Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, and UConn Advance to Men's Final Four

Wildcats, Illini, Wolverines, and Huskies punch tickets to Indianapolis after thrilling regional finals

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The field for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four is set after a wild weekend of regional final action. Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, and UConn all punched their tickets to Indianapolis with impressive victories. The Wildcats rallied past Purdue, the Illini pulled away from Iowa, the Wolverines routed Tennessee, and the Huskies stunned Duke with a last-second 3-pointer.

Why it matters

This year's Final Four features a mix of traditional powerhouses and upstarts, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament. The regional finals showcased the depth and parity of college basketball, with several close games and surprising results.

The details

In the West Region final, Arizona overcame a halftime deficit to beat Purdue 79-64, led by Koa Peat's 20 points. Illinois rallied in the second half to defeat Iowa 71-59 in the South, while Michigan blew out Tennessee 95-62 in the Midwest. The wildest finish came in the East, where UConn stunned Duke 73-72 on a last-second 3-pointer by Braylon Mullins.

  • The regional finals were played on March 30, 2026.
  • The Final Four will take place in Indianapolis on April 5-7, 2026.

The players

Koa Peat

Arizona forward who scored 20 points in the Wildcats' win over Purdue.

Kylan Wagler

Illinois guard who led the Illini with 25 points in their victory over Iowa.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan forward who poured in 27 points and 7 rebounds in the Wolverines' blowout of Tennessee.

Braylon Mullins

UConn guard and former Indiana Mr. Basketball who hit the game-winning 3-pointer to defeat Duke.

Cameron Boozer

Duke forward who scored 27 points in the Blue Devils' loss to UConn.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to turn up the defensive intensity in the second half, and the guys really bought in and executed the game plan.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Head Coach

“I'm so proud of the way our team responded after halftime. We found our rhythm and were able to pull away for the win.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

“That was as complete a performance as we've had all season. Our guys were locked in from the opening tip and it showed on both ends of the floor.”

— Juwan Howard, Michigan Head Coach

“I can't say enough about the fight and resilience of our team. To come back from that halftime deficit and win it at the buzzer is just an incredible feeling.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

What’s next

The Final Four will take place in Indianapolis on April 5-7, 2026, with the national championship game scheduled for April 7.

The takeaway

This year's Final Four field features a mix of traditional powers and upstart programs, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the NCAA Tournament. The regional finals showcased the depth and parity of college basketball, with several close games and surprising results that have fans eagerly anticipating the action in Indianapolis.