2026 men’s NCAA College Basketball Tournament Final Four Preview 

Image – pjstar.com

The final weekend of the college basketball season is finally here. After the regular season from November through the first week of March to conference tournaments the week after and the first two weeks of March Madness throughout the rest of the month, the first week of April should deliver with four capable teams of winning the national championship on Monday night.

West regional champion No. 1 seed Arizona will face off against No. 1 seed Michigan, winner of the midwest regional, and east regional champion No. 2 seed UConn will battle with No. 3 seed Illinois, the south regional champion on Saturday.

Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

National Semifinals:

*Game times are listed at central time*

Saturday, April 4
No. 2 seed UConn (33-5) vs. No. 3 seed Illinois (28-8)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
5:09 p.m., CBS

Image – NBC News

On Sunday afternoon, the Huskies led Duke in the east regional final just two times but they finished the job. They were up 2-0 with under 19 minutes to go in the first half and with 0.4 seconds to go in the second half after Indianapolis native Braylon Mullins sent the Blue Devils home with a three-pointer from almost half-court in Washington DC.

Former Michigan center Tarris Reed Jr. kept them in the game against Duke and has been the reason why UConn has advanced throughout the entire NCAA Tournament. Reed scored 31 points and added 27 rebounds in the Huskies’ 82-71 win against Furman in the Round of 64. Reed Jr. followed it up with 10 points and 13 rebounds against UCLA in the Round of 32, 20 points and five rebounds against Michigan State in the Sweet 16, and 26 points and nine rebounds on Sunday against Duke.

The senior center will need to give UConn similar production against Illinois on Saturday evening, especially if the Huskies’ guards and wings don’t starting shooting the ball well. A 1-18 start from three-point range hurt Dan Hurley’s team over the first 75% of their Elite Eight action against the Blue Devils. Without senior forward Alex Karaban’s game-tying three and freshman wing Mullins’ game-winner, Duke would not have fallen in heartbreak for a second consecutive season.

Had UConn guard Silas Demary Jr.’s hand not impacted Duke guard Cayden Boozer’s pass behind half court with the clock running under 10 seconds, Mullins would not have gotten the opportunity to shoot the game-winner that will go down in Huskies’ lore. Huskies’ perimeter players Solo Boll, Demary, and Mullins will have to get things going earlier from the perimeter against a Fighting Illini offense that is strong in their own right.

Back on Nov. 28, UConn defeated Illinois 74-61. Demary Jr. scored 15 points to lead the Huskies in the victory on Black Friday. They will need more scoring from different players to defeat the Fighting Illini in the rematch on Saturday.

Image – WCIA

Illinois became the first of two Big Ten teams to make the Final Four last weekend after outlasting fellow conference mate Iowa on Saturday night. The Fighting Illini fell behind early and were down five points at halftime to the Hawkeyes, but their offensive firepower, headed by freshman guard Keaton Wagler, an expected top ten pick in June’s NBA Draft. Wagler scored 25 points to help Illinois to their first Final Four appearance since 2005, when they lost to North Carolina in the national championship game.

Illinois had a relatively easy path to the last weekend of the college basketball season, taking care of No. 14 seed Penn and No. 11 seed VCU in the first two rounds before defeating No. 2 seed Houston in the Sweet 16 and the aforementioned Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight. No matter the ease of their run, Brad Underwood has his team in his first Final Four as head coach,

The Fighting Illini are led by Wagler but fellow guards Andrej Stojakovic, Kyan Boswell, forward David Mirkovic, and centers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. Their front court is a bit undersized and unathletic so using fouls appropriately against Reed Jr. in the paint will be important for Underwood’s front court against the Huskies on Saturday night.

Illinois cannot fall behind like they did against Iowa this weekend if they want to advance because UConn is capable of taking advantage of scoring in bunches if they are able to make three-pointers and get the ball inside of the paint to Reed Jr.

If the Fighting Illini want to advance to their first national championship game in 21 years, they will have to play similar defense to what they played in their first matchup against the Huskies, when they gave up 74 points in a loss. Kylan Boswell scored 25 points to lead both teams in scoring over four months ago. Wagler did not play in their Black Friday matchup, so his impact will be key on Saturday night.

UConn/Illinois Projection:
The UConn defense limited the talented Illinois offense to just 61 points back on Nov. 28. If the Huskies do that again against the Fighting Illini offense, they will easily advance to Monday’s national championship against the winner of the Arizona/Michigan game.

But now Illinois has a talented guard like Wagler helping the offense succeed against Hurley’s defense. Stojakovic and Boswell must assist Wagler in scoring the ball to help them succeed against Reed Jr., who should have it easy scoring in the paint against Mirkovic and the Ivisic brothers in the paint.

That being said, Dan Hurley wins in March. Overcoming Duke on Sunday night will help the Huskies defeat the Fighting Illini and move on to their third national championship game in just four seasons. Wagler should help Illinois score more than 61 points on Saturday but it will not be enough.

Projected Score: UConn 76, Illinois 72

No. 1 seed Arizona (36-2) vs. No. 1 seed Michigan (35-3)
7:49 p.m., CBS

Image – Yahoo Sports

The Wildcats dominated their way through the west region as they make their way to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. They took down Long Island, Utah State, Arkansas, and Purdue ahead of their matchup on Saturday against Michigan. Arizona scored 92, 78, 109, and 79 points during their run. They will have the challenge of facing maybe the best defense they’ve played in the NCAA Tournament against the Wolverines.

Thankfully, the Wildcats have a balanced offensive attack with guards Jayden Bradley, Brayden Burries, and wing Ivan Kharchenkov attacking the rim. Forwards Koa Peat, Tobe Awaka, and center Montiejus Krivas will use their toughness to dominate the paint. So, they have the offense to counter Michigan’s strong defense.

