For the past two days, I have been writing about what this Final Four run by the 2025-2026 Fighting Illini means to me as an Illinois alum and a dedicated fan of the men's basketball program for nearly 30 years. After writing through the night, up until seven in the morning, and crafting 22 pages in a Word Document, here's what I have got for you. Make the jump to read my reflections on the Illini's improbable run to the Final Four in Indianapolis, where the mighty Connecticut Huskies are next. 

And then there were four! The Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is set, with #3 Illinois and #2 UCONN set to rematch a Black Friday game from earlier this season and #1 Michigan and #1 Arizona squaring off in what some pundits are saying is the "De Facto National Championship Game," though I wouldn't go that far with a Dan Hurley team still standing and an Illinois team believing it can win it all. While Illinois is the lowest seed remaining, UCONN is the most surprising team to reach Indianapolis, considering that the Huskies were down 19 points in the second half yesterday and needed an all-time blunder by Duke (HOLD THE BALL AND TAKE A FOUL!) to get off Braylon Mullins' miracle three. Ultimately, UCONN's improbable, gutty comeback makes this Final Four field feel much more balanced and difficult to predict, and sets up what should be two outstanding national semifinals on Saturday. Make the jump to see the tip times and read some initial observations about this year's Final Four. 

Oh my goodness! UCONN steals this one, on a Braylon Mullins three from just inside the logo off a needless Duke turnover with 0.4 seconds left! What an all-time tournament moment! 

Somehow, someway, UCONN secures the last Final Four bid. The Huskies had not led since the game was 2-0. After starting the game 1/18 from three, the Huskies got four big threes late in the game, Silas Demary with two, Alex Karaban with one in the last minute, and Mullins' miracle finish that just saved this Elite Eight from being an overall clunker. There is a lot to break down from this game in due time, though if it isn't clear by now, a Dan Hurley team is hard to kill during the NCAA Tournament. 

The Final Four is set with #3 Illinois vs. #2 UCONN the opener and #1 Michigan vs. #1 Arizona the nightcap this Saturday in Indianapolis. Make the jump to see the game's final stats. 

Michigan came out early in the second half looking to put its foot down on Tennessee's throat, and the Wolverines were off to a promising start before Morez Johnson, Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg got into some unnecessary drama on the court. Michigan clearly has the best roster in the nation. There is no team that poses so many match-up problems. When the Wolverines are playing this type of defense and able to push the ball off misses, this team is a juggernaut. Amazingly, Michigan is not even playing its best ball. This team is that talented. Yaxel Lendeborg dominated today's game, with 27 points on 10-for-19 shooting, and has seemingly made the conscious decision to start looking for his offense. That is a scary thought. With that said, Lendeborg needs to be a better leader on the court for the Wolverines. He too often looks down at its opponents, and he justifiably got punked on a nasty Ja'Kobie Gillespie dunk in the second half. It is okay to play with an edge and have some grace while doing it. Ultimately, Michigan has been able to overwhelm its tourney opponents with its defense and scoring bursts so far. With Arizona next, Michigan is going to need more emotional maturity as the Wildcats are as big and tough and will not be bullied. For Michigan to win the national championship, the Wolverines must maintain better composure, especially against teams that are at their level, Arizona and Duke (most likely). For Head Coach Dusty May, that has to be the teaching point this week heading to the Final Four. It's never been a question about Michigan's talent. The Wolverines don't always show ideal character when blowing teams out. How will they respond when the going gets tough in a tight Final Four or National Championship game that may come down to a few possessions? That is my one concern with the Wolverines, which need to lock in emotionally to win its first national title since 1989. Make the jump to see the game's final stats. 

The Elite Eight continues tomorrow, with #6 Tennessee taking on #1 Michigan and #2 UCONN battling #1 Duke. Who will join Illinois and Arizona in Indianapolis? Tomorrow I plan on watching these games for enjoyment, providing predictions, halftime recaps and final game reviews. Tonight is all about celebrating as my alma mater, Illinois, and one-time favorite college basketball team, Arizona, have advanced to the Final Four after long absences for both programs.  

