 p.m. ET to around 9:20 p.m., about an hour after UConn-Illinois ended.
Michigan defeated Arizona 91-73, at one point leading by 30 points. Aday Mara scored 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds and three assists, while Trey McKenney added 16 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Senior Yaxel Lendeborg, playing through a sprained MCL and ankle injury, logged 14 minutes for 11 points, three rebounds and one assist; he affirmed to reporters he would play in the championship game.
Michigan advances to Monday's national title matchup against UConn, its first appearance since a 2018 loss to Villanova.
