In a pair of Final Four showdowns, both games delivered contrasting styles, one a rout, the other a grind.
Top-seeded Michigan Wolverines men's basketball overwhelmed Arizona Wildcats men's basketball 91-73, seizing control early and never letting go. Michigan blitzed Arizona with a dominant first half, building a double-digit lead behind relentless defense and efficient scoring. The Wolverines’ size and tempo proved too much, turning what was expected to be a tight battle into a runaway. Arizona struggled to keep pace offensively, while Michigan continued to extend the margin, punching its ticket to the national championship game in convincing fashion.
Earlier, UConn Huskies men's basketball took down Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball 71-62 in a defensive battle. UConn set the tone early and held Illinois’ high-powered offense to inefficient shooting, including struggles from beyond the arc. Despite a late push from Illinois, the Huskies maintained control with timely scoring and clutch free throws down the stretch. The win sends UConn to another national title game, continuing its recent March dominance.
Next up: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game Monday night (4/6) at 7:50 p.m. Michigan is favored by -7.5 over UConn
Michigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera.) Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts in the locker room after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Jackson Cook #11 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats looks on during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesIllinois v UConn
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Keaton Wagler #23 and Jake Davis #15 of the Illinois Fighting Illini battle for possession against Alex Karaban #11 and Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies during the second half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesIllinois v UConn
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies celebrates a basket against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesIllinois v UConn
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesIllinois v UConn
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines and Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats shake hands following the game in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats and Koa Peat #10 of the Arizona Wildcats embrace during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesMichigan v Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera.) A general view inside the stadium as Michigan Wolverines defeats Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies cuts down the net after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils drives into Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: UConn assistant coach Luke Murray hugs Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies celebrates with the mascot after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0, Alex Karaban #11, Jayden Ross #23 and Eric Reibe #12 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies blocks a shot from Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies drives around Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskiesshoots a three point basket during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Alex Karaban #11 of the UConn Huskies looks on after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Alex Karaban #11 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies shoots the ball against Maliq Brown #6 of the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots against Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Braylon Mullins #24 celebrates with Jayden Ross #23, Alex Karaban #11, and Malachi Smith #0 of the UConn Huskies after Mullins shot the game-winning three point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images