But the lack of three-point shooting could hurt Arizona if they cannot get the points they need inside of the arc. Peat’s and Awaka’s play at the power forward position has been the difference for them in the tournament. Peat scored 20 points and rebounded seven of Purdue’s missed shots in the Elite Eight and Awaka had 24 points and had 14 rebounds in their dominant victory against the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16.

On the perimeter, Bradley is the Big 12 Player of the Year and Burries may be the Wildcats’ best player. If taking multiple three-pointers is necessary, Bradley and Burries are shooting 27-48 from three for a percentage of over 56% from long-range. So, the two are capable but they have not relied on it much this season.

Krivas has been the difference for Arizona this season after his former teammate Henri Veesar transferred to North Carolina. So, Krivas went from the bench to a permanent starter. He had his scoring performance against LIU in the Round of 64 with 23 points but then put together back to back double-double performances against Utah State in the Round of 32 and Arkansas in the Elite Eight.

Tommy Lloyd has been the topic of conversation this week in Indianapolis ahead of the national semifinal matchups but for the wrong reason. Lloyd is atop North Carolina’s list for him to become their next head coach but Arizona must be focused on Saturday’s game more than anything else. Lloyd should have his team ready no matter what and all conversations about the Tar Heel job should come after their run in the NCAA Tournament is over.

Image – 247Sports.com

Michigan has won each of their NCAA Tournament games by double-digits on their way to the Final Four, their first since 2018. The Wolverines have scored at least 90 or more points in each of their first four games in the NCAA Tournament, topping 100 points in the opening round against Howard.

All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg is the straw that stirs the drink for Michigan, scoring over 20 points and accounting for a combination of three blocks and three steals in each of Michigan’s last three dominant wins. Lendeborg’s size makes him an impossible matchup against shorter small forwards while the Wolverines’ front court make it even more difficult for opposing teams to have success.

Aday Mara and Morez Johnson are two of the best players at their positions in the country. Their ability to score, defend, rebound, and pass makes them one of the most unique front court duos in the country. Mara has three double-doubles and Johnson has two double-doubles in the NCAA Tournament, proving how capable they are as scorers and rebounders.

On the perimeter is where Michigan is the weakest but it does not mean they are bad. Point guard Elliot Cadeau has improved his three-point shot since transferring from North Carolina and is the perfect lead guard to play with Lendeborg, Mara, and Johnson as a tremendous passer and capable defender on the perimeter. The problems start with Cadeau’s backup LJ Cason ending with a torn ACL.

So, Cadeau will be expected to lead the way without Cason, something he has been doing for a couple of weeks since the injury occurred. Cadeau suffered an allergic reaction in practice on Wednesday but is expected to be okay and play on Saturday. If he can play at his best, he can help Michigan win games. His 24 point and 17 assist performance in the Sweet 16 against Alabama proves he is capable of doing that.

Senior Roddy Gayle and freshman Trey McKenney will help Cadeau in the backcourt. Gayle and McKenney have combined for 88 points during their NCAA Tournament run. Their support of Cadeau and the Wolverines front court could be the difference against the Wildcats.

Arizona/Michigan Projection:
After Duke’s exit in the Elite Eight, the Arizona/Michigan game is a battle between the nation’s two best teams over the entire season. The Wildcats and Michigan have combined for a 71-5 record this season.

Arizona is the toughest team in the country with Bradley as their closer and Kharchenkov, Peat, Awaka, and Krivas succeeding together. But Michigan has the pieces to match that with Lendeborg, Mara, and Johnson in the paint.

It will be on Cadeau, Gayle, and McKinney to match the scoring of Brayden Burries and Bradley on the perimeter if the Wolverine front court does not handle the Wildcats’ toughness as well. But Michigan should be able to score no matter after scoring 90+ points in each of their previous NCAA Tournament games.

In what should definitely be a back-and-forth game, Bradley and Burries will be the difference against Cadeau, Gayle, and McKenney. Peat will continue his masterful NCAA Tournament run playing for his home state team and the Wildcats will attempt to win their first national championship since 1997.

Projected Score: Arizona 82, Michigan 81

National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

Monday, April 6
7:30 p.m., CBS

Projected National Championship Game: No. 1 seed Arizona vs. No. 2 seed UConn

In what should be a tough game between two of college basketball’s top coaches, Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats will overtake Danny Hurley’s Huskies in what should be a close game for 30 minutes of action. The game should begin going back and forth with both coaches making tactical changes based on what is going on the floor.

The Wildcats’ Montiejus Krivas and the Huskies’ Tarris Reed Jr. battle in the paint from their center position could be the determining factor of Monday’s game if this matchup comes to be in the national championship. Krivas will be trusted to stop Reed’s outstanding run of offensive play in the NCAA Tournament. On the other hand, Reed will have to be in charge of stopping Krivas’ overall ability to make plays for Arizona.

If UConn’s Silas Demary Jr., Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, and Braylon Mullins do not make shots consistently, Koa Peat, Tobe Awaka, and Krivas will take advantage, trying use their toughness against Reed in the paint. The Wildcats have used this strategy to win against every team they have faced so far this season and it will help them get the same winning result on Monday night.

After five seasons at Arizona, Lloyd will have won a national championship before his mentor Mark Few, the Gonzaga head coach, does so if he is able to finish the job this weekend. Lloyd will win the national championship game against the Huskies because the Wildcats have been the most consistent team all season with their only losses being in back-to-back games on Feb. 9 at Kansas and Feb. 14 against Texas Tech.

Projected Score: Arizona 81, UConn 76