UConn guard Braylon Mullins, right, celebrates his game winning basket with guard Malachi Smith (0) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
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Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
The stage is set for the Final Four, where Illinois is poised to clash with UConn, while Michigan faces off against Arizona next Saturday. Victors from these matchups will vie for the national championship two nights later.
In a showdown of top seeds, Arizona and Michigan will compete, whereas UConn, coming off a stunning 73-72 comeback win over Duke, will take on No. 3 seed Illinois.
Leading the odds, Arizona is favored to claim the title next Monday night in Indianapolis, with BetMGM Sportsbook placing them at 19-10 odds. Following closely, Michigan—fresh from a decisive 95-62 win over Tennessee—is listed at 2-1.
As the semifinals approach, Michigan holds a slight edge as a 1 1/2-point favorite.
UConn’s thrilling victory over Duke was sealed with a dramatic 3-pointer from the logo by Braylon Mullins, who will return to his hometown of Indianapolis for the Final Four. This marks UConn’s third appearance in the Final Four within four seasons, having won the championship in their last two appearances.
Arizona (36-2) returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2001, seeking their first title since 1997.
Michigan (35-3) aims for its second championship, having previously won in 1989.
Meanwhile, Illinois (28-8) is on the hunt for its inaugural title, with their last Final Four appearance dating back to 2005.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
