Big men, bigger lineups power Final Four teams

Length, size, and versatility have been key factors for Illinois, UConn, Arizona, and Michigan's deep tournament runs.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:24pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a college basketball game, with overlapping planes of color representing the players and the court. The composition emphasizes the size and length of the players, conveying the importance of frontcourt dominance in this year's Final Four.The towering frontcourts of the Final Four teams have been a key factor in their deep tournament runs.San Jose Today

Big men and bigger lineups have been standout factors for the teams that have reached the Final Four. Illinois is the nation's tallest team, while Michigan, Arizona, and UConn have also relied on size and length to overwhelm opponents inside, on the glass, and with game-altering wingspan. These teams have found success by building rosters with power forwards and centers capable of stretching defenses, creating space, and protecting the paint.

Why it matters

The prominence of size and length in this year's Final Four reflects a broader trend in college basketball, where teams are prioritizing building versatile, multi-dimensional frontcourts to gain an edge. This style of play can create matchup problems for opponents and allow teams to control the game on both ends of the floor.

The details

Illinois has the nation's tallest roster, with an average height of nearly 6-foot-7. The Illini feature a pair of 7-footers in Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, as well as other long, physical forwards. UConn is led by 6-foot-11 senior Tarris Reed Jr., who has been dominant in the tournament. Michigan utilizes the 7-foot-3, 255-pound Aday Mara alongside a pair of 6-foot-9 forwards. Arizona boasts 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas and 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman Koa Peat.

  • Illinois and UConn will face off in the first national semifinal on Saturday, April 5.
  • Michigan and Arizona will meet in the other national semifinal on the same day.

The players

Tarris Reed Jr.

A 6-foot-11, 265-pound senior center for UConn who has been dominant in the tournament, averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.

Aday Mara

A 7-foot-3, 255-pound center for Michigan who anchors the Wolverines' imposing frontcourt.

Koa Peat

A 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman forward for Arizona who is considered a strong NBA prospect.

Zvonimir Ivisic

One of Illinois' two 7-footers, along with his twin brother Tomislav, who provide the Illini with dominant size and length.

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What they’re saying

“Guards are the ones that hit the big shots. We just do our job, we do the dirty work — and we're used to doing it our whole life so we have fun doing it.”

— Tarris Reed Jr., UConn forward

“If you want to win championships, you need a big 4 and a monster 5.”

— Luke Hancock, ACC Network analyst

“Our size definitely makes it tougher for smaller guards. Because we're so versatile... we can switch and guard point guards, make their life a little harder. And you know, we're all strong bodies too. So we try to wear down teams.”

— Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan forward

What’s next

The Final Four matchups on Saturday, April 5 will determine which two teams advance to the national championship game on Monday, April 7.

The takeaway

The prominence of size and length in this year's Final Four reflects the growing importance of versatile, multi-dimensional frontcourts in college basketball. Teams that can overwhelm opponents with their size, strength, and defensive impact are finding great success, even as guards continue to make the biggest shots in March Madness.