Arizona Wildcats' NCAA Tournament Run Ends in Final Four

Freshman stars Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries struggle in loss to Michigan

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a college basketball game, with players' forms and the court's lines broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant color and sharp angles.Arizona's Final Four loss to Michigan highlights the team's promising future, with a talented young core poised to lead the Wildcats back to the national stage.Auburn Today

The University of Arizona's NCAA Tournament run came to an end on Saturday with a 91-73 loss to the University of Michigan in the Final Four. Arizona's top players, Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, were limited by foul trouble and poor shooting, as Michigan led by as many as 30 points in the second half. Despite the tournament defeat, Arizona finished the season with a 36-3 record and won the Big 12 regular-season title in just their second year in the conference.

Why it matters

Arizona's deep tournament run and regular-season success highlighted the program's rapid rise under coach Tommy Lloyd, who has led the Wildcats to three conference titles in the past five years. The loss to Michigan, while disappointing, showcases the team's promising future with a talented young core that is expected to have multiple players selected in the upcoming NBA draft.

The details

Arizona struggled offensively from the start, as Jaden Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year, was limited to just 11 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. Brayden Burries, the team's leading scorer, also had a tough game, going 0-for-5 from the field in the first half and finishing with 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Michigan led by 16 at halftime and the lead grew to as many as 30 points in the second half, as Arizona never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way.

  • Arizona opened the season with a 93-87 win over No. 3 Florida on November 10, 2025.
  • Arizona went undefeated in November and December and rose to No. 1 in the country.
  • In conference play, Arizona went 16-2 against Big 12 opponents, with wins over Kansas, Iowa State and Houston.
  • Arizona clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title, marking the program's third conference title in the past five years.
  • Arizona entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 2 in the country and advanced to the Final Four before losing to Michigan.

The players

Jaden Bradley

The Big 12 Player of the Year, who was limited to just 11 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

Brayden Burries

Arizona's leading scorer, who struggled in the game, going 0-for-5 from the field in the first half and finishing with 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting.

Koa Peat

A freshman who led Arizona with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in the season-opening win over Florida.

Motiejus Krivas

A center who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of Arizona, who recently signed a five-year contract extension through the 2030-31 season.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a great Michigan team, but we just couldn't get it going offensively. It's a tough way to end the season, but I'm proud of what this team accomplished.”

— Jaden Bradley, Arizona Guard

“This team has a bright future ahead of it. We have a lot of young talent that's only going to get better, and Coach Lloyd has built something special here. I'm excited to see what we can do next year.”

— Brayden Burries, Arizona Guard

What’s next

Arizona is expected to remain a top contender in the Big 12 next season, with several key players returning and a highly-touted recruiting class joining the team. The Wildcats will look to build on this season's success and make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing loss in the Final Four, Arizona's 2025-26 season was a resounding success, showcasing the program's rapid rise under coach Tommy Lloyd. With a talented young core and a commitment to long-term success, the Wildcats are poised to remain one of the top programs in college basketball for years to come.