The Final Four of the men’s NCAA Tournament was decided after a less-than-dramatic Elite Eight.
The schools heading to Indianapolis next weekend are the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats, No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini, No. 1 Michigan Wolverines, and No. 2 Connecticut Huskies. This year’s tournament lacks a Cinderella, but the lack of upsets means the remaining four teams are simply the best in the country.
The Wildcats will play the Wolverines and the Fighting Illini will take on the Huskies this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Let’s take a quick look at each team’s path to Indy.
arizona wildcats
The Wildcats, the top seed in the West Division, finished the regular season with a record of 36 wins and 2 losses and advanced through the tournament. Arizona has won each postseason game by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 20.5 points.
In the Elite Eight, the Wildcats overcame a seven-point halftime deficit against No. 2 Purdue and defeated the Boilermakers 48-26 in a dominant second half.
Arizona has been largely led this season by the freshman duo of guard Brayden Burries and forward Koa Peat. Barry’s is averaging 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in this tournament, while Pete himself is averaging 17.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
This is the first time the Wildcats have advanced to the Final Four since 2001. Arizona State has won one national championship in 1997. Head coach Tommy Lloyd is in his fifth season with the Wildcats.
Illinois fighting Illinois
The Fighting Illini finished second in the Big Ten this season and were dominant in the tournament. After winning the first two games by 35 and 21 points, respectively, Illinois defeated No. 2 Houston in the Sweet 16 and No. 9 Iowa in the Elite Eight.
The Fighting Illini’s win over the Hawkeyes was especially impressive, as Iowa State entered the matchup having defeated higher seeds in three straight games.
The University of Illinois is led by freshman guard Keaton Wagler, a 3-point shooter. During the tournament, Wagler averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 44.0% from deep.
The Illini advanced to the Elite Eight in 2024, making it to the Final Four for the first time since 2005, when they lost to North Carolina in the national championship game.
University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is in his ninth season at the school.
michigan wolverines
The Wolverines were the top team in the Big Ten this year, advancing to the Final Four with a convincing victory over No. 6 Tennessee. After winning by 13 points or more in the first three rounds, Michigan powered the Volantes to a 95-62 win and a ticket to Indy.
Frontcourt depth, in particular, is a strength for the Wolverines. Michigan has four players averaging at least double digits in points, but none exceed senior forward Jaxel Lendeborg’s 15.2 points per game. Rendeborg took his game to another level in March, averaging 25.0 points and 8.3 rebounds since the second round.
The Wolverines most recently reached the Final Four in 2018. Their head coach, Dusty May, is in his second season at the school, replacing Juwan Howard. Maye will lead Florida Atlantic to the semifinals in 2023, making it his second Final Four appearance in the last four seasons.
connecticut huskies
The Huskies won a series of thrilling games to advance to the Final Four, surviving a matchup with No. 3 Michigan State in the Sweet 16 before overcoming a 19-point deficit and shocking No. 1 Duke with a 73-72 victory in Elite Light.
Connecticut is perhaps the most balanced team left in the tournament, with five players averaging at least double-digit points. Senior center Taris Reed Jr. is the Huskies’ leading scorer and has had big performances this month, including 31 points and 27 rebounds in the first-round game against Furman and 26 points against the Blue Devils.
Connecticut won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 and reached the Final Four with championship pedigree. After being eliminated in the second round in 2025, the Huskies are on the brink of another championship in head coach Dan Hurley’s eighth season.
