Duke, UConn, Michigan Reach Elite 8 in Men's and Women's NCAA Tournaments

Three schools make rare accomplishment of sending both basketball programs to the Elite 8 in the same year

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a college basketball game, with the players, court, and crowd fragmented into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant color.Three elite college basketball programs reach new heights with both men's and women's teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8.Louisville Today

The Duke Blue Devils, UConn Huskies, and Michigan Wolverines have all accomplished the impressive feat of having both their men's and women's basketball teams reach the Elite 8 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. This is a rare occurrence, with UConn being the only school to do it six times previously. Michigan is making its first-ever appearance with both teams in the Elite 8 in the same year.

Why it matters

Reaching the Elite 8 in both the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments is an extremely difficult accomplishment, requiring sustained excellence and depth across an entire athletic department. This achievement highlights the strength of the basketball programs at Duke, UConn, and Michigan, and could foreshadow potential national championship runs for one or more of these schools.

The details

With Michigan's women's team defeating Louisville 71-52 on Saturday, the Wolverines joined Duke and UConn as the only three schools to have both their men's and women's basketball teams reach the Elite 8 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. UConn has accomplished this feat six times previously, most recently in 2024, while this is the second time for Duke (also in 1999). For Michigan, this is the first time both programs have made it this far in the same year.

  • The men's Elite 8 begins on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The women's Elite 8 games will also be played on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Duke Blue Devils

The men's and women's basketball programs at Duke University, a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina.

UConn Huskies

The men's and women's basketball programs at the University of Connecticut, a public research university located in Storrs, Connecticut.

Michigan Wolverines

The men's and women's basketball programs at the University of Michigan, a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“Michigan, Duke, and UConn all have sent both their men's and women's basketball teams to the Elite Eight.”

— Nicole Auerbach, NBC Sports Reporter

What’s next

The men's Elite 8 matchups will see Duke facing off against UConn, guaranteeing that one of those powerhouse programs will not advance to the Final 4. Meanwhile, Michigan will take on Tennessee. On the women's side, Duke, UConn, and Michigan will each play different opponents in the Elite 8, with the potential for all three to make the Final 4.

The takeaway

This rare accomplishment by Duke, UConn, and Michigan underscores the strength and consistency of their basketball programs, both men's and women's. Reaching the Elite 8 in the same year is an impressive feat that very few schools have achieved, and it sets the stage for potential national championship runs by one or more of these basketball powerhouses.