The reigning NCAA champions, the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball, along with the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball, will travel to Lithuania in the summer of 2026 to face the Lithuania men’s national basketball team and other international opponents. It will be the first time Lithuania’s national team faces the reigning NCAA champions in a historic basketball event.
The Michigan Wolverines’ men’s basketball and Arizona Wildcats’ men’s basketball are set to visit Lithuania in the summer of 2026 for a historic basketball event that will include games against the Lithuania men’s national basketball team and other international opponents.
It will mark the first time in history that the Lithuanian national team faces the reigning NCAA champions.
Michigan’s arrival stands out even more after the Wolverines captured the 2026 NCAA title, adding another chapter to one of the most successful programs in college basketball history. Arizona, a Final Four team this season, will also travel to Lithuania with strong ties to Lithuanian basketball culture.
Michigan head coach Dusty May highlighted the value of competing in a basketball-focused country while preparing for the upcoming NCAA season.
“Lithuania has an incredibly rich basketball history, so the opportunity to play against Lithuanian teams is very exciting for us. Our players will have a chance to learn from people who live basketball every single day, compete at the highest level, and experience a different culture both on and off the court.”
“Any time you can bring your team together during the summer and play games, it is extremely valuable. This trip will give us a chance to grow as a team, learn, and spend time together before the season starts,” May explained per the Lithuanian basketball federation. “On top of that, our players will experience basketball in another part of the world, which makes this truly special.”
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Tommy Lloyd, Arizona’s head coach, praised Lithuania’s basketball passion and called the upcoming trip a special opportunity for his team.
“It is a huge honor for us to come to Lithuania in August. Not only because it is a special country with amazing people, but also because Lithuania lives and breathes basketball just like Arizona fans do. We cannot wait to experience Lithuanian culture and at the same time play high-level games against strong opponents,” Lloyd said.
Lithuania head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis also welcomed the opportunity to test his team against elite NCAA talent.
“This will be a great opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best university basketball teams in the world. Today, NCAA basketball features many of the most talented young players on the planet. We are really looking forward to this opportunity, and I have no doubt it will be a great experience for both the Lithuanian national team and the Michigan and Arizona teams.”
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