Michigan Pulls Away from Tennessee, UConn Routs Notre Dame in March Madness

The men's and women's NCAA tournament action continues with Elite Eight matchups on Sunday.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:18pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, using vibrant colors to capture the energy and intensity of the tournament action.The NCAA tournament's Elite Eight round features intense matchups and high-stakes competition as teams vie for a spot in the Final Four.Notre Dame Today

In the women's tournament, No. 1 UConn cruised past No. 6 Notre Dame 70-52 to advance to the Final Four. On the men's side, No. 1 Michigan built a big lead over No. 6 Tennessee, while No. 2 UConn and No. 1 Duke are set to clash for a spot in the Final Four.

Why it matters

The March Madness tournaments are reaching their climactic stages, with the women's Elite Eight and the men's Elite Eight taking place on Sunday. These matchups will determine the teams that advance to the Final Four, setting the stage for the championships.

The details

In the women's tournament, UConn continued its dominant run, pulling away from Notre Dame in the second half to win 70-52 and secure a spot in the Final Four. The Huskies have now reached the Final Four in 17 of the past 18 seasons. On the men's side, No. 1 Michigan is building a big lead over No. 6 Tennessee, while the highly anticipated matchup between No. 2 UConn and No. 1 Duke is set to tip off later in the day.

  • The women's Elite Eight games are taking place on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • The men's Elite Eight games are also scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The players

UConn

The UConn Huskies women's basketball team is a perennial powerhouse, having reached the Final Four in 17 of the past 18 seasons.

Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's basketball team is an underdog in the tournament, but has put together an impressive run to reach the Elite Eight.

Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the No. 1 seed in their region and is looking to advance to the Final Four.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team is the No. 6 seed in their region and is seeking to continue their Cinderella run in the tournament.

UConn

The UConn Huskies men's basketball team is the No. 2 seed in their region and is set to face off against No. 1 Duke for a spot in the Final Four.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winners of the Elite Eight matchups will advance to the Final Four, which is scheduled for April 5-7, 2026.

The takeaway

The March Madness tournaments have reached their most exciting stage, with the Elite Eight matchups determining which teams will compete for the national championships. Both the men's and women's tournaments have featured thrilling upsets and dominant performances, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to the 2026 NCAA basketball season.