Men’s March Madness 2026: Ranking the final four teams

Prior to the season, the four teams remaining were generally considered long-shot contenders for the men’s national title, contingent on everything clicking perfectly. Success was far from guaranteed. Only UConn secured a spot in the AP preseason poll’s top four. Michigan was ranked seventh, Arizona thirteenth, and Illinois seventeenth.

Nevertheless, all four are headed to Indianapolis, having demonstrated their excellence in specific areas throughout their NCAA tournament campaigns.

In a hypothetical awards ceremony, Arizona would claim the title for the most well-rounded squad. The Wildcats rank within the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. Notably, in their Elite Eight victory against Purdue on Saturday, eight different Wildcats contributed to the scoring.

Michigan would be honored for its outstanding defense. Spearheaded by a formidable frontcourt comprising three 6-foot-9 talents and a 7-3 center, the Wolverines boast the top adjusted defensive efficiency. During their Elite Eight triumph over Tennessee on Sunday, they surged ahead, outscoring the Volunteers by 23 points in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Illinois would be recognized for having the premier offensive engine. The Illini have consistently held the No. 1 spot in adjusted offensive efficiency for much of the season. Since March 1, they’ve successfully converted 59% of their shots from inside the arc.

Connecticut would receive accolades for its superior coaching. During the first half of Illinois’ Elite Eight victory over Duke on Sunday, Dan Hurley’s Huskies endured a period where they missed 13 of 15 attempts. Yet, they mounted a comeback in the second half, positioning Hurley to potentially become the first coach since John Wooden to clinch three national championships in four years.

Without question, every team that advanced to the tournament’s final weekend earned their place through intense competition. They are all deserving of this historic opportunity.

All times Eastern

1. Michigan Wolverines
Original seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Howard 101-80 (first round); def. No. 9 Saint Louis 95-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Alabama 90-77 (Sweet 16); def. No. 6 Tennessee 95-62 (Elite Eight)

The Wolverines harbor ambitions of being recognized as the finest team in their program’s history. However, to solidify that claim, they must emerge victorious against Arizona on Saturday, as they face significant historical benchmarks:

• At the pinnacle is the 1988-89 roster, which secured the institution’s sole national championship, propelled by future NBA All-Star Glen Rice.

• Next comes the 1964-65 team, which advanced to the national title game, featuring Cazzie Russell, widely regarded as the program’s greatest player.

• The 1975-76 squad, boasting All-American Rickey Green and three other future NBA talents, also reached the national championship game before falling short.

• And, naturally, the iconic Fab Five teams, who made appearances in the national championship games of 1992 and 1993, led by future NBA standouts Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, and Jalen Rose.

• Trey Burke, recognized as the national player of the year, guided Michigan to the national title game in 2013.

Yet, this 2026 iteration boasts Yaxel Lendeborg, who amassed 27 points and seven rebounds in Sunday’s Elite Eight victory over Tennessee, and stands as one of three NBA prospects on the current roster. These Wolverines possess the necessary talent to claim the ultimate prize.

Dusty May, too, may be orchestrating the most remarkable coaching performance in the school’s history. Unlike previous legendary Michigan teams that had ample time to construct their rosters, May faced a unique challenge last March, unsure of who would comprise his team this season—four of his current starters were playing for other institutions at the time. Despite this, in under a year, he has guided his squad to the Final Four. Thus, this team is indeed building a strong case to be considered among Michigan’s greatest, and May, who is making his second Final Four appearance in four years after leading Florida Atlantic in 2023, could eventually be recognized as one of Michigan’s most esteemed coaches.

Up next: vs. Arizona (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

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2. Arizona Wildcats
Original seed: No. 1 (West)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (first round); def. No. 9 Utah State 78-66 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16); def. No. 2 Purdue 79-64 (Elite Eight)

To truly grasp Arizona’s remarkable success under coach Tommy Lloyd, whose current season’s achievements are unlikely to quell speculation about the North Carolina coaching position, it’s insightful to consider the legacy he left at Gonzaga.

Lloyd served as Mark Few’s principal assistant when the Zags reached the Final Four in 2021. Together, they not only elevated Gonzaga into a respected basketball powerhouse but also solidified the Bulldogs’ status as the preeminent program on the West Coast. With these Wildcats, Lloyd has now wrested that prestigious title from his former mentor.

Over the past five years, Few’s teams have accumulated 143 victories. In the same timeframe, Arizona, under Lloyd, has secured 148 wins — and counting.

