Men’s Final Four set
The men’s Final Four is locked in: Michigan vs. Arizona and UConn vs. Illinois, with the semifinals Saturday and the national title scheduled for April 6 (sports.yahoo.com) (usatoday.com). Analysts note the matchups are razor-close — AI models and KenPom rankings are split, and recent breakdowns emphasize both semifinal sides rank among the tournament’s most efficient teams (usatoday.com) (youtube.com).
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will host both national semifinals on Saturday, April 4 — the first semifinal tips at 6:09 p.m. ET and the second at 8:49 p.m. ET, with gates opening at 4:00 p.m. ET. (ncaa.com)) KenPom rates Michigan and Arizona as the nation’s top two teams — Michigan No. 1 with an adjusted Net Rating of +39.02 and Arizona No. 2 at +38.76 — while Illinois sits at +34.41 and UConn at +29.11 in the site’s March 29 update. (kenpom.com)) Michigan reached the Final Four by routing Tennessee 95-62 in the Midwest regional final, with Yaxel Lendeborg scoring 27 and Elliot Cadeau handing out 10 assists. (espn.com)) Arizona advanced after a 79-64 win over Purdue in the West regional final — freshman Koa Peat scored 20 and Arizona erased a halftime deficit with a dominant second half. (espn.com)) UConn capped a 19-point comeback against Duke with freshman Braylon Mullins’ desperation 35-foot game-winner in a 73-72 Elite Eight thriller, while Illinois punched its ticket with a 71-59 regional final victory over Iowa after earlier knocking off Houston. (espn.com)) Oddsmakers opened razor-thin lines for both semis — sportsbooks listed Arizona/Michigan around a 1.5-point swing and Illinois opened roughly a 2.5-point favorite over UConn before movement — and market models have installed Michigan and Arizona among the top title favorites. (sportsbettingdime.com)) Key individual notes: Lendeborg’s 27 led Michigan; Koa Peat was the region MVP for Arizona with 20 in the Purdue game; Keaton Wagler scored 25 in Illinois’ Elite Eight win; Braylon Mullins hit the buzzer-beating 3 for UConn. (espn.com)) Milestone context: Michigan is in its first Final Four since 2018, Arizona is in its first since 2001, Illinois is in its first since 2005, and UConn is making its third Final Four in four years after back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024. (espn.com))
