Chainsmokers concert draws backlash as Michigan advances to title game
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Electronic music duo The Chainsmokers made their first Final Four concert for the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night, performing between Final Four games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
But some fans, including prominent figures in the sports world, were unhappy with the NCAA’s decision to hold the performance in the first place.
Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and others took to social media to express their disappointment when they saw The Chainsmokers take the stage following UConn’s victory over Illinois in their first Final Four matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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The Chainsmokers perform between games during the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“This Chainsmokers concert is playing between games like someone lost a bet,” Portnoy tweeted Saturday night. “I love the Chainsmokers, but nothing has ever meant less.”
One of the main reasons fans had issues with the concert was that Michigan-Arizona’s kickoff time was listed as 8:49 PM ET. But tipoff didn’t come until around 9:20 p.m., an hour after UConn-Illinois ended.
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Since Portnoy is a well-known Michigan fan, he was delighted to see that the delay did not hurt the Wolverines in the end. But Van Pelt was also shocked to see the performance happen.
“Who asked for this?” he wrote on social media. A fan followed up on his comments and asked what he was doing against the Chainsmokers.
The Chainsmokers perform between games during the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“It’s not one thing. Just an odd spot,” Van Pelt replied.
Michigan handled Arizona with ease in a 91-73 victory, instantly taking a 30-point lead in the contest. They will face UConn in the national championship game Monday night at Lucas Oil.
Wolverines senior star Yaxel Lendeborg was injured in the victory despite dealing with an MCL sprain and an ankle injury. When asked if there was a chance he would miss the national championship game, he said, “Absolutely not,” according to Yahoo Sports.
While Lendeborg only played 14 minutes, he played with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Chainsmokers will perform between games during the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 4, 2026. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Aday Mara became the leading name in the offensive line of the Wolverines and scored 26 points with 9 rebounds and 3 assists on 11 of 16 shots. Trey McKenney also added 16 points off Dusty May’s bench, four of which were three-pointers.
Michigan returns to the national championship game for the first time since 2018, when it lost 79-62 to Villanova.
