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This year's Final Four features four high-quality teams and programs with varied histories of success in the National Semifinals. Make the jump to review the Final Four histories of the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini, #2 UCONN Huskies, #1 Michigan Wolverines and #1 Arizona Wildcats.
The Illinois Fighting Illini
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th Season at Illinois)
Season Record: 28-8
Seed: #3
Champions of the South Region
# of Final Four Appearances: 6
# of National Championships: 0
Illinois made the Final Four three out of four seasons in 1949, 1951 and 1952, losing each time in the national semifinal.
In 1989, Lou Henson coached the legendary Flyin' Illini squad of Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle, Stephen Bardo, Marcus Liberty, Lowell Hamilton and others to the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. The Illini lost a heart breaker to rival Michigan, which Illinois beat twice during the regular season.
In 2005, Bruce Weber coached one of the more dominant college basketball teams to never win a title all the way to the national title game. Featuring Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head, Roger Powell Jr., and James Augustine, the Illini started the season 29-0 and eventually finished 37-2, defeating Louisville in the Final Four but losing to North Carolina in the championship game in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1989, Lou Henson coached the legendary Flyin' Illini squad of Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle, Stephen Bardo, Marcus Liberty, Lowell Hamilton and others to the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. The Illini lost a heart breaker to rival Michigan, which Illinois beat twice during the regular season.
In 2005, Bruce Weber coached one of the more dominant college basketball teams to never win a title all the way to the national title game. Featuring Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Luther Head, Roger Powell Jr., and James Augustine, the Illini started the season 29-0 and eventually finished 37-2, defeating Louisville in the Final Four but losing to North Carolina in the championship game in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Connecticut Huskies
Head Coach: Dan Hurley (8th Season at UCONN)
Season Record: 33-5
Seed #2
Champions of the East Region
# of Final Four Appearances: 8
# of National Championships: 6
Since 1999, no team has appeared in and won more Final Fours than the UCONN Huskies. That year legendary Head Coach Jim Calhoun led a talented Connecticut team with Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Khalid El-Amin and others to the Final Four in St. Petersburg, Florida. There the Huskies defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes and shocked the dominant Duke Blue Devils.
Five seasons later, Calhoun won his second national title in San Antonio, Texas. Behind stars Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, the Huskies stunned Duke late and then beat up Georgia Tech in the title game.
Calhoun returned to the Final Four in 2009, when the Huskies were upset by a Michigan State Spartans team that would lose to North Carolina in the title game. This defeat to Michigan State is UCONN's only loss in a Final Four game.
In 2011, Calhoun won his third and final title, taking a team led by senior Kemba Walker to Houston, where the Huskies defeated Kentucky and Butler.
Three years later, former UCONN guard Kevin Ollie coached a Huskies' team led by senior guard Shabazz Napier to a surprise title, defeating Florida and Kentucky in Arlington, Texas.
In 2023, current UCONN Head Coach Dan Hurley and his Huskies ran through the Final Four, defeating Miami (FL) and San Diego State, with Adamo Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins having starring roles.
The Huskies went back-to-back in 2024, defeating Alabama and Purdue behind a legendary team featuring Alex Karaban, Donovan Clingan, Tristan Newton, Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle. UCONN became the first team to go back-to-back since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007.
Five seasons later, Calhoun won his second national title in San Antonio, Texas. Behind stars Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, the Huskies stunned Duke late and then beat up Georgia Tech in the title game.
Calhoun returned to the Final Four in 2009, when the Huskies were upset by a Michigan State Spartans team that would lose to North Carolina in the title game. This defeat to Michigan State is UCONN's only loss in a Final Four game.
In 2011, Calhoun won his third and final title, taking a team led by senior Kemba Walker to Houston, where the Huskies defeated Kentucky and Butler.
Three years later, former UCONN guard Kevin Ollie coached a Huskies' team led by senior guard Shabazz Napier to a surprise title, defeating Florida and Kentucky in Arlington, Texas.
In 2023, current UCONN Head Coach Dan Hurley and his Huskies ran through the Final Four, defeating Miami (FL) and San Diego State, with Adamo Sanogo, Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins having starring roles.
The Huskies went back-to-back in 2024, defeating Alabama and Purdue behind a legendary team featuring Alex Karaban, Donovan Clingan, Tristan Newton, Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle. UCONN became the first team to go back-to-back since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007.
