Winters Grady, a Tualatin native and freshman reserve for Michigan, will watch Monday’s NCAA national championship from the sideline after being sidelined with a foot injury that has kept him out since January. Though he will not take the court against UConn, Grady said Saturday he is embracing the experience of being part of a team that advanced to college basketball’s biggest game.
“It’s great,” Grady said after Michigan’s 18-point victory over Arizona that sent the Wolverines to the title game. “As a kid, you always dream of going to a Final Four, and now a national championship, so it’s a pretty surreal feeling for sure.” The 5:50 p.m. matchup will be broadcast on TBS.
Grady, who began his high school career at Lake Oswego High School before finishing at Prolific Prep in California, was shut down in January because of the foot injury and has not been available to play since. He acknowledged the frustration of missing the run but said the time off has offered perspective. “It sucks obviously just not being able to be out there with my guys and my boys, but you learn so much. You learn so much about yourself on and off the court when you go through injuries like this,” he said.
Rather than dwell on what he is missing, Grady described focusing on the lessons of being embedded in a championship environment. “Just being on a championship team. I think that’s just the culture, it just rubs off on you in a certain way, and you kind of feel what it feels like for all 15 guys to be bought in to one goal and now we’re here,” he said, pointing to the value of the daily work and collective buy-in that have carried Michigan through the tournament.
Grady’s presence on the roster marks a notable moment for Oregon basketball fans; the last Oregonian to be part of a national championship team was Ben Gregg, who played for Gonzaga in 2021. Grady also referenced other Portland-area players making noise this March, including Terrence Hill, and said he is proud to represent Oregon on the national stage even while sidelined.
The Wolverines will face UConn on Monday in a game that will determine this season’s collegiate champion. Grady said he plans to soak up the experience alongside his teammates, emphasizing that he is “excited and living in the moment” as Michigan chases the program’s next title.