Arizona imposes its will in the second half and advances to the Final Four for the first time since 2001! The Wildcats return to the city (Indianapolis) where Arizona won its only national championship back in 1997! That 1997 Arizona team with Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson, Jason Terry, and Head Coach Lute Olson made me fall in love with the NCAA Tournament and is a major reason why this site exits. Make the jump to see the final stats for Arizona's Elite Eight victory against Purdue. 

Illinois advances to the Final Four, with its size and physicality wearing out the smaller Hawkeyes. The game turned in the last eight minutes with Illinois finally getting downhill and scoring inside at will after trying to dribble through Iowa for too much of the second half. The Illini had a 44 to 12 advantage in points in the paint (the Illini were only 3 for 17 from three). Tomislav Ivisic was huge in the second half, scoring 11 of his 13 points and hitting two big baskets with just under six minutes to go to turn the game in favor of Illinois. The Illini were led by freshman guard Keaton Wagler (25 points) and Andrej Stojakovic (17 points). Illinois played an Iowa game, and it was quite ugly for the first 32 minutes offensively. Illinois finally got some rhythm late after a sluggish and tight first half. Ultimately, Illinois won this game with its defense and rebounding, with a 32 to 18 advantage on the boards. By the end of the game Bennett Stirtz looked completely gassed, finishing with 24 points in 40 minutes. History shows that it is just never easy for the Illini during the Elite Eight, and tonight was a tough and, at times, infuriating game. Simply put, Illinois had the bigger dudes and better athletes when it mattered. Iowa's incredible run comes to an end, and Illinois advances to Indianapolis to play either Duke or UCONN. Life is good! Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions throughout this Elite Eight victory for the Illini. 

From 68 to 8 teams, that is where we stand as the 2026 NCAA Tournament enters the Regional Final round tonight and tomorrow. The Big Ten is well-represented, with four of the eight teams still standing. Left from the Big Ten are the expected (Michigan and Purdue), the somewhat expected (Illinois) and the definitely unexpected (Iowa). The ACC, Big East, Big Twelve and SEC all have one team remaining in the field, in the form of #1 Duke, #2 UCONN, #1 Arizona and #6 Tennessee, respectively. Make the jump to see the tip times for Saturday and Sunday's Elite Eight games and to relive an Elite Eight memory for each school that is still alive and dreaming of the Final Four. 

Rick Barnes has the Volunteers in the Elite Eight for the third straight year. Tennessee dominates the glass, with a 43 to 22 advantage in rebounding. The Volunteers upset a depleted Iowa State team without Joshua Jefferson and will now face #1 seed Michigan on Sunday. Tennessee has never been to a Final Four, and the task on Sunday will be quite tall, literally and figuratively, against Michigan and its mammoth front line. With that in mind, Tennessee does bring a physicality and defensive mindset that could give Michigan issues, though the Wolverines are clearly the favorite. As for Iowa State, the Cyclones lose again in the Sweet Sixteen, where the program is 1-7 all time! The focus now is whether or not Cyclones' Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger will get poached by North Carolina or another blue blood (my money says he stays in Ames). Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions of the end of Tennessee's victory against Iowa State. 

UCONN hangs on, with Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed, Jr., hitting four free throws in the last minute. Michigan State had a chance to tie the game at 65 in the final 20 seconds, but the Spartans did not get a good shot during a discombobulated possession. Tom Izzo should have called a timeout to reset the offense there. The Huskies rode a hot start that led to a 19-point lead in the first half. Michigan State rallied at the end of the half and was right there in the second half, thanks to a heroic final game by senior Carson Cooper, who had 14 points. Michigan State did not get Coen Carr involved for way too long in the second half. Reed leads UCONN with 20 points while the ultimate winner  Karaban adds 18 points. Love or hate him, UCONN Head Coach Dan Hurley is so good in the NCAA Tournament, running such a beautiful offense that gets open shots whereever he wants, whether it be from the three or in the post. After limping into the tournament, UCONN is showing its championship mettle, which will need to be on display against Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday. Izzo did a lot with one of his least talented teams this season, with tonight's loss exactly what I expected this game to be, going down to the wire. Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions throughout UCONN's gritty victory against the always tough Michigan State Spartans.