Mick Cronin hits Duke-Michigan Amazon game with ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ sledgehammer appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coming into the 2026-27 college basketball season, one of the biggest games of the year was a scheduled matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden. Only now, due to broadcasting rights, the game is potentially in doubt with UCLA head coach Mick Cronin thinking the entire thing will eventually be scrapped.
Advertisement
The highly anticipated game between Duke and Michigan was set to be televised on Amazon Prime. But due to Michigan’s Big Ten membership, of which Mick Cronin and UCLA are also a part of, Cronin believes the game will not be allowed to proceed as is, as per Jordan Mendoza of USA TODAY Sports.
“No chance it goes through,” Cronin said. “Not when Fox has paid hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars for the rights.”
The holdup stems from the Big Ten, and its broadcast partner Fox, who reportedly believe the conference should benefit financially from the event. There is no such issue from the Duke side of things who have apparently received the go-ahead from the ACC and its broadcast partner in ESPN.
Cronin also stated that UCLA has been asked by outside networks to allow them to broadcast some Bruins’ games, but that he’s turned them down to the overlying Big Ten issue.
Advertisement
If no agreement is able to be reached, the game could be scuttled all together. Michigan is the defending champs while Duke reached the Elite Eight before being eliminated by UConn. Both teams are expected to be amongst the top squads in the country next season as well.
Both teams squared off against each other this past season in what turned out to be one of the best college basketball matchups of the year. Duke squeaked past Michigan, 68-63, with the game having an NCAA Tournament feel to it.
Related: UConn to host Purdue for Connecticut exhibition game
Related: Mavericks rumors: Jon Scheyer interest to be thwarted by Duke commitment