How has he achieved this? It hasn’t been through prolific 3-point shooting; only 26.4% of the team’s field goal attempts this season have come from beyond the arc, placing them 363rd out of 365 teams. Lloyd champions an old-school approach, having assembled a squad overflowing with talent, including projected first-round draft selections Motiejus Krivas, Brayden Burries, and Koa Peat. He also boasts the Big 12 Player of the Year, Jaden Bradley, alongside a supporting cast that no other remaining tournament team can rival.

Lloyd’s core philosophy is straightforward: the Wildcats exhibit exceptional defense. They entered Sunday ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency and consistently challenge opponents to outwork them. Lloyd is convinced that his top eight players surpass the top eight of any opponent, irrespective of their playing style. This conviction underpins his belief in his team’s capacity to win, and thus far, he has been proven correct.

Up next: vs. Michigan (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

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3. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 2 (East)
Tournament results: Def. No. 15 Furman 82-71 (first round); def. No. 7 UCLA 73-57 (round of 32); def. No. 3 Michigan State 67-63 (Sweet 16); def. No. 1 Duke 73-72 (Elite Eight)

Huskies head coach Dan Hurley might commission a statue of Alex Karaban — who nailed a 3-pointer that narrowed UConn’s deficit to one, then assisted Braylon Mullins on the game-winning 3 in Sunday’s Elite Eight triumph over Duke — if the university doesn’t. Karaban was tasked with guarding Cameron Boozer throughout Sunday’s contest, and Tarris Reed Jr. dominated in the paint as a Huskies unit, trailing by as many as 19 points, mounted a dramatic late-game comeback.

It’s widely acknowledged that Hurley’s roster doesn’t possess the sheer talent to match the other contenders in the field. Michigan features three projected first-round draft picks, all of whom are physically imposing. Arizona boasts unparalleled depth, also with three projected first-round picks. Illinois’ smallest starter is 6-2 Kylan Boswell, while 6-5 guard Keaton Wagler could potentially be the most outstanding player remaining in the tournament.

While Hurley utilized the transfer portal extensively over the past two seasons to construct his teams, he has cultivated a level of continuity that is uncommon at this advanced stage of the competition. Three of UConn’s starters have now spent at least two years within Hurley’s system. Illinois is the only other Final Four team that can make a similar claim. The crucial distinction, however, is that no other team in Indianapolis possesses a player with Karaban’s championship-level experience (he is a veteran from the UConn squads that secured consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024). Against Duke on Sunday, the Huskies may not have been the more individually talented group, but their collective experience provided a crucial advantage against a freshman-heavy squad that appeared to falter when surrendering a significant lead.

Karaban, who averaged 22 points across his initial three NCAA tournament games, didn’t deliver a stellar performance in the Elite Eight. Yet, he didn’t need to. His most significant contribution was the composure derived from participating in numerous high-stakes contests like this one. In Indianapolis, his experience will set him apart.

Up next: vs. Illinois (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

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4. Illinois Fighting Illini
Original seed: No. 3 (South)
Tournament results: Def. No. 14 Penn 105-70 (first round); def. No. 11 VCU 76-55 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Houston 65-55 (Sweet 16); def. No. 9 Iowa 71-59 (Elite Eight)

Coach Brad Underwood’s Illinois roster showcases players from an array of five different nations: Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, and the United States. The diverse international makeup has garnered significant attention this season, as has Underwood’s discovery of freshman Keaton Wagler, who, despite not receiving a scholarship offer from his home-state institution Kansas, is now being considered for a top-10 selection in the 2026 NBA draft following an unexpectedly strong season. Tomislav Ivisic provides a dominant 7-foot-1 presence in the paint. Andrej Stojakovic serves as a potent two-way player, instrumental in containing Iowa star Bennett Stirtz during Saturday’s Elite Eight victory. David Mirkovic, a 6-9 forward, demonstrated impressive shooting, hitting 40% from 3-point range in conference play.

One might assume that Underwood’s success with international athletes would suggest that any coach could simply travel to Europe and recruit elite talent. Is that truly the case?

Not at all. Coaches cannot simply walk into a European gym brimming with top-tier players and secure their commitments. The process of scouting the international landscape for talent is arduous. Furthermore, identification is only half the challenge, as Underwood’s true strength lies not merely in his ability to spot international stars, but rather in his profound understanding of how those players seamlessly integrate into his specific system. He has constructed a group that has maintained America’s best offense for the majority of the season, while also fielding a top-25 defense over the past month. Illinois’ victories over Houston and Iowa in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament were direct outcomes of the considerable size the Illini leverage for rim protection, coupled with the relentless pressure they exert on opposing backcourts.

Illinois operates as a selfless unit, composed of players who embrace their roles and were strategically positioned for success by Underwood. He possesses a deep self-awareness, understands his system intimately, and, crucially, knows precisely which players are essential for its optimal functioning.

Up next: vs. UConn (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)