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Michigan Wolverines
Head Coach: Dusty May (2nd Season at Michigan)
Season Record: 35-3
Seed #1
Champions of the Midwest Region
# of Final Four Appearances: 9
# of National Championships: 1
Michigan reached back-to-back Final Fours in 1964 and 1965. Led by star Cazzie Russel, the Wolverines lost to Duke in the 1964 national semifinal. The following season, Michigan defeated Princeton in the Final Four before losing to UCLA in the title game. In 1976, Michigan reached the title game, losing to Big Ten rival and undefeated Indiana after defeating Rutgers in the national semifinal.
In 1989, Michigan won a surprising national championship under interim Head Coach Steve Fisher, who replaced Bill Frieder prior to the tournament when Frieder announced he was taking the Arizona State heading coaching position. Led by future NBA players Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills and Sean Higgins, the Wolverines upset Illinois in the Final Four and then outlasted Seton Hall in the title game.
In 1992 and 1993, Michigan advanced to the Final Four with the Fab Five squads of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. As freshmen, the Wolverines defeated Cincinnati in the Final Four before losing to Duke in the title game. As sophomores, the Wolverines outlasted Kentucky in overtime before losing to North Carolina in a national championship game infamous for Webber getting a technical for calling a timeout Michigan did not have.
Michigan did not return to the Final Four until 2013 when John Beilein led a talented team featuring future NBA players Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nick Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III, Caris Levert and Mitch McGary all the way to the final. After defeating Syracuse in the Final Four, Michigan fell to Louisville in the title game.
Five years later, in 2018, Beilein returned the Wolverines to the Final Four with future pros Mo Wagner, Duncan Robinson and Jordan Poole. The Wolverines defeated Cinderella Loyola (Chicago) before losing to Villanova in the title game.
In 1989, Michigan won a surprising national championship under interim Head Coach Steve Fisher, who replaced Bill Frieder prior to the tournament when Frieder announced he was taking the Arizona State heading coaching position. Led by future NBA players Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson, Loy Vaught, Terry Mills and Sean Higgins, the Wolverines upset Illinois in the Final Four and then outlasted Seton Hall in the title game.
In 1992 and 1993, Michigan advanced to the Final Four with the Fab Five squads of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. As freshmen, the Wolverines defeated Cincinnati in the Final Four before losing to Duke in the title game. As sophomores, the Wolverines outlasted Kentucky in overtime before losing to North Carolina in a national championship game infamous for Webber getting a technical for calling a timeout Michigan did not have.
Michigan did not return to the Final Four until 2013 when John Beilein led a talented team featuring future NBA players Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nick Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III, Caris Levert and Mitch McGary all the way to the final. After defeating Syracuse in the Final Four, Michigan fell to Louisville in the title game.
Five years later, in 2018, Beilein returned the Wolverines to the Final Four with future pros Mo Wagner, Duncan Robinson and Jordan Poole. The Wolverines defeated Cinderella Loyola (Chicago) before losing to Villanova in the title game.
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Arizona Wildcats
Head Coach: Tommy Lloyd (5th Season at Arizona)
Season Record: 36-2
Seed #1
Champions of the West Region
# of Final Four Appearances: 5
# of National Championships: 1
Under legendary Head Coach Lute Olson, Arizona made its first Final Four in 1988. Led by future NBA players Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr, Tom Tolbert, Anthony Cook and Jud Buechler, and eventual MLB star Kenny Lofton, the Wildcats lost to Oklahoma in the national semifinal.
Six years later, Arizona reached the Final Four in Charlotte, North Carolina, with that 1994 team featuring Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves losing to eventual national champion Arkansas in the national semifinal.
Arizona returned to the Final Four in 1997, with Olson securing the school's first and only national championship in Indianapolis, host city of this year's Final Four. Led by Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson and Jason Terry, the Wildcats defeated North Carolina and Kentucky in the Final Four and title game, respectively.
Arizona last made the Final Four in 2001, with a loaded Olson squad featuring Jason Gardner, Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Michael Wright, Loren Woods and Luke Walton. The Wildcats defeated Michigan State in the national semifinal before losing to Duke in the title game.
Six years later, Arizona reached the Final Four in Charlotte, North Carolina, with that 1994 team featuring Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves losing to eventual national champion Arkansas in the national semifinal.
Arizona returned to the Final Four in 1997, with Olson securing the school's first and only national championship in Indianapolis, host city of this year's Final Four. Led by Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson and Jason Terry, the Wildcats defeated North Carolina and Kentucky in the Final Four and title game, respectively.
Arizona last made the Final Four in 2001, with a loaded Olson squad featuring Jason Gardner, Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, Michael Wright, Loren Woods and Luke Walton. The Wildcats defeated Michigan State in the national semifinal before losing to Duke in the title game.
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